Comedy Writing MA (Online)

Key points

Course overview

Gain the skills, tools, and industry insights to push your projects to the top of the commissioning editor’s pile and get your comedy script green-lit. Who knows, you could be on the way to the BAFTAs or Emmys, writing the next Ghosts, Motherland, Fleabag or Succession. There’s a great industry need right now for new television and audio comedy writers. Throughout this online Comedy Writing course, developed by award-winning comedy producer Simon Nicholls, you’ll benefit from career guidance masterclasses from the very best in the industry. Guest speakers have included comedy legends French & Saunders, multiple award-winning writers Simon Blackwell and Holly Walsh, and BAFTA-winning comedy producer Simon Mayhew-Archer.

Why study this course at Falmouth?

  • Study the work of renowned comedy writers, reflect on professional trends, and learn how to seize market opportunities
  • Learn how to write sketches, sitcoms and comedy dramas, developing a body of work for multiple platforms including television, audio, and online
  • Develop a portfolio of scripts, treatments, and responses to professional briefs, which can be used to gain agent representation and producer interest
  • Understand the role of a commissioner and what it takes to create a sellable project

Careers

Graduates of the Comedy Writing MA will be well-positioned to work professionally as comedy writers across a range of different arenas, including radio, television, online platforms and video games.

Entry requirements

An honours degree or Level 6 equivalent qualification is desirable. However, candidates without a degree or formal qualification are still encouraged to apply.

You’ll need to submit up to five pages of a script for either radio, TV or film. It’s your choice, but it must be a comedy script, not any other genre, that best shows off your comedy writing. Please also submit a 300-word piece of writing considering an old sitcom, which is no longer running. The piece of writing should clearly tell us why you’ve picked this show for reinvention now. Please describe how you’ll modernise and reinvent the show to be a relevant must-watch for today’s audience. You should give consideration as to who will star in this production, and your vision for the show.

English Language Requirements

If your first language is not English, you’ll need to take an English Language test.  Falmouth accept:

IELTS – minimum overall score of IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.0 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening

TOEFL iBT (online test) – minimum of 88 overall and at least 21 in all 4 components

LanguageCert (online test) – a High Pass from the ESOL B2 Communicator test in reading, writing, speaking and listening (2 parts)

The university also accept a range of other recognised English language qualifications.

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