Skip navigation

Documentary (Taught)

Course details
  • 2 Study options
  • Postgraduate
Course location
Liverpool John Moores University

Course summary

This dynamic and practical Documentary MA from LJMU will develop your creative storytelling and multi-media production skills.

  • Explore documentary making via a variety of platforms and media

  • Develop skills in entrepreneurship and internationalisation

  • Work with award-winning documentary makers and experienced journalists

  • Undertake a placement with a professional media company

  • Attend the UK's premier documentary festival, Sheffield DockFest

  • Access to industry-standard technology and equipment

Develop the core skills required to become a successful documentary maker on this new Masters course. Through the exploration of practical camerawork skills, including sound recording, editing and interviewing, you will gain confidence in your craft, while the journalism modules will develop your skills in storytelling, interviewing and journalistic principles. You will also study and understand the laws which impact responsible journalism, including the latest media law and ethics.

Recently, a group of MA Documentary students accompanied Prof Serge Wich and MSc Wildlife Conservation and Drone Applications students for a trip of a lifetime, to use their expertise to document a wildlife conversation trip to the jungles of Tanzania. Prof Wich has dedicated his career to tracking animals in the region, including how to collect data on animal behaviour and the density of animals, mapping threats to various species, and mastering complex drone data collection skills. Watch a short promotional film produced by the MA Documentary students below.

The degree is taught by two departments within the School: Media Production and Journalism. The collaborative nature of the degree means you will receive the best learning support, access to the latest techniques, academic research and opportunities to engage with key external partners including the BBC, ITV; Northern Lights Partnership; Nine Lives Media; Blakeway North; Lime Pictures; and the BAFTA award-winning companies Hurricane Films and LA Productions.

Entry requirements

Undergraduate degree:
-a minimum 2:2 degree

Alternative qualifications considered:
-Although most applicants will be graduates, those without a degree and other non-standard applications will be considered. The Programme Leader will consider such applications on the basis of experience

Additional requirements:
-Interview required: You will not be interviewed (unless the Programme Leader deems it necessary)

International requirements:
-IELTS: IELTS English language requirement: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each component)

Extra Requirements:
-to demonstrate a genuine interest and commitment to practical filmmaking (non-media graduates)
-to demonstrate the ability to benefit from and contribute to the programme
-RPL: RPL is accepted on this programme

English language requirements

-IELTS English language requirement: 6.5 (minimum 5.5 in each component)

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Fees for this programme are to be confirmed.

Like this page