Serial Storytelling (Master's program)
The MA Serial Storytelling at the ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln is Europe’s first and only international Master’s Programme focusing on collaborative writing for series.
Focusing on both local and international series markets, this intensive two-year master's degree programme combines story development skills, collaboration techniques (»Writers’ Room«), and the innovative approach of artistic research.
Students work with highly acclaimed international guest speakers and scholars, such as Steven Kane (Halo, Jack Ryan), Chris Chibnall (Broadchurch, Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials), Annette Hess (Deutsches Haus/The Interpreter of Silence, Ku’damm 56/59/63), Bob Konrad (Kleo, Struwwelpeter), Denise Harkavy (The Expanse), Philip Käßbohrer and Matthias Murmann (How To Sell Drugs Online [Fast]), Juliana Lima Dehne (Maxton Hall, 1899), Adrian Spring & Kirsten Loose (Club der roten Bänder), Ljubica Lukovic (Kljun/Awake, Struwwelpeter), Tyron Ricketts (Sam – ein Sachse/Sam – A Saxon), Jeppe Gjervig Gram (Borgen, Follow the Money), Pilar Alessandra (On the Page), Eilish Kent (Storyland), Laurie Hutzler (Nine Powers), and many more.
Since 2025, the Serial Storytelling professorship has been held by Prof. Jan Martin Scharf, a renowned German TV series writer and director whose work includes »Die Düsteren« (ZDFneo), »Barbaren« (Netflix), »Alphamännchen« (Netflix), »Club der roten Bänder/Red Band Society« (VOX) and »Weinberg« (TNT).
The programme is supported by industry partners such as Disney+, RTL, ZDF/ZDFneo, btf bildundtonfabrik, Network Movie, Series Mania and Seriencamp.
At a Glance
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Program | Serial Storytelling |
| Degree | Master of Arts (M.A.) |
| Type of program | Full-time programme (on site) |
| Beginning of program | Winter semester (every other year) |
| Program duration | 4 semesters |
| Credits | 120 ECTS credits |
| Language of instruction |
International track: English German track: English and German |
| Campus | ifs Köln (Mülheim site) |
| Application | Please visit the ifs website for information on the application process. More |