Screen Studies (M.Phil.)

Overview

Course Overview

The M.Phil. in Screen Studies at Trinity offers the opportunity to focus on a variety of areas: writing for different screens, studying historical and theoretical trends, or undertaking documentary filmmaking in a critically informed and creative context.

At every step of the way your progress will be informed by an emphasis on critical thinking and creative practice. In addition, the course aims to develop the key transferable skills required for postgraduate study. These include research preparation, time management and oral and written presentation skills.

The M.Phil. in Screen Studies allows students to develop the skills required to write successfully for and about a range of different screens in a critically informed and creative context, supported by the latest developments in gaming and digital content. It comprises 60 ECTS of taught modules and a 30-ECTS research component.

Is This Course For Me? 

The objective of the programme is to prepare graduates who can adapt to an industry that recreates itself regularly around technological advances. Students will select their chosen platform(s) when preparing their portfolio of work  – whether it is creative with feature film or television screenplays, or library-based research work – and bring their writing to industry standard and complete their studies with either a research project screenplay in their chosen area of interest (feature film, television, on-demand broadcast, documentary, or adaptation) or a theoretical and historically informed research project. In addition to the one-year full-time programme, the programme is offered part-time over two years.

Career Opportunities 

This course prepares students for a variety of careers including Screenwriting and education. Our graduates have also pursued careers in the film and television industry, digital media, advertising, marketing, arts administration, as well as further research.

Course Structure 

All students take six taught modules and complete a Research Project. You put together a pathway that suits your interests. For instance, if you wanted to focus on writing for screens, you would undertake the following core screenwriting modules and select from elective modules to create the pathway that meets your interests and goals.

List of Sample Modules*

*These module titles are for illustration purposes only: the School reserves the right to change modules.

Students can arrange these modules as suits their areas of interest as long as it meets these requirements:

The full-time programme consists of two elements:
1.    6 taught modules (10 ECTS each) delivered equally across two semesters (60 ECTS)
2.    Research Project (30 ECTS) 

The part-time programme consists of two elements:
1.    Year 1 (40 ECTS) = 4 modules (10 ECTS each)
2.    Year 2 (50 ECTS) = 2 modules (10 ECTS each) + Research Project (30 ECTS)

Research Projects 
Creative Focus:
1.    A research project screenplay
AND
2.    A critical reflection of 3,500-4,000 words.
The exact nature and length of the research project screenplay will be agreed between the student and the course coordinator and can include a feature film, a series of short films, an adaptation, television screenplay, or on-demand series. It could also include a video essay.

Research Focus:

1. A dissertation of 12,000 to 15,000 words on a subject agreed between the student and their supervisor.
OR
2. A dissertation of 8,000 to 10,000 words that also includes a Video Essay of a duration and subject matter agreed with their supervisor.

Click here  for more information on modules/subjects.