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Wildlife Filmmaking (Taught)

  • MA
  • 1 Years
  • Full-time
  • 09/2025
  • Postgraduate
City Campus
Awarded by:
University of the West of England, Bristol
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Course options

2025-20262026-2027
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Course summary

Study an industry-led curriculum with a small group of peers, gaining hands-on experience with professional film equipment and high-level production management skills. In our collaborative culture, you’ll develop communication and production skills to engage diverse audiences and access talks and events from the creative industries. You’ll also be encouraged to explore various documentary genres, from observational to experimental films.

Studying in Bristol, an UNESCO City of Film and the global capital of natural history production, you’ll benefit from our partnership with the BBC’s Natural History Unit, providing industry insights. You’ll receive direct editorial input from industry mentors and guidance from our expert academics and technical staff.

Graduating with a globally recognised qualification, you’ll have numerous career options regionally, nationally, and internationally. Our graduates secure entry-level roles in the wildlife production industry. Many secure roles with the BBC, independent production companies in Bristol, the UK, and abroad. Some also pursue independent funding for their own productions.

Our students have been nominated for and won major emerging talent awards, including BAFTA, Wildscreen, Royal Television Society, Jackson Hole, and the International Wildlife Film Festival. Graduation films have been featured in BBC broadcasts and commercial distribution, reaching global audiences.

Modules

The course is practical and production-based. During the year, students will produce a series of projects: creating the story; mastering the business; preparing for production; future documentary; professional production.

Assessment method

Modules are assessed by a range of submissions including portfolios of work together with films and production work. The first two semesters drive your skills and learning towards your final natural history production which must be of professional standard with appropriate documentation and matching industry standard deliverables.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • City Campus

Study options

  • MA • Full-time • 1 Years

Start dates

  • 09/2025

Entry requirements

We normally require an honours degree of 2:1 or above but applicants with other qualifications or relevant professional experience are also encouraged to apply and will be considered on an individual basis.

Previous media skills may be helpful but are not essential. We're looking for highly motivated individuals who can demonstrate their ability to come up with documentary ideas and the potential to develop their technical, editorial and organisational skills.

International applicants:

For country specific entry requirements please find your country on the country information pages: https://www.uwe.ac.uk/courses/international-study

Selection process

Applicants will be asked to provide the below for review:

  • A programme idea for short wildlife documentary (no more than a single side of A4).
  • A list of ten documentary titles you have seen, and a paragraph on each giving us your thoughts. These need not be all wildlife documentaries.
  • One or more samples of something you have made. This could be film, photography, written, illustrations, or another creative form.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an online interview. The interview will focus on ideas you have for film, what you have watched and review some of the sample work you have submitted with your application.

Deferrals
We do not accept deferrals for this course.

How to apply:

Read more about postgraduate applications: https://www.uwe.ac.uk/courses/applying/postgraduate-applications

The deadline for applications for this course is 14th February 2025. Applications can be submitted after this point but please be aware that late applications cannot be guaranteed for consideration.

Please note that due to high demand, this programme may close earlier than advertised as we have limited places. We are unable to allow applicants holding offers to defer their entry.

Please also be aware that we are unable to allow applicants holding offers to defer their entry.

If you are an applicant from Central or South America, you may be eligible to apply for the fully funded BBC Studios Wildlife Filmmaking Scholarship: https://www.uwe.ac.uk/courses/funding/scholarships-and-bursaries/wildlife-filmmaking-scholarship. You must apply for the scholarship at the same time as you apply for the MA Wildlife Filmmaking course. The extended deadline for applications and portfolio submissions for eligible candidates is Friday 14 March 2025.

English language requirements

International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*). *The university accepts many UK and International qualifications in place of IELTS. To find details of acceptable tests and the required grades please visit English Language requirements. English language support If you meet the academic requirements but require additional support to take your language skills to the required level, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Students who successfully complete the pre-sessional course can progress onto their chosen degree course without retaking an IELTS or equivalent. Read more about our pre-sessional English Programme: https://courses.uwe.ac.uk/YQ33/pre-sessional-english-programme

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Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Fee information is to be confirmed. All fees are subject to final approval. Please visit our website for further information.

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