Screenwriting for Film & Television
About the MA in Screenwriting
The MA in Screenwriting for Film and Television is the longest running and was the first MA of its kind in the country. It employs the very best screenwriting tutors in Ireland and each year we offer our students advice and input from the very best writers/producers and directors who visit our programme as panelists and guest speakers.
Each year we invite established directors to workshop scenes from our Master Student's screenplays with a group of actors – in previous years Lenny Abrahamson, Neil Jordan, Juanita Wilson, Jim Sheridan, Paddy Breathnach, Kirsten Sheridan, Ed Guiney, Neasa Hardiman and many other accomplished directors have dedicated their time and energy to these workshops.
As the year comes to an end we offer our students a chance to meet a number of Irish producers and production companies.
Our alumni are best placed to assess the quality of our programme. Many are now professional screenwriters while others are working as film/television producers, as directors, as documentary makers, or work in script development.
Our alumni include: Robert Quinn – recently directed The Bay and No Offence for the BBC, Robert Walpole – producer of Oscar shortlisted Viva, and director of Treasure Films.
The producers Brendan McCarthy and John McDonnell of Fantastic films are both graduates and Brendan's film The Wakewood was written on the course. Peter Foott the writer/director of The Young Offenders – is a graduate of the MA in Screenwriting as was his brother Mike Foott who writes with him on The Republic of Telly. The film critic Gavin Burke, Rioghnach Ni Ghrioghair the development executive at Samson Films, the comedienne and writer Hillary Rose, the producer of Love/Hate Suzanne McAuley, the award winning cinematographer Michael Lavelle and the production designer of Love Hate and now Ripper Street, Steven Daly are all graduates.
The prolific writer/director Mark O'Connor – King of the Travellers, Cardboard Gangsters etc. is a graduate and a regular visiting lecturer as is Terry McMahon the director/writer of Patrick's Day and Charlie Cassanova. Patrick Ryan's feature film Darkness on the Edge of Town was written on the MA as was Henriette Buegger's big budget German Television drama Under the Radar.
The acclaimed novelist Lia Mills was one of our early students. The animator Andrew Kavanagh, director of the hugely successful Kavaleer Productions, is another. Documentary maker and underwater cinematographer Joel Conroy – Waveriders – and director Niall Heery – Gold etc. – are recent graduates.
Legendary producer/director Billy McGrath and screenwriter Naomi Sheridan – who has adapted for Stephen King and co-writer on Academy and Golden Globe nominated In America – and screenwriter/actress/musician Esosa Ighodaro, were among the graduates of 2021.
What will I be doing?
Our course aims to inspire you to develop the art and craft of screenwriting and related ancillary skills to a high level. You will have already demonstrated an aptitude for writing (through your undergraduate studies or your portfolio work), and by the end of the course, you will have written a full-length feature script or a pilot episode of a television drama.
You will also acquire an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the craft of screenwriting, and will have gained a clear understanding of the stages of writing from idea to final draft. You will quickly appreciate the opportunities that exist in the film and television industries, as well as matters relating to copyright and contracts.
Subjects taught
What modules will I study?
The Craft of Screenwriting,
Film Theory and History,
Dramatic and Literary Traditions,
Writing Television Drama,
Main Project
Entry requirements
Undergraduate qualification of 2nd Class Honours or higher at Honours Degree level.
Applicants may be considered provided they can demonstrate Honours Degree equivalence, which can be verified through our RPL (recognition of prior learning) process.
Two references must also support your application.
Portfolio submission, as part of your application. See guidelines below.
Application dates
Application Deadline
Applications that are submitted before 25th May will be reviewed and invited to an online interview in early June.
Duration
18 months for 2023/24 with attendance on 2 full days per week, Monday + Tuesday and individual tutorials on Wednesdays.
Fees
EU Fees: €6,000
International Fees: €16,000
Post Course Info
Future careers
Careers may be found in the film/television industry as screenwriters, script editors and/or in teaching.