Master of Arts Screen: Business

The Master of Arts Screen: Business at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) is a specialist postgraduate degree for people who want to run the business side of screen production. It is not a general business degree. You study how film, television and online content get financed, scheduled, marketed and delivered, and you do it alongside the people who make the work. AFTRS is Australia's national screen school, so the industry links are built into the place rather than bolted on.

What you actually study

The course runs for 39 weeks as a master's degree, which means it sits at level 9 on the Australian Qualifications Framework. Australian master's degrees are usually one to two years of full-time study built from units of study, each carrying a set number of credit points. You need to pass the required credit points to graduate. At AFTRS the teaching is practical and cohort-based, so you are likely to work on real productions and projects with students from the other screen disciplines rather than only sitting in lectures. The exact unit list, credit point values and any capstone or final project requirements are set out in the official course information, so check the AFTRS page before you apply.

Skills you build

You learn how to put together a finance plan for a production, how distribution and sales work across Australian and international markets, how to negotiate deals, and how to manage a crew, a budget and a schedule without losing the creative idea. Screen businesses in Australia are mostly small to medium enterprises, so graduates need to be able to handle more than one part of the job. The course is taught by people who work in the industry, which means the case studies and guest sessions reflect what is happening in Australian production right now.

Who it suits

This degree suits producers, production managers, line producers, development executives and screen business owners who want a formal qualification and a stronger industry network. It also suits people moving into screen from another sector, such as finance, law, marketing or general management, who need to understand how production actually works. If you are already making content and want to scale it, or you want to move from a crew role into a producing role, this is the kind of course that fits.

Practical matters

AFTRS is based in Sydney and the course is delivered on campus, so you should plan around living in Australia. International students on a Student visa can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session. After graduating, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may allow you to stay and work in Australia, depending on your circumstances and the current rules. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 108903H. International applicants need to meet English language requirements; IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common coursework-postgraduate standard, and AFTRS may accept TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced or its own English programmes as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs also sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself. Confirm all entry requirements, fees and dates on the official AFTRS page.

• Producer, develops projects, raises finance and manages productions for film, television and streaming. Hired by production companies, broadcasters and independent producers across Australia.
• Production Manager or Line Producer, runs budgets, schedules and crews on set. Works with production companies, television networks and streaming productions.
• Development Executive, finds and develops scripts and projects for studios, broadcasters and streamers. Roles sit with companies like Australian networks, international streamers and production houses.
• Business Affairs or Contracts Manager, handles rights, clearances, agreements and deal terms for screen organisations. Common in production companies, distributors and broadcasters.
• Distribution or Sales Executive, sells finished content to broadcasters, streamers and international markets. Based with distributors, sales agents and content exporters.
• Screen Business Owner or Principal, runs a production company, post-production house or creative agency. Common in Australia's independent screen sector.
• Marketing or Audience Manager, plans campaigns and release strategies for film, television and online content. Hired by distributors, broadcasters and streaming platforms.
• Production Accountant, manages production finance, cost reporting and incentives such as the Producer Offset. Works with production companies and finance firms that specialise in screen.