Wildlife Filmmaking

Introduction

Bristol is the global capital of natural history programme making and the natural place to study for an MA in Wildlife Filmmaking. On this highly popular Masters course you will learn how to develop and pitch ideas, tell great stories and make intelligent and surprising programmes to captivate and engage audiences.

Our partnership with the BBC Natural History Unit (NHU) means that, alongside your studies, you will have incredible opportunities to network with professional wildlife film makers, attend talks, film festivals and other events around the city.

Our MA students graduate with the skills, experience and knowledge needed for entry level jobs in all areas of production from online to broadcast. Graduates now work for the BBC, Icon Films, Discovery, Tigress and other top production companies in the UK and overseas.

Why study this course?

The course is based at Bower Ashton, part of the City Campus, in the creative heart of Bristol. Bower has exceptional facilities and resources which include a news studio, TV studio and post production areas which offer the latest technology.

Be inspired by watching some of the Wildlife Filmmaking videos created by students on our Vimeo site.

Engaging, industry-led teaching

On this Masters course you will learn all you need to know via technical workshops, seminars, masterclasses and through experience and opportunities making films and digital content for clients.  We also help you develop skills in research, script writing, directing, producing, production management and the pitching and commissioning of ideas.

One of the unique aspects of this course  is that you will be matched with an industry mentor who, alongside your tutor, will guide you through the production of your final project. All students complete their Masters by writing, directing and producing a final project/film. These films are premiered each year and seen by an audience of invited film and television professionals from the BBC and independent sector.

The full master's course comprises 180 credits divided into three 60 credits stages: Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, and Master's. Students work incrementally through the three stages and must pass all modules at each stage in order to progress to the next.

The course is practical and production-based. During the year, students will produce a series of projects.

• Creating the Story - Explores the art and science of storytelling. Teaches you the writing skills to produce films that are both distinctive and commercial.
• Mastering the Business - Gives a solid introduction to the business and production of wildlife films.
• Preparing for Production - Guides you through the production process for your final film, exploring research and development, editorial specification and pitching.
• Future Documentary - Explores how to produce wildlife stories for a range of new and emerging multi-media platforms.
• Professional production - An extended 3-6 month production module, where you will undertake your own creative project and showcase your portfolio of skills.  This bespoke module will be largely self-directed, supported by tutorials and sessions with an industry mentor. 

The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved we will inform you.

Entry requirements

An undergraduate degree and basic media production skills are preferred. Highly motivated individuals already engaged in developing a portfolio of relevant experiences and activities (e.g. volunteer work, conservation experience, wildlife or travel filmmaking, writing, photography, adventure activity) will also be considered.

Applications from international students are actively encouraged.

In addition to the general UWE Bristol application, candidates should submit with their application:

• A  programme idea for a one hour wildlife documentary (on a single side of A4)

Short-listed candidates will be invited to interview (telephone interviews will be conducted for international applicants). They will need to bring/provide a show reel or concise portfolio of previous work. This may include audio, film, video, photography and writing.

Home/EU-Full Time-Award Fee: 9500 GBP

International-Full Time-Award Fee: 13000 GBP

Careers / Further study

Students have worked on BBC series, produced films for the Festival of Nature, The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge, the RSPB and the Zoological Society of London - some of the UK's top wildlife and conservation organisations.

We also have an ongoing partnership with Wildscreen, the award-winning wildlife conservation charity and Encounters, the Bristol-based international short film festival. Students have been highly commended in the British Wildlife Photography Awards HD film category and were nominated in the Wildscreen Panda Awards. Graduates have also secured internships and employment with the BBC and other organisations such as Discovery, Icon Films, RDF and Tigress Productions.

Our award-winning careers service helps you develop your employment potential through career coaching, a vacancy service for internships, placements, jobs, global opportunities, volunteering and community activity plus support for entrepreneurial activity, and access to employer events.