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MA Editing and Post Production

Why choose Herts?

  • Excellent reputation: Best Creative School in the UK (The Rookies, 2024)
  • Industry exposure: Campuses are close to the central hub of UK film production, and we have partnerships with the major studios – which are less than 20 minutes from the campus
  • Industry connections: Partnerships with major studios including Elstree Studios, Sky Studios and Warner Bros Studios
  • Entry requirements and key information

    A degree, ideally in a relevant subject (2.2 minimum), plus a portfolio of two short films in which you have worked in post-production. A list of credits would be considered for broadcast or theatrical (cinema) releases. Accreditation of professional experience may be possible for individuals without a first degree.  

    A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in any component (or equivalent) is required for those whose first language is not English.  

    For country specific qualifications, please visit our your country page.  

    If you do not have the required level of English for entry, our academic English courses can help you to achieve this level. 

    A portfolio of at least two short films, in which you have a worked as an Editor, are required. We’re looking for potential to succeed in your chosen field, with strong ideas that have been developed (they don’t need to be fully completed yet!) and a passion for the challenges that come with a Master's degree. We recommend visiting to see if we’re the right fit for you—attend one of our Open Days to meet relevant staff and explore our facilities. 

    A personal statement, explaining why you want to study your chosen Master’s course at the University of Hertfordshire highlighting how your current skills, experience, and future career ambitions align with the programme. Please do not describe the programme back to us in this statement but make it about you and your industry aims and ambitions! 

    Institution code

    		 H36

    Course length
  • Full Time, 1 Years
    		•

    Location
  • University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield
    		•
  • Employability

    Careers

    With an MA in Editing and Post-Production degree you can start your career as a Post- Production Runner, Editorial Assistant, Logger, Trainee Colourist, Post-Production Workflow Technician, Post-Production Producer or Editor. 

    You will be trained in industry-specific roles, equipping you with in-demand skills that enhance your employability. From understanding ingest, workflow, logging, capture, roundtripping and asset management, you will develop various skills that employers are looking for in the world of post-production. 

Professional Accreditations

Gain a BAFTA Albert Sustainability certification, giving you the opportunity to gain certification in sustainable methods for post-production. 

About the course

The MA Editing and Post-Production course will enable you to... 

  • focus on picture editing, storytelling through the edit, advanced post-production techniques and developing assistant editor skills
  • learn about logging and capture, colour grading, workflows, DIT and on-set post-production
  • enter or progress in an editing and post-production career 
  • collaborate with students on other pathways and work with directors, filmmakers and screenwriters 

Why choose this course?

During the MA Editing and Post-Production course you will learn about the structure and operation of the film industry, its global scope, regulatory frameworks, business practices, markets, and audiences. The course will expose you from the cutting room to the studio floor, work on post workflows between shoot to edit. 

Upon completion of the course, you will have gained practical editing skills aligned with industry standards, including shared projects, metadata and logging operations, grading, 4K workflows, storytelling in the edit. These experiences will equip you with a range of transferable and entrepreneurial skills, preparing you for future career challenges. At Herts, we provide unique training that covers both post-production and editing work in the cutting room, as well as on set, during the shoot. This opportunity will broaden your skill base and give you opportunities to design and implement on-set workflows, providing experience in this growing area. Herts has its own our own archive of content for you to learn from and access, including both factual and fictional content – which will allow you to hone your skills in both areas. You’ll also have access to a sound effects library with over 20,000 effects. 

The course has been designed through consultation with industry leaders, including major London post houses delivering content in factual, entertainment and drama content. Built into the curriculum is the BAFTA albert sustainability training, in which you will learn and gain certification in sustainable methods for post-production.  

Whether you’re working in the industry, are in an early career position or are looking to enter the industry with the advantage of a skilled postgraduate degree, you will benefit from completing this course. It’s the perfect opportunity to expand your knowledge and skills into professional editing, learning the skills required to better understand industry workflows. 

What will I study?

The MA in Editing and Post-Production course is part of a programme of practice-based postgraduate film courses which all overlap to build a community of filmmakers. This approach mirrors the industry, where writers, directors, producers, craft departments, and post-production teams work together. As a post-production student, you will be involved in the planning of major productions, to ensure a smooth transition from the set to the cutting room. 

Workshops form a weekly part of the first two semesters, with training in editing skills and craft in our Walter Murch Post Production lab, equipped with Avid Media Composer, and grading control surfaces for both Baselight and Resolve for colour grading. Students will learn workflows and asset management skills with our EditShare MAM system. We also have a 5.1. dubbing suite for mastering the art of sound mixing. 

You will learn the key skills of editing and post-production, informed by cinema screenings from across global markets. You will also undertake research and study activities related to cinematic theory and the industry. Semester A will focus on research in academia, and semester B on research in the global film industry. You will also spend the first two semesters planning and preparing for your summer project where you will be assigned a staff mentor to supports the development of your work from January to August.

  • Level 7
    ModuleCreditsCompulsory/optional
    Investigative Minds: Culture, Industry, Research30 CreditsCompulsory
    Finding the Story: Major Project Development and Planning30 CreditsCompulsory
    Film Editing and Post Production Techniques60 CreditsCompulsory
    Major Project in Film Editing and Post Production60 CreditsCompulsory

    • Further course information

    Course fact sheets
    MA Editing and Post Production Download
    Programme specifications
    MA Editing and Post Production Download
    Additional information

    Sandwich placement or study abroad year

    n/a

    Applications open to international and EU students

    		 Yes

    Student experience

    At the University of Hertfordshire, we want to make sure your time studying with us is as stress-free and rewarding as possible. We offer a range of support services including; student wellbeing, academic support, accommodation and childcare to ensure that you make the most of your time at Herts and can focus on studying and having fun.

    You’ll study in the award-winning FMM (Film, Music and Media) building on the College Lane campus with high spec computer labs, and you’ll be able to access some aspects of the teaching remotely if you are a home student. It is a prerequisite of your visa for overseas students to study on campus, but all students are welcome on campus 5 days a week. Your place of study on campus will be the The Walter Murch Post-Production lab – a suite of 45 Mac Studios with Avid Media Composer and Baselight colour grading, the cutting rooms, with Baselight Slate grading panels, the Doug Milsome Cinematography lab, and the Mike Newell Soundstage. Additional software includes ProTools, After Effects, Final Draft screenwriting software, and Boris Continuum effects plugins for Avid.

    You’ll also have access to the software and hardware of the Learning Resource Centre.

    You can also read our student blogs to find out about life at Herts.