MA Film
Belfast, United Kingdom
MA
DURATION
3 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
14 Aug 2026
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 23,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* international fee
Key Summary
Film is the most important mass medium and art form of modern times. Shaping our modes of perception and communication, it is popular in its appeal and radical in its practices. It has transformed our ways of seeing and storytelling. Film-making and criticism is an area of immense interest, pleasure, and creativity. Supported by state-of-the-art film teaching and production facilities, the MA in Film at Queen's aims to offer a rich, diverse curriculum designed to enable students to specialise in practice-based and critical approaches to film, and other media arts.
In particular, students will develop skills in the analysis of film and media arts and apply these skills in the production of creative projects, and critical work. Throughout the programme, students will acquire basic or enhanced film production skills. They will also acquire transferable skills valued by employers: creative thinking, verbal and visual communication, problem solving, project management, and teamwork.
Film Highlights
World Class Facilities
State-of-the-art digital production and post-production facilities, as well as substantial lighting and grips kits, and a purpose-built 'black box', giving students the opportunity to film in a multi-purpose, professionally equipped studio.
Screenings, lectures, and seminars are held in Screen 2 of the Drama and Film Centre - the newly refurbished cinema we share with Northern Ireland's leading independent cinema, the Queen's Film Theatre (QFT).
Industry Links
Strong contacts with the local film and broadcast industry, enabling us to organise meetings with industry professionals, workshops for students interested in a career in film and the creative industries. Students may also avail of our Industry-led Mentorship Program (subject to availability).
Professional Accreditations
We are an Avid Learning Partner, and Film students are offered the opportunity to become certified in the use of Media Composer video editing, an industry qualification and valuable addition to any CV.
World Class Facilities
Screenings, lectures, and seminars are held in Screen 2 of the Drama and Film Centre - the newly refurbished cinema we share with Northern Ireland's leading independent cinema, the Queen's Film Theatre (QFT).
This MA programme provides qualification and professional development opportunities ideally suited to a career in film, television and other moving image and broadcast media. It is also popular with students intending to or already working in education, research, and the wider creative industries sector.
Recent graduates from this programme have gone on to work as freelance filmmakers, script editors, assistant producers, programme researchers, schedule coordinators, and teaching posts in Film and Moving Image Arts.
Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills
In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world-leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.
Course Structure
Full-time students:
For full-time students the MA Film degree runs from September to September, with graduation normally in December. Full-time students complete a total of three modules per semester (60 credits).
- In semester one, full-time students take FLM7018 Research Skills in Film I (compulsory), plus two optional modules.
- In semester two, full-time students take FLM7019 Research Skills in Film II (compulsory), plus two optional modules.
The FLM7005 SUM Dissertation module is taken in the summer (June to September). To be awarded the MA degree, students must achieve a pass mark in 120 taught module credits and the 60-credit Dissertation module. The Dissertation module includes the major creative project as one option.
In summary, the MA in Film degree for full-time students consists of the following:
- Semester one:
FLM7018 Research Skills in Film I (compulsory)
Plus two additional modules - Semester two:
FLM7019 Research Skills in Film II (compulsory)
Plus two additional modules - Summer (June to September):
FLM7005 SUM Dissertation (compulsory, 60 credits).
The major creative project is offered as one option within the Dissertation module.
Part-time students:
Part-time students may complete the MA Film degree in two or three years. For part-time students, FLM7018 must be completed in year one, and FLM7019 in year two. Part-time students take three modules per year (60 credits per year), followed by the Dissertation module (60 credit module). The Dissertation may be completed in the summer of year two (for those pursuing the degree in two years) or in an additional third year. To be awarded the MA degree, students must achieve a pass mark in 120 taught module credits and the 60-credit Dissertation module. The Dissertation includes the major creative project as one option.
In summary, the MA in Film degree for part-time students consists of the following:
- Year one:
FLM7018 Research Skills in Film I (compulsory)
and two additional modules. - Year two:
FLM7019 Research Skills in Film II (compulsory)
and two additional modules.
For part-time students, FLM7005 Dissertation (60 credits) is taken the summer of year two (FLM7005 SUM), or in a third year (FLM7005 FYR).
Exit qualifications are available: Students may exit with a Postgraduate Certificate by successfully completing 60 credits of taught modules, including FLM7018. Students may exit with a Postgraduate Diploma by successfully completing 120 CATS points from taught modules.
Compulsory Modules
- FLM7018 Research Skills in Film I (20 credits, compulsory)
- FLM7019 Research Skills in Film II (20 credits, compulsory)
- FLM7005 SUM Dissertation or FLM7005 FYR Dissertation (60 credits, compulsory).
Module content:
FLM7018 and FLM7019 enhance key skills in areas including academic writing, referencing, research processes, and audiovisual practices. The two modules explore key concepts in filmmaking, and methodologies in film studies research, including practice as research.
An important aspect of FLM7019 involves developing a proposal for the dissertation.
For FLM7005 Dissertation (60 credits), students work independently to develop and realise a substantial research project, with the guidance of an assigned supervisor. This may take the form of a traditional written dissertation, a short film with reflective essay, or a screenplay with reflective essay, in accordance with the requirements specified for the module.
Optional Modules
Modules are subject to change. Not all modules will be available every year.
- FLM7008 Film Practice
- FLM7010 Screenwriting
- FLM7012 Political Film: Form and Conflict
- FLM7013 European Film Industries and Digital Cultures
- FLM7016 Avant-Garde and Experimental Filmmaking
- FLM7017 Censorship, Regulation and Audiences
- FLM7020 The Film Soundtrack
- FLM7021 Global Film Cultures
How do I fund my study?
The Department for the Economy will provide a tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 per NI / EU student for postgraduate study.
A postgraduate loans system in the UK offers government-backed student loans of up to £11,836 for taught and research Master's courses in all subject areas. Criteria, eligibility, repayment, and application information are available on the UK government website.