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University of California-Los Angeles · Film, Television and Digital Media

Screenwriting (MFA)

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in Film and Television — ScreenwritingFunding not verifiedEditorial selection: Top Screenwriting Schools

Overview

A two-year, full-time screenwriting MFA with a Feature Film Track and a Television Track, requiring 72 units and a thesis portfolio built within the chosen track.

Official program name
Screenwriting (MFA)
Awarded degree
Master of Fine Arts in Film and Television — ScreenwritingMaster's · Master of Fine Arts
Source: tft.ucla.edu · verified October 12, 2026
School
University of California-Los Angeles — Film, Television and Digital Media
Location
Los Angeles, CA
Delivery
On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Source: tft.ucla.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Required attendance
Regular campus attendanceStudents attend classes on campus throughout the program.
Source: tft.ucla.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Study intensity
Full-time
Source: tft.ucla.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Duration
Six to seven quarters
Source: tft.ucla.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Required credits
72 units (12 courses)
Source: tft.ucla.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Start
Fall
Source: tft.ucla.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Film and television
The program covers both film and television.
Source: tft.ucla.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Fields of study

FieldClassificationEvidence
ScreenwritingDedicated degreeThe degree itself is in this field.Source: tft.ucla.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Why this degree is listed

Two-year MFA dedicated to screenwriting with feature film and television tracks.

Source: tft.ucla.edu · verified October 12, 2026

We list verified film degrees only — no certificates, workshops or generic degrees with a few film electives. Eligibility rules

Curriculum, pathways and faculty

Official concentrations and pathways

Thesis, film or capstone

PortfolioStudents build a thesis portfolio in feature film or television writing.

Source: tft.ucla.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Workshops

  • Feature track students take advanced screenwriting, adaptation and rewrite workshops; TV track students take drama and comedy pilot workshops.
    Source: tft.ucla.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Published areas of study

  • At least two graduate-level Cinema and Media Studies courses are required.
    Source: tft.ucla.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Faculty listed by the program

  • Phyllis Nagy — Professor; Area Head, Screenwriting, screenwriting
  • George Huang — Professor, screenwriting

As listed on the program's official page on October 12, 2026. Listing does not mean a faculty member is teaching or supervising new students in a given year.

Source: tft.ucla.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Production costs and equipment

Production and equipment costs are separate from tuition. Tuition does not include cameras, crew, actors, locations, software or thesis-film budgets unless the school says so.

Equipment and facility access

Equipment access: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.

Published production and equipment costs

Production and equipment costs: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.

We never estimate a total cost when key expenses are unpublished. Compare production costs

Admissions

Each submission item is shown exactly as the school states it. Anything not listed is not verified — never “not required”.

Portfolio and submission materials

MaterialStatusInstructions as published
Screenplay samplePathway-specificFeature Film TrackTwo completed feature-length screenplays (80-130 page max).Length: 80–130 pagesSource: tft.ucla.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Screenplay samplePathway-specificTelevision TrackTwo original hour-long drama pilots (50-65 pages each), or one hour-long drama pilot and one original half-hour comedy/dramedy pilot (40 page max).Length: up to 65 pagesSource: tft.ucla.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Film or reelExplicitly not requiredFilms, clips or reels are not accepted.Source: tft.ucla.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Other requirements

Prior degree
RequiredEquivalent of a four-year U.S. bachelor's degree.
Source: tft.ucla.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Minimum GPA
RequiredAt least a 3.0 GPA by the time of entrance.
Source: tft.ucla.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Statement of purpose
RequiredStatement of purpose and personal statement.
Source: tft.ucla.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Recommendation letters
Required3 letters — Three letters of recommendation.
Source: tft.ucla.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Tests

Test policy: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.

We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate competitiveness. Build an application checklist

Deadlines

Dates are shown with the year and intake the school printed. A past date is marked passed and is never carried into a new cycle.

  • Application deadline

    November 1, 2026 · for Fall 2027

    Source: tft.ucla.edu · verified October 12, 2026
    Upcoming

Tuition and fees

Each amount keeps its applicant category, academic year and basis. Per-credit, per-year and whole-program figures are not comparable with each other. Production costs are listed separately above.
CategoryAmountBasis and year
In-state — UC Systemwide Tuition (graduate students)From the school's rate table for this level$15,066per academic year · 2026-2027Source: financialaid.ucla.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Out-of-state — Nonresident Supplemental Tuition (graduate, in addition to systemwide tuition)From the school's rate table for this level$15,102per academic year · 2026-2027Source: financialaid.ucla.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Funding

We have not verified an official funding policy for this program. That does not mean funding is unavailable. “Fully funded” never means every personal or production expense is covered. How we classify funding

Funding not verified

Funding policy: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.

Sources and verification

Every fact on this page comes from the official pages below. Last verified October 12, 2026.
  1. financialaid.ucla.edu/Graduate/Cost-of-Attendance — Official tuition and fees page, verified October 12, 2026
  2. tft.ucla.edu/programs/screenwriting-mfa/ — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
  3. tft.ucla.edu/programs/screenwriting-mfa/apply-to-screenwriting-mfa/ — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026

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Similar programs

Same degree level and field. Listed for discovery, not ranked.

Loyola Marymount University

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Location: Los Angeles, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Screenwriting (dedicated degree) · Producing (broader film degree)
Duration: Three years
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $1,814 per credit · All students — Graduate tuition per semester hour, School of Film and Television · 2026-2027
Deadline: November 15, 2026 · Fall 2026 (as printed)
View programSelected in: Top Screenwriting Schools
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Chapman University

Screenwriting (MFA)

MFAMFA in Screenwriting
Location: Orange, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Screenwriting (dedicated degree)
Duration: Two years
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $28,018 per semester · All students · 2026-2027
Deadline: November 15, 2026 · Fall 2027
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