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Documentary Production - MA *

Currently viewing course to start in 2027/28 Entry.

Developed and delivered in partnership with the BBC, our MA Documentary Production course allows you to capture reality and tell stories that matter. This Master's course is designed for aspiring documentary producers who want to develop a distinctive creative voice while gaining the advanced professional skills needed to succeed across today's media industries....

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  • Level Postgraduate Taught
  • Study mode Full Time
  • Award MA
  • Start date September 2027

This course is:

Available with Professional Placement option

Open to International Students

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Overview

Developed and delivered in partnership with the BBC, our MA Documentary Production course allows you to capture reality and tell stories that matter.

This Master's course is designed for aspiring documentary producers who want to develop a distinctive creative voice while gaining the advanced professional skills needed to succeed across today's media industries.

The world of documentary storytelling has never been more diverse. From short stories, feature documentaries and broadcast television to streaming platforms, podcasts and immersive media, factual storytelling continues to shape how audiences understand the world.

Through a combination of creative practice, industry engagement and critical reflection, you'll build the skills, confidence and portfolio needed to pursue a career in documentary production across a range of sectors and platforms. Along the way, you'll refine your own unique perspective as a storyteller, learning how to craft compelling, impactful documentaries that stand out in a rapidly evolving media landscape.

Teaching will take place at BCU's City Centre Campus and, subject to final planning approval, at the BBC's new Midlands headquarters at the Tea Factory.

What's covered in this course?

You'll develop your skills through a blend of specialist industry input, real-world production projects, independent production and academic study, gaining the knowledge and experience to create compelling documentary content for a range of platforms and audiences.

Working alongside BBC staff, experienced academics, technical specialists and visiting industry professionals, you'll explore every stage of the production process, from research and development to production, post-production and delivery. Opportunities to collaborate with external partners on live projects will help you build industry experience and strengthen your professional portfolio.

Using industry-standard television and radio studios, you'll gain hands-on experience of producing content in both studio and on-location settings. You'll plan, produce and deliver content across documentary, television, radio and on-demand platforms, developing an understanding of the complete production process from initial concept to final delivery. You'll develop practical production skills while learning the craft of storytelling to create engaging factual content. You'll also gain experience of live broadcasting and streaming, as well as the integration of audio and video production.

Alongside hands-on production, you'll examine the creative, ethical and cultural dimensions of documentary practice. Through research, pitching, critical reflection and editorial development, you'll investigate documentary form, representation, authorship, audience engagement and distribution, informing your own approach to nonfiction storytelling.

The course places a strong emphasis on independent creative practice, enabling you to develop, produce and realise original documentary projects that reflect your interests and aspirations. As your studies progress, you'll build confidence in your ability to develop and realise original documentary projects while establishing a distinctive voice as a documentary maker.

Whether you plan to work within established media organisations, independent production companies or as a freelance creator, you'll develop the collaborative, entrepreneurial and professional skills needed to navigate a rapidly evolving media landscape.

You will benefit from studying in one of the world's leading centres for television and radio production, while the BBC partnership provides valuable insight into contemporary British broadcasting and professional practice.

Professional Placement option

This course offers an optional professional placement. This allows you to spend 20 weeks with an employer, following completion of your taught modules, and is a great way to enhance your employability.

The experience you gain through your placement will allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market.

If you choose the placement option, you will be responsible for finding and securing a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will be able to draw on the University’s extensive network of local, regional and national employers, and the support of our Careers teams. If you do not secure a suitable placement, you will automatically be transferred back to the standard, non-placement version of the course.

Please note: Placement opportunities may be available with a wide range of organisations across the media, creative and communications sectors. Placements will only be confirmed following a competitive, employer-led selection process. As such, opportunities with specific employers or organisations cannot be guaranteed. 

Why Choose Us?

  • Developed and delivered in partnership with the BBC. You'll learn from BBC staff, experienced academics, technical specialists and industry professionals, benefiting from contemporary industry insight alongside academic expertise in documentary production and factual storytelling.
  • Develop your own distinctive documentary voice. Through independent creative practice and self-directed production, you'll create original documentary projects that reflect your interests, helping you establish a distinctive voice as a documentary maker.
  • Gain hands-on experience across the full production process. From research, pitching and development through to filming, editing and final delivery, you'll gain practical experience of every stage of documentary production.
  • Work with industry-standard facilities and equipment. You'll build professional production skills in our television and radio studios and on location, developing expertise in camera operation, lighting, sound recording, live broadcasting and post-production.
  • Build a professional portfolio and industry experience. Collaborative projects with external partners and real-world production opportunities will help you develop a portfolio of work that showcases your creative and technical abilities.
  • Prepare for careers across the contemporary media industries. Specialist production modules mirror professional industry practice, equipping you with the creative, collaborative and entrepreneurial skills needed for careers across documentary, television, audio and digital media.

Open Day

Join us for an Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation.

Next Event: 21 November 2026

Register interest What to expect

Course in Depth

Module

Television and Radio Production

Formats and Programme Development

Documentary Production and Form

Professional Practice

Production Lab

Major Project

How you learn

Your learning will combine advanced seminars, lectures, practical workshops, studio production, collaborative projects, industry engagement and independent creative practice. The course has been developed in partnership with the BBC, providing opportunities to engage with industry professionals and explore contemporary approaches to broadcasting, audio production and digital media. This is complemented by our wider network of industry, community and research partners.

You will be encouraged to critically reflect on established industry practices, explore emerging technologies and develop your own creative identity as a media professional. Through independent projects and collaborative activities, you will apply advanced knowledge and skills to real-world creative challenges, developing solutions that demonstrate originality, critical understanding and professional awareness.

Opportunities for industry engagement and professional networking are embedded throughout the course, enabling you to apply your learning within relevant creative contexts. Flexible approaches to learning are integrated across the curriculum, including blended learning, recorded materials, online activities and intensive practical sessions where appropriate.

As a postgraduate student, you will be expected to take increasing ownership of your learning journey, developing the independence, resilience and reflective practice required of advanced creative professionals. Academic staff will support your development through supervision, tutorials and specialist guidance, while guest speakers, technical demonstrators, industry practitioners and academic researchers will contribute to your learning through workshops, masterclasses and professional engagement activities.

Throughout the course, you will build a professional portfolio of creative work that demonstrates your developing expertise, critical thinking and ability to produce work suitable for professional, research or further academic contexts.

Entry Requirements

Essential requirements

Applicants are normally expected to have a minimum of a 2:2 honours degree, or equivalent, in media studies, media production, media communication, film and television studies, radio and audio courses, performing arts or theatre, public relations, journalism, English, creative writing and screen writing.

Prior experience of work in television, radio, online content production or other media related areas is useful, but not essential.

Your achievements should clearly demonstrate a keen interest in the field of media production and you are advised to read around the subject of media and to explore examples. Your application should demonstrate your ability to generate and develop ideas, as judged by the MA team.

We welcome non-traditional applications, particularly from applicants with substantial professional or production experience.

Applying with international qualifications

See below for further information on applying as an international student.

If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.

Fees & How to Apply

Please select your student status to view fees and apply
  • UK Student
  • International Student

UK students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: MA

Starting: Sep 2027

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

International students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: MA

Starting: Sep 2027

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

Personal statement

You’ll need to submit a personal statement as part of your application for this course. This will need to highlight your passion for postgraduate study – and your chosen course – as well as your personal skills and experience, academic success, and any other factors that will support your application for further study.

If you are applying for a stand alone module, please include the title of the module you want to study in your Personal Statement.

Not sure what to include? We’re here to help – take a look at our top tips for writing personal statements and download our free postgraduate personal statement guide for further advice and examples from real students.

Employability

Enhancing employability skills

This course is designed to help you graduate with the confidence, professional skills and industry experience needed to succeed in today's rapidly evolving media industries. Through a unique partnership with the BBC, you'll learn from industry professionals, experienced academics and visiting experts, gaining first-hand insight into current broadcasting, documentary and digital production practices.

Professional development is embedded throughout the course. You'll work on real-world projects, collaborate with external partners and build a portfolio of industry-standard work that showcases your creative, technical and editorial abilities. By working across documentary, television, radio and on-demand platforms, you'll develop a versatile skill set that is highly valued by employers.

As well as advanced production skills, you'll strengthen key employability attributes including leadership, teamwork, communication, project management, problem-solving and critical thinking. The course also develops your understanding of commissioning, funding, audience engagement, branding, distribution and professional production workflows, giving you a broader understanding of how the media industry operates.

You'll have opportunities to expand your professional network through industry engagement activities, guest speakers, workshops, masterclasses and collaborative projects. For those considering freelance or entrepreneurial careers, the course encourages you to develop your networking, self-promotion and business awareness skills, helping you establish yourself as an independent creative practitioner.

By the time you graduate, you'll have a professional portfolio, valuable industry contacts and the practical experience, confidence and industry awareness needed to pursue careers across documentary, television, radio, podcasting and wider digital media sectors.

Graduate jobs

This course will help you develop the creative, technical and professional expertise needed to build a successful career in the media industry.

Through hands-on production experience, you'll gain an understanding of the entire content creation process, from research and development through to production, post-production and distribution.

As you build your portfolio and develop your own documentary voice, you'll gain the confidence to pursue opportunities across documentary, television, radio, podcasting and digital media. Graduates may progress into roles such as documentary researcher, assistant producer, producer, content creator, production coordinator, radio producer, podcast producer, multimedia journalist, editor or freelance filmmaker.

Alongside specialist production skills, you'll develop the adaptability, critical thinking and professional awareness sought by employers across the creative industries. Whether your ambition is to join an established broadcaster, work for an independent production company or build a freelance career, the course will equip you with the knowledge, experience and industry insight to take the next step.

Links to industry

Strong industry connections are at the heart of this course. Developed and delivered in partnership with the BBC, it gives you the opportunity to learn within a professional broadcasting environment and gain valuable insight into contemporary documentary, television and audio production.

You'll learn from BBC staff, experienced academics, technical specialists and visiting industry professionals who bring current industry knowledge directly into the classroom. Their expertise will help you understand how professional productions are developed, commissioned and delivered across today's rapidly changing media landscape.

Throughout your studies, you'll take part in workshops, masterclasses, collaborative projects and networking opportunities that connect you with media professionals and external organisations.

By working on practical production projects and developing a portfolio of professional-quality work, you'll gain experience that reflects industry practice while building valuable contacts that can support your career after graduation.

Facilities & Staff

Through Birmingham City University's partnership with the BBC, you will benefit from access to specialist facilities across both our City Centre Campus and – subject to final planning approval – the BBC Tea Factory, located just a short walk away in Birmingham's creative quarter.

Subject to final planning approval, the Tea Factory facilities are expected to include radio and television production spaces, audio facilities, and specialist broadcast technology environments.

Alongside this, you'll learn in BCU's purpose-built Media Centre at Parkside, home to industry-standard television, radio and digital production facilities. Three of the TV studios can facilitate live multi-camera production, and all studios (TV and radio) can be interconnected. It’s taken 22km of wire to make that happen!

Together, these facilities provide a dynamic production environment where you can develop practical skills, collaborate on creative projects and gain experience using the technologies found across today's media industries.

Our staff

Meera Darji

Lecturer in Media Production

Meera Darji is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and Lecturer at Birmingham City University. Her independent documentary films have been awarded at international film festivals and recent experimental films have been exhibited at various exhibitions. Transindia: The story of India’s Hijras won the Royal Television Society Award for...

More about Meera