BA (Hons) Screenwriting Bachelor's degree at the University of Suffolk
BA (Hons) Screenwriting at University of Suffolk. You'll combine core theory with applied practice, exploring narrative structure, character development, and industry-standard techniques.
About this course
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BA (Hons) Screenwriting is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at the University of Suffolk. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for General Studies, see the sections below.
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 3 modules
- Foundations of Screenwriting: Character Development, Story Structure and Film Analysis
Module details
This module introduces you to character development, narrative structure, screenplay conventions, and film analysis. The fundamentals of character development and its centrality within the screenwriting process as a whole will be examined through critical, theoretical and practical work. You will critically engage with produced feature-length scripts, analysing how a screenwriter has brought a character to life and considering whether any of these methods may be appropriate for your own creative
- Foundations of Screenwriting: Character and Screen Idea Development, and Representation in Film
Module details
The critical engagement with scripts from the Foundations of Screenwriting: Character Development, Story Structure and Film Analysis module will inform your creative work developed over the course of the module. You will complete a portfolio of character development work, including biographies, profiles, monologues, speeches, character environment, and short script exercises. In addition, the film industry development process for fiction will be introduced, and across the module, you will write
- Radio, Television and Film Genre and History
Module details
You will develop your knowledge and understanding of how film genres evolve and of the debates surrounding genre classification. You will develop in-depth knowledge of three to four key film genres and the codes and conventions associated with them through the critical analysis of a number of feature-length films and/or scripts. The genres studied may include, for example, horror, thriller, romantic comedy, western, or science fiction. The differences in script conventions and dramatic principle
Year 2 3 modules
- Film Genre and Introduction to Writing Television Drama
Module details
This module reinforces and builds on key screenwriting knowledge and skills learnt in the Radio, Television and Film Genre and History module, further enhances your understanding of film genres and radio and television drama. You will consider how genre can be used to reach a specific target audience and develop a writer's voice and style. The critical study of genre from the Radio, Television and Film Genre and History module will inform your creative work, developed through workshops on a rang
- Developing Television Pilots and Film Shorts
Module details
In the first half of the module, the focus will be primarily on textual study of three key genres (drama, sitcom and soap opera) in contemporary television and a range of short films. Each of these televisual categories will be examined in terms of your format, generic conventions and narrative structures. This will underpin the practical television writing you will undertake across the second half of this module and the Writing Television Pilots and Film Shorts module. A diverse range of short
- Writing Television Pilots and Film Shorts
Module details
The module is designed as two intensive writing workshops, where you will have the opportunity to write a ten-minute short film in one and develop work for a sitcom, soap, or drama series/serial in the other. You will learn industry-standard practices, techniques, and methods involved in writing for each of the forms and formats through your own creative work and the group critique of peers' work. By the end of the module, you will have produced a number of drafts of a short film script and an e
Year 3 2 modules
- Research Methods, Advanced Screenwriting Skills, and Developing Feature Films
Module details
This module is designed to develop your knowledge and understanding of theoretical and critical approaches to the study of film texts and consolidate your dramaturgical knowledge and screenwriting skills, particularly in relation to writing in the longer form. The module prepares you for more rigorous independent research for your level-six dissertation and for developing longer-form film ideas for your final projects. Focusing on a range of film theories, approaches and methods that have been i
- Advanced Screenwriting Skills and Writing for Feature Films
Module details
This module builds on the Research Methods, Advanced Screenwriting Skills, and Developing Feature Films module and is designed as an intensive writing workshop to introduce you to writing in the longer form and advance your page-writing skills. You will turn (the first act) of your feature-film outlines and treatments from the Research Methods, Advanced Screenwriting Skills, and Developing Feature Films module into script pages. Although you will not take these ideas through to fruition during t
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
You'll study screenwriting as part of a broader general studies framework that moves from foundational concepts to specialist practice. A course like this typically begins with core academic skills and the main strands of the subject introduced side by side, alongside work with evidence and digital tools. In the second year, you'll undertake intermediate study connecting the programme's themes, take on applied projects such as team-based work on real briefs, and select optional modules from across the university. By the final year, you'll pursue specialist options in depth, engage with professional skills and placement opportunities, and complete an independent project that draws the degree together. You may specialise in areas such as applied projects, independent research, and interdisciplinary work, depending on your interests and the options available.
Who it's for
You're drawn to storytelling and want to understand how narrative works on screen. You enjoy close reading, critical thinking, and experimenting with your own ideas. This course will feel demanding and collaborative; you'll analyse films and scripts, give and receive feedback, and spend real time writing. You should be comfortable with constructive criticism and ready to develop a professional portfolio. Strong writing ability and genuine interest in cinema or television are essential.
Careers & job market
Across General Studies degrees nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation. Of those working, 65% are in highly skilled roles or pursuing further study. Starting salaries for graduates range from £24,000 to £30,000 at 15 months post-graduation; after five years, this rises to £25,075–£35,400. Screenwriting graduates pursue roles in television, film, advertising, and digital media, though the path often involves freelance work, commissions, and developing a portfolio whilst supporting yourself elsewhere.
University & format
This BA (Hons) Screenwriting is delivered by the University of Suffolk, a university recognised as a UK degree-awarding body. The degree is studied part-time and taught in English. The university, founded in 2007, holds a Bronze award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at University of Suffolk →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What General Studies graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in general studies · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs General Studies nationally
National figures for General Studies graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
Job market & outlook
How General Studies graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where General Studies graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Employers across sectors
- Public sector
- Corporates & charities
- Startups
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit General Studies graduates.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of Suffolk
Combined and general studies across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around University of Suffolk
1,566 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is General Studies right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to University of Suffolk from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £27,295 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check University of Suffolk’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with University of Suffolk and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Suffolk
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates earn?
What will it cost me?
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