Screenwriting in London

It begins with a story in your imagination and ends with a draft of a full-length screenplay for a feature film.

Program Overview

Classes are held at NYU London. The first half of the semester examines the principles of creating a unique feature film script. Toward the end of the semester, you participate in readings, workshops and appraise the work you and your classmates create. 

St. Paul's Cathedral during the day

St. Paul's Cathedral, London
Photo by Lori Shearer

" I had an entirely different setting in all aspects and that really managed to get my brain flowing. Writing in a place I've never been to before has really helped my writing. So much so that I found out that I had a hidden talent for writing action sequences, something I never thought could be possible for me." 
— Vanneeda Keowmang, Screenwriting in London, Fall 2017

Core Curriculum

Your semester abroad consists of your core program course and two additional companion courses, completing a full-time, 16-unit semester.

Please Note: Students studying abroad on a Tisch track are not eligible to pursue an internship (except for Theatre in Ghana and Television Writing in London). Tisch programs do not provide work visas.

Advanced Screenwriting (Core)

IDWPG-UT 1057 | 8 units | Instructor: Mark Boutros

This course provides a stimulating and challenging examination of the principles and processes of writing for the big screen, drawing on contemporary and classical screenwriting examples from British, European and American filmmaking. The program is a re-discovery of the fundamentals of writing a film: the screenplay is not a script, but should be a descriptive representation of the original film the writer has created in their imagination. Beginning with story, and exploring its possible forms and shapes; imagining characters from the inside outwards; and then situating your characters in their story world, the course provides a toolkit to assist any writer in creating not just their first feature screenplay, but all their screenplays to follow. Topics include explorations of genre, tone, style and emotion; an introduction to writing for TV; and how (and why) the film and TV industries work. Students are encouraged to participate actively in workshop development of their own and their colleagues’ scripts. By the end of the semester, participants will have completed a first draft feature length screenplay, and have directed an extract for its public presentation in a rehearsed reading; the cast recruited from students on the Tisch Shakespeare in Performance at RADA program.

The Arts in London: A Cultural History

ISPEC-UT 1301 | 4 Units | Instructor: Richard Williams

This course offers a wide-ranging introduction to London’s history and contemporary developments and explores the capital through field trips to galleries, museums, and places of iconic interest. Lectures and visits by practicing artists, as well as discussions and debates, stimulate interest in a wide spectrum of the arts, including architecture, music, photography, painting, the applied arts, and aspects of performance.

British Cinema: London on Film

IFMTV-UT 1020 | 4 Units | Instructor: Check Albert

This course examines the role that the capital has played in British film from the early, silent years to today. Many directors have used the iconic status of London as either the protagonist or backdrop in films of different genres, from the silent era to World War II documentaries, from the “swinging London” of the 1960s to the social satires of the 1980s, and from gangster films to romantic comedies. The course explores the significance of this world city and its representation of Britishness. It also provides the opportunity, where possible, of exploring the real locations and venues where films were shot.

Studies in Shakespeare

ITHEA-UT 700 | 4 Units | Instructor: TBD

The focus of this course is Shakespeare’s text as performance.  The study aims to uncover clues apparent to an Elizabethan actor and consider how this might inform current theatre practice.  Each sessions is a discrete unit, each with a separate focus blending academic and theatrical in areas such as adaptation and sources, style and interpretation, structure and genre, mythology and history.  The course encourages students to develop a working knowledge of the canon and read as widely as possible.  A chance to specialise comes in the final presentation which is in the form of a production proposal based on the experience of the course.  Work is enhanced by a visit to Stratford-upon-Avon, a performance by the Royal Shakespeare Company, a visit to the Globe theatre and opportunities to view a wide range of recorded productions.

Theatre in London

ITHEA-UT 662 | 4 Units | Instructor: Ellis Jones

A selection of theatrical productions is chosen to give students a feel for the breadth and depth of London theatre during theatre visits to the West End and fringe theatres. Each production is viewed and analyzed as a whole, but the many and varied elements that go into making London theatre supply a different focus each week. In addition there are occasional field trips to sites of theatrical interest with a guest speaker or two thrown into the mix each semester to discuss his/her work (from writing to directing to acting to designing), to share knowledge and expertise and to help demonstrate how high-quality parts are needed to make a high-quality whole.

Watch

Program Dates

Fall 2024

Student Arrival: August 27, 2024
Student Departure: December 13, 2024

Spring 2025 

Student Arrival: January 16, 2025
Student Departure: May 10, 2025

Fall 2025

Dates will be announced soon.

Dates are tentative and subject to change. Visit the NYU London website for more information. 

The London Eye on a sunny day

Photo by Lori Shearer

ADMISSIONS

Prerequisites:

Collaborative Arts majors: Intermediate Screenwriting (COART-UT 604) or Collaborative Screenwriting (COART-UT 600)

Dramatic Writing majors: Screenwriting I (DWPG-UT 35)

Film/TV majors: Two Sight and Sound courses and either Preparing the Screenplay (FMTV-UT 1019), Preparing the Teleplay & Screenplay (FMTV-UT 1015), OR Introduction to TV Writing
(FMTV-UT 1017). No exceptions will be made for the prerequisites. Prerequisites will not be waived.

NYU Students: Introduction to Screenwriting (OART-UT 35)

Visiting Students: College level experience in Screenwriting

Application:

Fall 2025

Application Deadline: Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET

For more information please view our Admissions Calendar.

Please read the following application requirements before starting your application.

Note: Students should wait to receive their admissions notification and confirmation that the program is running prior to purchasing airline tickets. Students accepted to the program should purchase refundable airline tickets and/or travel insurance in the event the program is canceled or program dates are changed due to world events. It is strongly recommended that students purchase insurance for trip cancellation, flight cancellation, luggage loss or damage, as well as medical and accident coverage.

Westminster Abbey during the day

Westminster Abbey
Photo by Lori Shearer

Expenses

Spring 2024*

  • Academic Year 2024-2025 Full-time Tuition, 12-18 unit flat rate per term: $34,489

Additional Fees Include:

*fall 2025 rates TBA

Please review the Tisch Special Programs cancellation policy.

Visit the Office of Global Programs for additional study abroad costs.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID

There are opportunities for financial assistance to study abroad.

Please review the Scholarships and Financial Aid for Study Abroad page for more information.

HOUSING

Visit the NYU London website for housing options and descriptions.