Online Film & TV graduate on the benefits of studying online

In order to push her career to the next level and scratch her creative itch, studying had to fit around Becky Smith’s work and family life. By choosing to study Film & TV MA (Online), she was able to make the most of her free time and challenge herself creatively. Her final major project – a documentary exploring Cornish identity – was not only a personal milestone but also earned a screening at the Cornwall Film Festival.

We caught up with Becky to discuss why she chose to study online at Falmouth, her key takeaways from the course, and how it’s supported her career progression.

What made you decide to study your master’s online?

I decided to undertake my MA online for several reasons. Firstly, as a creative and digital lecturer in education, in-person study wouldn't have fit around my work schedule. Teaching isn’t a 9–5 job, so being able to plan my own study time and join tutorials and webinars remotely was hugely beneficial. I'm also a parent, so being able to work in the evenings allowed me to dedicate the time needed to my studies and complete the MA successfully.

What were your highlights of your time on the course?

The course gave me the opportunity to explore my own practice. It made me prioritise time for creative development and encouraged me to push myself to produce content and engage with theory. Finding time to be creative when you have other responsibilities is hard, and the MA helped ensure I kept that creativity alive. I really enjoyed meeting a wide range of people during the course. The fact that we were studying online and based all over the world meant I got to learn from lots of different viewpoints. That cultural variety was a definite highlight, and I've stayed in touch with many people from my cohort.

What projects on the course were you proudest of?

I'm incredibly proud of my final major project. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone to create a 20-minute documentary exploring what it means to be Cornish. I took on every role in the production, which meant upskilling across the board – especially with audio. I recorded a male voice choir live for the soundtrack, which was a first for me. I’m also proud of the collaborative piece I worked on, which was an experimental film about lone working.

Collaborating remotely with someone nearly 300 miles away showed me that creativity doesn’t need to be limited by distance.