Film, Photography and Media MA

Course overview

This course allows you to think about the critical and creative relationships between film, photography and the media while developing your skills to produce projects of your own.

You'll complete a major independent project, supported by modules that put your practice into the context of contemporary debates. You’ll explore the different critical approaches to the making and consumption of photography and film, to inform the short film and photography projects you’ll work on.

The flexibility of this course allows you to choose from optional modules that suit your personal and career aspirations. You could study cultural policy, international film industries, film and TV writing, feminism in the media and more.

The content of the course modules is informed by the research interests and practice of academic staff who teach them. This represents the School’s unique approach to combining theory and practice. Please note that this is not a vocational training course.

Please refer to the application deadlines.

Photography studio

Our School has a range of fantastic facilities to support your studies. Our 58-seat cinema is equipped with Dolby Digital sound, high-definition projection facilities and projectors for 16mm and 35mm film.

You can work on your own projects in our 44 editing suites, equipped with Avid Media Composer editing software and Adobe Creative Cloud. Our fully equipped TV studio has a large green screen area, lighting and photo-flash facilities. We have a track and dolly, sliders, Glidecam, cranes and a photographic darkroom.

We run a loans service where you can borrow HD digital camcorders and Canon stills cameras to help with your project work.

Explore all our facilities.

The School of Media and Communication is host to world-leading expertise. Current staff interests include (but are not limited to) experimental documentary and essay film, practice-as-research, feminist media practice, visual sociology and ethnography, and the poetics of space. Students have access to state-of-the-art film and photography facilities under the guidance of a highly skilled technical team.

Subjects are taught from an interdisciplinary approach that combines diverse fields of study to provide a dynamic learning experience. This enables students to develop broader perspectives and gain an understanding of the connections between different fields of study.

Course details

The whole course is based around a major independent project, in which you can create a short film, or photography project. Alternatively, you can choose to complete a written dissertation, whilst taking classes to develop your knowledge of research methods to support your work.

Both the core and optional modules you study throughout the course provide you with the theoretical, critical and contextual knowledge you need to inform your project, as well as further developing your creative and technical skills in filmmaking and photography.

You'll study two core modules on the course. One will explore the creative and critical links between photography and cinema, allowing you to work on a short film project. The other will explore the historical development of photographic creative practice, within contemporary issues and debates.

Alongside these modules, you'll also be able to choose from a range of options, enabling you to engage in topics that interest you, from screenwriting, film industries around the world, to new media, cultural policy, communication and development, television narrative and more.

If you choose to study part-time, you’ll complete the course over two years, instead of one, taking fewer modules each year.

Have a look at some student work produced on this course.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Film, Photography and Media MA Full Time in the course catalogue

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Film, Photography and Media MA Part Time in the course catalogue

Year 1 compulsory modules

Learning and teaching

We use learning methods that reflect the diversity of the course, including workshops, lectures, seminars, group learning, tutorials and film screenings. Independent study is a vital element of the course as this allows you to develop your skills and explore your creativity in practical work.

You'll be taught by active researchers in the field of film, photography and media. The research interests and practice of your tutors inform the content of the course.

Throughout the MA in Film, Photography and Media, inclusive learning approaches are used to engage you in critical thinking, debate, and collaboration. Various types of group work may be involved, including interactive lectures and forums for online discussion. This allows students to develop a deeper understanding of relevant topics and enables them to exercise their agency.

The course provides a student-centred, inclusive learning experience that accommodates different learning styles, backgrounds, and abilities. By creating opportunities for collaboration, networking, and co-creation, we promote positive graduate ambitions. The course encourages the use of digital resources to provide you with access to a wide range of learning materials, including video tutorials, online resources and assignments.

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

We use different methods of assessment, some of which will depend on the modules you choose. This is to ensure that you can demonstrate their knowledge and understanding in a wide variety of ways. Assessment methods may include e-portfolios of practical work, group and individual projects and reports, reflective and critical essays, exams, literature reviews, case studies, presentations, scripts and commentaries. Creative-critical assessments encourage innovation and experimentation with new techniques and different ideas.

Assessments are designed to enable students to practice transferable skills, including the ability to manage ongoing projects, communicate effectively, think critically, and collaborate. You'll be provided with feedback throughout each module to help you improve.

Applying

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (Hons), preferably with some background in lens-based or image practice. This course encourages applications from students whose undergraduate degree has investigated one of the following subject areas:

• creative photography (with evidence of some critical/reflexive writing)

• film practice (including fiction, documentary, experimental)

• film studies/filmology (as long as the applicant is aware that creative practice is at least 50% of this course)

• English literature (if there is significant evidence of creative practice)

• fine art (as long as there is evidence of photographic/time-based work)

• media studies (with evidence of creative practice).

Please note that this course is not specifically ‘vocational’ (a technical skills-based experience), though it will provide you with regular technical support to help you to realise your creative aims within each module.

All applicants are required to submit a portfolio of recent practical work. Applicants with degrees in other creative subjects, or with relevant professional experience, may also be considered.

This course includes a substantial amount of theoretical study, so may not be suitable for those with largely practice-based backgrounds. We may request additional documentation to inform our decision. Please note that meeting the entry requirements of this course doesn't guarantee an offer of a place.

International qualifications

To see equivalent entry requirements for your country, check our international entry requirement directory.

For more information contact the School of Media and Communication admissions team.

Applying from China

Due to the large numbers of applications we receive, we’re only able to offer places to applicants who have attended selected Chinese institutions. With regret, any applications we receive from applicants awarded a qualification in China from an institution that isn’t on this list will be rejected.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Communication and Society (6 weeks) and Language for Social Science and Arts: Communication and Society (10 weeks).

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

How to apply

Application deadlines

We operate a staged admissions process for this course with application deadlines throughout the year.

If you don’t receive an offer or a notification that your application has been unsuccessful in a particular stage, your application will be carried forward to be considered in the next stage.

If you intend to apply for funding, we advise you to submit an application for your chosen course as early as possible and at least one month before any scholarship deadline.

Please see our How to apply page for full details and for application deadlines for each stage.

The ‘Apply’ link at the top of this page will take you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.

If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

We may also ask you to attend an interview in some cases.

The Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures receives very large numbers of high-quality applications and regrets that it cannot make offers to all of its applicants. Some particularly popular schools may have to reject many that hold the necessary academic qualifications.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025

This course is taught by

School of Media and Communication

Contact us

Postgraduate Admissions Team

Email: mediapg@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £12,000 (Total)

International: £27,250 (Total)

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Part-time fees
Fees for part-time courses are normally calculated based on the number of credits you study in a year compared to the equivalent full-time course. For example, if you study half the course credits in a year, you will pay half the full-time course fees for that year.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

Head of School Masters Scholarships

We offer scholarships to applicants holding an offer to study a Masters at the School of Media and Communication in the form of tuition fee waivers.

To find out how to apply and to see all funding opportunities, visit our scholarship and funding opportunities page.

Career opportunities

This course will provide you with a broad knowledge base and creative skills across two important forms of media communication. You'll develop a critical awareness of the broader visual/ media culture to help you have a successful career in the media industries, including the creative and film industries, as well as roles in visual communication.

Additionally, the course’s emphasis on advanced skills in research, critical analysis, interpretation, presentation, and oral/ written communication will give you the skills you need to pursue a career in academia.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more about Careers support.