Comedy Writing MA (Online) Falmouth University

Push the boundaries of comedy writing to its limits

Get 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.

Interrogate big ideas like sex, politics, religion and family through comedy. Or just write a show that's unashamedly stupid! There are lots of opportunities right now and a great need for new comedy writers. Who knows; you could see yourself on the way to the BAFTAs, Oscars or Golden Globes with the next Fleabag, VEEP, Modern Family or Father Ted.

Throughout this Comedy Writing course, you'll get writing tips and career guidance masterclasses from the very best in the industry. Guests have included the likes of sketch comedy heroes French & Saunders, Emmy and BAFTA-winning comedy writer Simon Blackwell, Radio 4 comedy commissioner Sioned Wiliam and former head of BBC and Sky comedy commissioning, Lucy Lumsden.

This online MA has been developed by award-winning comedy producer and executive producer Simon Nicholls. Simon has 20 years' comedy industry experience, developing and selling comedies in the UK and US.

You will:

• Study the work of renowned writers and directors, reflect on professional trends and learn how to seize market opportunities.
• Be taught by a host of comedy experts including multi-award-winning TV and Radio comedy producer and executive producer Simon Nicholls.
• Learn how to write comedy sketches, sitcoms, comedy dramas and develop a body of work for multiple platforms including; radio, TV, film and online.
• Develop a comedy writing portfolio consisting of scripts, treatments, synopses and your responses to professional comedy briefs which can be used as a calling card to gain agent representation and to present to commissioning editors.
• Structure your working practice as a comedy writer; plotting your day, dealing with writers’ block, working to tight deadlines while remaining funny.
• Understand the role of a commissioner, the criteria by which they assess new writing and what it takes to get your project green-lit.

On this Comedy Writing course, you'll study the work of renowned writers and directors, reflect on professional trends and learn how to seize market opportunities. You'll hone your craft to develop a distinct comedy scriptwriting portfolio and learn the street smarts of how to best navigate the comedy industry: how to grab opportunities, how to approach producers and agents and how to make your work stand out from the crowd.

Modules

This course is comprised of five modules, four 30-credit modules and one 60-credit project (180 credits in total). The modules have been specifically designed to be studied in a non-linear order, with the order in which you’ll study the modules depending on when you begin the course. All modules on the Comedy Writing course are compulsory and must be passed in order to complete the award.

• Comic Storytelling for Screen and Audio
• Screen Industries: Professional Development in Comedy
• Individual Comedy Script Development
• Comedy Writers' Room: Collaborative Script Development
• Final Major Project (MA only)

The modules above are those being studied by our students, or proposed new ones. Programme structures and modules can change as part of our curriculum enhancement and review processes. If a certain module is important to you, please discuss it with the Course Leader.

How you'll learn

You'll learn through a blend of lectures, webinars, guest talks, tasks and discussion forums, which you'll access via our dedicated virtual learning environment. This is also where you'll find all key documentation, get course announcements and access extensive learning resources.

You'll be supported academically by Online Tutors, who will also deliver weekly webinars and facilitate the online forums. If you need assistance with anything that isn't directly related to course material, a dedicated Student Advisor team will be on hand to help. You'll also have access to Falmouth University's excellent employability service, RealWORKs.

You'll refine dynamic comedy writing practices, spending 20-25 hours a week working on your craft. We incorporate optional face-to-face events for all our online students. There will be up to two per year and will typically run over weekends, to fit around your other commitments.

Study hours

A postgraduate student should dedicate at least 20-25 hours per week for study.

Assessment methods

The assessment provides the course team with a means of offering tailored guidance alongside advice on how to progress knowledge and skills in key areas that relate to the course Learning Outcomes. The course team will identify your strengths and weaknesses as an individual and discuss them with you throughout your time on the course.

Assessments are 100% coursework, submitted in an electronic format to the virtual learning environment, and designed to reflect professional practice. Assessment methods could include visual, verbal and written works, tailored specifically to each module.

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.