Director of the Master's Programme: Professor Rauno Ronkainen

The aim of the degree is to provide students with:

1. good theoretical and general knowledge of as well as artistic and practical expertise in their field of study as well as a general knowledge of the field of arts;
2. knowledge and skills needed for independent and demanding artistic work and for multidisciplinary collaboration as well as knowledge and skills needed to apply scientific knowledge and scientific methods;
3. knowledge and skills to perform, both independently and collaboratively, demanding expert, development and management duties of the field, and to cooperate internationally;
4. knowledge and skills needed for education leading to a Doctor of Arts (Art and Design) degree and for lifelong learning;
5. good language and communication skills for work in the field of arts and for international operations and cooperation.

The education shall be based on scientific research and artistic activity and professional practices in the field.

Learning Outcomes of the Master's Programme in Film and Television

A graduate of the Master’s Degree Programme in Film and Television:

• Is able to work as the artistically responsible person in his/her competence area (Head of Department) in a feature-length fictional or documentary film or television
• Knows how to use traditional and modern storytelling techniques and  how to use  dramaturgical tools for story development.
• Can master broad artistic and production concepts.
• Is able to apply previously acquired knowledge and skills.
• Can assess and question the traditions in film and television.
• Is able to apply storytelling skills in new areas and  platforms of audiovisual storytelling
• Can develop new working methods and processes, for example by using research and/or experimental approaches.
• Is able to identify and develop his/her artistic strengths and characteristics and  build an artistic identity.
• Can take initiative and work as an active co-operator in  the production’s artistic working group.
• Can expand his/her professional skills by further developing personal competences and thinking.
• Can work independently and contribute to renewing the field.
• Can function in an international working group.
• Can continue his/her education by applying for continuing or doctoral studies.

Education Content

A quarter of the master's studies in Film and Television consists of jointly taught studies within the Department. These studies cover areas such as Arts and Theory, Working Life Skills and Industry Practices, and Film History and Analysis.

The Master's Degree Programme in Film and Television provides the students with advanced level artistic and vocational skills. The student’s skills are developed both in the areas of independent work and group work.  Students are encouraged to find a research perspective on their own area of specialisation. Student can also choose to specialise in an applied area in the audiovisual and media industry.

The degree requirements have been updated by Academic Committee for Arts, Design and Architecture on 25.3.

Code: ARTS3018
Credits: 90 ECTS cr
Responsible teacher: Professor Arturo Delgado Pereira

Learning Outcomes

The goal of the major in Documentary Film in the Master’s Degree Programme in Film and Television is to train highly creative documentary film directors who will contribute to shape the future of the field. In the Master’s degree studies, students deepen their knowledge on documentary practice, theory, history and ethics, and develop their competences in relation to the changing professional field of documentary filmmaking and research.

The development of the director’s skills in her/his professional role is the foundation of the program. The direction of an own ilm production becomes the framework within which students strengthen their professional specialization, develop an artistic voice and enter into critical dialogues with traditions of documentary filmmaking in order to contribute to their development.

A graduate with a major in Documentary Film in the Master’s Degree Programme in Film and Television is able to:

• work as an independent documentary film director, teacher, instructor or be employed in applied professional tasks in the documentary film profession (such as festivals, financing, distribution, production, production of commissioned films)
• identify his/her style as a director
• question and develop practices in the field
• question and reflect on the traditions in his/her field and apply for doctoral film studies.

Education Content

In the major in Documentary Film students further develop their skills to direct and think critically about documentary film. The development and production of an own film production is integrated with advanced studies in various approaches and traditions of documentary cinema as well as explorations of new developments of the field. Directing the film production and the related written work, the Master's Thesis, are the essential framework of the Master’s degree programme studies, a process that is supported by the other studies.

The program puts special emphasis on the integration of theory and practice in order to develop critically and theoretically informed documentary filmmakers. The teaching consists of workshops and lecture modules built around relevant themes in documentary studies. Students have also independent project work to develop their MA film. The students' ability to observe and interpret reality, their readiness to encounter people, practice of critical thinking, willingness to experiment and ability to work in a team are developed through the mentioned teaching methods.

Courses

Major Studies 90 ECTS

The degree requirements have been updated by Academic Committee for Arts, Design and Architecture on 25.3.

Code: ARTS3024
Credits: 90 ECTS cr
Responsible teacher: Professor Pietari Koskinen

Learning Outcomes

Master’s studies in the major in Film Sound Design train artists and professionals to work as sound designers and sound recordists in all areas of film production. The master’s studies aim to improve the student’s skills, especially in the field of sound design and film sound theories. The student gains a greater understanding and mastery of the artistic, production and technical content of their professional area by utilizing courses and exercises that steadily increase in their level of difficulty. 

A sound designer and sound recordist gains a comprehensive knowledge of the practices, means of artistic expression, technical equipment and theoretical concepts in their field. A vital goal of the education is to develop the student’s talents and personality further, impart additional technical, working life and artistic skills as well as advanced knowledge of the field and its history, and develop management and research skills.

Essential skills to be learned are dramaturgical and content thinking in cinematic expression, the ability to perceive sound and space, management, working life, communication and cooperation skills, managing sound design and the dramaturgical concept and technical realisation process of a feature-length film, a more profound knowledge of the traditions and modern trends of their field, and the ability to think critically and analytically.

After graduating from the master’s programme, a sound designer has a mastery of the overall artistic and technical process of sound design – from pre-production to post-production and the finished film. During the studies, the student deepens their knowledge in all phases of sound recording, sound post-production and sound design in film in addition to artistic and production cooperation in film and television productions.

The goal of education is to impart the capacity to pursue doctoral studies.

Education Content

A quarter of the master's studies in Film Sound Design consists of jointly taught studies within the Department. These studies cover areas such as Arts and Theory, Working Life Skills and Industry Practices, and Film History and Analysis.

The emphasis of master’s studies in the major in Film Sound Design is in advanced studies in the area of film sound theories, music, production, studio and sound effects recording and in seminars and workshops investigating special features of film sound.

Students learn about the professions of sound designer and sound recordist using increasingly demanding exercises. Teaching aims to support the student in developing their strengths and artistic vision.

The education may contain studies with students from other fields of art. Film exercises provide the opportunity to deepen skills in sound design and recording practices as well as improve group work and management skills.

Major Studies 90 ECTS

The degree requirements have been updated by Academic Committee for Arts, Design and Architecture on 25.3.

Code: ARTS3019
Credits: 90 ECTS cr
Responsible teacher: Professor Raija Talvio

Learning Outcomes

The aim of the Master's degree in film and television screenwriting is to strengthen the student's artistic and craft-related skills and the ability to create personal work in cinematic expression. The student learns to apply their skills in teamwork, in a productive process and is also capable of long-term, independent work. The student is familiar with film and television production as a whole, the many possible roles and responsibilities of a screenwriter, and the contract practices of the industry. The student is knows the main theoretical issues of screenwriting and has the skills to do research.

Education Content

The core content in the master's degree programme consists of courses of advanced studies in screenwriting, elective courses and joint master's studies in film and television.

In advanced studies, the student will learn the practice of screenwriting in the various forms and genres of film and television. The structure of the writing courses mirrors the practices of the professional field: step-by-step progression and feedback are part of the workflow in individual writing projects as well as in teamwork. Studies in screenwriting theory support the creative work and open wider perspectives on the tradition and future of the field. The basic idea of the education is to enable the student’s self-expression and support the development of a personal voice and approach. Elective studies included in the student's personal curriculum can be chosen to support this goal. In addition to one’s own major, electives can also be chosen from other Aalto University courses or from other universities. In the joint MA studies in film and television, the student becomes familiar with the field of film and television production as a whole, the various professional roles and practices of the field from the poinf of view of art as well as production. The joint studies also include studies on practice-based and theoretical research that challenge the student to a holistic reflecton of creative work.

As a master’s thesis the student prepares a screenplay of high artistic quality either as an independent project or as a screenwriter in a joint thesis film by a team of students. The thesis also includes a research section in which the student addresses an issue in the screenwriting field that is meaningful both personally and to the screenwriting community.

Major Studies 90 ECTS

The degree requirements have been updated by Academic Committee for Arts, Design and Architecture on 25.3.

Code: ARTS3020
Credits: 90 ECTS cr
Responsible teacher: Professor Miia Haavisto

Learning Outcomes

The goal of the master’s level studies in Film and Television Producing is to deepen the student’s skills towards independent audiovisual entrepreneurship, film and televion producing, working in research or development projects in producing or acting in demanding leading and expertise posions in the audiovisual field.

At the end of their studies, students will have the vision, management skills and specialized skills required to complete high-quality film and television productions. These skills combined will allow them to work in a changing profession and develop visionary approaches in the field.

During the studies students will deepen their understanding of the narrative and genres of film and television productions as well as their production methods, audiences and distribution both domestically and internationally. Students gain the ability to act internationally and credibly as a producer in terms of funding, production and distribution.

Education Content

In the major of Film and Television production, students deepen their understanding of audiovisual productions, their processes and life cycle. Students develop their own artistic thinking and cinematic vision, as well as their understanding of enrepreneurship, the commercial exploitation of their works, and management and collaboration in the creative industry. Students become familiar with the history of film and current trends in audiovisual narrative, techniques and distribution. The aim of the training is to support the student's development as a creative producer with multidisciplinary knowledge and skills. Training also strengthens research capabilities and the ability to think critically.

Student's deepen their artistic thinking and expertise in leadership and entrepreneurship, international co-productions and distribution and dramaturgy in accordance to their personal study plan. The study modules are based on theory courses, literature, and workshop work, or combinations thereof. The student has the opportunity to deepen their knowledge extensively outside the courses offered by the major, for example in the field of economics or technology, especially in the fields of management, marketing, business and entrepreneurship. Substituting courses and planning a  meaningful course plan should be discussed with the responsible teacher well in advance before the start if the courses.

Major Studies 90 ECTS

The degree requirements have been updated by Academic Committee for Arts, Design and Architecture on 25.3.

Code: ARTS3021
Credits: 90 ECTS cr
Responsible teacher: Professor Anne Lakanen

Learning Outcomes

At the master’s level, the major in Film Editing is a continuation of the bachelor’s studies in film editing. Bachelor’s studies in this major provide an outstanding foundation for master’s studies. 

The technical, expression-related and vocational foundation for film editing has been laid in the Bachelor of Arts studies. The aim of the master's degree is to develop the student into an expert of viewing and seeing, a storyteller and an artist. Mastering the structure and expression of a feature-length documentary and a feature fiction film are at the core of the teaching. The master's degree also provides the opportunity to specialise in digital post-production, animation and experimental film. The goal of the education is to impart a capacity for pursuing doctoral studies.

The aim of master’s studies is that the student discovers his/her own way of working and is able to plan time use appropriately during the editing process in a large production. In film editing studies, the student learns to master the artistic, production-related and technical entity of his/her professional field through course teaching and exercises that gradually become more demanding. The goal of teaching is to strengthen the student’s skills and development and critical thinking in accordance with artistic vision.

Graduates with a major in Film Editing can process the structure of a full-length film and manage large amounts of material, schedule their own work in relation to the demands of production. He/she understands the requirements for making visual effects and can proportion digital post-production to his/her work. On the other hand, he/she has the possibility to specialise in digital post-production and as a visual effects designer, technician and expert. Film Editing studies provide the student with a good foundation for becoming an independent artist who has the skills to renew cinematic expression and specialise in film expression research or use his/her visual dramaturgy skills in other areas of narration and communications.

Education Content

A student working towards a master’s degree with a major in Film Editing deepens his/her skills and vision in dramaturgy and film editing. The teaching consists of workshops and lecture modules built around various changing themes, and advanced studies in the theory of this work.

The major provides deeper knowledge of film structures and film editing theories. The student has the possibility to expand his/her cinematic knowledge in the direction of filming and sound design and select studies to support their own area of specialisation from the cooperation platform of Aalto University and the University of the Arts. Etude productions focus on the editor’s vocational practices in the areas of fictional, documentary and animation film.

The education is mainly based on practical learning by doing, personal work and direction and dialogue-based interaction. The student deepens his/her knowledge of traditions and modern trends in the field.

The task of a film editor is to assess the functioning of the screenplay, find the final form of the film in the recorded material and produce the intended emotional impact in the viewer. A film editor needs the ability to be empathic as well as to understand interpersonal interactive relations and the wider and deeper meanings of the narration. The film editor needs to have a good idea of film history and the expressive means of various genres. Good image reading ability, a sense of rhythm and the ability to perceive structures provide the boldness needed to produce new solutions during the editing process. Communication skills and the ability to cooperate are the basic requirements for progressing in the profession.  The main focus of master’ studies are placed on managing large entities and the long format.

A personal study plan is drawn up separately for each student according to his/her interests. For example, he/she can specialise in actual film editing, post-production, digital effects or move in the research direction.

Major Studies 90 ECTS

^{* ) Students have the right to be credited with components of courses from courses over 12 ECTS.}

The degree requirements have been updated by Academic Committee for Arts, Design and Architecture on 25.3.

Code: ARTS3022
Credits: 90 ECTS cr
Responsible teacher: Professor Saara Saarela

Learning Outcomes

Master’s studies with a major in Film Directing strengthen the student director’s idea generation skills, idea development, storybuilding and narration skills in addition to developing the director’s personal cinematic style.

Master’s studies in Film Directing deepen the student’s visual and dramaturgical abilities, provides competence in film and TV production and in directing actors as well as enforces the student’s ability to lead a creative process in collaboration with other heads of department. The goal of the education is to provide the necessary skills to direct a feature-length film and a fiction tv-series, as well as strengthen abilities to do academic research focusing on fiction direction.

Education Content

In master’s studies in Film Directing, the student develops his/her own artistic thinking and cinematic vision. The studies consist of joint compulsory content for all majors in Film, which develop the student’s skills in research and professionalism, of elective studies, where the student can choose content freely and of specific study modules only for students majoring in Film Directing. These courses comprise thematic study modules with varying contents and are a combination of theory, individual research and practical workshops. Some modules concentrate on working with actors for better understanding the different acting and directing methods in practice. Other modules are laboratories built around a single central theme and realized in conjunction with one or more majors. Writing practices, text analyses and processing one’s own vision both in written and verbal formats are at the core of the studies.

During the master’s courses, the student challenges their artistic thinking, studies the conventions and new forms of film and TV drama, their dramaturgical structures and examines the starting points of their personal artistic work in more detail. The director gets tools to different directing methods and the studies support the student in finding their own genre in filmmaking. The studies give transferable skills in international co-productions and develops skills in project presentations (pitch). The studies strengthen the director’s role and responsibilities during the whole production line giving professional tools to be an artistic leader in a sustainable and responsible manner. According to the study plan drawn up in the personal study plan discussion, the director additionally deepens their competence in scriptwriting, producing or audiovisual narration. The courses available through mobility studies in Teak (Theatre Academy) are also recommended to be taken in elective studies.

Major Studies 90 ECTS

The degree requirements have been updated by Academic Committee for Arts, Design and Architecture on 25.3.

Code: ARTS3023
Credits: 90 ECTS cr
Responsible teacher: Professor Rauno Ronkainen

Learning Outcomes

In master’s studies in Cinematography, the student deepens his/her vocational competence to achieve a greater mastery of the overall artistic, production and technical entity of his/her professional area in various film, television and advertising productions. A student of cinematography has a wide-ranging mastery of artistic means of expression, cinematography methods and challenging technical concepts, equipment and work methods.

The goal of education is to reinforce the student’s personal strengths and development in line with personal artistic vision, deepen cooperation skills with others responsible for artistic film work, and provide the skills needed for independent research work.

Education Content

During the education, the student’s personal vision is strengthened with a focus on artistic-technical cinematography competence and cooperation skills.

The job description of a cinematographer is reinforced and deepened in extensive master’s study modules and workshop exercises, both in Finland and internationally and by means of courses on vocational technology and artistic expression. The education is mainly based on practical learning by doing, work in small groups, personal guidance and dialogue-based interaction. During the studies, the student is introduced to all phases of preliminary planning in cinematography and artistic and production cooperation in film and television productions.

Courses

Major Studies 90 ECTS

^{* ) Students have the right to be credited with components of courses from courses over 12 ECTS.}

To graduate, students must meet the aims set for the thesis. The aim of the master's thesis is that:

• Students demonstrate command of the field of the master's programme and ability to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in the programme independently;
• Students demonstrate ability for research-oriented work on an artistic, theoretical or applied research topic and demonstrate ability to use data and source material for research purposes;
• Students demonstrate good communication skills for work in the field of study.

The thesis may be a piece of theoretical, artistic or applied research, a work of art or a combination of these; it may also include a production component. The production component may be, depending on the field, for instance, a design, a work of art, an exhibition, or project. Theses always include a written component. If the thesis consists of a design or other production component and a written component, the student must specify the emphasis to be given to the different components in the evaluation. However, the thesis is always evalu-ated as a whole, with all the components of the thesis included in the evaluation.

The recommended extent of the written component of the thesis is 25–70 pages (approx. 50 000–140 000 characters) depending on the extent of the possible production component.

For more information on completing your thesis see: Completing your master's thesis

The Master of Arts degree includes 30 ECTS of elective studies. As elective studies, students can for example complete courses at Aalto University or other Finnish universities or participate in an international student exchange programme.

^{* ) Students have the right to be credited with components of courses from courses over 12 ECTS.}

The Master of Arts degree includes 30 ECTS of elective studies. As elective studies, students can for example complete courses at Aalto University or other Finnish universities or participate in an international student exchange programme.

^{* ) Students have the right to be credited with components of courses from courses over 12 ECTS.}

The Master of Arts degree includes 30 ECTS of elective studies. As elective studies, students can for example complete courses at Aalto University or other Finnish universities or participate in an international student exchange programme. The major in Film and Television Producing also offers a selection of courses which students can freely include in their elective studies.

^{* ) Students have the right to be credited with components of courses from courses over 12 ECTS.}

The Master of Arts degree includes 30 ECTS of elective studies. As elective studies, students can for example complete courses at the school’s other programmes and majors, elsewhere at Aalto University or at other Finnish universities or participate in an international student exchange programme.  Elective studies as well as other studies offered by the major can also be freely included in elective studies.

^{* ) Students have the right to be credited with components of courses from courses over 12 ECTS.}

The Master of Arts degree includes 30 ECTS of elective studies. As elective studies, students can for example complete courses at Aalto University or other Finnish universities or participate in an international student exchange programme.

^{* ) Students have the right to be credited with components of courses from courses over 12 ECTS.}

The Master of Arts degree includes 30 ECTS of elective studies. As elective studies, students can for example complete courses at Aalto University or other Finnish universities or participate in an international student exchange programme. The major in Cinematography also offers a selection of courses which students can freely include in their elective studies.

^{* ) Students have the right to be credited with components of courses from courses over 12 ECTS.}

The Master of Arts degree includes 30 ECTS of elective studies. As elective studies, students can for example complete courses at Aalto University or other Finnish universities or participate in an international student exchange programme. The major in Film Sound Design also offers a selection of courses which students can freely include in their elective studies.

^{* ) Students have the right to be credited with components of courses from courses over 12 ECTS.}