Learning film and TV from the inside: how the April MA experience prepares students for the industry

For students eager to step directly into the realities of screen production, the April intake of the MA Film & Television Production course offers a distinctive experience. We caught up with MA Senior Tutor Nick Cohen, who explains that this cohort is often defined less by career certainty and more by discovery.

“The April intake often attracts students who have come to postgraduate study later with varied experiences from all over the world. That brings a distinctive energy to the cohort. There is a real sense of excitement around discovery.”

That openness quickly reshapes how students see themselves within filmmaking.

“Many students arrive with a fixed idea of themselves – often as directors – but quickly begin to uncover unexpected passions and talents, whether in cinematography, editing, producing, or even by stepping into roles that aren’t formally assessed, such as acting in one another’s films.”

Rather than specialising early, the course is designed to reflect how the screen industries actually operate.

“This MA is best suited to students who are curious, adaptable, and genuinely interested in understanding screen practice in the round.” 

Studying at the prestigious Ealing Studios reinforces that professional mindset from day one.

“Being based at Ealing Studios creates a totally different energy from a purely academic campus. Every day we walk past large-scale Netflix or Hollywood productions in full swing.”

The course’s emphasis on practical filmmaking mirrors contemporary screen careers, where flexibility is essential.

“The course places a strong emphasis on hands-on production and making as much varied screen content as possible.”

That approach leads to tangible outcomes, from professional collaborations to public screenings.

“These kinds of outcomes – professional credits, public screenings, and sustained creative partnerships – capture the spirit of the April cohort and the course as a whole.”

For students who want to learn filmmaking through collaboration, experimentation and real-world engagement, April offers more than an alternative start date. It offers a different way in.

Ready to take your screen production skills to the next level?

The MA Film and Television Production programme is built to immerse you in hands-on practice, strengthen your screen storytelling skills, and prepare you for a career across today’s evolving screen industries.

Applications are open for our April 2026 intake – start your journey in screen production and explore all the roles and opportunities the industry has to offer.

👉 Find out more and apply here