The Student Room Group

MA Film Practice Online, useless?

I am looking at this course with a view to applying as I don't have the option for moving currently to do an MA. However looking at the course its quite difficult to see that it would be that good or useful. Its 10k for an online course where they aren't offering any practical help i.e. equipment that can be borrowed, studio space or even a cohort of fellow students to help each other on shoots.

Then when I looked into the backgrounds of the course team I was very unimpressed. Between them there is very little actual film industry experience or knowledge. I think one tutor has made a couple of shorts but other tutors seem to be a photographer who mostly makes collages with found images and stickers and the course director is some kind of visual artist who has made some very rudimentary looking films for gallery spaces which all appear to be in the same limited network of academic institutions they studied in or at other somewhat unprestigious artist run spaces.

I just don't see how any of these people have the anywhere near the worthwhile experience, skills or knowledge to offer to potential students for a course like this, for this kind of cost? I had quite a high opinion of Bournemouth having known people who actually studied there in the past but I can't help feel that this course and perhaps the other online courses are little more than scams to get some easy money from hopeful students.

Reply 1

10k is about average for an online MA

Have you found any other MAs that are cheaper?

Reply 2

Original post
by Jane BB
I am looking at this course with a view to applying as I don't have the option for moving currently to do an MA. However looking at the course its quite difficult to see that it would be that good or useful. Its 10k for an online course where they aren't offering any practical help i.e. equipment that can be borrowed, studio space or even a cohort of fellow students to help each other on shoots.
Then when I looked into the backgrounds of the course team I was very unimpressed. Between them there is very little actual film industry experience or knowledge. I think one tutor has made a couple of shorts but other tutors seem to be a photographer who mostly makes collages with found images and stickers and the course director is some kind of visual artist who has made some very rudimentary looking films for gallery spaces which all appear to be in the same limited network of academic institutions they studied in or at other somewhat unprestigious artist run spaces.
I just don't see how any of these people have the anywhere near the worthwhile experience, skills or knowledge to offer to potential students for a course like this, for this kind of cost? I had quite a high opinion of Bournemouth having known people who actually studied there in the past but I can't help feel that this course and perhaps the other online courses are little more than scams to get some easy money from hopeful students.

Have a friend who did the MA in person and she felt it was mediocre and not worth the money. I wouldn't recommend it, especially if it's online!

Reply 3

Original post
by Anonymous
10k is about average for an online MA
Have you found any other MAs that are cheaper?

Well they are likely all a rip off unless they offer exceptional teaching staff with serious real world achievements and experience, this is most defiantly not the case here. At this point I feel like even if I did very little work, as long as I paid up I'd get the MA. Instructions that used to be real Universities are turning into little more than degree mills these days.

Reply 4

Original post
by Thisismyunitsr
Have a friend who did the MA in person and she felt it was mediocre and not worth the money. I wouldn't recommend it, especially if it's online!

Thanks this is useful to hear, I assume the place has gone down hill in recent years which is sad.

Reply 5

Original post
by Jane BB
Thanks this is useful to hear, I assume the place has gone down hill in recent years which is sad.

It was always rather downhill unfortunately. I did the undergraduate Film Production course in person and felt it was rather lacklustre as well sadly.

Reply 6

Original post
by Thisismyunitsr
It was always rather downhill unfortunately. I did the undergraduate Film Production course in person and felt it was rather lacklustre as well sadly.

Sorry to hear that, would be good if we are paying so much for our education these days to get some proper value out of it!

Reply 7

Original post
by Jane BB
Sorry to hear that, would be good if we are paying so much for our education these days to get some proper value out of it!

Yeah. I certainly would not recommend it anyhow!

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