Aberystwyth University, MA, Scriptwriting (Screen and Radio)

The course aims to provide the skills, knowledge and experience that prospective writers need to enter the industry with confidence; it combines theoretical, analytical and practical elements to develop writers’ understanding of the sources and stimuli that inspire their own scripts, as well as aiding in the development of their personal voices; the course has been developed in line with Skillset criteria, encouraging training and education that supports the creativity, productivity and effectiveness of the UK’s media industries; students study various ways to structure narrative fiction for film, television and radio; they also study aspects of character and characterisation, and examine the use of a number of scriptwriting techniques to enhance their own writing; in the 2nd part of the course students embark upon a project of independent research, to understand the conventions by which their chosen genre operates, and to discover ways in which to apply or adapt their findings to their own work; students complete the course with a portfolio of scriptwriting within their chosen medium and genre, mentored by a member of staff; the aim is to ensure that each student graduates with a compelling script and related documents, written to a professional standard.