COURSE CURRICULUM

The BA (Hons) Screenwriting course at the University of Suffolk is structured across three years to gradually build and refine students’ writing abilities, industry knowledge, and creative confidence. In the first year, students are introduced to the core principles of screenwriting and film analysis. Modules such as Developing Screen Ideas and Creating Memorable Characters focus on nurturing original concepts and building believable, engaging characters. Alongside these creative foundations, students gain theoretical insight through Film Studies One: Analysis and Issues and Film Studies Two: Film History, which explore critical perspectives and key developments in cinema. Practical modules like Screenwriting Film Genre and Introduction to Writing Television and Radio Drama help students understand how to tailor their writing to specific formats and platforms.In the second year, the course deepens students' creative practice and critical engagement. Adaptation and Interpretation explores how to translate stories across mediums, while Writing for Television teaches the structural and stylistic elements of serial storytelling. The Screenwriting: The Ten Minute Short module offers hands-on experience in writing concise scripts suitable for production, and the Screenwriting Workshop provides a space for peer feedback and development. A module on Contemporary Television examines current trends in genre and format, preparing students to respond to evolving audience expectations.The final year is dedicated to professional development and the completion of a major writing project. Students undertake a Dissertation, develop a full-length feature script or television pilot in Screenwriting: Final Project, and refine their ideas through Development and Story Design. Researching Film: Theories and Methods strengthens academic skills, while the Professional Practice module equips students with essential industry knowledge, including how to market themselves and navigate a career in screenwriting. The course culminates in a robust portfolio and the readiness to pursue opportunities in the competitive film and television industry.