MA Factual and Documentary

A degree, in a relevant subject (2.2 minimum), plus a portfolio demonstrating recent engagement and creative activities in your intended study area. Accreditation of professional experience may be possible for practitioners without a first degree. Your degree subject should be in media/film/television production practice, with existing knowledge of documentary making and production.

A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in any component (or equivalent) is required for those whose first language is not English.

For country specific qualifications, please visit our your country page.

If you do not have the required level of English for entry, our academic English courses can help you to achieve this level.

Your portfolio should include at least two completed short films in which you have taken a lead role — work in documentary is preferred for this submission. Short films can be fiction or (preferably) documentary, but not music videos, promos, commercials, or amateur productions. We recommend you visit us to see if we are right for you - we hold open days where you can often meet relevant staff and view the facilities.

A personal statement outlining why you want to pursue your chosen master's course at the University of Hertfordshire, reflecting on your current skills and experience, and detailing your ambitions for your future career.


Institution code	H36
Course length	Full Time, 1 Years
Location	University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Employability

Careers

MA Factual and Documentary at the University of Hertfordshire will equip you with advanced documentary filmmaking skills and a strong portfolio of original factual work that demonstrates your authorship, research capability and ethical approach to storytelling. Through practice-led production projects, you’ll gain experience across documentary development, production and post-production, building the critical, creative and practical skills required for professional documentary practice.

Career opportunities are wide-ranging. You could work as a documentary director, documentary filmmaker or producer, or progress into roles such as researcher or independent filmmaker. Graduates are well prepared for freelance careers across documentary film, factual television and independent production, developing sustainable pathways within the screen industries.

Professional Accreditations

MA Factual and Documentary at Herts is professionally accredited by BAFTA albert, recognising the course’s commitment to sustainable and environmentally responsible filmmaking. BAFTA albert accreditation is delivered as part of the core module Documentary Production Techniques, giving you practical training in sustainable production practices aligned with current industry standards.

About the course

MA Factual and Documentary at Herts will enable you to:

Develop your documentary film practice through long-form, research-led projects rooted in contemporary documentary cinema
specialise in factual and documentary filmmaking at postgraduate level, with a clear focus on film rather than television documentary production
build advanced documentary production skills, including story development, research, ethics, production planning and post-production workflows
engage with professional documentary workflows through project-based learning that reflects current industry expectations.

Why choose this course?

Do you want to develop the storytelling, research and creative skills needed to make compelling documentary films? The MA Factual and Documentary course at Herts is designed for those who want to specialise in documentary filmmaking and develop their own creative voice. You’ll focus on storytelling, authorship and ethics, learning how to create thoughtful, well-researched documentary films.

You’ll learn how to develop documentary ideas from research to screen. Teaching covers story development, research methods, ethical decision-making, production planning and post-production workflows, with an emphasis on long-form documentary practice.

The course is informed by current UK and international documentary film practice. You’ll be taught by experienced lecturers and supported by visiting industry practitioners through guest lectures, workshops and masterclasses, giving you insight into professional documentary expectations.

You’ll have opportunities to participate in The Elstree Project, a long-running research initiative documenting the history of the Elstree and Borehamwood studios. Practical, project-based learning is central to the course. You’ll gain hands-on experience working through professional documentary workflows from development to post-production, building advanced skills and confidence as a documentary filmmaker.

What will I study?

MA Factual and Documentary at Herts is a full-time course delivered over one academic year. It combines practical documentary filmmaking with academic research and industry context. You’ll typically study across two teaching days per week through a mix of lectures, seminars, practical workshops, tutorials and independent study. Teaching is mainly face to face, with some hybrid or online activity where appropriate. Assessment is 100% coursework, including documentary production work, written research, presentations and reflective commentaries.

At the start of the course, you’ll study core modules in documentary production techniques, industry and cultural research, and major project development and planning. You’ll learn documentary research methods, storytelling and ethics, how to work responsibly with contributors, and how to shape narrative in post-production. You’ll also collaborate with postgraduate editing students on your documentary projects.

The course culminates in a major project in documentary, where you’ll produce, direct or department-lead an original documentary film. This final project brings together your creative, research and practical skills, resulting in a substantial piece of work that reflects professional documentary practice and forms a key part of your portfolio.

Level 7

Module	Credits	Compulsory/optional
Investigative Minds: Culture, Industry, Research	30 Credits	Compulsory
This module aims to equip you with a range of research skills which can be deployed in academic and professional contexts within your chosen area of discipline. Focusing on both academic and industry research and presentation, key skills addressed include those of research management, critical evaluation, academic conventions, research methodologies, and a range of modes of contextual analysis. The module provides an opportunity for you to engage with a cross-section of people and environments from throughout the creative industries, seeking an understanding of how your own practice may be located within these contexts, locally, nationally or globally.
Finding the Story: Major Project Development and Planning	30 Credits	Compulsory
This module explores and applies the skills required to plan and prepare to work on and participate in the completion of a professional film production (documentary or fiction) or feature length script in readiness for application in one of the following Semester C modules: 7CTA2011 Major Project in Film Producing 7CTA2012 Major Project in Screenwriting 7CTA2076 Major Project in Film Editing and Post Production 7CTA2101 Major Project in Factual and Documentary 7CTA2102 Major Project in Cinematography 7CTA2103 Major Project in Directing It provides an overview of scheduling and budgeting for a professional film production, as well as protocols of working with cast/contributors and crew, story outlines and script planning (including synopses, treatments and beat sheets), scheduling, production management and budgeting, casting, preparing to direct and how a director works with their creative team, pre-production cinematography and lighting design, post production and editing considerations, post workflows, marketing and delivery, post-completion sales and the value chain. A pre-production pack, aimed to inform the writing of a feature script or production of a short film, is typically created in readiness for the major study.
Documentary Production Techniques	60 Credits	Compulsory
This module explores the aspects of documentary film storytelling in the visual medium of film, through production practices, story and script development, and engagement with archive material of various sources. You will consider a range of writing and documentary storytelling methods, as well as how to work with contributors, factual sources, and archives. You will learn about documentary scripts, as well as methods for researching and finding factual stories, and techniques for building factual narratives in post-production. Additionally, the module introduces you to the environmental impact of global and national production methods, regulations and policy, and ways in which to reduce the carbon footprint of productions with the accredited BAFTA albert certification training and assessment.
Major Project in Factual and Documentary	60 Credits	Compulsory
This module enables you to realise a sustained film project (usually 10-15 min in length) in collaboration with others, having negotiated and planned for the work to be undertaken in the 7CTA2010 Finding the Story module prior to this. Typically – supported by a mentor staff member – you will receive a number of one-to-one tutorials and mentoring sessions during the various stages of the production and post-production process, in order to assist you in generating independent, self-managed project work at an advanced level. The Major Project offers a setting in which you can increase your confidence in creative decision making, whilst expanding awareness of the requirements of film style and technologies, the marketplace and audiences. With tutor supervision, you are expected to work independently and with a team to manage the challenge of the Major Project.

Further course information

Programme specifications
MA Factual and Documentary - Full Time, Sem A	Download

Additional information
Sandwich placement or study abroad year	n/a
Applications open to international and EU students	Yes

Student experience

At the University of Hertfordshire, we want to make sure your time studying with us is as stress-free and rewarding as possible. We offer a range of support services including; student wellbeing, academic support, accommodation and childcare to ensure that you make the most of your time at Herts and can focus on studying and having fun.

You’ll study in the award-winning FMM (Film, Music and Media) building on the College Lane campus, with access to high-spec computer labs and industry-standard facilities. You’ll edit and complete post-production work for editing and documentary in the Walter Murch Post Production Lab. You’ll also have access to professional software and hardware through the Learning Resource Centre. If you’re a home student, you can access parts of the course remotely, while overseas students study on campus in line with visa requirements. All students are welcome on campus five days a week.

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Funding and fees
Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Fees 2026
UK Students
Full time
- £10320 for the 2026/2027 academic year
EU Students
Full time
- £17950 for the 2026/2027 academic year
International Students
Full time
- £17950 for the 2026/2027 academic year
*Tuition fees are charged annually. The fees quoted above are for the specified year(s) only. Fees may be higher in future years, for both new and continuing students. Please see the University's Fees and Finance Policy (and in particular the section headed "When tuition fees change"), for further information about when and by how much the University may increase its fees for future years.

View detailed information about tuition fees

Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

View detailed information about our accommodation

Read more about additional fees in the Programme Specification.
How to apply

International/EU applicants without pre-settled status in the UK

Apply through our international/EU application portal

Home and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK

2026
Start Date End Date Year Location Link
21/09/2026 30/09/2027 1 UH Hatfield Campus Apply online (Full Time)
2027
Start Date End Date Year Location Link
21/09/2027 30/09/2028 1 UH Hatfield Campus Apply online (Full Time)

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MA Factual and Documentary

Careers

Professional Accreditations

About the course

Why choose this course?

What will I study?

Further course information

Student experience

Other financial support

Fees 2026

UK Students

Full time

EU Students

Full time

International Students

Full time

Living costs / accommodation

International/EU applicants without pre-settled status in the UK

Home and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK

2026

2027