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Universities United Kingdom University College London Courses Immersive Factual Storytelling MA

Immersive Factual Storytelling MA
at University College London

London, United Kingdom

Tuition Fee £ 29,400
Country Rank#3
Duration12 Months
Score IELTS: 6.5

Program Overview

Our focus is on training you to create compelling immersive content. This programme, based within a university but run by leading immersive practitioners, gives you the practical tools and confidence to become a successful member of the international immersive VR/AR documentary community. Skills in immersive storytelling, ethics, 360 production, spatial audio and coding for game engines are learnt by creating a series of short experiences throughout the programme, culminating in an ambitious graduate immersive project.

Immersive storytelling is a developing field across enterprise and entertainment. Unlike other VR MAs, this programme focuses on Factual Storytelling in particular, including creating stories for enterprise use with the potential for collaboration across other faculties in UCL. The MA provides training in the use of 360º cameras, immersive sound equipment and computer graphics-based VR experiences in order for you to tell factual and ethnographic stories on immersive platforms.

It will teach you the fundamentals of immersive storytelling and equip you with a robust self-learning ‘growth mindset’ to equip you for your professional life beyond the MA. You will learn to devise, plan, produce and pitch exhibition quality non-fiction immersive narrative-based experiences, giving you the skills to enable you to practice as creators of non-fiction 360º/VR/immersive storytellers.

We encourage you to explore the boundaries of immersive storytelling, drawing on anthropological and social science approaches to documentary, engaging with, and taking inspiration from existing material including games, films and immersive audio experience along with a wider range of stimuli relating to immersive engagement. You will also have regular contact with leading industry experts to help you expand your ideas and ambitions. Across the programme you will also be introduced to and engage with ethical questions around immersive storytelling.

By the end of the programme, you will have acquired full competence in operating digital 360º recording and filming devices, editing, basic coding in game engines and you will be capable of delivering professional level quality immersive stories as well as storytelling skills to create effective content.

Course Content
Compulsory modules
- Sonic Experience Design and Production
- Introduction to Immersive Factual Storytelling
- Advanced Immersive Storytelling Practice
Optional modules
- The Story and I - Finding the Form: A Practical Exploration of Storytelling
- Experimental cinema and new media: Form and narrative
- History and Aesthetics of Documentary
- Practical Documentary Filmmaking
- Feature Writing in a multi-media world: journalistic skills for the digital age
- Writing about International Affairs
- Interactive Factual Narratives
- Ethics and Editorial for Documentary
Entry Requirement
We normally require an upper second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Applicants with lower second-class degrees (i.e. UK 2:2 or the overseas equivalent) may be considered if their application is supported strongly by relevant experience. In exceptional circumstances, we will also consider applicants without higher education qualifications provided they demonstrate a significant track record in this or a related field.

We seek students who can show evidence of active engagement with visual or audio storytelling in previous work or study experience. We require a portfolio of work to support all applications, please find the portfolio requirements under the Next Steps section

Equivalent qualifications for India

The award of any of the following from a recognised institution:
- A Bachelor's degree with a minimum overall CGPA of 7.75/10, 6.25/8.0, 5.75/7.0, 4.25/6.0, 3.3/4.0, or 60% where a GPA scale is not used. The overall mark required is dependent on the subject and the ranking of the institution at which the degree has been taken.
Alternative qualifications
- Master's; Medical / Dental degree; MPhil/PhD
Fees & Scholarships
UK students
£16,500

International students
£29,400
Career Prospect
As yet, there are no alumni of the programme as this is a new MA. However, multiple graduates from intakes to MA Ethnographic and Documentary Film (Studio 4- VR/AR, which pioneered the teaching of immersive factual storytelling at UCL) are currently employed in all aspects of the VR industry. Alumni from Studio 4 have gone on to work in 360 camera companies including Insta, run sections in VR streaming companies – for instance Veer, currently lead VR creation in China Mobile’s new VR production wing, work on productions with leading companies like Marshmallow Laser Feast and work as independent creators in VR and other new media. Two 2018 Graduation projects had their world premieres in a London festival. Graduates from the 2019 and 2020 cohorts has also shown their work at global festivals. Other alumni have gone on to further study in universities around the world, specialising in VR but also other new media.

Cost Of Studying At University College London

Interest rates as low as 8.9% ^*

250K+

Students Assisted

800Cr+

Loan Amount Disbursed

5000+

Loans Sanctioned

Check Loan Eligibility

Immersive Factual Storytelling MA at University College London