Documentary Filmmaking - Landscape and Ecology Aberystwyth University

Overview

The Documentary Filmmaking - Landscape and Ecology MA at Aberystwyth University offers students a distinctive opportunity to refine their creative voice through a research-led approach to non-fiction cinema. This programme integrates practical technical training with deep critical engagement, focusing specifically on how film can document and intervene in environmental and ecological discourses.

Why Documentary Filmmaking - Landscape and Ecology at Aberystwyth University?

Students benefit from the university's prime location between the sea and the mountains, providing immediate access to diverse natural environments. The department maintains strong links with local environmental organisations, including the Centre for Alternative Technology and the Dyfi Biosphere, which serve as vital resources for fieldwork.

The facilities at Aberystwyth University are exceptional, offering a digital research lab alongside rare access to analogue technologies. Students can work across digital formats as well as 8mm and 16mm film, supported by darkrooms for photochemical processing. Additionally, the proximity to the National Screen and Sound Archive at the National Library of Wales provides unparalleled research opportunities.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

• International fee: GBP 20805 per year
• National fee: GBP 10265 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum is designed to balance technical expertise in cinematography and editing with theoretical studies in ecocriticism. Modules may include:

• 16mm Filmmaking
• Documentary Practices
• Ecocriticism and Ecocinema
• Space, Place and Visual Culture
• Practice Research Project
• Behaviour Change in a Changing Environment
• Indigenous Politics
• Transdisciplinary Dialogue

Careers with Documentary Filmmaking - Landscape and Ecology

Graduates are prepared for professional roles as independent filmmakers, artists, and creative collaborators within various media organisations. The programme develops advanced technical proficiency in camerawork, sound recording, and post-production editing, tailored for the documentary sector. Students are also supported in submitting their final projects to international film festivals and public screening events to enhance their professional profiles.