Why a postgraduate degree still matters in the age of YouTube and DIY filmmaking
20 June 2025
This article is written by Dr John Finnegan, Writing for Script & Screen MA (Online) Course Leader.
One of the great joys of teaching on a master’s course is helping students figure out what their next steps might be in their screenwriting journey. For many prospective students, the decision to pursue an MA can feel daunting. It is a significant personal and financial commitment, after all. And in a world where YouTube tutorials, blogs, Substacks and social media posts promise quick and easy success, it is fair to ask: do we still need to pursue this route at all?
The answer, we believe, is yes. Perhaps more than ever.
When we launched Falmouth University’s online MA in Writing for Script and Screen in 2017, we knew we had to offer something that no tutorial video or social media feed ever could. We set out to build a rigorous, immersive, industry-facing course rooted in community, mentorship and continuous professional development. A course that gives students not just tools, but a clear pathway. Not just feedback, but a future – and their first IMDb credits to boot!
One of the defining features of the course is how closely it mirrors the realities of the screen industries. From the beginning, students learn to evaluate the current market landscape, what is being made, who is making it, and where new opportunities lie. They explore different media, from television and film to games, learning to identify where their voice fits and how to present themselves professionally.
Each module is designed to help students build a portfolio of industry-ready scripts, pitch decks and industry guided set briefs, developed and refined through constructive peer and tutor feedback. This is not theory for its own sake. It is a practice-based approach that ensures every student leaves with work they are proud to share.
A course taught by working writers for emerging writers
Our academic team is made up entirely of working professionals, with experience across film, television and games. This includes festival-nominated screenwriters, script editors for major production companies, and creative leads at independent studios. As a student, you are not just learning from lecturers. You are learning from people doing the work you want to do.
A standout feature of the course is our regular 'Open Office' drop-ins. These informal sessions allow students to check in with tutors, ask questions about their work, and get tailored advice based on where they are in their journey. Often, these conversations are where the real breakthroughs happen, helping students stay focused, motivated and aligned with industry realities.
Support that continues after Graduation
We have always believed that graduating from the course is not the end – it is the beginning of something new. Our alumni remain part of the wider community, and many return to speak to current students, lead workshops or collaborate on projects. We have featured former students who have gone on to place in the top international screenwriting competitions, secure high-profile roles with some of the leading producers in the industry and produce award-winning work.
We also founded OutWrd, a creative platform and audio drama production company designed to champion emerging writers and support graduates as they build their careers. OutWrd helps to provide meaningful industry credits, development opportunities and a community of like-minded creators. For many, it serves as a creative safety net, allowing writers to make bold, informed choices without feeling like they must follow the crowd. Most of all, it’s a creative home for our graduates, no matter where their career takes them.
It works: Real graduate success
Our graduates have gone on to achieve remarkable success, including:
- High profile positions at leading UK production organisations
- Awards from BAFTA-qualifying film festivals
- Placements in the Nicholl Fellowships, ScreenCraft and other global competitions
- Produced and distributed short and feature films that were written and developed on the course
- Working with narrative teams at game studios
These are writers who began with potential and left with a clear sense of direction and a strong support network behind them.
Still wondering if a master’s is right for you?
A master’s degree isn’t the only path into the screen industries. But for many writers, it offers something that no online tutorial or blog can match: meaningful structure, a strong sense of community, constructive and honest feedback, and consistently up-to-date professional insight. It’s not just about gaining a qualification; it’s about discovering and refining your voice, understanding how the industry works, and identifying where you fit within it. Perhaps most importantly, it’s about demonstrating to yourself and to the industry that you’re serious, that you’ve got something to say, and that you’re ready to show up.
At the beginning of this article, I mentioned one of the great joys of my job: helping writers make informed, empowered choices about their future. Another joy comes later; when I get to write those all-important reference letters for agency applications, festival labs or funding schemes. Summing up the journey our students have been on and watching them step confidently into the next chapter of their careers – it’s hard to beat that!
If you’re still weighing up whether a master’s might help shape your future as a screenwriter, I hope this has offered a clearer sense of what’s possible. At Falmouth, we don’t just train writers. We help launch careers. And wherever you’re starting from, we’d love to help you take that next step.
You might also like
Creative Events Management course leader on the communality of live events
Lecturer completes book trilogy with humorous reimagining of seagulls
Lecturer to host workshop on sustainable architecture
From studying Game Development to designing on F1 Manager
