George Brown Polytechnic is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous peoples who have lived here over time. We are grateful to share this land as treaty people who learn, work and live in the community with each other.
Screenwriting & Narrative Design
(Online) (Postgraduate) (P410)
Program Details
Online- Program Code: P410
- Credential: Ontario College Graduate Certificate
- Duration: 1 year (3 semesters)
- Method of Study: Full-time
- Starting Months: September
- Domestic Tuition: $8,818.00 *
- International Tuition: $28,150.00 **
- Spring 2026 Delivery: Not Available
Program Availability
| Semester | Domestic | International |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | Suspended | Not Available |
| Winter 2026 | Not Available | Not Available |
| Spring 2026 | Not Available | Not Available |
- PGWP Eligible: No
Program Description
Program Overview
The one-year Screenwriting & Narrative Design (Online) postgraduate certificate program gives you the knowledge, writing experience, and hands-on skills needed to excel as a screenwriter in the dynamic world of media. You’ll also learn all about the art of narrative design, preparing you for a career in gaming and interactive storytelling.
The School of Media is ranked as one of Canada’s best film schools by both CourseCompare and Degrees & Careers.
Please note: You can not transfer into the in-class Screenwriting & Narrative Design (P400) program after the start date.
Full Description
International Students
This online program is only available to study while remaining in your home country and does not qualify for study/work permit eligibility in Canada.
The Screenwriting & Narrative Design (Online) postgraduate certificate program will help you overcome the challenge of writing a well-structured story within linear and nonlinear contexts. Explore the elements of character, dialogue, scene, setting, texture, style and tone. You’ll master the subtle variances of language in structured and open-world storytelling as you create memorable stories and scripts for film, TV, games and interactive media. You’ll also work with fellow students (directors, actors, and designers) on student-led and potential research projects.
Program Requirements
You'll need to have access to:
- a laptop capable of running Final Draft and MS Office
- a Netflix subscription
- a stable/high bandwidth Internet connection
Your Field Education Options
Due to the online nature of this program, there will be no field education component attached to this program.
Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities
Industry
Professional storytelling/writing/content development is highly competitive and exceptionally rewarding. Though concentrated around major cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles and New York, the globalization of the industry means that media writers can work on projects worldwide.
As the TV and film industries adapt to changing trends, they’re integrating more online and interactive content. And with the internet as a gateway to traditional media, webisodes and series are flourishing, creating fresh opportunities in screenwriting.
Alumni Impact
We are immensely proud of the contributions of our alumni in Toronto and around the globe.
From Michelin-starred restaurants to major construction, entertainment, community and financial organizations, our graduates truly impact various industries.
Courses
Semester 1
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| WRIT 1001 | Intensive I – The Writers' Room |
| WRIT 1002 | Writers' Studio I |
| WRIT 1003 | Story and Character I |
| WRIT 1005 | Feature I |
| WRIT 1006 | Video Game |
| WRIT 1010 | Episodic I |
| WRIT 1017 | Entrepreneurship |
Semester 2
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| WRIT 1004 | Story and Character II |
| WRIT 1007 | Entertainment Business |
| WRIT 1012 | Writers' Studio II |
| WRIT 1015 | Feature II |
| WRIT 1016 | Interactive |
| WRIT 1020 | Episodic II |
Semester 3
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| WRIT 2001 | Thesis Project |
Course Outline URL
Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate demonstrates the ability to:
- Produce linear and non-linear narrative content to industry standards using current and relevant software.
- Create content employing traditional and non‐traditional dramatic narratives with advanced application for entertainment writing within linear and non‐linear mediums.
- Articulate the differences between the varying mediums’ production processes and how the writer integrates into each process.
- Investigate the varying guilds, associations, agencies and groups and how they interact with relevance to the different industries.
- Differentiate the history of film, television, video games and interactive media from other media as well as the intersections between them.
- Analyze the evolving landscapes for production, distribution and content creation in order to anticipate challenges and opportunities arising from technological change and consumer demand.
- Prepare for employment in the field by evaluating the present business climate of the relevant film, television, video game, online, mobile and interactive industries, and using interview and presentation skills, resumé-writing skills, proposal and pitch development skills and portfolio preparation.
- Conduct research using a variety of relevant research methods, including online and library resources, to do effective world-building and character creation.
- Engage and invoke an emotional response from an audience, recognizing and using relevant style and narrative structures, including plot analysis, characterization, setting, dialogue, point of view, structure, length and originality.
- Evaluate personal and recognized works of entertainment writing for traditional composition techniques, including “unity of effect,” as these apply to both traditional rhetorical structures and narratives with branching structures and/or multiple narratively coherent conclusions.
- Manipulate point of view to develop narratives, analyze form and structure to apply evolving techniques, and compare setting and atmosphere to adjust narrative time within linear and non-linear narratives.
- Assess personal and recognized works of traditional and interactive narratives for techniques in character development exploring limitations presented by traditional techniques in character development for non-linear and participatory character creation.
Tuition & Fees
Domestic Tuition
$8,818.00 *
International Tuition
$28,150.00 **
Additional Costs
* Amounts listed are the estimated total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the three semesters of programs starting in Fall 2024. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2025 and at later dates. This fee does not include books, which are to be purchased by the student separately.
** Amounts listed are the estimated total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the first three semesters of programs starting in Fall 2025. Tuition fees are subject to board approval. Material, student service and ancillary fees are estimated based on prior years. All fees are subject to change without notice. This fee does not include books, which are to be purchased by the student separately.
International Students
Visit the International Fees and Related Costs page for more information.
Financial Assistance
This program is approved for OSAP funding, provided the applicant meets OSAP eligibility criteria.
Each year we award over $2 million dollars in scholarships, awards and bursaries to first-year students. Check out our financial aid web pages for ways to pay for college and the full list of available scholarships, awards and bursaries.
Admission Requirements
- bachelor’s degree, two- or three-year diploma or graduate certificate (postgraduate studies)
- resumé
- writing samples*
or
- demonstrated competence through related work experience (minimum three years of experience in the entertainment industry or performing arts)
- resumé
- writing samples*
* Further details on the writing samples will be provided to the applicant via a letter and/or email, once the applicant meets the academic and/or work experience requirements.
English Language Proficiency
Applicants with international transcripts who do not provide English language proficiency test results must test at the College level in the George Brown Polytechnic English assessment to be considered for admission. Applicants who are accepted based on work experience only will be required to take the English Admissions Assessment in order to evaluate the appropriate level of English language proficiency.
Course Exemptions
College or university credits may qualify you for course exemptions. Please visit our transfer guide for more information.
International Students
Visit the International Admissions page for more information regarding country specific admission requirements.
Special Requirements
International (Visa) Students
This is a 100 per cent online program. Therefore, students in this program do not come to Canada, and are not eligible for a study permit, and graduates will not be eligible for a post-graduation work permit upon completion of this program.
How to Apply
Domestic students should apply through Ontario Colleges.
International students should apply through our Online Application System.
International Students
Visit the How to Apply page for more information on how and when to apply.
International students should apply through the George Brown Polytechnic Online Application System.
Contact Us
School of Media & Performing Arts
Phone: 416-415-5000, ext. 2015
Email: media@georgebrown.ca
International Students
Contact one of our international recruitment representatives specializing by country of origin by either booking a virtual meeting or submitting an inquiry. For more information visit the International Contact Us page
Visit Our Campus
The School of Media & Performing Arts is located at the St. James Campus at 230 Richmond Street East, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Campus tours are offered on a regular basis. Sign up for a campus tour.
Program Description
Program Overview
The one-year Screenwriting & Narrative Design (Online) postgraduate certificate program gives you the knowledge, writing experience, and hands-on skills needed to excel as a screenwriter in the dynamic world of media. You’ll also learn all about the art of narrative design, preparing you for a career in gaming and interactive storytelling.
The School of Media is ranked as one of Canada’s best film schools by both CourseCompare and Degrees & Careers.
Please note: You can not transfer into the in-class Screenwriting & Narrative Design (P400) program after the start date.
Full Description
International Students
This online program is only available to study while remaining in your home country and does not qualify for study/work permit eligibility in Canada.
The Screenwriting & Narrative Design (Online) postgraduate certificate program will help you overcome the challenge of writing a well-structured story within linear and nonlinear contexts. Explore the elements of character, dialogue, scene, setting, texture, style and tone. You’ll master the subtle variances of language in structured and open-world storytelling as you create memorable stories and scripts for film, TV, games and interactive media. You’ll also work with fellow students (directors, actors, and designers) on student-led and potential research projects.
Program Requirements
You'll need to have access to:
- a laptop capable of running Final Draft and MS Office
- a Netflix subscription
- a stable/high bandwidth Internet connection
Your Field Education Options
Due to the online nature of this program, there will be no field education component attached to this program.
Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities
Industry
Professional storytelling/writing/content development is highly competitive and exceptionally rewarding. Though concentrated around major cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles and New York, the globalization of the industry means that media writers can work on projects worldwide.
As the TV and film industries adapt to changing trends, they’re integrating more online and interactive content. And with the internet as a gateway to traditional media, webisodes and series are flourishing, creating fresh opportunities in screenwriting.
Alumni Impact
We are immensely proud of the contributions of our alumni in Toronto and around the globe.
From Michelin-starred restaurants to major construction, entertainment, community and financial organizations, our graduates truly impact various industries.
Courses
Semester 1
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| WRIT 1001 | Intensive I – The Writers' Room |
| WRIT 1002 | Writers' Studio I |
| WRIT 1003 | Story and Character I |
| WRIT 1005 | Feature I |
| WRIT 1006 | Video Game |
| WRIT 1010 | Episodic I |
| WRIT 1017 | Entrepreneurship |
Semester 2
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| WRIT 1004 | Story and Character II |
| WRIT 1007 | Entertainment Business |
| WRIT 1012 | Writers' Studio II |
| WRIT 1015 | Feature II |
| WRIT 1016 | Interactive |
| WRIT 1020 | Episodic II |
Semester 3
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| WRIT 2001 | Thesis Project |
Course Outline URL
Tuition & Fees
Domestic Tuition
$8,818.00 *
International Tuition
$28,150.00 **
Additional Costs
* Amounts listed are the estimated total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the three semesters of programs starting in Fall 2024. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2025 and at later dates. This fee does not include books, which are to be purchased by the student separately.
** Amounts listed are the estimated total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the first three semesters of programs starting in Fall 2025. Tuition fees are subject to board approval. Material, student service and ancillary fees are estimated based on prior years. All fees are subject to change without notice. This fee does not include books, which are to be purchased by the student separately.
International Students
Visit the International Fees and Related Costs page for more information.
Financial Assistance
This program is approved for OSAP funding, provided the applicant meets OSAP eligibility criteria.
Each year we award over $2 million dollars in scholarships, awards and bursaries to first-year students. Check out our financial aid web pages for ways to pay for college and the full list of available scholarships, awards and bursaries.
Admission Requirements
- bachelor’s degree, two- or three-year diploma or graduate certificate (postgraduate studies)
- resumé
- writing samples*
or
- demonstrated competence through related work experience (minimum three years of experience in the entertainment industry or performing arts)
- resumé
- writing samples*
* Further details on the writing samples will be provided to the applicant via a letter and/or email, once the applicant meets the academic and/or work experience requirements.
English Language Proficiency
Applicants with international transcripts who do not provide English language proficiency test results must test at the College level in the George Brown Polytechnic English assessment to be considered for admission. Applicants who are accepted based on work experience only will be required to take the English Admissions Assessment in order to evaluate the appropriate level of English language proficiency.
Course Exemptions
College or university credits may qualify you for course exemptions. Please visit our transfer guide for more information.
International Students
Visit the International Admissions page for more information regarding country specific admission requirements.
Special Requirements
International (Visa) Students
This is a 100 per cent online program. Therefore, students in this program do not come to Canada, and are not eligible for a study permit, and graduates will not be eligible for a post-graduation work permit upon completion of this program.
How to Apply
Domestic students should apply through Ontario Colleges.
International students should apply through our Online Application System.
International Students
Visit the How to Apply page for more information on how and when to apply.
International students should apply through the George Brown Polytechnic Online Application System.
Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate demonstrates the ability to:
- Produce linear and non-linear narrative content to industry standards using current and relevant software.
- Create content employing traditional and non‐traditional dramatic narratives with advanced application for entertainment writing within linear and non‐linear mediums.
- Articulate the differences between the varying mediums’ production processes and how the writer integrates into each process.
- Investigate the varying guilds, associations, agencies and groups and how they interact with relevance to the different industries.
- Differentiate the history of film, television, video games and interactive media from other media as well as the intersections between them.
- Analyze the evolving landscapes for production, distribution and content creation in order to anticipate challenges and opportunities arising from technological change and consumer demand.
- Prepare for employment in the field by evaluating the present business climate of the relevant film, television, video game, online, mobile and interactive industries, and using interview and presentation skills, resumé-writing skills, proposal and pitch development skills and portfolio preparation.
- Conduct research using a variety of relevant research methods, including online and library resources, to do effective world-building and character creation.
- Engage and invoke an emotional response from an audience, recognizing and using relevant style and narrative structures, including plot analysis, characterization, setting, dialogue, point of view, structure, length and originality.
- Evaluate personal and recognized works of entertainment writing for traditional composition techniques, including “unity of effect,” as these apply to both traditional rhetorical structures and narratives with branching structures and/or multiple narratively coherent conclusions.
- Manipulate point of view to develop narratives, analyze form and structure to apply evolving techniques, and compare setting and atmosphere to adjust narrative time within linear and non-linear narratives.
- Assess personal and recognized works of traditional and interactive narratives for techniques in character development exploring limitations presented by traditional techniques in character development for non-linear and participatory character creation.
Contact Us
School of Media & Performing Arts
Phone: 416-415-5000, ext. 2015
Email: media@georgebrown.ca
International Students
Contact one of our international recruitment representatives specializing by country of origin by either booking a virtual meeting or submitting an inquiry. For more information visit the International Contact Us page
Visit Our Campus
The School of Media & Performing Arts is located at the St. James Campus at 230 Richmond Street East, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Campus tours are offered on a regular basis. Sign up for a campus tour.