Wildlife Filmmaking (Taught)

UWE Bristol's MA Wildlife Filmmaking is ideal if you want to learn how to tell intelligent, engaging stories about natural history. This world-leading course has been co-designed with producers, directors and production managers from the BBC's renowned Natural History Unit.

Why study this course?
Study a uniquely designed industry-led curriculum alongside a purposefully small group of peers. You'll enjoy hands-on experience of professional film equipment, develop high-level production management skills, and gain contemporary insight into crafting natural history narratives.

In our collaborative culture, you'll develop communication and production skills to engage diverse audiences and have access to talks and events from across the creative industries. You'll be encouraged to develop a distinctive, personal approach to documentary, with students in the past pursuing diverse genres - from observational and behavioural to expedition and experimental films.

Why UWE Bristol?
As a creative student you'll be perfectly placed studying in Bristol, an UNESCO City of Film, widely recognised as the global capital of natural history production. Our academic partnership with the BBC's Natural History Unit means you'll have opportunities to frequently meet with professional programme makers, giving you industry insight and knowledge.

We've established ourselves as part of the city's thriving production community. Where possible you'll receive direct editorial input on your filmmaking from an industry-based mentor, alongside expert input from our sector-leading academics and technical staff.

Where can it take me?
You'll graduate with a globally recognised qualification and have a broad range of career options available to you regionally, nationally and internationally.

Equipped with essential skills and specialized knowledge, our graduates are well-prepared for entry-level roles in the wildlife production industry. Most find positions with the BBC or independent production companies in Bristol, across the UK, and internationally. Some graduates also pursue independent funding to create their own future productions.

Our students have been nominated, and won, major emerging talent awards including at BAFTA, Wildscreen, Royal Television Society, Jackson Hole and the International Wildlife Film Festival. Graduation films have been included in BBC broadcasts and in commercial distribution, selling to broadcasters globally.

Our students won the BAFTA Student Award for Best Documentary in two consecutive years. In 2025, Nikki Dodd won for her film, 'One Last Farm', which documents Bristol's last working farm and its fight to survive. BAFTA Student award winner and alum, Nyal Mueenuddin's film, 'When the Floods Come', won in 2024 and documents the stories of people affected by flooding near the River Indus in Pakistan.

To see examples of work produced by our recent MA Wildlife Filmmaking graduates, visit our UWE Showcase site.