Key information

Duration: 1 year full time or 2 years part time

Institution code: R72

Campus: Egham and Central London

UK fees*: £12,000

International/EU fees**: £27,000

The course

Writing for Theatre, Screen & Radio (MA)

Gain experience in dramatic writing in various forms with our MA Writing for Theatre, Screen and Radio at Royal Holloway. Showcase your talents and build your portfolio so you can launch your career as a writer.

We’re living in a world where global creative industries are hungry for new ideas, stories and experiences. Time to add your voice.

You’ll gain a broad set of skills and become equipped to write for theatre, television, film, and radio. Appreciate the similarities and differences. Learn how to take an initial idea and develop it into a finished script. Specialise in an area that interests you as the course progresses.

Share your story

Enjoy access to the many cultural amenities in London and be immersed in our vibrant community
Make use of the professional stage, screen, and sound production resources at our Egham campus
Work with acclaimed published writers, respond to professional briefs and receive detailed feedback on your work

Display your work

We’ll be preparing you for a ‘portfolio career’ as a writer. You’ll be encouraged to develop a set of creative pieces for stage, screen, or radio. And this will include a substantial, original piece of work - your ‘calling card’ - to show the world what you can do.

We sometimes make changes to our courses to improve your experience. If this happens, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

Course structure

Core Modules

This is a cross-genre taught module, looking at fundamentals of structure, action, dialogue & subtext, character, use of time/space, scene structure, etc., which you’ll discuss analytically and explore creatively inside and outside class. The course will range across film, television, radio and theatre and you’ll have opportunities to be playful and creative in all of these forms. You will be invited to explore the fundamentals of story that unite this different forms and to explore the differences of emphasis required by different media. You will try developing the same idea in different forms to feel the pull of each form/media. Where possible you will be invited to explore new work in London and on broadcast media and get opportunities to talk to the writers to be in small-group dialogue about their creative processes and decisions. You will build up a portfolio of different creative exercises that could include pitch documents, scenes, treatments, character biographies, structural plans, and more
This module offers the opportunity to test your learning, share your subject knowledge, and explore in detail a topic that interests you by conducting research and/or by developing concepts and projects in the context of the creative industries. As the culmination of your masters degree, you will work under the guidance of a supervisor to produce and submit either a dissertation of between 13000-15000 words, or else an equivalent practice-as-research or professional project.

Optional Modules

Below is a taster of some of the exciting optional modules that students on the course could choose from during this academic year. Please be aware these do change over time, and optional modules may be withdrawn or new ones added.

This is an industry-focused module that aims to prepare you to work in theatre, giving you experience of working in a number of different styles and modes. On on this module you’ll gain experience and understanding of the specific demands of theatre writing in its handling of story, character, action, structure, dialogue, and more. There will be a particular focus on live theatrical storytelling. Also on this module you’ll be studying in London which is one of the great producers of new plays and playwrights in the world. The module will, therefore, place a particular emphasis on contemporary British playwriting. You’ll be invited to understand some of the basics of story structure as it is generally understood in theatre and to find ways to use, adapt and play with these structures and traditions in order to tell new kinds of stories in new ways. You’ll be supported in developing your own concerns and voice, expressing your own ideas and experience, exercising your own creativity and imagination. You’ll emerge from this with two projects at advanced stages of development. As such this module prepares you both to take playwriting further in the Dissertation (and potentially to further postgraduate study) and also for the wider theatre world.
This is an industry-focused module that aims to prepare you to work in the TV and film industries, working on feature films, drama serials, comedies, and more. On this module you’ll gain experience and understanding of the specific demands of screenwriting in their handling of story, character, action, structure, dialogue, and more. There will be a particular focus on visual storytelling. You’ll be invited to understand some of the basics of story structure as it is generally understood in film and tv and to find ways to use, adapt and play with these structures in order to tell new kinds of stories in new ways. You’ll be supported in developing your own concerns and voice, expressing your own ideas and experience, exercising your own creativity and imagination. You’ll emerge from this with two projects at advanced stages of development. As such this module prepares you both to take screenwriting further in the Dissertation (and potentially to further postgraduate study) and also for the TV and film industries.
This is an industry-focused module that aims to prepare you to work in radio drama, giving you experience of working in a number of different styles and modes. On this module you will gain experience and understanding of the specific demands of radio drama in its handling of story, character, action, structure, dialogue, and more. There will be a particular focus on telling a story through sound alone. You’ll be invited to adapt some of the principles of story structure as it is widely understood and to find ways to use, adapt and play with these structures and traditions in order to tell new kinds of audio stories in new ways. You’ll be supported in developing your own concerns and voice, expressing your own ideas and experience, exercising your own creativity and imagination. You’ll not only write but also get some experience of acting, recording, and editing a professional-standard radio drama. You’ll emerge from this with two projects at advanced stages of development. As such this module prepares you both to take playwriting further in the Dissertation (and potentially to further postgraduate study) and also for the wider theatre world.

Teaching & assessment

The MA Writing for Theatre, Screen and Radio is taught through five modules, ensuring a breadth of knowledge and creative experience but allowing you to specialise as the course goes on. The modules are taught by staff from the Departments of both Drama and Media Arts. Typically, modules are taught through weekly workshop-seminars in which script concepts are developed through critical and creative exploration. If you do a dissertation – in which you’ll develop a full-length original piece of creative work – you’ll be taught through one-to-one supervision by an experienced professional writer. You’ll be expected to read widely, take in theatre and radio plays, films and tv shows, and will usually be set creative tasks between classes. Assessment is mostly through creative coursework, although you will also be asked to write analytically about your own and others’ work.

Entry requirements

2:2

2:2 UK Bachelors degree or equivalent in any subject considered.

Professional qualifications or relevant professional experience in an associated area will be considered.

Applicants will be required to provide a 4-5 page script they have written, in any dramatic form.

International & EU requirements

Bachelor degree from the American University of Armenia or a Specialist diploma with 80% or a GPA of 3.5 overall.

Bachelor degree (Honours) with a 2:2 or a Bachelor degree (Ordinary) with a Pass with 58% overall.

Bachelor degree or Fachhochschuldiplom/Diplom (FH) with a Grade 3.9 overall.

Bachelor degree (Bakalavr) or Specialist Diploma with 3.5 out of 5 or 70% overall.

4 year Bachelor degree from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) with a First Class Division or a Masters Degree following a 3 or 4 year degree.

Bachelor degree with grade 12 overall or the Licentiaat or Licence and other two cycle diplomas with grade 12 overall.

Diploma Visokog Obrazovanja Diploma Visokog Obrazovanja / Diplomirani with Grade 8

Bakalavar or Diploma of Completed Higher Education with a Grade 4 out 6 overall.

4 year Bachelor degree with 62%, a GPA 2.5 out of 4, Grade 6 out of 12 or grade C+ overall OR 3 year Bachelor degree with 73%, a GPA of 3.1 out of 4, Grade 8 out of 12 or grade B overall, depending on the grading scheme.

4 year Bachelors degree with an overall 70% to 75% or GPA of 2.8 to 3.0 out of 4.0 depending on the institution.

3 out of 5 overall in the Baccalaureus Prvostupnik or Visoko Obrazovanja/Level VII/1 (second level degree obtained on completion of 4-6 year course).

Overall 6.5 out of 10 or a GPA of 2.85 out of 4 in a Bachelor degree from a public university, Ptychion (from University of Cyprus) or Bachelor degree awarded by a private institution (the programme must be accredited by the Ministry of Education and Culture).

Bakalar with dobre (good), score of 2 or Grade C overall.

7 from 13 points grading system or 4 from 7 points grading system in a Bachelor degree, Candidatus Philosophiae or Professionbachelor.

University bachelors degree with a GPA of 2.4 overall or 65% overall

75%, 2.5 or C overall in a Bakalaurusekraad/Diploma, Magister or Magistrikraad

GPA of 1 where marks are in 1 - 3 system or GPA of 2.3 where marks are in 1 - 5 system in a Kandidaattii/Kandidat or Maisteri/Magister

Licence awarded from 2009 with grade 12 or Maitrise (pre-Bologna) with grade 11

Grade 3 overall in a Bachelor, Fachhochschuldiplom or Magister Artium

Bachelor degree with a Second Class Lower Division overall.

6 out of 10 overall in a Diploma from the Faculties of Engineering and Agriculture or a Ptychion (Bachelor degree) awarded by an AEI.

Bachelors degree degree with a Second Class Honours, Lower Division.

Egyetemi Oklevel /Foiskola Oklevel/ Alapfokozat with 3 out of 5 overall.

Baccalaurreatus with grade 6.5 out of 10 overall or Kandidatsprof / Cadidatus Mag with 6 out of 10 overall.

Bachelor degree with 55% to 60% overall or a CGPA of 5.5 to 6 out of 10 overall depending on the institution.

Bachelor degree or Diploma IV with overall GPA of 2.8.

Bachelor Degree/Professional Doctorate with 13 out of 20 overall.

Bachelor’s degree (four years) with 70% overall.

Bachelors degree with at least 75% overall depending on the mark scheme.

Diploma di Laurea or Licenza di Accademia di Belle Arti with 84 out of 110 overall.

Bachelor degree (Gakushi) with a B overall, dependent on the mark scheme.

Bakalavr or Specialist Diploma with 3.5 out of 5, 70% or 3.0 out of 4.33 overall.

Bachelor degree with a Second Class Honours (lower division) overall.

Bachelor degree with B or a GPA of 3.0 overall.

Bakalaura Diploms or Professional Bakalaura Diploms with Grade 6 overal.

Dipl Ing (FH) or Dipl Arch (FH) from Liechtenstein Technical College with a Grade 4 overall.

7 out of 10 overall in a Bakalauras or Specialist Diploma.

Bachelor degree, Diplome d?Ingenieur Industriel or Dipl?me d'?tudes Sup?rieures Sp?cialis?es with 40 out of 60 or 14 out of 20 (Bien) overall.

Bachelor degree with Class 2 Division ii, B or 2.8 out of 4.0 overall.

Honours degree with a Second Class (Lower Division) overall.

Bachelor degree or Doctoraal with Grade 6.0 out of 10 overall.

Bachelor degree Honours or Ordinary with an overall Grade C+ or Grade 3 out of 9 points grading system.

Bachelor degree with a Second Class Honours, Lower Division or overall GPA of 2.5 out of 5.

Visoko Obrazovanja with 7 out of 10 overall.

Bachelor degree, Candidatus Magisterii, Sivilingeni-r (siv. ing.) (Engineering degree ) or Sivil?konom (siv. ?k.) (Economics degree) Grade D or 2.6 to 3.2.

Bachelor degree with an overall GPA of 2.6.

4 year Bachelor degree or combined bachelors degree and Master degree for the duration of 4 years with 58% - 65% or a CGPA of 2.8 - 3.2 overall depending on your institution.

Licencjat, Inzynier or Bachelor with grade 3.71 overall.

Diploma de Estudos Superiores Especializadoswith grade 14 overall or Licenciado with grade 13 overall.

Bachelor degree with an overall GPA of 3.0 overall.

Diploma de Licenta, Diploma Inginer or Diploma de Arhitect with 7.0 out of 10 overall.

Bakalavr Bachelor degree or Specialist Diploma with 3.5 out of 5 or 70% overall.

Bachelor degree with 70%, 3.0 out of 5.0 or 2.8 out of 4.0 overall.

Diplom Visokog Obrazovanja (second-level degree obtained on completion of a four to six-year course) with 7.5 out of 10 overall.

Bachelor degree (from a public university) with a Class II (lower) overall.

Bakalar or Magister / Inzinier with vel'mi dobre (very good) or Grade 2 overall.

Diplomirani / Diplomirani Inzenir from Visoko izobrazevanje, University Diploma or Visoko Obrazovanja (until 1999) with 7 out of 10 (8 for Visoko Obrazovanja) overall.

Bachelor (Honours), Bachelor or Professional Bachelor degree with 60% or Second Class Lower Division.

Bachelor (Haksa) degree with 3.0 out of 4.5, 2.9 out of 4.3 or 2.8 out of 4.0.

Licenciado, Titulo de Ingeniero or Titulo de Arquitecto with 6 out of 10.

Bachelor degree from National University or Private University with 68% to 73% or GPA 2.8 to 3.0 depending on your institution.

Bachelor degree with a 2nd Class Honours (Lower) overall.

Bachelor degree GPA 2.6 to 2.8 depending on your institution.

Bachelor degree (post 2007) or Specialist Diploma (after 1991) with a Grade 3, 9 out of 12 or 4 out of 5 overall.

Bachelor degree with 80%, a GPA of 2.8 out of 4, C+ or Good overall.

Bachelor degree with a GPA of 2.6 overall.

Kandidatexamen with at least a Pass (godkand) overall.

Bachelor degree or Bang tot nghiep dai hoc with 6.5 out of 10.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall. No subscore lower than 6.0.
Pearson Test of English: 67 overall. No other subscore lower than 64.
Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
TOEFL iBT: 88 overall with Reading 22 Listening 20 Speaking 22 Writing 24.
Duolingo: 120 overall and no sub-score below 115.

Your future career

This course aims to equip you with understanding and experience in a range of creative writing forms for stage, screen and radio, preparing you for a ‘portfolio career’ across an exciting range of creative industries. Through the course you will develop and write a portfolio of creative pieces, including a substantial original piece of work, a ‘calling card’ ready for your chosen creative sector.

Fees, funding & scholarships

Home (UK) students tuition fee per year*: £12,000

EU and international students tuition fee per year**: £27,000

Other essential costs***: There are no single associated costs greater than £50 per item on this course.

How do I pay for it? Find out more about funding options, including loans, grants, scholarships and bursaries.

* and ** These tuition fees apply to students starting their course on a full-time basis in the academic year 2026/27. Students studying on the standard part-time course structure over two years are charged 50% of the full-time applicable fee for each study year.

Royal Holloway reserves the right to increase all postgraduate tuition fees annually. For further information, see fees and funding.

** These estimated costs relate to studying this particular degree at Royal Holloway during the 2026/27 academic year, and are included as a guide. Costs, such as accommodation, food, books and other learning materials and printing, have not been included.