BA (Hons) Screenwriting (Full Time)

The BA (Hons) Screenwriting at Southampton Solent University is a practical degree with a strong emphasis on work experience and the shifting market for creative ideas.

Key elements include:

• Mixture of academic and practical study, to help you examine wider cultural and social issues
• Teaching informed by practice, enabling you to apply screenwriting theory to real-world examples
• Major focus on producing creative work throughout the course
• Lectures, seminars and workshops focused on self-progression, learning by doing and self/peer reflection
• Work placements, networking opportunities and entries to writing competitions
• Guest speaker programme featuring leading industry experts
• One-to-one tutorials and individual feedback for all assignments.

Industrial focus

Employability is at the heart of this course, and we’ll support you to find work experience, build contacts, enter competitions and prepare work for producers and agents. The University’s in-house production company, Solent Productions, has numerous opportunities for students.

Our comprehensive guest-speaker programme and live client briefs are ideal to help you prepare for screenwriting and scriptwriting careers.

And you’ll be taught by experienced industry professional able to share up-to-date insights. Forthcoming publications by staff include Marc Blake’s How Not to Write a Sitcom and Writing Horror for the Screen by Sara Bailey and Marc Blake.

Course content

Year 1

Six core units:

• Introduction to Screenwriting Craft
• Introduction to Story
• Genre Writing
• Scripts into Performance
• Researching and Critical Theory
• Reading Screen Texts.

Year 2

Five core units and one option unit:

• Understanding Media
• Writing the Fact-based Script
• Authors and Audiences
• Scripts into Production
• Adapting for the Screen.

Options:

• British and Irish Theatre Since 1945
• Writing Sci-Fi and Horror
• Writing Serial Drama
• Writing for Publication
• Guerrilla Film-Making.

Year 3

Five core units and one option unit:

• Major Script
• Writing for Theatre and Radio
• Media Markets and Context 1
• Media Markets and Context 2
• Writing and Difference.

Options:

• Writing Comedy and Sit-Com
• Politics and Film
• Documentary Film
• Cinefantastic
• Writing for Comic Strip and Animations.

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Why choose Solent?

The BA (Hons) Screenwriting at Southampton Solent University is one of the only UK undergraduate degrees that specialises in writing for all major screen formats, including feature film, drama documentary, sit-com, comedy and television. This is a practical degree with a strong emphasis on competitions, work experience and a knowledge of the shifting market for creative ideas.

• A variety of guest speakers are invited to give talks to students.
• All lecturers have relevant industry experience and many are developing their own projects.
• Annual competition judged by invited guest professional.

Assessment

Scripts, essays and presentations, pitching sessions, writing treatments and step-outlines, script reader/editor reports, performed readings and group production.

Projects/work experience

Students can participate in film productions from their own screenplays. Previous students have had work performed in theatres and have also obtained industry placements.

Key career skills

Writing, creative thinking, problem solving, teamwork, presentation skills.

Student quote

Julianne Watling, Final Draft Big Break| screenwriting competition Quarter Finalist 2012

“If you want to write for the screen, then this is the degree for you. After studying for three years at drama school and then pursuing an acting career, I discovered that what I really loved was writing – creating something from nothing. As an actor, I found it frustrating how much badly written stuff there was out there, so I thought I’d give it a go myself. I started writing and realised how much I loved it.

“I decided to do the degree at Solent because I wanted to really focus myself as a writer and channel my energy into creating as much as I could. I find that the course definitely helps to stimulate my imagination and give me ideas about what to write. Being in a creative and supportive group environment means that we can all get the best from our own talents. It’s great to workshop ideas and get feedback from like-minded writers. For me, it’s the best way to get as much written as possible and to try out new ideas and get feedback, so that when I dive into the industry, I’ll be as prepared as I can be.”

Lucy Daniel Raby, author and screenwriter

“The University has a great atmosphere of creativity and camaraderie, and I was very impressed with the high standard of the project work which was extremely professional, original and innovative. I think these students will go far in their careers in the creative industries and I hope to see their names in lights or in print one day. I wish them the very best of luck.”
The International Foundation Year must be successfully completed before commencing undergraduate study (NQF Level 6 and above). In compliance with UKBA Tier 4 (General Student) policy, a Confirmation of Acceptance for Study (CAS) will initially be issued for the foundation course.

Key info from UNISTATS

You might notice the data is the same in multiple widgets below. That’s because if there isn’t enough data about each version of the course, the data is combined. For more info, visit the Unistats website.