Script Development Diploma

The most comprehensive vocational programme in script development in the UK.

This course aims to give you all the skills and expertise you need to develop highly polished scripts for film and television.

Course Outline

This Diploma course offers you a comprehensive contemporary overview and ongoing practical learning in an intensive professional environment, preparing you for a successful career in the Industry.

During the course, you’ll get access to new screenwriters and regular industry speakers, as well as working on a practical development project with a screenwriter.

Learning is part-time, delivered by fortnightly online evening sessions over 14 months.

What You'll Study

The course combines lectures, seminars and workshops alongside talks by Industry practitioners, as well as supervised practical work with a screenwriter.

There are continuous written assignments throughout the taught section of the programme which are mostly practical and designed to be useful to a career in development, as well as other areas of the film industry.

The programme consists of fortnightly online sessions held on a Monday evening from 6.30pm - 8.00pm, plus 3 intensive weekend workshops running from September to July (final workshop). The Final Project element of the Diploma is a five-and-a-half-month supervised development project, which begins in July when students are paired with a screenwriter. The delivery of all assessed material for the Final Project is due in December.

Entry Requirements

This course is open to UK applicants and EU/EEA Nationals with UK pre-settled/settled status (subject to meeting residency requirements) and applicants who are currently in the UK on a valid visa for the full duration of the course.

We are looking for people who:

• Already work in development and feel they may benefit from a structured course in story theory and working practice in order to build their confidence and resources
• Already work in the film industry and are keen to develop or hone their skills when working with scripts and writers, to get the best work from those writers
• Are producers keen to get an edge on finding and nurturing new writing talent
• Have experience in other creative industries and would like to explore script development and believe that they can bring new experience and ideas to the process of developing scripts and cultivating writers
• Have a passion for film, a love of storytelling, can demonstrate initiative, and have an enthusiasm for, and a commitment to, working collaboratively

While many applicants will have a degree from a British or overseas university, we will consider applicants who do not have a degree if they have an impressive portfolio, a creative track record or an alternative qualification.