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A Master of Screen Producing is a practice-based postgraduate degree that equips students with industry-leading knowledge and the skills to work as professional producers across the rapidly transforming screen industry. The course covers all aspects of screen producing — from the creative and practical functions of development and storytelling, to the business, financing, and marketing dimensions of bringing a project to market. Students learn to identify audiences, secure funding, lead production teams, manage budgets and schedules, and navigate the distribution landscape across film, television, streaming, and emerging digital platforms. The qualification typically runs for one and a half to two years full-time, and is offered by a range of Australian universities and specialist screen arts institutions.
Australia's screen industry is experiencing record investment, with drama production expenditure reaching $2.7 billion in 2024/25 — a 43% increase on the previous year — driven by high-budget features, subscription video-on-demand productions, and surging international production activity attracted by government location offsets. New legislation passed in late 2025 requiring major streaming services to invest a percentage of their Australian revenue in local content, creating ongoing demand for skilled Australian screen producers who can develop, finance, and deliver compelling local stories. The skills gap between creative talent and business-savvy producing expertise is real: employers across broadcast television, streaming platforms, independent production companies, and digital content studios consistently seek graduates who combine storytelling instinct with the financial acumen, leadership capability, and industry networks that only advanced postgraduate training can provide.
Most Australian providers require applicants to hold a recognised bachelor's degree in any discipline, though some programs prefer or require prior study in a screen-related field such as film, media, communications, or creative arts. Alternatively, applicants with at least five years of documented relevant industry experience may be considered in lieu of an undergraduate degree. Some highly specialised programs, particularly those at dedicated screen arts institutions, operate on a competitive merit-based basis and require applicants to submit a creative portfolio, a showreel or curated body of work, a personal statement outlining their producing goals, and an up-to-date CV. Interviews may also be required for shortlisted candidates.
English language requirements for international applicants typically require an IELTS Academic overall score of between 6.5 and 7.0 (with no individual band below 6.0), or equivalent results in TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE, or Cambridge C1 Advanced. Some providers accept evidence of previous study completed in English as an alternative. Credit for prior learning may be available to applicants who have completed relevant postgraduate study or hold a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in a screen-related field, potentially reducing the overall duration of the course.
This course may be offered in different study modes depending on the university, campus location, course structure and student type. Students should check the available delivery mode before applying, as not every study option is available at every institution.
On-campus study is the traditional mode of delivery where students attend classes, lectures, tutorials, workshops or seminars at the university campus. This option may suit students who prefer face-to-face learning, access to campus facilities, networking with classmates, practical workshops, group projects and direct engagement with academic staff.
Some universities may offer programs fully online or with online subject options. Online study can be attractive for students who need flexibility due to work, family, location or other commitments. Online study may suit domestic students, working professionals or students who want to study from outside Australia.
Hybrid or blended study usually combines online learning with some on-campus classes, workshops, intensive sessions or practical components. This mode may suit students who want flexibility but still want some face-to-face interaction. The exact structure varies between institutions.
Programs in Australia may have different intake structures depending on the university. The most common intake systems are semester, trimester and block mode.
Many Australian universities follow a two-semester academic calendar. The main intakes are commonly Semester 1 (around February or March) and Semester 2 (around July). Semester-based study usually allows students to complete a set number of subjects over approximately 12 to 14 weeks.
Some universities use a trimester system, which generally provides three study periods a year — around February/March, June/July and October/November. Trimester study may provide more flexibility and may help some students complete their course faster.
Some institutions may offer selected subjects or programs in block mode, where students focus on one subject at a time over a shorter, more intensive teaching period. Block mode may suit students who prefer concentrated learning or working professionals managing study around employment.
Some online or professionally focused programs may offer more frequent start dates or flexible entry points throughout the year. Students should not assume that every course has monthly or multiple intakes — availability depends on the institution, course structure and student type.
Graduates of a Master of Screen Producing are equipped for careers across a broad spectrum of Australian and international screen industries, including feature film, free-to-air and subscription television, streaming platforms, documentary, digital content, advertising, games, and emerging media. Employers include independent production companies, major broadcasters such as ABC, SBS, Seven, Nine, and Ten, streaming services including Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Stan, as well as advertising agencies, government arts and screen funding bodies, and corporate media departments. The qualification positions graduates not only as employees but as entrepreneurial creatives capable of establishing their own production enterprises.
Entry Level
Graduate / Assistant
Production Assistant, Runner, Development Assistant, Production Coordinator (Assistant), Script Reader
Early Career
Coordinator / Associate Producer
Associate Producer, Production Coordinator, Development Coordinator, Post-Production Coordinator, Story Producer
Mid-Level
Producer / Line Producer
Producer, Line Producer, Development Producer, Documentary Producer, Branded Content Producer, Streaming Content Producer
Senior Level
Senior Producer / Head of Development
Senior Producer, Head of Development, Co-Executive Producer, Series Producer, Head of Content
Leadership
Executive Producer / Director
Executive Producer, Showrunner, General Manager (Production), Managing Director (Production Company), Chief Content Officer, Content Commissioner
Salaries in Australian screen producing vary significantly by experience, production scale, sector, and location, with entry-level roles beginning around the graduate assistant level and senior producing careers commanding well above the national average.
Melbourne
Melbourne is home to a thriving independent film and television production sector, major broadcasters, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), and a robust festival culture including the Melbourne International Film Festival, making it one of Australia's strongest cities for screen producing study and career development. The city's arts-forward culture and concentration of postgraduate screen programs provide exceptional networking and industry access opportunities.
Sydney
Sydney is Australia's largest screen production hub, hosting the headquarters of major broadcasters, international streaming platforms, Fox Studios Australia, and a dense cluster of independent production companies, making it the prime destination for screen producing graduates seeking connections to large-scale film, television, and SVOD productions. The city also houses Australia's national screen arts school, AFTRS, which offers one of the country's most respected producing programs.
Brisbane
Brisbane and South East Queensland have emerged as a major screen production destination, with Queensland recording over $925 million in production spend driven by international features and the Village Roadshow Studios precinct on the Gold Coast, offering screen producing students access to both big-budget international productions and a growing local independent sector supported by Screen Queensland.
Perth
Perth is building a compelling screen industry profile backed by the Western Australian Screen Industry Strategy 2024–2034, which aims to significantly grow the state's screen industry and create a pipeline of skilled producing professionals. Screenwest actively funds local projects, and Perth's unique cultural identity and landscapes are increasingly attracting both domestic and international productions.
Adelaide
Adelaide offers a supportive and accessible screen industry environment for early-career producers, with South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) funding local productions and a growing post-production and digital effects sector. The city's comparatively lower cost of living and close-knit creative community make it an appealing base for students looking to build producing experience on local projects.
Canberra
Canberra's screen industry is closely linked to documentary, public affairs, and government-funded content production, given its proximity to national institutions, cultural organisations, and the ABC's national broadcasting network. Students interested in non-fiction, documentary, or public interest screen producing will find a niche but active production environment supported by ScreenACT.
Before choosing a course, students should compare:
International students who want to study in Australia should also consider additional requirements before applying.
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