Postgraduate study

Postgraduate taught 

Science Communications MSc

Science TV Production BIOL5481

Science TV Production BIOL5481

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: MVLS College Services
  • Credits: 10
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 1
  • Available to Visiting Students: No

Short Description

TV is one of the most powerful ways to reach a broad audience and to make them connect with science content. But how do you make science shows that will keep people watching – that is entertaining, has heart, awe and wonder while also stays true to the science. In this course, students will get an introduction into the craft of TV science storytelling and what happens behind the scenes to plan, create and produce science TV shows from experts.

Timetable

This course will be taught over 3 weeks and consist of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

  1. Video production of a recent and appropriate piece of science infotainment or similar.  (5-7 Mins) – ILOs 1-3, 70%.

  2. Rationale for video production choices (500-750 words) – ILOs 2 & 3, 30%

Course Aims

The course will give students an introduction into what it takes to make TV Science content engaging for a broad audience. It will build their competency in identifying enticing ways to tell stories, script writing, visual storytelling.

Through a variety of lectures, workshops, seminars and tutorials we will explore the skills needed to work in TV for science content. This course aims to enable students to:

  • Structure and unpack science content in a way that is accessible and engaging through script writing.
  • Develop basic skills of filming and editing to practice visual storytelling and bring a script to screen.
  • Engage with the importance of audio in TV storytelling – through the use of commentary, sync and music.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

  1. Design a piece of science storytelling applying audience appropriate methods/ways of engagement.  
  2. Critically appraise the construction of science TV content and the interplay of elements used to make it engaging for an audience.
  3. Critically evaluate existing TV productions and the strengths and weaknesses of its execution.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course’s summative assessment. In cases where the assessment comprises more than 75% of the course weighting (for example, 100% weighting dissertation), students must submit this assessment in order to meet the minimum requirement for the award of credit.