MA Film and Media Production

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

Canterbury Christ Church University

Program Overview

The MA Film and Media Production at Canterbury Christ Church University gives you a powerful mix of hands‑on filmmaking practice and critical/media theory — so you graduate ready to shoot, edit and produce your own creative work and understand the social, cultural and business context of media.
This programme suits you if you’re passionate about storytelling, film or media production (or coming from another background but with serious film/TV interest), and want both practical skills and conceptual insight to launch a career in film, TV or media industries.

Curriculum structure
In your time on the MA you'll build skills from fundamentals to full projects:

Early in the course you’ll engage with core practical training through modules like Practical Production Skills for Film and Media and Pre-Production for Film and Media, which cover cinematography, camerawork, lighting, sound recording/design, non-linear editing, scriptwriting, producing and directing — so you get comfortable with real-world film production tools and workflows.
You’ll also participate in Collaborative Project and Creativity, Culture and Community modules, where you explore media production in broader cultural and social contexts, while working with peers to produce creative media work — building collaboration experience and understanding media’s societal role.
The final phase centres on a Final Project: you’ll produce an independent media or film work (could be short film, media piece or other creative project), integrating all skills — from pre‑production to post‑production — demonstrating your abilities and giving you a strong portfolio piece for future employers.

Focus areas
Cinematography & camerawork, lighting & sound design/recording, editing & post‑production, scriptwriting, producing & directing, pre‑production planning, collaborative media production, media theory and cultural/media studies, creative project development and independent film/ media work.

Learning outcomes
You will graduate able to plan, produce, shoot and edit media or film projects using professional‑level skills; develop and write scripts; understand media’s cultural/social role; collaborate with peers and industry‑style teams; and deliver creative work as an independent filmmaker or media producer with a portfolio of professional‑standard outputs.

Professional alignment (accreditation / industry relevance)
The course combines technical production training with theoretical grounding, delivered by a team of experienced educators and media professionals — giving you both creative‑craft and critical‑academic competencies that align with employment and creative‑industry expectations.

Reputation (employability / outcomes)
Graduates from this MA often enter media and film industries as filmmakers, producers, editors or media content creators; the course’s strong practical orientation, portfolio‑based output and broad skill set help make them competitive in a dynamic media landscape.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

From the start, this master’s at CCCU isn’t just about lectures — you’ll spend much of your time creating real films and media content, using professional‑standard equipment and facilities. The course is deliberately structured to give you hands‑on experience with all stages of production: from pre‑production and planning, to shooting, editing, sound, and post-production — as well as opportunities to collaborate, experiment and build a portfolio that reflects real industry practice.

Here’s how that plays out in concrete form:

Access to full film & TV production facilities: CCCU’s “Powell building” houses a fully equipped film and TV studio plus a professional TV gallery. You’ll also get access to a radio‑studio and several Mac labs — ideal for editing, sound design or digital work.
Use of industry‑standard kit: Students work with digital film cameras (e.g. Blackmagic Pocket, Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro, and even high‑end cameras like Arri‑Alexa Mini LF), plus lighting, grip, location‑lighting and support gear for productions — giving you real cinematography and production experience.
Post‑production, editing & sound facilities: The programme offers editing and post‑production resources: software and hardware for non‑linear editing, sound recording/design, and other finishing work.
Practical, project-based workflow: The curriculum includes modules such as “Pre‑Production for Film and Media,” “Practical Production Skills for Film and Media,” “Collaborative Project,” and a “Final Project.” This means — from early on — you’ll be actively working on real films/media projects, often with peers, rather than just studying theory. Collaboration & interdisciplinary work opportunities: Because the film/media MA is delivered alongside other creative‑arts and media-related degrees at CCCU, you have the chance to meet and collaborate with students from different creative backgrounds — which reflects how real film/TV production works in the industry.
Blend of theory and practice: While the focus is strongly practical, the course isn’t only vocational — there’s a theoretical component (e.g. modules on culture, community, media theory) that helps you understand the broader context of media production and develop critical thinking alongside craft skills.

So in short: at CCCU, you’re not just learning about film, you’re making it — from scripting, camera work, lighting and sound to editing and final production — with real equipment, real spaces, and real collaborations.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the MA Film (Film with Practice) often go on to roles such as director, producer, editor, cinematographer or screenwriter — equipping you for creative and production‑side careers in film, media, or digital content. With a strong final creative project and exposure to theory + practice, you’ll be well‑prepared to enter film production, media companies, or to develop independent film projects.

Future Progression & Opportunities:

University support & resources: Kent offers excellent library and research facilities, a campus‑based film culture, and screening events — giving you access to a wide film archive, journals, weekly film screenings, group viewing spaces, and a strong academic environment. Practical training & technical skills: The course combines technical and creative training: you’ll work with production equipment (camera, lighting, sound recording) and editing/post‑production tools; learn cinematography, sound, editing, production design, and more; and build real short films (fiction or documentary) as part of your “Final Creative Project.”
Professional‑style film‑making experience & portfolio: Through modules like “Filmmaking 1: Key Skills and Fiction,” “Project Development,” and the “Final Creative Project,” you’ll gain hands‑on experience in pre‑production, production, and post‑production — ending with a finished short film or creative project you can show to employers, collaborators, festivals, or for independent work.
Versatile career paths on graduation: Alumni of the programme have pursued work in film production (e.g. at film studios, festivals), editorial/assist‑roles, film journalism, media, cultural organisations, heritage and arts sectors — offering flexibility based on your skills and interests.
Enhanced employability and long‑term value: The combination of theoretical grounding (film history, analysis, screenwriting) and practical production skills gives the qualification both intellectual legitimacy and creative‑industry readiness — valuable whether you stay in production, move into media/arts organisations, or build an independent career.

Further Academic Progression:
You could build on this MA by going into research-based study — for example a PhD (e.g. in “PhD Film: Practice as Research” at Kent) if you're interested in combining creative practice with research, theory and writing.
Alternatively, you could specialise further via shorter postgraduate or professional courses (e.g. in cinematography, screenwriting, editing, film theory), or combine this MA with independent projects to strengthen a creative‑professional portfolio (e.g. applying to festivals, film commissions, or media companies).