National Film and Television School

Screenwriting MA course in film and television writing. Considered to be the best in the country. Alumni include Ashley Pharoah (co-creator and writer, Ashes to Ashes, Life on Mars) and Shawn Slovo (screenwriter, Catch A Fire, Captain Corelli's Mandolin). Applications now open for January 2009 (01494 671234 www.nftsfilm-tv.ac.uk).

The Script Factory

Courses for both the casual hobby writer and the serious professional. Usually run for one or two days, in the past masterclass taken by Edward Norton and Spike Lee (020-7323 1414 www.scriptfactory.co.uk).

City University

M.A Creative Writing (Plays and screenplays)

With a view to completing a full length film script. Workshops with Julian Fellowes and Patrick Marber (020-7040 5060 enquiries@city.ac.uk).

London College of Communication

Short and part-time course and M.A in screenwriting (020-7514 6130 www.arts.ac.uk ).

Bournemouth University

Part-time MA Screenwriting course, accredited by Skillset, taught entirely by residential attendance periods combined with distance-learning (01202 524111 www.bournemouth.ac.uk).

Northern Film School, Leeds Metropolitan University

Two year M.A. in Screenwriting (fiction). Alumni include Andrew Vickers, script consultant for Shane Meadow’s This is England, others have gone on to work as scriptwriters for Coronation Street and Hollyoaks (0113 812 000 www.leedsmet.ac.uk ).

Arvon Foundation

Intensive one week screenwwriting courses by Deborah Moggach and Christopher Hampton. Grants are available to those on low incomes (020-7931 7611 www.arvonfoundation.org).

UEA

Script and Screenwriting Levels 1 and 2

Learn to write for stage and screen with experienced and professional scriptwriters. Focus is on characterisation, conflict, structure and dialogue (01603 591515 www.uea.ac.uk)

London Film School

One year intensive M.A Screenwriting. Visiting lecturers and mentors have included Mike Leigh (www.lfs.org.uk ).

Explore Film

• Film Reviews

• Trailers

• DVD

• London Film Festival

Editor's choice

• The super cool Vampire Weekend
• Streep and Baldwin get complicated
• Guy Ritchie on Sherlock Holmes