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Creative Writing

Application options include:

Course Overview

The MA Creative Writing at Birkbeck is taught by one of the most diverse and vibrant departments in London. For nearly 20 years we have been enabling dynamic groups of students to improve their creative work and develop as writers. We have a growing list of published and prizewinning authors whose work started life in our seminars.

If you have been writing creatively for a while and feel the need for professional support and feedback and the guidance of published authors and a cohort of like-minded people, then this course is for you.

The course is taught through small seminars and one-to-one tuition. We offer modules in fiction writing - both short story and novel - and work with writers across many prose genres - both fiction and non-fiction. We also offer options in playwriting, poetry, screenwriting and creative non-fiction, and practical opportunities to learn about publishing, producing and editing creative work. 

Entry to the course is based on the submission of a portfolio of creative work, and candidates whose work shows promise will be invited for interview.

Read our blog to keep up to date with our research activities.

Discover the career opportunities available by taking Creative Writing (MA).

Key information and modules

Creative writing: january start ma: 2 years part-time, on campus, starting january 2024, creative writing ma: 1 year full-time, on campus, starting october 2024.

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Creative Writing MA: 2 years part-time, on campus, starting October 2024

Creative writing: january start ma: 2 years part-time, on campus, starting january 2025, pathways for creative writing (ma).

From 2023-24, we are changing the way we offer our programmes. You can now select the course route that is most suited to your skill set and interests. Apply for this course or select one of our pathways below.

  • Creative Writing and Contemporary Studies (MA)

Find another course:

  • Birkbeck was ranked 2nd in the UK for its English Language and Literature research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
  • In particular, this environment is fostered by close links between the MA and the Centre for Conte mporary Literature at Birkbeck, which runs a wide variety of talks and conferences in this field. In addition to working with the established and award-winning writers who teach the degree, you will have contact with industry professionals, such as publishers and literary agents, who offer a series of platform discussions in the summer term.
  • The Mechanics' Institute Review, MIROnline , is a forum for the most exciting new writing in short fiction, poetry and creative non-fiction selected from students on this course and beyond.
  • Birkbeck is located in the heart of literary London, in Bloomsbury, WC1. You could be studying in a building that was once home to Virginia Woolf and frequented by members of the Bloomsbury Group. The building houses our own creative hub which includes the Peltz Gallery , the Gordon Square Cinema and a theatre and performance space .
  • We have a range of scholarships available to enable talented students on low incomes to study with us, such as the Sophie Warne Fellowship . Once you have secured a place on the course you will be invited to apply for these awards. We offer a number of bursaries for postgraduate students .

Birkbeck makes all reasonable efforts to deliver educational services, modules and programmes of study as described on our website. In the event that there are material changes to our offering (for example, due to matters beyond our control), we will update applicant and student facing information as quickly as possible and offer alternatives to applicants, offer-holders and current students.

Entry Requirements

A second-class honours degree (2:2 or above, though this requirement may be waived if you can demonstrate exceptional talent), a personal statement (to be submitted with your application form) and a portfolio of prose writing of no more than 3000 words.

Your portfolio should be a section of a novel with a synopsis, a couple of short stories or a combination of the two. Please note that poetry, children’s fiction, journalism, screen- or playwriting are not appropriate submissions for this MA. Students are selected on the basis of their portfolio and statement, an interview (selected candidates only) and their degree.

Portfolio guidelines:

  • Submit application.
  • Wait up to 48 hours.
  • Submit writing portfolio (Word or PDF) by logging into your MyBirkbeck profile, then going to the ‘Manage my application’ link and attaching the document.

Applications are reviewed on their individual merits, and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

On your application form, please list all your relevant qualifications and experience, including those you expect to achieve.

Apply now  to secure your place. The earlier you apply, the sooner your application can be considered and you can enrol. You do not need to have completed your current qualification to start your application.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, the requirement for this programme is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 7.0, with not less than 6.5 in each of the sub-tests.

If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement,  we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes  to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.

Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our  English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country .

Visa and funding requirements

If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.

The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

  • Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
  • Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa

International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol as a student on Birkbeck's part-time courses (with the exception of some modules).

For full information, read our visa information for international students page .

Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant visa and funding requirements by country .

Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.

Credits and accredited prior learning (APL)

If you have studied at university, you may have accumulated credits through the modules you studied. It may be possible to transfer these credits from your previous study to Birkbeck or another institution.

Creative Writing: January start MA: 2 years part-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2023-24 or 2024-25

Academic year 2023–24, starting january 2024.

Part-time home students: £4,905 per year Part-time international students : £9,015 per year

Academic year 2024–25, starting January 2025

Part-time home students: £5,400 per year Part-time international students : £9,915 per year

Creative Writing MA: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2024-25

Academic year 2024–25, starting october 2024.

Part-time home students: £5,400 per year Full-time home students: £10,800 per year Part-time international students : £9,915 per year Full-time international students: £19,830 per year

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see the College Fees Policy .

If you’ve studied at Birkbeck before and successfully completed an award with us, take advantage of our Lifelong Learning Guarantee to gain a discount on the tuition fee of this course.

Discover the financial support available to you to help with your studies at Birkbeck.

International scholarships

We provide a range of scholarships for eligible international students, including our Global Future Scholarship. Discover if you are eligible for a scholarship .

At Birkbeck, most of our courses are taught in the evening and all of our teaching is designed to support students who are juggling evening study with work and other commitments. We actively encourage innovative and engaging ways of teaching, to ensure our students have the best learning experience.

Teaching may include formal lectures, seminars, and practical classes and tutorials. Formal lectures are used in most degree programmes to give an overview of a particular field of study. They aim to provide the stimulus and the starting point for deeper exploration of the subject during your own personal reading. Seminars give you the chance to explore a specific aspect of your subject in depth and to discuss and exchange ideas with fellow students. They typically require preparatory study.

In addition, you will have access to pastoral support via a named Personal Tutor.

Methods of teaching on this course

Teaching is seminar-based. Each session is generally two hours, and there are further regular one-to-one tutorials throughout the year.

Key teaching staff on this course

Staff who may teach on this MA include successful, published authors and practitioners such as:

  • David Eldridge
  • Richard Hamblyn
  • Jonathan Kemp
  • Luke Williams

Teaching hours

Our evening hours are normally between 6pm and 9pm (6-7.30pm and 7.30-9pm). Some programmes also offer teaching during the day and this will be clearly signposted to you where it is available.

On our taught courses, you will have scheduled teaching and study sessions each year. Scheduled teaching sessions may include lectures, seminars, workshops or laboratory work. Depending on the modules you take, you may also have additional scheduled academic activities, such as tutorials, dissertation supervision, practical classes, visits and field trips. On our taught courses, the actual amount of time you spend in the classroom and in contact with your lecturers will depend on your course, the option modules you select and when you undertake your final-year project (if applicable).

Alongside your contact hours, you will also undertake assessment activities and independent learning outside of class. The amount of time you need to allocate to study both for taught sessions (this might include online sessions and/or in-person sessions) and personal study will depend on how much you are studying during the year and whether you are studying full time or part time.

Birkbeck’s courses are made up of modules and allocated ‘credit’. One credit is equivalent to ten hours of learning time. Modules are usually in 15, 30 or 60 credit units. A 15-credit module will mean around 150 hours of learning, including taught sessions and independent study or group work. This is spread out over the whole period of that module and includes the time you spend on any assessments, including in examinations, preparing and writing assessments or engaged in practical work as well as any study support sessions to help you in your learning.

On our distance-learning and blended-learning courses, discussion, collaboration and interaction with your lecturers and fellow students is encouraged and enabled through various learning technologies.

Timetables are usually available from September onwards and you can access your personalised timetable via your My Birkbeck Profile online (if you have been invited to enrol).

Indicative class size

Class sizes vary, depending on your course, the module you are undertaking, and the method of teaching. For example, lectures are presented to larger groups, whereas seminars usually consist of small, interactive groups led by a tutor.

Independent learning

On our taught courses, much of your time outside of class will be spent on self-directed, independent learning, including preparing for classes and following up afterwards. This will usually include, but is not limited to, reading books and journal articles, undertaking research, working on coursework and assignments, and preparing for presentations and assessments.

Independent learning is absolutely vital to your success as a student. Everyone is different, and the study time required varies topic by topic, but, as a guide, expect to schedule up to five hours of self-study for each hour of teaching.

Study skills and additional support

Birkbeck offers study and learning support to undergraduate and postgraduate students to help them succeed. Our Learning Development Service can help you in the following areas:

  • academic skills (including planning your workload, research, writing, exam preparation and writing a dissertation)
  • written English (including structure, punctuation and grammar)
  • numerical skills (basic mathematics and statistics).

Our Disability and Dyslexia Service can support you if you have additional learning needs resulting from a disability or from dyslexia.

Our Counselling Service can support you if you are struggling with emotional or psychological difficulties during your studies.

Our Mental Health Advisory Service can support you if you are experiencing short- or long-term mental health difficulties during your studies.

Assessment is an integral part of your university studies and usually consists of a combination of coursework and examinations, although this will vary from course to course - on some of our courses, assessment is entirely by coursework. The methods of assessment on this course are specified below under 'Methods of assessment on this course'. You will need to allow time to complete coursework and prepare for exams.

Where a course has unseen written examinations, these may be held termly, but, on the majority of our courses, exams are usually taken in the Summer term, during May to June. Exams may be held at other times of the year as well. In most cases, exams are held during the day on a weekday - if you have daytime commitments, you will need to make arrangements for daytime attendance - but some exams are held in the evening. Exam timetables are published online.

Find out more about assessment at Birkbeck, including guidance on assessment, feedback and our assessment offences policy.

Methods of assessment on this course

Four short creative pieces with critical essays (67%). A dissertation (15,000 words) in one of the following genres: a novella, novel or collection of short stories, with a preface of 3000 words (33%).

Careers and employability

Graduates can pursue career paths in editing, teaching and writing professionally. Possible professions include:

  • creative writer
  • magazine or newspaper journalist
  • editorial assistant
  • academic librarian
  • English as a second language (ESOL) teacher
  • information officer.

Birkbeck Creative Writing graduates include:

  • Niki Aguirre
  • Sarah Alexander
  • Laura Allsop
  • Iphgenia Baal
  • Phoebe Blatton
  • Mary Lynn Bracht
  • Nicole Burstein
  • Tray Butler
  • Melissa De Villiers
  • Liz Fremantle
  • AJ Grainger
  • Jules Grant
  • Emma Henderson
  • Sally Hinchcliffe
  • Heidi James
  • Keith Jarrett
  • Olya Knezevic
  • Matthew Loukes
  • Fiona Melrose
  • Suzanne O'Sullivan
  • Victoria Richards
  • Nadim Safdar
  • Karin Salvalaggio
  • David Savill
  • Stefanie Seddon
  • Luke Tredget.

We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

You apply directly to Birkbeck for this course, using the online application link.

You will need to prove your identity when you apply - read more about suitable forms of identification .

When to apply

You are strongly advised to apply now, to ensure there are still places on your chosen course and to give you enough time to complete the admissions process, to arrange funding and to enrol.

You don't need to complete your current programme of study before you apply - Birkbeck can offer you a place that is conditional on your results.

You will also receive information about subject-specific induction sessions over the summer.

Help and advice with your application

Get all the information you need about the application, admission and enrolment process at Birkbeck.

Our online personal statement tool will guide you through every step of writing the personal statement part of your application.

Apply for your course

Apply for your course using the apply now button in the key information section .

Course structure

Course structure listing, course structure and modules for creative writing: january start ma: 2 years part-time, on campus, starting january 2024.

You must complete modules worth a total of 180 credits, consisting of:

  • two compulsory modules (30 credits each)
  • two option modules (30 credits each)
  • a 15,000-word dissertation (60 credits).

Compulsory modules

  • Creative Non-Fiction
  • Writing and Reading Seminar

Option modules

  • Contemporary Writing 2: Genre
  • Introduction to Playwriting
  • Introduction to Screenwriting
  • Poetry Workshop
  • Writing The Self
  • Writing Workshop

MA Creative Writing Dissertation

  • Dissertation MA Creative Writing

Course structure and modules for Creative Writing MA: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, on campus, starting October 2024

Course structure and modules for creative writing: january start ma: 2 years part-time, on campus, starting january 2025.

Creative Writing Research PhD

study-maughan

Key information

The PhD in Creative Writing at King’s is a practice-led course, incorporating taught elements and aspects of professional development. It is designed to cater for talented, committed writers who are looking to complete a book-length creative work for publication and sustain a long-term career in writing.

Key Benefits

Our unique programme offers students:

  • a varied, structured framework for the development of their creative work, with regular feedback from experienced author-lecturers in the department through supervision and workshops
  • purposeful engagement with professionals from the publishing and performance industries throughout the course, building potential routes to publication
  • valuable teaching experience in creative writing at HE-level through our Graduate Teaching Assistantship scheme
  • practical experience in public engagement, through curating and chairing public literary events at King’s
  • a community of fellow writers and collaborative projects

English Department

We have over 100 doctoral students from all over the world working on a wide range of projects. Together with our community of postdoctoral fellows, our early career researchers both organise and participate in our thriving seminar and conference culture.

The English department is home to award-winning novelists, poets, essayists, biographers, non-fiction authors, and literary critics, who supervise creative projects at doctoral level within their specialisms.

Works by our staff have won or been shortlisted for a number of literary accolades, including: the T.S. Eliot Prize, the Forward Prize, the Man Booker Prize, the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year, the Costa First Novel Award, the Costa Poetry Award, the Somerset Maugham Award, the Commonwealth Book Prize, the Biographers’ Club / Slightly Foxed First Biography Prize, the U.S. National Book Critics Circle Award, the CWA Gold Dagger Award, the European Union Prize for Literature, the RSL Encore Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Award, the E.M. Forster Award from the American Academy of Letters, le Prix du Roman Fnac, le Prix du Roman Etranger, the Kiriyama Prize, the Republic of Consciousness Prize, the Royal Society of Literature’s Encore Award, and the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature. Many of the creative writing staff are Fellows of the Royal Society of Literature.

Their most recent publications are:

Benjamin Wood

The Young Accomplice (Penguin Viking, 2022) – fiction

A Station on the Path to Somewhere Better (Scribner, 2018) – fiction

Edmund Gordon

The Invention of Angela Carter (Chatto & Windus, 2016) – creative non-fiction

Loop of Jade (Chatto & Windus, 2015) – poetry

Anthony Joseph

Sonnets for Albert (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2022) – poetry

The Frequency of Magic (Peepal Tree Press, 2019) – fiction

Lara Feigel

The Group (John Murray Press, 2020) – fiction

Free Woman: Life, Liberation and Doris Lessing (Bloomsbury, 2018) – creative non-fiction

Homing: On Pigeons, Dwellings, and Why We Return (John Murray Press, 2019) – creative non-fiction

Daughters of the Labyrinth (Corsair, 2021) – fiction

Beethoven Variations: Poems on a Life (Chatto & Windus, 2020) – poetry

Emerald (Chatto & Windus, 2018) – poetry

Andrew O'Hagan

Mayflies (Faber & Faber, 2020) – fiction

The Secret Life: Three True Stories (Faber & Faber, 2017) – creative non-fiction

*may vary according to research leave and availability.

King's Alumni

The list of King’s alumni not only features many acclaimed contemporary authors—Michael Morpurgo, Alain de Botton, Hanif Kureishi, Marina Lewycka, Susan Hill, Lawrence Norfolk, Ross Raisin, Alexander Masters, Anita Brookner, and Helen Cresswell—it also includes major figures in literature, such as Maureen Duffy, Arthur C Clarke, Thomas Hardy, Christopher Isherwood, BS Johnson, John Keats, W. Somerset Maugham, and Virginia Woolf.

Course Detail

Our postgraduate writing students are given a supportive environment in which to enhance their technique, to explore the depths of their ideas, to sustain their creative motivation, and to prepare them for the demands of the writer’s life beyond the College.

At King's we know that writing well requires self-discipline and an ability to work productively in isolation; but we also appreciate that postgraduate writers thrive when they are part of a community of fellow authors, an environment of constructive criticism and shared endeavour.

That is why we offer our PhD students the guidance of knowledgeable and experienced practitioners. They will have frequent opportunities to interact and collaborate with peers and forge lasting connections within London’s writing industry.

Students will be expected to attend the quarterly Thesis Workshop, and also to take an active part in curating literary events at King’s, including the Poetry And… quarterly reading series. They will be invited to apply for positions teaching undergraduate creative writing modules as part of the Department’s Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) scheme.

After three years (full-time) or six years (part-time), students are expected to submit either:

  • a novel or short story collection
  • a poetry collection
  • a full-length work of creative non-fiction

In addition, they are also required to submit an essay (up to 15,000 words) that examines their practical approach to the conception, development, and revision of their project, and which explores how their creative work was informed by research (archival, book-based, or experiential).

  • How to apply
  • Fees or Funding

Many of our incoming students apply for AHRC funding via the London Arts and Humanities Partnership. Please see their website ( www.lahp.ac.uk ) for more detail of deadlines, application procedure and awards available. Also the ‘Student Funding’ section of the Prospectus will give you more information on other scholarships available from King’s.

UK Tuition Fees 2023/24

Full time tuition fees:

£5,820 per year (MPhil/PhD, Creative Writing)

Part time tuition fees:

£2,910 per year (MPhil/PhD, Creative Writing)

International Tuition Fees 2023/24

£22,900 per year (MPhil/PhD, Creative Writing)

£11,450 per year (MPhil/PhD, Creative Writing)

UK Tuition Fees 2024/25

£6,168 per year (MPhil/PhD, Creative Writing)

£3,084 per year (MPhil/PhD, Creative Writing)

International Tuition Fees 2024/25

£24,786 per year (MPhil/PhD, Creative Writing)

£12,393 per year (MPhil/PhD, Creative Writing)

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

  • Study environment

Base campus

strand-quad

Strand Campus

Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.

PhD in Creative Writing students are taught through one-to-one sessions with an appointed supervisor in their chosen specialism (fiction, creative non-fiction, or poetry) as well as through quarterly thesis workshops. They are also appointed a second supervisor whose role is to offer an additional perspective on the work being produced.

We place great emphasis on pastoral care and are a friendly and welcoming department in the heart of London. Our home in the Virginia Woolf Building offers many spaces for postgraduate students to work and socialise. Studying in London means students have access to a huge range of libraries from the Maughan Library at King’s to the Senate House Library at the University of London and the British Library.

Our PhD Creative Writing students are taught exclusively by practicing, published writers of international reputation. These include:

Benjamin Wood (Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing)

Supervises projects in fiction.

Edmund Gordon (Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing)

Supervises projects in fiction and creative non-fiction.

Sarah Howe (Lecturer in Poetry)

Supervises projects in poetry.

Anthony Joseph (Lecturer in Creative Writing)

Supervises projects in poetry and fiction.

Jon Day (Senior Lecturer in English)

Supervises projects in creative non-fiction and fiction

Lara Feigel (Professor of Modern Literature)

Supervises projects in creative non-fiction and fiction.

Ruth Padel (Professor Emerita of Poetry)

Andrew O’Hagan (Visiting Professor)

*Teaching staff may vary according to research leave and availability.

Our programme also incorporates the following taught components:

Thesis Workshop

A termly writing seminar for the discussion and appraisal of works-in-progress. These are taught on a rotational basis by all members of the creative writing staff, so that students get the benefit of hearing a range of voices and opinions on their work throughout the course.

The Writing Life

A suite of exclusive guest talks and masterclasses from leading authors, publishers, and editors, in which students receive guidance from people working at the top level of the writing industry and learn about the various demands of maintaining a career as a writer.

Other elements of professional development are included in the degree:

Agents-in-Residence

Candidates in fiction or creative-nonfiction will meet and discuss their work in one-to-one sessions with invited literary agents, who are appointed to yearly residencies. These sessions offer writers a different overview of the development of their project: not solely from the standpoint of authorial technique, but with a view towards the positioning of their writing within a competitive and selective industry. Poetry candidates will meet and discuss their work with invited editors from internationally recognised poetry journals and presses.

Undergraduate Teaching

Through our Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) training scheme, our PhD students can apply to lead undergraduate creative writing workshops in fiction, creative non-fiction, and/or poetry, enabling them to acquire valuable HE-level teaching experience that will benefit them long after graduation.

Reading Series

Our students are required to participate in the curation of literary events at King’s. They are also responsible for curating Poetry And… , a quarterly reading in which leading poets illuminate the powerful connections between poetry and other disciplines. Students will develop skills in public engagement by chairing discussions and may also perform excerpts of their own writing.

Postgraduate Training

There is a range of induction events and training provided for students by the Centre for Doctoral Studies, the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and the English Department. A significant number of our students are AHRC-funded through the London Arts and Humanities Partnership (LAHP) which also provides doctoral training to all students. All students take the ‘Doctoral Seminar’ in their first year. This is a series of informal, staff-led seminars on research skills in which students can share and gain feedback on their own work. We run a series of ‘Skills Lunches’, which are informal lunch meetings with staff, covering specific topics, including Upgrading, Attending Conferences, Applying for Funding and Post-Doctoral Awards, etc. Topics for these sessions are generally suggested by the students themselves, so are particularly responsive to student needs. We have an Early Career Staff Mentor who runs more formal workshops of varying kinds, particularly connected to career development and the professions.

Through our Graduate Teaching Assistantship Scheme, doctoral students can apply to teach in the department (usually in their second year of study) and are trained and supported as they do so.

  • Entry requirements

postgraduate creative writing uk

Find a supervisor

Search through a list of available supervisors.

postgraduate creative writing uk

Accommodation

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MSt in Creative Writing

  • Entry requirements
  • Funding and Costs

College preference

  • How to Apply

About the course

The MSt in Creative Writing is a two-year, part-time master's degree course offering a unique combination of high contact hours, genre specialisation, and critical and creative breadth.

The emphasis of the course is cross-cultural and cross-genre, pointing up the needs and challenges of the contemporary writer who produces their creative work in the context of a global writerly and critical community.

The MSt offers a clustered learning format of five residences, two guided retreats and one research placement over two years. The research placement, a distinguishing feature of the course, provides between one and two weeks' in-house experience of writing in the real world.

The first year concentrates equally on prose fiction, poetry, dramatic writing and narrative non-fiction. There is a significant critical reading and analysis component, which is linked to the writerly considerations explored in each of the genres. In your second year you will specialise in one of the following:

  • short fiction
  • radio drama
  • screenwriting
  • stage drama
  • narrative non-fiction.

The residences in particular offer an intensive workshop- and seminar-based forum for ideas exchange and for the opening up of creative and critical frameworks within which to develop writerly and analytical skills. There is a strong element of one-to-one tutorial teaching. Tutorials take place within residences and retreats, and relate to the on-going work produced for the course.

You will be assigned a supervisor who will work closely with you throughout the development of the year two final project and extended essay. All assessed work throughout the two years of the course is subject to one-to-one feedback and discussion with a tutor. This intensive, one-to-one input, combined with the highly interactive workshop and seminar sessions, is a distinguishing feature of the course.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Department for Continuing Education and this role will usually be performed by the Course Director.

You will be allocated a supervisor to guide and advise you on your creative and critical work throughout the second year.

It is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Department for Continuing Education.

The MSt is assessed by coursework. In the first year, four assignments (two creative, two critical), one creative writing portfolio and one critical essay are submitted. Work is set during each residence and handed in for assessment before the next meeting. Feedback on work submitted is given during tutorials within the residence or retreat. In the second year, submissions comprise one research placement report, one extended critical essay, and a final project – a substantial body of creative work in the genre of choice. 

You will be set specific creative and critical work to be completed between residences and handed in to set deadlines. Creative submissions in the first year must be in more than one genre. In the second year, submitted work focuses around the genre of your choice.

Graduate destinations

Graduate destinations have included publishing creative work in a chosen field, careers in arts/media, and doctoral programmes in creative writing.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made in circumstances of a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.

Entry requirements for entry in 2024-25

Proven and potential academic excellence, degree-level qualifications.

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:

  • a first-class or upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours  in a related field.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA normally sought is 3.6 out of 4.0.

If your degree is not from the UK or another country specified above, visit our International Qualifications page for guidance on the qualifications and grades that would usually be considered to meet the University’s minimum entry requirements.

GRE General Test scores

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience 

  • Assessors are looking for writers with a proven record of commitment to their craft, whose work demonstrates significant creative promise. You should be a keen reader, and bring an open-minded, questioning approach to both reading and writing. You will not necessarily have yet achieved publication, but you will have written regularly and read widely over a sustained period. You will be keen to dedicate time and energy and staying-power to harnessing your talent, enlarging your skills, and aiming your writerly production at consistently professional standards. It is likely you will have a first degree, or equivalent, although in some cases other evidence of suitability may be acceptable.
  • Applicants do not need to be previously published, but the MSt is unlikely to be suitable for those who are just starting out on their writerly and critical development.

English language proficiency

This course requires proficiency in English at the University's  higher level . If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement. The minimum scores required to meet the University's higher level are detailed in the table below.

*Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English or Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) † Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)

Your test must have been taken no more than two years before the start date of your course. Our Application Guide provides  further information about the English language test requirement .

Declaring extenuating circumstances

If your ability to meet the entry requirements has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (eg you were awarded an unclassified/ungraded degree) or any other exceptional personal circumstance (eg other illness or bereavement), please refer to the guidance on extenuating circumstances in the Application Guide for information about how to declare this so that your application can be considered appropriately.

You will need to register three referees who can give an informed view of your academic ability and suitability for the course. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the types of reference that are required in support of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Supporting documents

You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the supporting documents that are required as part of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Performance at interview

Interviews are normally held as part of the admissions process.  

For those applying by the January deadline, interviews are generally held in February and March. For March applicants, interviews are generally held in March and April.

The decision to call an applicant for interview is based on the University Admission Board's assessment of your portfolio, statement of purpose, academic and professional track record and references. Interviews will be conducted in person or by telephone. All applicants whose paper submissions indicate they are qualified for entry will generally be interviewed, either in person or by telephone/Skype. There are always two interviewers. Interviews usually last up to approximately 30 minutes and provide an opportunity for the candidate to discuss his/her application and to explore the course in more detail.

The interview is designed to ascertain, through a range of questions, the shape and emphasis of the candidate's writing and reading, and general suitability for the demands of the MSt. 

How your application is assessed

Your application will be assessed purely on your proven and potential academic excellence and other entry requirements published under that heading.

References  and  supporting documents  submitted as part of your application, and your performance at interview (if interviews are held) will be considered as part of the assessment process. Whether or not you have secured funding will not be taken into consideration when your application is assessed.

An overview of the shortlisting and selection process is provided below. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide  more information about how applications are assessed . 

Shortlisting and selection

Students are considered for shortlisting and selected for admission without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief (including lack of belief), sex, sexual orientation, as well as other relevant circumstances including parental or caring responsibilities or social background. However, please note the following:

  • socio-economic information may be taken into account in the selection of applicants and award of scholarships for courses that are part of  the University’s pilot selection procedure  and for  scholarships aimed at under-represented groups ;
  • country of ordinary residence may be taken into account in the awarding of certain scholarships; and
  • protected characteristics may be taken into account during shortlisting for interview or the award of scholarships where the University has approved a positive action case under the Equality Act 2010.

Processing your data for shortlisting and selection

Information about  processing special category data for the purposes of positive action  and  using your data to assess your eligibility for funding , can be found in our Postgraduate Applicant Privacy Policy.

Admissions panels and assessors

All recommendations to admit a student involve the judgement of at least two members of the academic staff with relevant experience and expertise, and must also be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies or Admissions Committee (or equivalent within the department).

Admissions panels or committees will always include at least one member of academic staff who has undertaken appropriate training.

Other factors governing whether places can be offered

The following factors will also govern whether candidates can be offered places:

  • the ability of the University to provide the appropriate supervision for your studies, as outlined under the 'Supervision' heading in the  About  section of this page;
  • the ability of the University to provide appropriate support for your studies (eg through the provision of facilities, resources, teaching and/or research opportunities); and
  • minimum and maximum limits to the numbers of students who may be admitted to the University's taught and research programmes.

Offer conditions for successful applications

If you receive an offer of a place at Oxford, your offer will outline any conditions that you need to satisfy and any actions you need to take, together with any associated deadlines. These may include academic conditions, such as achieving a specific final grade in your current degree course. These conditions will usually depend on your individual academic circumstances and may vary between applicants. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide more information about offers and conditions . 

In addition to any academic conditions which are set, you will also be required to meet the following requirements:

Financial Declaration

If you are offered a place, you will be required to complete a  Financial Declaration  in order to meet your financial condition of admission.

Disclosure of criminal convictions

In accordance with the University’s obligations towards students and staff, we will ask you to declare any  relevant, unspent criminal convictions  before you can take up a place at Oxford.

The department is committed to supporting you to pursue your academic goals. 

The Rewley House Continuing Education Library , one of the Bodleian Libraries, is situated in Rewley House. The department aims to support the wide variety of subjects covered by departmental courses at many academic levels. The department also has a collection of around 73,000 books together with periodicals. PCs in the library give access to the internet and the full range of electronic resources subscribed to by the University of Oxford. Wi-Fi is also available. The Jessop Reading Room adjoining the library is available for study. You will have access to the Central Bodleian and other Bodleian Libraries.

The department's Graduate School provides a stimulating and enriching learning and research environment for the department's graduate students, fostering intellectual and social interaction between graduates of different disciplines and professions from the UK and around the globe. The Graduate School will help you make the most of the wealth of resources and opportunities available, paying particular regard to the support and guidance needed if you are following a part-time graduate programme. The department’s graduate community comprises over 600 members following taught programmes and more than 70 undertaking doctoral research.

The department provides various IT facilities , including the Student Computing Facility which provides individual PCs for your use. Many of the department's courses are delivered through blended learning or have a website to support face-to-face study. In most cases, online support is delivered through a virtual learning environment. 

Depending on the programme you are taking with the department, you may require accommodation at some point in your student career. Rewley House is ideally located in central Oxford; the city's historic sites, colleges, museums, shops and restaurants are only a few minutes’ walk away. The department has 35 en-suite study bedrooms, all with high quality amenities, including internet access.

The Rewley House dining room has seating for up to 132 people. A full meal service is available daily. The department operates a Common Room with bar for students. 

Department for Continuing Education

The need for new learning opportunities throughout life is now recognised throughout society. An intensive, initial period of higher education is not always enough in times of rapid social, economic and technological change. The Department for Continuing Education is known worldwide as a leading provider of extended learning for professional and personal development.

The department provides high-quality, flexible, part-time graduate education, tailored for adults. Students can undertake graduate-level certificates, diplomas and taught master’s degrees in a wide range of subjects. Increasing numbers of courses are delivered in mixed mode, combining intensive periods of residence in Oxford with tutored online study.

The department recruits adult students of all ages on a regional, national and international level. Many courses are offered jointly with other academic departments around the University. Courses are offered in the following areas:

  • Mathematical, physical and life sciences
  • Medical and health sciences
  • Social sciences .

All postgraduate students on the department's courses are members of its Graduate School. The Graduate School aims to provide a stimulating and enriching environment for learning and research. It also fosters intellectual and social interaction between students coming from different disciplines and professions. Interdisciplinary research seminars, training opportunities and other events are offered by the Graduate School in support of this goal.

All masters' and DPhil applicants are considered for Clarendon Scholarships . The department is committed to seeking scholarship support for other students wherever possible.

View all courses   View taught courses View research courses

The University expects to be able to offer over 1,000 full or partial graduate scholarships across the collegiate University in 2024-25. You will be automatically considered for the majority of Oxford scholarships , if you fulfil the eligibility criteria and submit your graduate application by the relevant December or January deadline. Most scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or potential. 

For further details about searching for funding as a graduate student visit our dedicated Funding pages, which contain information about how to apply for Oxford scholarships requiring an additional application, details of external funding, loan schemes and other funding sources.

Please ensure that you visit individual college websites for details of any college-specific funding opportunities using the links provided on our college pages or below:

Please note that not all the colleges listed above may accept students on this course. For details of those which do, please refer to the College preference section of this page.

Further information about funding opportunities for this course can be found on the department's website.

Annual fees for entry in 2024-25

Further details about fee status eligibility can be found on the fee status webpage.

Information about course fees

Course fees are payable each year, for the duration of your fee liability (your fee liability is the length of time for which you are required to pay course fees). For courses lasting longer than one year, please be aware that fees will usually increase annually. For details, please see our guidance on changes to fees and charges .

Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. Unless specified in the additional information section below, course fees do not cover your accommodation, residential costs or other living costs. They also don’t cover any additional costs and charges that are outlined in the additional information below.

Where can I find further information about fees?

The Fees and Funding  section of this website provides further information about course fees , including information about fee status and eligibility  and your length of fee liability .

Additional information

This course has residential sessions (residences and retreats) in Oxford. You will need to meet your travel costs in attending these sessions. The tuition fee includes the cost of board and lodging during the residences and retreats (eg for a four day residence, three nights accommodation will be provided). Further, as part of your course requirements, you will need to complete a research placement in the second year. For this placement you will need to meet your travel and accommodation costs, and any other incidental expenses. You may be able to apply for small grants from your department and/or college to help you cover some of these expenses. Further information about departmental funding can be found on the department's website. Please check with your specific college for bursary or other funding possibilities.

Living costs

In addition to your course fees, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.

For the 2024-25 academic year, the range of likely living costs for full-time study is between c. £1,345 and £1,955 for each month spent in Oxford. Full information, including a breakdown of likely living costs in Oxford for items such as food, accommodation and study costs, is available on our living costs page. The current economic climate and high national rate of inflation make it very hard to estimate potential changes to the cost of living over the next few years. When planning your finances for any future years of study in Oxford beyond 2024-25, it is suggested that you allow for potential increases in living expenses of around 5% each year – although this rate may vary depending on the national economic situation. UK inflationary increases will be kept under review and this page updated.

If you are studying part-time your living costs may vary depending on your personal circumstances but you must still ensure that you will have sufficient funding to meet these costs for the duration of your course.

Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. Please note that ‘college’ and ‘colleges’ refers to all 43 of the University’s colleges, including those designated as societies and permanent private halls (PPHs). 

If you apply for a place on this course you will have the option to express a preference for one of the colleges listed below, or you can ask us to find a college for you. Before deciding, we suggest that you read our brief  introduction to the college system at Oxford  and our  advice about expressing a college preference . For some courses, the department may have provided some additional advice below to help you decide.

The following colleges accept students on the MSt in Creative Writing:

  • Blackfriars
  • Brasenose College
  • Campion Hall
  • Harris Manchester College
  • Keble College
  • Kellogg College
  • Lady Margaret Hall
  • Oriel College
  • Regent's Park College
  • St Catherine's College
  • Somerville College
  • Wadham College
  • Wycliffe Hall

Before you apply

Our  guide to getting started  provides general advice on how to prepare for and start your application. Check the deadlines on this page and the information about deadlines  in our Application Guide. If it's important for you to have your application considered under a particular deadline – eg under a December or January deadline in order to be considered for Oxford scholarships – we recommend that you aim to complete and submit your application at least two weeks in advance .

Application fee waivers

An application fee of £75 is payable per course application. Application fee waivers are available for the following applicants who meet the eligibility criteria:

  • applicants from low-income countries;
  • refugees and displaced persons; 
  • UK applicants from low-income backgrounds; and 
  • applicants who applied for our Graduate Access Programmes in the past two years and met the eligibility criteria.

You are encouraged to  check whether you're eligible for an application fee waiver  before you apply.

Do I need to contact anyone before I apply?

You do not need to make contact with the department before you apply but you are encouraged to visit the relevant departmental webpages to read any further information about your chosen course.

If you have any questions about the course, these should be directed to the course administrator via the contact details provided on this page.

Completing your application

You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents . 

If any document does not meet the specification, including the stipulated word count, your application may be considered incomplete and not assessed by the academic department. Expand each section to show further details.

Referees: Three overall, academic and/or professional

Whilst you must register three referees, the department may start the assessment of your application if two of the three references are submitted by the course deadline and your application is otherwise complete. Please note that you may still be required to ensure your third referee supplies a reference for consideration.

Your references will support your commitment to creative writing and suitability to pursue a course of this nature at graduate level. Both professional and academic references are acceptable.

Official transcript(s)

Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date. You should only upload official documents issued by your institution and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation.

More information about the transcript requirement is available in the Application Guide.

A CV/résumé is compulsory for all applications. Most applicants choose to submit a document of one to two pages highlighting their academic and writerly achievements and any relevant professional experience.

Statement of purpose: A maximum of 750 words

The statement of purpose should contain sufficient detail to allow it to be assessed against the indicated criteria.

Your statement should be written in English and explain your motivation for applying for the course at Oxford, your relevant experience and education, and the specific areas that interest you and/or in which you intend to specialise.

If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document.

This will be assessed for:

  • your reasons for applying
  • evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study
  • the ability to present a reasoned case in English
  • commitment to the subject, beyond the requirements of the degree course
  • capacity for sustained and intense work
  • reasoning ability and quality of written expression
  • capacity to address issues of writerly and critical significance.

Written work: A maximum of 2,000 words of prose fiction or narrative non-fiction or 10 short poems or 15 minutes of dramatic writing (stage, screen, radio or TV)

Your portfolio of creative writing for assessment can be in any of the four genres, or in more than one. It should be clearly indicative of your ability in creative writing.

This will be assessed for excellence in creative writing.

Start or continue your application

You can start or return to an application using the relevant link below. As you complete the form, please  refer to the requirements above  and  consult our Application Guide for advice . You'll find the answers to most common queries in our FAQs.

Application Guide   Apply

ADMISSION STATUS

Open to applications for entry in 2024-25

12:00 midday UK time on:

Friday 19 January 2024 Latest deadline for most Oxford scholarships

Friday 1 March 2024 Applications may remain open after this deadline if places are still available - see below

A later deadline shown under 'Admission status' If places are still available,  applications may be accepted after 1 March . The 'Admissions status' (above) will provide notice of any later deadline.

*Three-year average (applications for entry in 2021-22 to 2023-24)

Further information and enquiries

This course is offered by the Department for Continuing Education

  • Course page  and blog on  department website
  • Funding information from the department
  • Academic staff
  • Departmental research
  • Continuing Education Graduate School
  • Postgraduate applicant privacy policy

Course-related enquiries

Advice about contacting the department can be found in the How to apply section of this page

[email protected] ☎ +44 (0)1865 280145

Application-process enquiries

See the application guide

Visa eligibility for part-time study

We are unable to sponsor student visas for part-time study on this course. Part-time students may be able to attend on a visitor visa for short blocks of time only (and leave after each visit) and will need to remain based outside the UK.

For students

  • Current Students website
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  • Make a payment
  • iExeter (students)
  • Programme and module information
  • Current staff website
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  • Finance Helpdesk
  • IT Service Desk

Popular links

  • Accommodation
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  • Temporary workers
  • Future Leaders & Innovators Graduate Scheme

New and returning students

  • New students website
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Postgraduate Taught

MA Creative Writing

  • Postgraduate Taught home
  • Creative Writing MA

Masters applications for 2023 entry are now closed.

Applications for September 2024 will open on Monday 25 September. Applications are now open for programmes with a January 2024 start. View our programmes »

  • Teaching delivered by a strong and diverse group of   internationally recognised writers
  • Experiment in new literary genres, and study and respond to diverse contemporary writers
  • Excellent links with the worlds of publishing, literary journalism and broadcasting, book festivals and prizes providing insights into the workings of the literary marketplace
  • Establish the contacts necessary for successful publication

Apply online

Fast Track (current Exeter students)

Open days and visiting us

Get a prospectus

Programme Director: Professor Andy Brown

Web: Enquire online

Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72

Discover MA Creative Writing at the University of Exeter.

postgraduate creative writing uk

88% of our English research is internationally excellent

Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, submitted to UoA27 English Language and Literature

postgraduate creative writing uk

Top 100 in the world for English Language and Literature

61 st in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2023

postgraduate creative writing uk

A thriving and supportive writing community - our team of prize-winning and best-selling authors will help you develop your creative writing skills.

postgraduate creative writing uk

Top 10 in the UK for English

9th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024

Entry requirements

We are looking for graduates with a 2:2 Honours degree with 53% or above in their first degree in a relevant subject area. While we normally only accept applicants who meet this criteria, if you are coming from a different academic background which is equivalent to degree level, or have relevant work experience, we would welcome your application.

Applicants will be asked to submit a sample of creative writing which can be roughly 2,000 words of prose or 3-4 poems.

Entry requirements for international students

English language requirements.

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile E . Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.

Course content

The MA in Creative Writing is designed for students to develop a longer piece of work during the MA, or find out what their strengths are in the different forms. It is for people, of any age, whether recent graduates or older, who wish to grow their talent quickly by acquiring knowledge and practice in the art of fiction, poetry, life-writing, nature writing or the writing of screenplays.

Our Creative Writing staff are well-published, practicing writers who take great pride in designing and delivering modules in their specialist areas.

Full time students take two modules in term 1, two modules in term 2, and write their dissertations in term 3. Each module has one two-hour seminar per week, with homework set that involves intensive, self-motivated practice and research.

The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

2024/25 entry

Uk fees per year:.

£12,000 full-time; £6,000 part-time

International fees per year:

£24,300 full-time; £12,150 part-time

Scholarships

We invest heavily in scholarships for talented prospective Masters students and have Global Excellence Scholarships available for international fee paying students applying for January 2024 entry and September 2024 entry .* For more information on scholarships, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.

*Please see the Terms and Conditions for each scheme for further details of eligible programmes and candidates. Awards may vary from year to year.

Find out more about tuition fees and funding

Teaching and research

Learning and teaching.

Whether you already know what kind of books or screenplays you wish to write or are still searching for the best form in which to express your creativity, we offer the chance to try your hand in a range of genres, and to benefit from feedback tailored to your writing needs.

A programme of visiting speakers takes place throughout the academic year with writers, publishers and agents coming to talk to students about the next steps in their careers. The roll call changes every year to reflect both our students’ interests and new trends. Recent guest lecturers have included the Booker prize winning novelist Hilary Mantel; the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize-winning novelist Hisham Matar; the Pulitzer Prize winning US Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey; the writer, editor and publisher Richard Cohen, and many others.

Our MA can be taken over one-year full time, or two years part time. During your study, you will build a portfolio of creative work for possible publication, including a dissertation in your chosen genre. You will also be able to take a range of optional modules and explore literary genres and forms with a mutually supportive, like-minded group of fellow writers.

Research areas

Exeter’s creative writing staff practise and publish in a range of literary genres. Their experience of the literary world is not limited to writing and teaching. They also worked – and continue to work - as editors, publishers, agents, radio producers, and journalists. This wealth of experience is reflected in the vibrancy and diversity of our workshops and tutorials.

As a creative writing student, you will also benefit from the academic expertise of the many world-leading scholars working in the English Department at our Exeter Campus, a lively community of doctoral students, and the activities of four dedicated research centres: the Medieval and Renaissance Research Group; the 18th-Century Narrative Consortium; the Victorian Studies Research Group; and the 20th and 21st Century Literature, Creative Writing and Film Research Group.

postgraduate creative writing uk

John Wedgwood Clarke

postgraduate creative writing uk

Vesna Goldsworthy

postgraduate creative writing uk

Wendy O’Shea-Meddour

postgraduate creative writing uk

Ellen Wiles

Andy has a notable national reputation as a poet, poetry commentator and poetry tutor. He is the author of 10 poetry collections and editor of several anthologies, including A Body of Work: Poetry & Medical Writing , for Bloomsbury. He has interests in Ecopoetics, and the Medical Humanities, and often collaborates with scientists. He is also a musician who performs regularly around the region.

Profile page

John is an award-winning poet, prose nonfiction writer and broadcaster. His full poetry collections include Ghost Pot (2013) and Landfill (2017) both of which explore place, ecology and the relationship between science and poetry. He regularly works across disciplines and has led major Arts Council-funded arts projects including Dictionary of Stone and Sea Swim. He presented The Books that Made Britain (2016) & Through the Lens of Larkin (2017), both for BBC4.

A prize-winning poet, memoirist, novelist and broadcaster. Vensa’s books have been translated into twenty languages and serialised by the BBC. Before becoming an academic in English Literature and Creative Writing, Vesna spent fifteen years in publishing and as a producer at the BBC.

Sam has written eight novels, two books on the craft of writing, and two films. In 2010 he won an Eric Gregory Award; in 2004 his novel The Unnumbered was long-listed for the Man-Booker prize. His first novel won the Somerset Maugham Award.

An internationally successful children’s writer, as well as an academic with nearly twenty years lecturing experience. Since her debut in 2012, Wendy has published 15 children’s books and her work has been translated into 16 languages. Award-winning titles include: A Hen in the Wardrobe (2012), the Wendy Quill series (2013-2015), and How the Library (not the Prince) Saved Rapunzel (2015).

Ellen’s first novel, The Invisible Crowd (Harper Collins, 2017) was awarded a Victor Turner Prize. Her first book, Saffron Shadows and Salvaged Scripts: Literary Life in Myanmar Under Censorship and in Transition (Columbia University Press, 2015) was the first to explore this literary culture through interviews and translations. Her new book, Live Literature: The Experience and Cultural Value of Literary Performance Events from Salons to Festivals (Palgrave, 2021), uses literary ethnography to explore participant experience, and has been described as ‘groundbreaking’, ‘stylish’, and ‘compelling’.

Click for details about Andy Brown

Nazneen Ahmed Pathak

Ben’s debut novel Doggerland uses the lens of speculative fiction to engage with pressing contemporary issues such as renewable energy, ocean waste, climate change and the scale-effects of the Anthropocene. It was selected as a Guardian Book of the Year 2019.

Nazneen writes fiction for children and poetry for adults. Her first book, City of Stolen Magic , a historical fantasy for middle-grade readers, comes out with Puffin in summer 2023. She is represented by Louise Lamont at LBA Books, and currently holds the post of Hampshire Poet for 2022-23.

Click for details about Ben Smith

Whether your ambition is to become a full-time writer, a teacher of writing, or to develop a creative career which includes writing in one of its many forms, we have a strong track record of supporting our students through to publication and doctoral level work.

While at Exeter, our MA students publish their creative work in   RIPTIDE   and in the new postgraduate journal   EXCLAMATION . The Creative Writing Society also run a journal called Enigma.

Former University of Exeter students who have gone on to develop a writing career include poets such as Luke Kennard, Abi Curtis, Eleanor Rees, Izzy Galleymore, Jaime Robles, Jos Smith, Sally Flint, and Samuel Tongue; novelists Virginia Baily, Lucy Wood, and Ruth Gilligan; and non-fiction writers such as Miriam Darlington.

Many of our former students now work in film, broadcasting, advertising, journalism, PR, publishing, teaching – including the teaching of creative writing – as well as other careers in the growing number of fields where good writing is an asset.

Careers and employment support

While studying at Exeter you can also access a range of activities, advice and practical help to give you the best chance of following your chosen career path. For more information visit  Careers pages .

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Creative Writing

Introduction.

The MLitt in Creative Writing is a taught programme designed to offer you a constructive, highly supportive learning environment in which to develop your writing and creative potential. You will be introduced to the processes and challenges involved in producing creative work of publishable quality, whether in poetry or prose, fiction or creative non-fiction.

You will be taught by a team of widely published creative writers including award-winning poets, fiction writers and non-fiction filmmakers.

Study Information

Study options.

The MLitt Creative Writing is a taught programme designed to offer you a constructive learning environment in which to develop your writing and general creativity. You will be introduced to the process and challenges involved in publishing creative work, whether it is poetry, prose or screenplay and film script. You are taught by a team of widely published creative writers including poets and fiction writers David Wheatley, Alan Warner, Helen Lynch and Wayne Price, and non-fiction filmmaker Alan Marcus.

You can take this degree as a stand-alone one-year or two-year part time Masters degree or as a first step towards an MPhil or PhD (subject to admission to further degree programmes either at Aberdeen or elsewhere). It is likely to appeal to you if you wish to develop your knowledge and practical skill in imaginative writing and if you wish to create a solid foundation on which to build a PhD research proposal in Creative Writing.

Compulsory Courses

This course, which is prescribed for all taught postgraduate students, is studied entirely online, takes approximately 5-6 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across a number of weeks.

Topics include orientation overview, equality and diversity, health, safety and cyber security and how to make the most of your time at university in relation to careers and employability.

Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Enhanced Transcript as ‘Achieved’.

This course will equip you with core research and dissemination skills. Centred on an interdisciplinary approach to research, the course will allow you to engage with peers from various research backgrounds to contribute, discuss and share in an interactive academic community. The course will detail key research techniques and communicative modes for successful dissemination. Communication skills specific to engaging with industry stakeholders will also be covered as part of this course in order to boost employability.

60 Credit Points

This course will provide students with the opportunity to write an extended folio of creative work in either poetry or prose. It will provide students with the opportunity to explore and extend their creative ambitions in writing and, through the reflective commentary element, enable them to contextualise their own creative achievements in relation to works by established writers. Throughout the evolution of the folio, the student will develop a thorough practical awareness of some of the key stylistic, formal and expressive possibilities available to the skilled creative writer.

This course will equip you with the essential skills required to engage with your postgraduate studies. Through a series of lectures, interactive seminars and authentic materials, you will build on your critical thinking skills with fellow PGT students from across the school. Critical Reading, essay writing and presentation skills will be offered as part of this course, providing students with skills fundamental to PGT and workplace contexts.

Optional Courses

Creative Writing students must take a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 courses from the following Creative Writing options:

30 Credit Points

This course will concentrate on the often protean process of writing fiction in longer forms, simultaneously exploring the potential of expanding, extending or even transforming students’ work. While creating prose, students will develop their understanding of fiction writing and storytelling but always in relation to exploring the potential of plot and character development. Students will arrive at satisfying samples of work with reasoned potential for expansion. Through supportive sessions, students will conclude the course with a completed, rounded segment of work but with clear ideas of plotting and where their story can journey on forward to.

The course engages students in a variety of activities designed to develop their creativity and originality, as well as in specific tasks to test and extend their skill in the writing of poetry. Students will attempt imitations of a variety of different poetic styles, will be provided with a number of specific 'stimulus' exercises and will develop and revise their poems both independently and in regular workshop sessions.

Taught by experienced, award-winning writers, this course will engage students in a variety of activities designed to develop their creativity and originality, as well as in specific tasks to test and extend their technical skill in the writing of prose fiction. Students will be encouraged to develop an awareness of the centrality of narrative voice, to experiment with a variety of different narrative styles and to develop and revise their work in the context of workshop discussion and individually targeted feedback from course tutors.

If fewer than 90 Creative Writing credits are selected across the Academic Year, the remaining credits should be made up from the following selection of English Literature electives:

  • EL50C8 Placing the Romantic (30 credit points)

What is at stake in writing autobiographical texts? What are the forms writers have used to write themselves? Is autobiography simply, as Oscar Wilde states, the lowest form of criticism? Looking at a range of texts from the Medieval period to the present, with a special focus on women’s writing, this course examines the formal, ethical, political, and aesthetic choices writers make when writing themselves.

This course explores the ways in which place is negotiated in a range of Scottish texts. Looking at a selection of texts about rural, urban, and diasporic experience across the centuries, and including both canonical and lesser-known works, this course will acquaint students with key debates in the study of regional and national fiction. Place in these texts is something to be praised and scorned, embraced and abandoned, but always remains central in any discussion of individual and communal identities. Major themes and issues to be discussed include: the idea of ‘home’; the role of nostalgia and longing in Scottish fiction; the nature of community; the significance of emigration and displacement.

This course introduces students to a range of critical, theoretical, and philosophical approaches to environment and place, as well as aligned research methods. Students will read key works of ecocriticism, ecofeminism, environmental philosophy, cultural geography, and related areas. Close reading and discussion of central texts will provide a foundation for further research, including the dissertation. Students will have the opportunity to discuss these ideas in relation to both literary and social contexts. This course is restricted to students on the MLitt Literatures, Environments, and Places, or by permission of the School.

This course examines the social, political and cultural construction of place in literary texts. The imaginative co-ordinates of places such as ‘Scotland’, or ‘England’ exist in a constant state of flux, refusing to yield an essential, authentic image. Using core texts from the early modern period paired with more recent literary responses we explore the idea of place in its various forms. Key themes and issues to be discussed will include the rural and urban divide; literature and nationhood; the nature of community; the significance of emigration, and displacement; walking texts, metropolitan literature, and ideas of the “new world”

This module explores how the evolution of the novel form has allowed, and required, authors to find new ways of depicting spaces, places and interactions (between characters in particular environments, but also between characters and their environment). This chronologically wide-ranging course moves from the early days of the novel form through to contemporary fiction, allowing for an opportunity to study the many literary tactics that authors have employed to create the settings for their works – from vast historical backdrops, to natural spaces, to urban environments, to smaller domestic and private places. It also us to consider how different cultural moments have prompted authors to rethink how they represent characters’ encounters with the world around them, and with the other cultures, races, species and genders that inhabit that world. As well as narrative theories, students will have the chance to study canonical and less well-known texts from angles informed by current critical approaches such as ecocriticism, animal studies, postcolonial and queer theory.

This course will investigate different forms of scriptwriting by writers from a range of historical periods. We will be considering narrative form and content as shaped by subject selection and storytelling devices and structures. The filmic themes will be considered from aesthetic, historical and theoretical perspectives. Through a series of seminars, workshops and screenings, students will develop approaches to visualising film narratives, culminating in a scriptwriting folio of work.

Programme Fees

Information for Part Time Students: This route will run over two years. Up to 120 credit points may be taken per year, and 180 credits are required for completion of the degree. PD5006 must be taken in year 1 and EL5906 (dissertation) must be taken in year 2. It is compulsory to take 60 credits worth of creative writing courses (EL5072, EL5095, EL5567), which can be taken in years 1 or 2. The remaining credit points must be taken from courses in the first half-session (EL50C2, EL5096, EL5089, EL5092) or the second half-session (EL5590, EL5598, EL55C2).

PD5006: Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen

In addition, select ONE or BOTH of the following options:

This course is devoted to the development of non-fiction creative prose. Among the themes and genres engaged with will be: travel writing, psychogeography, non-academic critical writing, prose poetry, diary, memoir, and the fragment. Students will study examples across the genre and build up a portfolio of work, discussion of which will form the basis of weekly workshops.

Plus one 30 credit course from the options below if only one of the above Creative Writing options is chosen:

EL5092 - Approaching Literature (30 credit points)

EL50C2 - Irish and Scottish Romanticism [1760 - 1830] (30 credit points)

EL5096 - Public Engagement for Arts (30 credit points)

Select 60 credit points from the following options:

EL5590 - Locations and Dislocations: The Role of Place in Literature

EL5598 - Approaching Literature 2

Please contact [email protected] for more information about this programme.

Available Programmes of Study

We will endeavour to make all course options available; however, these may be subject to timetabling and other constraints . Please see our InfoHub pages for further information.

Related Information

  • Postgraduate Guide

Fee Information

International applicants.

Further Information about tuition fees and the cost of living in Aberdeen

Additional Fee Information

  • Fees for individual programmes can be viewed in the Programmes section above.
  • In exceptional circumstances there may be additional fees associated with specialist courses, for example field trips. Any additional fees for a course can be found in our Catalogue of Courses .
  • For more information about tuition fees for this programme, including payment plans and our refund policy, please visit our InfoHub Tuition Fees page.

Funding Opportunities

The SFC Postgraduate tuition fee scholarship may be available for those classified as Home/EU fee status students for this programme. Visit the scholarship page for more information.

Scholarships

Eligible self-funded international Masters students will receive the Aberdeen Global Scholarship. Visit our Funding Database to find out more and see our full range of scholarships.

How You'll Study

Learning methods.

  • Individual Projects

Assessment Methods

Assessment methods vary by individual course and include written exercises, oral presentations and folios of poetry or prose. The MLitt also requires a 12-15,000 word folio dissertation, while the diploma consists of coursework alone.

Why Study Creative Writing?

  • The MLitt Creative Writing is ideal if you have an undergraduate degree in the Humanities and if you wish to explore and develop your creative potential in writing.
  • Creative writing is something which attracts students of all ages, nationalities and experiences and you are welcome to apply as no prior knowledge or experience in creative writing or publishing is assumed. Core courses will provide you with the necessary grounding for personal creative development and self reflective skills for successful preparation of a portfolio of work.
  • Creative Writing is offered as a Diploma without the dissertation folio or a stand alone one or two year (part time) MLitt.

Interested in this programme?

Entry requirements.

The standard entrance requirement is a good first degree in any Humanities discipline.

Applicants for the MLitt in Creative Writing are required to submit a writing sample with their application. This should be between 3 and 6 poems, or a prose sample of at least 2000 words.

Qualifications

The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.

UK applicants should normally have a 2.1 or above, though applicants with non-standard qualifications are also invited to apply. References are not required in order for applicants to submit an application. They are not usually required in order for a decision to be made but in certain cases applicants may be asked to provide a single academic reference at the request of the academic selector. In addition to the above, a creative writing sample is required as part of your application.

Please enter your country to view country-specific entry requirements.

English Language Requirements

To study for a Postgraduate Taught degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:

IELTS Academic:

OVERALL - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 6.0; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0

OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 21; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21

PTE Academic:

OVERALL - 62 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59

Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency:

OVERALL - 176 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 169; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169

Read more about specific English Language requirements here .

Document Requirements

You will be required to supply the following documentation with your application as proof you meet the entry requirements of this degree programme. If you have not yet completed your current programme of study, then you can still apply and you can provide your Degree Certificate at a later date.

  • Information about visa and immigration requirements

Graduates in Creative Writing are well-fitted for work in the creative industries, including publishing, journalism, advertising, broadcasting and literary agency. Many graduates go on to support their writing through education too and there is a growing demand for English teachers with a track record in creative writing skills and the ability to reflect on and communicate those accomplishments.

Our Experts

  • Dr David Wheatley - Reader
  • Dr Wayne Price - Senior Lecturer
  • Dr Helen Lynch - Reader
  • Dr Shane Strachan - Lecturer
  • Professor Alan Marcus - Personal Chair
  • Alan Warner - Senior Lecturer

Information About Staff Changes

You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. Staff changes will occur from time to time; please see our InfoHub pages for further information.

Get in Touch

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Creative Writing MA, PGCert

Our PGCert and MA in Creative Writing provide a unique opportunity to explore and develop your creative writing skills through practice, revision and discussion.

You are currently viewing course information for entry year:

Start date(s):

  • September 2024

Our Creative Writing MA develops your understanding of your own writing and your technical writing skills.

You'll further your awareness of:

  • writing processes
  • professional writing

This PGCert and MA in Creative Writing provide a unique opportunity to explore and develop your creative writing skills. We teach creative writing in three areas:

  • prose writing, with an emphasis on short fiction, creative non-fiction and the essay
  • poetry with an emphasis on the practice and study of a variety of poetic traditions and contemporary techniques
  • scriptwriting, which includes writing for the theatre and screenwriting

Through these areas, we'll introduce you to a wide range of subjects and opportunities with which writers are working professionally.

Members of  our Creative Writing staff  have received national and international recognition for their writing. You'll work with them to prepare your own writing for submission.

If you complete the Creative Writing PGCert, you can choose to transfer to the second year of our part-time MA.

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our  Academic experience page , which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2023-24.

See our  terms and conditions and student complaints information , which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Related courses

Qualifications explained.

Find out about the different qualification options for this course.

An MA is a taught Master’s degree. It usually involves the study of social sciences, art and humanities, and business, consulting and management. It typically includes:

  • subject-specific taught modules
  • a dissertation or research project of approximately 15,000 – 18,000 words

You'll usually study an MA full-time over 12 months.

A Master of Arts is awarded for the successful completion of 120 credits of taught modules and a 60 credit dissertation or research project.

Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications .

A PGCert is awarded if you successfully complete half of the taught modules (60 credits).

What you'll learn

Through this Creative Writing Master's you'll be inducted into the habits and inventive strategies of writers in a module dedicated to this process. You'll also begin to concentrate on skills specific to different fields of the writing craft.

You'll go on to test your own writing in one of three workshops dedicated to poetry, prose or script. You'll also take the opportunity to focus on areas of imaginative writing that are specialisms of our staff. Examples of our specialisms include:

  • dramatic monologue
  • poetry and translation
  • life writing
  • screenwriting

Our Profession of Writing module explores the roles and importance of:

  • professional opportunities for creative writers

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

Optional modules availability

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions .

The range of modules will be different if you're studying part-time.

Compulsory modules

Optional modules

  • Craft: Prose
  • Craft: Poetry
  • Craft: Theatre Script
  • Screenwriting
  • Poetry and Translation
  • Life Writing Masterclass

How you'll learn

You’ll be taught using a range of methods, typically including:

  • taught sessions
  • guided reading
  • individual consultations

The portfolio will see you finely develop your work through one-to-one supervision. Our small seminar groups and one-to-one supervision mean you'll work closely with your tutors, who are all writing practitioners.

All our classes take place in the early evening.

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:

  • module handbooks
  • course materials
  • course announcements and notifications
  • written feedback

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

  • personal tutors
  • our University Student Services Team
  • student representatives

You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.

Meiko O'Halloran

email:  meiko.o'[email protected]

Your development

Our PGCert and MA in Creative Writing allow you to advance your creative ability through:

You will further your awareness of:

  • writing craft

Your future

Our careers service.

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Follow in their footsteps

postgraduate creative writing uk

  • Name: Oisín
  • Nationality: British
  • Graduated: 2020
  • Now working as: Software developer, writer and filmmaker

"I was inspired by the talent and creativity of my peers, and many of them have gone on to be published and recognised. We still support one another, sharing our successes and challenges along the way."

Find out what Oisín liked the most about studying Creative Writing MA at Newcastle University and how this degree helped him in his career as a software developer.

Read about Oisín's journey .

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information .

The School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics is a lively and diverse community with over 700 undergraduates and 200 postgraduates. We're based in the Percy Building. Our purpose-built postgraduate suite includes:

  • several dedicated computer clusters
  • meeting rooms
  • a kitchen and lounge area

Our award-winning Phillip Robinson Library has an extensive audio-visual collection.

The Newcastle Centre for Literary Arts (NCLA) is a world-class centre of excellence in the field of creative writing which contributes to the cultural life of the North East via:

The NCLA offers you the opportunity to get involved in our writing community through readings and events that feature:

  • scriptwriters
  • non-fiction writers

Past speakers include:

  • Kazuo Ishiguro
  • Paul Muldoon
  • Val McDermid
  • Peter Straughan
  • Claudia Rankine
  • David Almond

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2024 entry (per year).

If your studies last longer than one year, your tuition fee may increase in line with inflation.

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here .

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See  our   searchable postgraduate funding page  for more information.  

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

  • matriculation
  • registration
  • tuition (or supervision)
  • library access
  • examination
  • re-examination

Find out more about:

  • living costs
  • tuition fees

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section .

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

Search for funding

Find funding available for your course

Entry requirements

The entrance requirements below apply to 2024 entry.

Qualifications from outside the UK

English language requirements, admissions policy.

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Creative Writing MA

Key information.

  • 1 year full-time
  • 2 years part-time
  • September 2024

Course information

Please select the page of your interest

Showing content for section Overview

Where better to take your writing to the next level than the home city of literary greats like Charles Dickens and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?

On this MA Creative Writing degree course, you'll study the genres that inspire you the most – from poetry and historical fiction, to screenwriting and crime – as well as genres you may not have explored, taking your writing in new directions.

You'll spend plenty of time writing and reviewing work and benefit from the help and experience of our expert lecturers. You'll develop the confidence to become a better writer by learning to critique your own work, and that of your peers. There's even the chance to take up a placement at a famous literary magazine.

If you're imaginative, ambitious, and ready to devote yourself to improving your writing, it's time to take your studies to the next level with us. This Master's in creative writing will give you the tools you need for a successful career as a writer, or in fields such as publishing, media, and education.

Eligibility

This course accepts UK, EU, and international students.

Course highlights

  • Build confidence as a writer and consolidate your creative writing skills
  • Get to grips with different writing techniques and study contemporary skills to inspire and entertain your audience through the power of the written word
  • Complete a major project in the form of your own novel, screenplay or poem
  • Participate in writers' workshops, where you'll develop your own skills and constructively contribute to the work of others
  • Learn from our expert lecturers and creative writing academics, all of whom are published authors with a vast wealth of experience in the industry within their specialisms
  • Learn about the market and current debates within differing genres
  • Hear from accomplished guest speakers from the worlds of publishing and writing

Graduation Class of 2021

Joining us as an international student

You'll feel at home in our international community and our diverse city. You'll be joining over 5,000 international students from more than 150 countries who are studying with us.

Learn more about international student life and how we can help you with visas, applications, arrival and settling in. 

Information for international students

What you'll study on this MA Creative Writing degree course

All modules on this MA Creative Writing course are core.

Critical Reading for Creative Writers - 30 credits

Additional content, the learning outcomes of this module are:.

  • Identify various critical approaches to creative writing, know the background to them, and recognise their place in relation to other forms of critical reading
  • Analyse the work of other writers in multiple critical contexts
  • Proficiently construct a critical argument and deliver it as an oral presentation
  • Exhibit a range of advanced transferable skills in reading, research, writing and speaking for both academic and professional contexts

Explore this module

Critical Thinking for Creative Writers - 30 credits

  • Critically appraise and analyse the key theories in the context of creative writing
  • Write critically about a key theory relevant to their creative writing practice
  • Judiciously employ primary and secondary research sources in scholarly writing

The Final Project: The Creative Practice Dissertation - 60 credits

  • Create a sophisticated original body of writing that synthesises the ongoing process of crafting, development and reflection
  • Analytically apply critical understanding and self-reflexion to their original written works, with reference to, and employing the conventions of, their chosen genre
  • Effectively manage sustained independent study

Writer's Workshop: Exploration - 30 credits

  • Write creatively in a variety of forms, and identify key characteristics of a variety of creative writing genres, forms and styles
  • Articulate and evaluate different creative writing approaches for different purposes
  • Complete creative writing in a proficient, professional manner that is reinforced by formative draft work

Writer's Workshop: Resolution - 30 credits

  • Critically reflect upon their creative practice and on the creative process
  • Judiciously synthesise knowledge of genres, decide upon, and execute, appropriate pre-writing or exploratory work that relates to a future creative project
  • Reflect upon the process of drafting, re-honing, the critical judgements of others, and apply this reflection to their own creative writing

Changes to course content

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Careers and opportunities

Careers this master's in creative writing prepares you for.

As a successful graduate of this course, you'll have experienced an exciting immersion into writing, with the freedom and discipline of writing across multiple forms to express your unique narrative voice.

Through workshops, independent writing and critical analysis, this creative writing Master's course will help you to develop your own skills and constructively contribute to the work of other writers.

When you graduate, you'll have completed a major project in the form of your own novel, screenplay or poem, and have developed the necessary confidence and critical skills to continue a career in writing, or in fields such as publishing, media, and education.

Graduates of this course have gone onto roles in:

  • Public Relations (PR)

Recent graduates of this course have found jobs such as:

  • Account Executive
  • Article portfolio writing
  • Freelance sports journalist
  • Freelance writer
  • Social Media Manager

9 reasons to do a Master's

Career outcomes shown are sourced from the latest available graduate outcome surveys. The data shows career outcomes at 15 months after graduation.

Career planning

During your course, you'll have expert career support from your tutors and from our Careers and Employability Centre, which you can access for 5 years after you graduate.

Female student standing at careers and employability help desk

You'll benefit from:

  • Networking events and industry links, including the opportunity to attend five industry parties at The London Magazine
  • 1-to-1 appointments
  • CV and cover letter advice
  • Interview preparation and practice
  • Workshops to enhance your employability skills
  • Recruitment events including the Student and Graduate Opportunities Fair
  • Support starting your own business

Placements and industry connections

There is the opportunity to either work in London at The London Magazine offices for a two-week placement, or undertake a virtual placement working at The London Magazine dealing with submissions to the magazine.

All teaching staff are published authors and have a vast wealth of experience in the industry within their specialisms.

How you'll spend your time

We recognise that you'll probably be juggling more demands when you do your Master's degree, as you may be working or you may have family responsibilities.

We'll give you as much indication here as we can of how much time you'll need to be on campus and how many hours you can expect to spend in self-directed study, but please note that these indications are always subject to change. You should receive your full timetable several weeks before you start with us.

Course structure

This Master's degree will take:

  • 1 year (full-time study)
  • 2 years (part-time study)

You can expect:

  • 1 day of teaching per week (pro rata for part time students)
  • Around 20–25 hours of dedicated independent study each week (pro rata for part time students)

At the moment, teaching takes place on Fridays, leaving you the rest of the week for self-guided study.

Master's study is deeper and more specialised than an undergraduate degree. This means you'll focus on something that really matters to you and your career as you work closely with academics committed to the subject.

You'll spend more time in independent study and research than you did for your undergraduate degree, but the majority of your teaching time will be in-person and face-to-face.

Teaching methods on this course include:

  • independent writing
  • critical analysis

You'll be assessed through:

  • creative writing projects
  • final creative writing project

Teaching staff

These are some of the expert staff who'll teach you on this course:

Dr Steven O'Brien

Senior Lecturer

[email protected]

School of Film, Media, and Communication

Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries

PhD Supervisor

Thomas Gerald Charlesworth Sykes Portrait

Dr Tom Sykes

Associate Professor in Creative Writing and Global Journalism

[email protected]

September start

The Master's academic year runs from September to the following September. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter. Over the summer you'll be writing your project/dissertation.

See key dates

Writing and scripting software

Script writing

Open Access Suite

Open Access Suite

University Library

Library

Supporting your learning

Master's study is more focused on independent learning than undergraduate study, but you'll get lots of  support via video, phone and face-to-face  from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:

Types of support

Personal tutor.

Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.

You'll have regular contact with your personal tutor in learning activities or scheduled meetings. You can also make an appointment with them if you need extra support.

Student support advisor

Creative skills tutors, academic skills tutors.

You'll have help from a team of faculty academic skills tutors. They can help you improve and develop your academic skills and support you in any area of your study.

They can help with:

  • improving your academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations)
  • delivering presentations (including observing and filming presentations)
  • understanding and using assignment feedback
  • managing your time and workload
  • revision and exam techniques

IT and computing support

Academic skills support.

As well as support from faculty staff and your personal tutor, you can use the University's Academic Skills Unit (ASK).

ASK provides one-to-one support in areas such as:

  • academic writing
  • note taking
  • time management
  • critical thinking
  • presentation skills
  • referencing
  • working in groups
  • revision, memory and exam techniques

Disability advice and additional support

If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our  specialist team  can help you.

They'll help you to

  • discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
  • liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
  • access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
  • liaise with external services

Wellbeing and mental health support

Our online  Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.

You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service , in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.

Library support

Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from a librarian who specialises in your subject area.

The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.

Support with English

If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses  to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme  to improve your English further.

​Course costs and funding

Tuition fees (september 2024 start), uk, channel islands, and isle of man students.

  • Full-time:  £8,200
  • Part-time:  £5,470 (Year 1) and £2,730 (Year 2)

EU students

(including  Transition Scholarship )

International students

  • Full-time:  £18,100
  • Part-time:  £12,070 (Year 1) and £6,030 (Year 2)

University of Portsmouth graduates may receive a  20% alumni tuition fee discount . 

Fees are subject to annual increase.  Read our tuition fees terms and conditions .

You'll be able to pay your fees in instalments. Find out  how to pay your tuition fees .

Funding your studies

Explore how to fund your studies, including available  scholarships and bursaries .

If you're a UK student, you may be eligible for a  Government Postgraduate Master's Loan , which you can use to help with course fees and living costs.

If you're a UK student who achieved a first in your undergraduate degree you may be eligible for a  £3,000 University of Portsmouth scholarship.

Loans, scholarships and bursaries

Browse funding such as the Government Postgraduate Loan, our scholarships for new and returning students, and subject specific loans.

A male postgraduate student smiling, standing in a workshop.

Funding for international students

Learn more about sponsorships, scholarships and loans for students applying from outside of the UK.

international business students

Fees and funding for Master's courses

Discover how you can fund your Master's study at Portsmouth – including loans, scholarships and bursaries – and read our guidance on topics like how to budget, and how to get support if you're disabled or have dependents.

Postgrad students on campus

Entry requirements

September 2024 start, uk qualifications, qualifications or experience.

  • A good honours degree in a related subject. Equivalent qualifications and/or notable experience as a creative writer will also be considered.

Please  get in touch  if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree.

Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our  Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) .

Non-UK qualifications

If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, you’ll need to show you meet the UK entry requirements listed above.

To find out if your non-UK degree or other qualification is accepted, please visit our page for  your country  and view the UK equivalent of your qualification. 

English language requirements

  • English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component score below 6.0.

You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:

  • you have a UK degree
  • you have a degree from a majority English-speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
  • you are a national of a majority English-speaking country

Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English-speaking countries will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Find out more about our  English language requirements .

If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a  pre-sessional English programme  before you start your course.

Selection process

An online portfolio submission may be required as part of the selection process.

For more information on how to put together a portfolio, read our  MA Creative Writing portfolio guide .

How to apply

Unlike undergraduate applications, which go through UCAS, applications for this Master's course are made directly to us.

There's no deadline for applications to this course. We accept applications right up until the start date in September, as long as there are places available. If you wait until September to apply, you may find that the course is full.

If you're applying as an international student, remember that you'll need to leave plenty of time to get your visa organised.

You can find more advice about applying in our  Master's application checklist . International students and current students and recent graduates of the University of Portsmouth also have some different application options, which are detailed below.

Extra information for international students

I'm an international student.

If you're an international student, you can apply directly to us using the same application form as UK students.

You could also get an agent to help with your application. Check  your country  page for details of agents in your region. To find out what to include in your application, head to the  how to apply page of our international students section .

If you don’t meet the  English language requirements  for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a  pre-sessional English programme  before you start your course.

Ready to apply?

Start this course in september 2024.

Apply now (Full-time)

Apply now (Part-time)

I'm a current Portsmouth student, or a recent Portsmouth graduate

If you're currently in your final year of study at Portsmouth, or you graduated since July 2021, you're eligible to make a fast track application. You'll have:

  • a shorter application form to complete
  • access to the 20% Alumni fee discount
  • a guaranteed conditional offer, for most Master's courses 

Learn more about fast track

After you apply

Once we receive your application, we may ask you for further information. We will then either make you an offer or suggest alternatives if your application is unsuccessful.

You'll usually get a decision within 10 working days, so you shouldn't have to wait too long. Some courses have an interview stage – we'll let you know if you need to prepare for one.

Learn more about how we assess your application .

Admissions terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our  Student Contract  (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.

Contact information

+44 (0) 23 9284 5566

Other courses you might like

  • MA Media and Communication
  • MRes Creative Industries
  • MA Illustration
  • MA Theatre: Socially Engaged Practice
  • MA Journalism (Distance Learning)
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  • Postgraduate study
  • Taught degree programmes A‑Z
  • Creative Writing (online distance learning)

Postgraduate taught  

Creative Writing (online) MLitt: Online distance learning

Two students with laptops having a conversation

Note: This programme is also delivered on campus. To find out more about this programme or the research opportunities available, visit our Creative Writing subject page

If you're a talented and ambitious writer looking to develop your craft and take your writing to the next level, Glasgow's renowned Creative Writing MLitt is ideal. Develop your writing practice wherever you are in the world by gaining creative and critical skills on this exciting and supportive online course.

  • Online distance learning
  • Academic contact: Dr Colin Herd  [email protected]
  • Teaching start: September
  • MLitt: 12 months full-time; 24 months part‑time

Register your interest for more information

Thank you for registering

Something went wrong, please try again

Why this programme

  • Our MLitt in Creative Writing is delivered within a clear three-part structure, focused on creative, critical and editorial skills.
  • Our Creative Writing programme has gained an excellent reputation with writers, agents and publishers. The University's writing courses are among the most challenging and popular in the UK.
  • These courses have helped launch the careers of an impressive list of acclaimed authors including, but not limited to: Anne Donovan, Helen Sedgwick, Kirsty Logan, Jen Hadfield, JL Williams, Louise Welsh, Zoe Strachan, Elizabeth Reeder and many others.
  • You'll be taught by successful and well-regarded writers who specialise across diverse genres. We are happy to supervise students working in established genres but just as keen to see students mix genres or create new forms. In addition, you'll be able to tap into the University's strong network of literary agents and publishers, as well as an impressive list of published alumni. 
  • This online programme is 1 year full time. If you are already working full time or have family commitments, the course can also be completed on a part-time flexible study basis over 2 years.
  • Listen to our podcast: Stories from Glasgow – Writing Space with Dr Oliver K. Langmead .
  • Read From Glasgow to Saturn, our literary journal .

Programme structure

The full-time programme consists of the following courses. The part-time programme consists of the same courses split over two years.

  • CREATIVE WRITING: CRAFT AND EXPERIMENTATION 1 (DL)
  • CREATIVE WRITING: EDITING AND PUBLICATION 1 (DL)
  • CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP (DLEARNING)
  • CREATIVE WRITING: CRAFT AND EXPERIMENTATION 2 (DL)   Option 1
  • READING & WRITING DEATH & DYING DL   Option 2
  • CREATIVE WRITING: EDITING AND PUBLICATION 2 (DL)

Summer Semester

  • CREATIVE WRITING PORTFOLIO (PGT) (DLEARNING)

Programme outcomes

  • Experiment with a range of voices, techniques and genres and consider major creative and editorial engagements
  • Develop a critical understanding of a diverse creative, theoretic and critical texts
  • Develop editorial skills
  • Gain an understanding of literary techniques and ideas
  • Access the work and thought of a wide range of literary artists
  • Produce extended portfolios of creative and editorial work
  • Understand the writing context (audience, publishing in all its forms, the legal framework, modes of transmission)
  • Become disciplined in writing regularly in a stimulating workshop and tutorial environment in which writing skills can be acquired, discussed and honed
  • Be part of a stimulating and critical peer group that reads, engages with, and appraises one others work
  • Understand the means of literary transmission and how these means affect your own work
  • Meet, hear and talk to professional writers and individuals from publishing and other transmission industries
  • Display an understanding of the mechanisms (historical and contemporary) of literary textual transmission and other forms of transmission (including performance) in their various technological, commercial and artistic aspects

"I can honestly say that the programme was the best thing that has ever happened for my writing." Nichola Deadman, Creative Writing student

Programme alteration or discontinuation The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a programme. For more information, please see: Student contract .

Career prospects

Skills gained in the study of our Creative Writing MLitt may lead to career opportunities in literary and cultural fields such as editing, publishing and arts development. Many of our alumni are successful authors. Our graduates have also gone into journalism, publishing, and a range of other professions. Positions held by recent graduates include managing director, freelance writer, author, copywriter and community arts worker.

Fees & funding

Tuition fees for 2024-25

  • Full-time fee: £10650
  • Part-time fee: £1184 per 20 credits

International & EU

  • Full-time fee: £22140

Part-time fees:

  • UK :  £1,184 per 20 credits (180 credits in total)
  • International & EU : £2,460 per 20 credits (180 credits in total)

The credits are split: 

  • Year 1 : 80 credits (4 x £1,184 / £2,460) for Craft & Experimentation 1 and 2, and Workshops
  • Year 2 : 100 credits (5 x £1,184 / £2,460) for Editing & Publication 1 and 2, and Portfolio

Additional fees

  • Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
  • Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
  • Registration/exam only fee: £170

Funding opportunities

  • UK Study Online Scholarship

The UK Study Online scholarship is open to UK, EU and international students taking online undergraduate and postgraduate courses. 

Please see  UK Study Online for more details.

  • Postgraduate Student Loan (Scotland and EU)

Eligible full-time and part-time students, undertaking an eligible postgraduate course, can apply for a tuition fee loan up to a maximum of £7,000 towards their course. Eligible full-time postgraduate students can apply for a living-cost loan of up to £4,500.  

This support extends to online Masters or Postgraduate Diplomas, and not to the online Postgraduate Certificate courses.

For more information visit the SAAS website .

  • Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loans England only (PTFL)

If you’re an English student looking to study a taught Masters programme in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan. Students from England are able to apply for a non-means tested   Postgraduate Master’s Loan  of up to £11,570   to help with course fees and living costs. You have to  repay your Postgraduate Master’s Loan  at the same time as any other student loans you have. You’ll be charged interest from the day you get the first payment.

If you’re studying by distance learning, you can also apply.

  • Postgraduate Loans for Welsh Students

If you are a Welsh student looking to study a postgraduate programme* in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan in exactly the same way as you would for a Welsh University.

* does not apply to Erasmus Mundus programmes

Postgraduate Master's Finance

If you’re starting a full-time or part-time Postgraduate Master’s course (taught or research based) from 1 August 2019, you can apply for Postgraduate Master's Finance and receive up to £17,000 as a combination of grant and loan:

  • a maximum grant of £6,885 and loan of £10,115 if your household income is £18,370 and below
  • a grant of £1,000 and loan of £16,000 if your household income is not taken into account or is above £59,200.

For more information visit  Student Finance Wales

Postgraduate Doctoral Loan

If you’re starting a full-time or part-time postgraduate Doctoral course (such as a PhD) from 1 August 2019 you can apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan of up to £25,700.

  • Alumni Discount

In response to the current unprecedented economic climate, the University is offering a 20% discount on all Postgraduate Research and full Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes to its alumni, commencing study in Academic session 2024/25. This includes University of Glasgow graduates and those who have completed a Study Abroad programme or the Erasmus Programme at the University of Glasgow. The discount applies to all full-time, part-time and online programmes. This discount can be awarded alongside most University scholarships.

  • Postgraduate Student Loan (NI)

If you are a Northern Irish student looking to study a taught Masters programme* in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan in exactly the same way as you would for a University in Northern Ireland.

Northern Irish students are able to apply for non-means-tested tuition fee loans of up to £5,500, to help with the costs of funding.

For more information visit  www.studentfinanceni.co.uk/types-of-finance/postgraduate  .

The scholarships above are specific to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database

Entry requirements

  • You will normally have a 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent), though this is not a pre-requisite.
  • The primary basis for admission is the appraisal of a portfolio of your creative work.
  • You submit a portfolio of original work (poetry, fiction, life-writing or other prose, drama, and in some instances a portfolio of translation work). A maximum of 20 pages (one side only, double spaced throughout) per submission will be considered, and the portfolio can contain prose, verse, script, or a combination of these.
  • We also require two letters of reference. Your referees should include an academic and a creative referee where possible. Where this is not possible, you can provide referees from other areas who can vouch that you are who you say you are and that your work and achievements are your own. It is particularly helpful if these referees are familiar with your writing and can provide references on that basis.

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

  • 7.0 with no subtests under 7.0
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Common equivalent English language qualifications

Toefl (ibt, my best or athome).

  • 94; with Reading 24; Listening 24; Speaking 23; Writing 27
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements , this includes TOEFL mybest.

Pearsons PTE Academic

  • 66 with no subtest less than: Listening 66;Reading 68; Speaking 65; Writing 82

Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)

  • 185 overall, no subtest less than 185

Oxford English Test

  • Oxford ELLT 8
  • R&L: OIDI level no less than 8 with Reading: 27-28 and Listening: 20
  • W&S: OIDI level no less than 8.

Trinity College Tests

Integrated Skills in English II & III & IV: ISEII Pass with Pass in all sub-tests.

University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses

Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.

Alternatives to English Language qualification

  • students must have studied for a minimum of 2 years at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have complete their degree in that majority-English speaking country and within the last 6 years
  • students must have completed their final two years study in that majority-English speaking country and within the last 6 years

For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) but we do not require a specific UKVI SELT for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.

For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office using our  enquiry form

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. We cannot accept applications any other way.

Please check you meet the Entry requirements for this programme before you begin your application.

As part of your online application, you also need to submit the following supporting documents:

  • A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s) (if you have already completed your degree)
  • A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
  • Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
  • One reference letter on headed paper
  • Evidence of your English language ability (if your first language is not English)
  • Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
  • A copy of the photo page of your passport (Non-EU students only)

You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process.

You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish to update information, complete sections or upload supporting documents such as your final transcript or your language test.

For more information about submitting documents or other topics related to applying to a postgraduate taught programme, see  how to apply for a postgraduate taught degree

Guidance notes for using the online application

These notes are intended to help you complete the online application form accurately; they are also available within the help section of the online application form. 

If you experience any difficulties accessing the online application, see  Application System Help .

  • Name and Date of birth:  must appear exactly as they do on your passport. Please take time to check the spelling and lay-out.
  • Contact Details : Correspondence address. All contact relevant to your application will be sent to this address including the offer letter(s). If your address changes, please contact us as soon as possible.
  • Choice of course : Please select carefully the course you want to study. As your application will be sent to the admissions committee for each course you select it is important to consider at this stage why you are interested in the course and that it is reflected in your application.
  • Proposed date of entry:  Please state your preferred start date including the month and the year. Taught masters degrees tend to begin in September. Research degrees may start in any month.
  • Education and Qualifications : Please complete this section as fully as possible indicating any relevant Higher Education qualifications starting with the most recent. Complete the name of the Institution (s) as it appears on the degree certificate or transcript.
  • English Language Proficiency : Please state the date of any English language test taken (or to be taken) and the award date (or expected award date if known).
  • Employment and Experience : Please complete this section as fully as possible with all employments relevant to your course. Additional details may be attached in your personal statement/proposal where appropriate.

Reference : Please provide one reference. This should typically be an academic reference but in cases where this is not possible then a reference from a current employer may be accepted instead. Certain programmes, such as the MBA programme, may also accept an employer reference. If you already have a copy of a reference on letter headed paper then please upload this to your application. If you do not already have a reference to upload then please enter your referee’s name and contact details on the online application and we will contact your referee directly.

Application deadlines

September 2024, all applicants.

As there is extremely high demand for places on this degree programme, the University has established an application process with application rounds. This process aims to ensure fairness and equity to applicants and should support applications being open for the full admission cycle.

Round 1 application dates

1 October 2023 to 19 November 2023 . You will receive our decision on your application by 3 February 2024 .

Round 2 application dates

20 November 2023 . You will receive our decision on your application by 24 March 2024 .

Round 3 application dates

19 February 2024 . You will receive our decision on your application by 8 July 2024.

Round 4 application dates (if applicable)  

28 May 2024 . You will receive our decision on your application by 11 August 2024 .  

As we receive a great number of applications, prospective students are only allowed to apply once per year.

More information about this programme

  • Core and optional courses
  • Creative Writing at Glasgow

Related programmes

Creative writing.

  • Creative Writing [MLitt]

English Literature

  • English Literature [MLitt]
  • English Literature: American Modern Literature [MLitt]
  • English Literature: Fantasy [MLitt]

more related English Literature programmes

Related links

  • About postgraduate study
  • How to apply for a postgraduate taught degree
  • Research opportunities A-Z
  • How to apply for a postgraduate research degree
  • Fees and funding

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Postgraduate prospectus

Creative Writing

PhD, MPhil Creative Writing

A postgraduate research qualification in Creative Writing consists of an original body of work - normally a novel, or a collection of poetry/short stories - with an accompanying critical element. The critical element will place the creative work in an informed and theorised analytical context.

The total assessed word count will be 25,000 words for the MPhil and 80,000 words for the PhD (or equivalent for poetry). The proportion of the creative to the critical work will be agreed by the supervisory team, but in total will usually consist of around 65-70% of creative text and 30-35% of critical text.

All postgraduate research students are supervised by two academics, one of whom will normally be a creative writing academic and the other from English Literature or a related discipline relevant to the creative and critical work. As with the traditional research degrees, the final submission will be expected to make 'a substantial and original contribution to knowledge'. For Creative Writing, this means a body of work that contributes in individual, significant and demonstrable ways to current discourses in literature.

The relation to such discourses will be articulated in the creative work and conceptualised and explored in the critical element; both are intended to address the same research questions, generating dynamic interplay between creative and critical practice.

Programme structure

MPhil: a standalone, one-year (full-time) research degree. Students will undertake their own research or creative project, concluding with the submission of a 25,000-word dissertation/project (normally 17,000-18,000 words of creative writing and 7,000-8,000 of critical writing). Students may have the option to audit units from our taught master's programmes if they are relevant to their research.

PhD: a research project undertaken across four years (full-time, minimum period of study three years), culminating in an 80,000-word thesis/project (normally 50,000 words of creative work - often an extract from a longer project - and 30,000 words of a critical investigation). As well as having the option to audit taught units where appropriate, there may be the potential for PhD students to teach units themselves from their second year of study onwards.

The MPhil and PhD can be studied via distance learning.

World-leading research

The University of Bristol is ranked fifth for research in the UK ( Times Higher Education ).

94% of our research assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Entry requirements

MPhil: An upper second-class degree or international equivalent. Please note, acceptance will also depend on evidence of your readiness to pursue a research degree and previous study or achievement in Creative Writing.

PhD: A master's qualification, or be working towards a master's qualification, or international equivalent. Applicants without a master's qualification may be considered on an exceptional basis, provided they hold a first-class undergraduate degree (or international equivalent). Applicants with a non-traditional background may be considered provided they can demonstrate substantial equivalent and relevant experience that has prepared them to undertake their proposed course of study. Acceptance will also depend on previous study or achievement in Creative Writing.

See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.

Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.

If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our  profile level A.

Further information about  English language requirements and profile levels .

Fees and funding

Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.

More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support .

Alumni discount

University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study.  Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.

Funding for 2024/25

The University of Bristol is part of the South, West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership (SWW DTP), which will be offering studentships for September 2024.

For information on other funding opportunities, including University-funded studentships, please see the Faculty of Arts funding pages .

Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.

Career prospects

People who are awarded a Creative Writing PhD have gone on to a variety of careers. Many are published writers who also teach, either in the academy or in community settings. The intensive training in examining texts is transferable to roles in publishing, broadcasting and media. Others organise literary and other cultural events or work in research. Like many creative people, graduates of this type of degree often have portfolio careers, where they work between several roles and their writing is one of several simultaneous ways in which they are employed.

Meet our supervisors

The following list shows potential supervisors for this programme. Visit their profiles for details of their research and expertise.

Research groups

  • Creative Writing and Critical Practice
  • Faculty of Arts Creative Writing Research Cluster
  • Brigstow Institute
  • Centre for Material Texts

How to apply

Apply via our online application system. For further information, please see the guidance for how to apply on our webpages.

January 2024 start: 1 December 2023 September 2024 start: 1 August 2024 January 2025 start: 1 December 2024

The deadlines for funding applications fall well in advance of these dates. Preliminary contact with staff from the department is welcome at any time of the year. We strongly encourage prospective applicants to contact us early, before submitting an application.

Faculty of Arts Postgraduate Research Admissions

Faculty of Arts

School of Humanities

Department of English

Explore more

Find out about the bristol doctoral college.

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Creative Writing 

POSTGRADUATE TAUGHT SUBJECT AREA

About Creative Writing  

Not every writer needs a creative writing course, but every writer can benefit from one.

Bangor has one of the longest histories of teaching creative writing in the UK and has pioneered the creative-critical interface that has allowed our graduates to excel in writing and publishing work. You will join a flourishing community of novelists and poets.

A course in creative writing may be the first step towards a writing career, or a chance for more experienced writers to develop their work from a new perspective. Creative writing at Bangor University offers a range of opportunities for postgraduate study in a dynamic critical and creative environment.

We offer an engaging and supportive environment for postgraduate study, focusing on small group teaching and one-to-one supervision. You will work closely with academic staff in a research community that encourages interdisciplinary exchange and activity.

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Why Study Creative Writing ?

We will encourage you to try new things: new genres, new narratives and new language. Perhaps most importantly of all, we will encourage you to write whether you feel like it or not, to stop waiting for a “muse” to inspire you but to instead take control of your own creative talent - to find your own voice.

Our MA in Creative Writing is taught by staff who are both published writers and practising academics thoroughly experienced in the challenges of university research.

Creative Writing   staff comprise a team of leading scholars which includes award-winning poets and novelists. Creative writing staff at Bangor publish in the major forms of short fiction, the novel and poetry, their research spanning criticism and practice-based contributions to these areas.

Courses in Creative Writing 

Find out about the course options in this subject area. 

Career Opportunities in Creative Writing

A postgraduate qualification in in Creative Writing may lead to a career as a novelist, poet or playwright. Planning and developing a substantial writing project is a good preparation for future funded or commissioned writing, as well as for an academic career in practice-based research.

You will also acquire skills that can be applied in other contexts, for example editing, publishing, journalism or arts administration. The ability to use language fluently and persuasively is essential for success in almost any field, and the flexibility of working across genres in this course offers an excellent grounding in creative language use.

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Meet our Staff

You can enjoy teaching of a high standard delivered by true experts in their field. Take a look at our staff profiles to find out more.

Bangor University Main Arts building

Our Research in Creative Writing

The expertise of Creative Writing staff lies in the craft of language and storytelling within the broad context of professional practice. Creative writing staff at Bangor publish in the major forms of short fiction, the novel and poetry, their research spanning criticism and practice-based contributions to these areas. 

Staff are internationally recognised experts in their chosen field, bringing knowledge and enthusiasm to their teaching.  The department has an active community of research students and offers research supervision in a range of specialist areas, including:  Poetry, Short story writing, Experimental writing, Ecopolitics.

English Literature & Creative Writing research interests are varied in period and approach. Ongoing and new areas of research in Creative Writing include adaptation, experimentation and translation and creative writing, approached from a range of perspectives and theoretical angles, informed by gender, social class, ideology, as well as the relationships between literature and the arts, literature and geography and literature and religion.

You may also be interested in these related subject areas.

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English Literature

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Creative Writing courses

Whether you’re looking to develop your own writing skills and editorial practice for your profession or for purely personal interest, our creative writing courses have much to offer you. Choose below from our range of qualifications.

Student writing

Creative Writing Degrees  Degrees Also known as an undergraduate or bachelors degree. Internationally respected, universally understood. An essential requirement for many high-level jobs. Gain a thorough understanding of your subject – and the tools to investigate, think critically, form reasoned arguments, solve problems and communicate effectively in new contexts. Progress to higher level study, such as a postgraduate diploma or masters degree.

  • Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
  • One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
  • You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
  • For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.

How long will it take?

Creative Writing Diplomas  Diplomas Widely recognised qualification. Equivalent to the first two thirds of an honours degree. Enhance your professional and technical skills or extend your knowledge and understanding of a subject. Study for interest or career development. Top up to a full honours degree in just two years.

Creative writing certificates  certificates widely recognised qualification. equivalent to the first third of an honours degree. study for interest or career development. shows that you can study successfully at university level. count it towards further qualifications such as a diphe or honours degree., why study creative writing with the open university.

Since 2003, over 50,000 students have completed one of our critically acclaimed creative writing modules. 

The benefits of studying creative writing with us are:

  • Develops your writing skills in several genres including fiction, poetry, life writing and scriptwriting.
  • Introduces you to the world of publishing and the requirements of professionally presenting manuscripts.
  • Online tutor-group forums enable you to be part of an interactive writing community.
  • Module workbooks are widely praised and used by other universities and have attracted worldwide sales.

Careers in Creative Writing

Studying creative writing will equip you with an adaptable set of skills that can give entry to a vast range of occupations. You’ll learn to evaluate and assimilate information in constructing an argument as well as acquiring the skills of creative and critical thinking that are much in demand in the workplace. 

Our range of courses in creative writing can help you start or progress your career as a:

Looking for something other than a qualification?

The majority of our modules can be studied by themselves, on a stand-alone basis. If you later choose to work towards a qualification, you may be able to count your study towards it.

See our full list of Creative Writing modules

All Creative Writing courses

Browse all the Creative Writing courses we offer – certificates, diplomas and degrees.

See our full list of Creative Writing courses

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Creative Writing

  • Entry Year 2024
  • Duration Full time 36 Months, Part time 48 Months

Top reasons to study with us

World Top 40 QS World Subject Rankings 2023 (English Language & Literature)

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Enjoy literary events in Lancaster's Castle Quarter

Why Lancaster?

  • Study online or join us on campus to be close to the Lake District, home of the Romantic poets, and inspiration for many writers since
  • Benefit from our supervisory strengths in contemporary poetry, fiction, creative-critical writing, creative non-fiction and script writing
  • Complete a significant creative writing project, whether you want to craft a novel or create an entire script
  • Be inspired by our rich programme of literary events on campus, online, and in the city’s historic Castle Quarter
  • Join a vibrant, supportive community of PhD students working across a range of literary genres and research projects

We have a team of award-winning novelists, poets and playwrights with the expertise and experience to bring your creative project to life. Our staff have a range of impressive accolades including the BBC National Short Story Award, Waterstones ’ Children ’s Book Prize and Pigott Poetry Prize. Meet some of our team .

Your unique project

Wondering what a PhD in creative writing looks like? It depends what project you decide to work on. Typically, we would expect a critical writing piece around 20,000 words long and a creative writing piece of around 60-80,000 words. Your creative work can be an extract or a complete piece or collection of prose fiction/non-fiction, a collection of poetry, or a completed script for stage, screen or audio. These are examples; we’re happy to discuss other forms and unique projects with you.

Finding the right supervisor is key to your success as they’ll act as a critical friend. We expect you to already have one in mind while completing your application and to contact them before submitting your application. Most students have one or two supervisors, but you might have more depending on the nature of your project.

Online or on campus?

Our pioneering virtual learning and research facilities mean you can study from anywhere in the world. Our campus students enjoy a lively programme of departmental events and both distance and campus students meet in termly Work in Progress sessions.

If you haven’t studied a Master’s in Creative Writing at Lancaster, you’ll need to complete the core Creative Writing module Research Methods and Professional Practice. You can take this module in person or online.

Meet the team

Our staff have won or been listed for:

  • The Betty Trask Award, Portico Prize
  • BBC National Short Story Award
  • Waterstones’ Children’s Book Prize
  • Tir na n-Og Award
  • Carnegie Medal
  • Somerset Maugham Award
  • Whitbread Poetry Prize
  • TS Eliot Prize
  • Costa Book Award
  • Edge Hill Prize
  • Papatango Prize
  • Eric Gregory Award
  • Crashaw Prize
  • Bridport Prize
  • Pigott Poetry Prize, Desmond Elliott Prize
  • Polari First Book Prize

Meet some of our team.

Your department

  • English Literature and Creative Writing Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

A PhD is a sign of prestige and gives you structured time to work on a specific project. You might complete yours to progress in your academic career or to support your wider creative role in an area like literacy management or publishing. Either way, you’ll be committed to completing a substantial project and dedicating yourself to becoming an expert in your area of writing.

Our PhD students have published a range of work including:

  • 'The Mountains Sing' – Nguyen Phan Que Mai (finalist of the 2021 Dayton Literary Peace Prize, winner of the 2020 BookBrowse Best Debut Award, winner of the Blogger's Book Prize 2021, winner of the 2021 International Book Awards, winner of the 2021 PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award, and winner of the 2020 Lannan Literary Award Fellowship)
  • 'Alligator and other stories' by Dima Alzayat (James Tait Black Memorial Prize, finalist; PEN/Robert W. Bingham Award, finalist; Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize; Short Story Prize, longlist)
  • 'Remembered' by Yvonne Battle-Felton (longlisted for the Women’s Prize for fiction, shortlisted for the Jhalak Prize)
  • 'Abundance: Nature in Recovery' by Karen Lloyd
  • 'Fruit Knife Autopsy' by Warren Mortimer

Many of our PhD students are interested in teaching the next generation of writers. We’ll let you know about opportunities to gain teaching experience while you study with us.

Entry Requirements

Academic requirements.

Master's degree or equivalent in English literature or literature in other languages, usually with an average of at least 65% for UK MAs.

2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in English Literature or related subject, for example literature in other languages

If you have studied outside of the UK, we would advise you to check our list of international qualifications before submitting your application.

Additional Requirements

As part of your application, you also need to provide:

  • A viable research proposal
  • A portfolio of original writing (no more than 15 poems or 30 pages of prose) showing potential for publication

Details of the research areas can be found on the Department’s website . If you are interested in applying for one of our PhD programmes, you may wish to informally contact a potential supervisor for guidance on the proposal prior to submitting your application. Guidance on the structure of the proposal is also available.

English Language Requirements

We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously.

We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 7.0, and a minimum of 6.5 in each element of the test. We also consider other English language qualifications .

If your score is below our requirements, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language programmes .

Contact: Admissions Team +44 (0) 1524 592032 or email [email protected]

Course Structure

You will study a range of modules as part of your course, some examples of which are listed below.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, but changes may be necessary, for example as a result of student feedback, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes, and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

This module prepares you for your dissertation project and supports the development of the research, scholarly and critical skills that it will require. You will be introduced to the idea of ethical practice and any students working on memoirs or verbatim work will be offered specific guidance. You’ll also explore the ideas, concepts and issues around reflective practice and the vital role of research within creative writing.

We’ll study in a cohesive group, bringing students on combined courses and those following different pathways together to create a wider forum; our discussions will focus on professional practice and research issues.

This module aims to enhance your knowledge of library, archival and online research and develop your understanding of the creative process - taking you from first draft to final submission, including problem-solving strategies for creative blocks or obstacles. The module also places your creative work in the context of a professional literary world.

Indicative study themes:

  • Understanding the Research Context
  • Library, Online and Archival Research
  • Scholarly Conventions
  • Creative and Professional Presentation
  • Research and Reflective Practice
  • The Ethical Researcher

Fees and Funding

The tuition fee for students with Home Fee status is set in line with the standard fee stipend provided by the UK Research Councils. The fee stipend for 2024/25 has not yet been set. For reference, the fee stipend for 2023/24 was full-time £4,712 and part-time £2,356.

The International Fee for new entrants in 2024/25 is full-time £21,082 and part-time £10,541.

There may be extra costs related to your course for items such as books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation, you may need to pay a subscription to a professional body for some chosen careers.

Specific additional costs for studying at Lancaster are listed below.

College fees

Lancaster is proud to be one of only a handful of UK universities to have a collegiate system. Every student belongs to a college, and all students pay a small College Membership Fee  which supports the running of college events and activities. Students on some distance-learning courses are not liable to pay a college fee.

For students starting in 2023 and 2024, the fee is £40 for undergraduates and research students and £15 for students on one-year courses. Fees for students starting in 2025 have not yet been set.

Computer equipment and internet access

To support your studies, you will also require access to a computer, along with reliable internet access. You will be able to access a range of software and services from a Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux device. For certain degree programmes, you may need a specific device, or we may provide you with a laptop and appropriate software - details of which will be available on relevant programme pages. A dedicated  IT support helpdesk  is available in the event of any problems.

The University provides limited financial support to assist students who do not have the required IT equipment or broadband support in place.

For most taught postgraduate applications there is a non-refundable application fee of £40. We cannot consider applications until this fee has been paid, as advised on our online secure payment system. There is no application fee for postgraduate research applications.

For some of our courses you will need to pay a deposit to accept your offer and secure your place. We will let you know in your offer letter if a deposit is required and you will be given a deadline date when this is due to be paid.

The fee that you pay will depend on whether you are considered to be a home or international student. Read more about how we assign your  fee status .

If you are studying on a programme of more than one year’s duration, the tuition fees for subsequent years of your programme are likely to increase each year. Read more about  fees in subsequent years .

Scholarships and Bursaries

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status and course . You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

If you're considering postgraduate research you should look at our funded PhD opportunities .

We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries .

Related courses

English literature and creative writing.

  • Creative Writing (Distance Learning) MA
  • Creative Writing (modular) MA
  • Creative Writing with English Literary Studies MA
  • English Literary Research MA
  • English Literary Studies MA
  • English Literary Studies with Creative Writing MA
  • English Literature PhD
  • English Literature and Creative Writing PhD
  • Gender Studies and English MA

Postgraduate open day: Saturday 10 February 2024

Join our on-campus open day this February to talk to students and lecturers and find out how and when to apply.

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The information on this site relates primarily to 2024/2025 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information .

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Top 10 Creative Writing Masters Degree Courses In The UK & Europe

Find your perfect postgrad program search our database of 30,000 courses.

  • by Charlotte King
  • In Courses , Study in UK , Universities , Top 10 Lists

Masters degrees in Creative Writing

Some of these courses are on a full-time , part-time or distance learning basis – and as you are no doubt aware each different mode of learning will have different demands on you.

Creative Writing Course Seacrh

Here is a countdown of 10 of the best masters degrees in Creative Writing in the UK and Europe*.

MA in Creative Writing – University of Manchester

Duration: 12 Months

Cost: £9,000 (UK or EU Students) / £17,000 (International Students)

What You Will Study:   The course focuses on poetry and fiction. Students concentrate on contemporary fiction and contemporary poetry during the first semester. It is optional to study further units on research skills and the modern literary archive at the University library. During the second semester students, focus on the skills of creative writing with tutorial sessions and lectures from published writers.

MA in Creative Writing – University of Birmingham

Duration: 1 Year Full Time or 2 Years Part Time

Cost: £7,290 (UK or EU Students) / £15,660 (International Students)

What You Will Study:   There are five core modules covering creative writing and research skills, poetry, intertextuality and the editing process. In addition to this students can study another module from the English and Film Studies courses or any other subject.

MA Creative Writing – Newcastle University

Cost: £6,000 (UK or EU Students) / £13,980 (International Students)

What You Will Study:   There is a range of modules on offer at Newcastle University. The compulsory modules are about the profession and craft of creative writing , reading as a writer and a module on your portfolio of work. Other modules include prose, poetry, scriptwriting, creative non-fiction, ghost stories and writing for children and young adults.

MA in Creative Writing – Lancaster University

Duration: 1 Year Full Time (campus based) or 2 Years Part Time (by distance learning)

What You Will Study:   The base of the course is the creative writing of the students and the seminars critique and develop your writing skills. There are no formal modules. Guest speakers often run seminars.

MA in Creative Writing – University of Nottingham

Duration: 1 Year Full Time or 2 to 3 Years Part Time

Cost: £6,220 (UK or EU Students) / £15,140 (International Students)

What You Will Study:   The course has a strong emphasis on the publishing industry. The modules change from year to year as the subjects follow the interests of the academic staff. Usually, the modules cover subjects such as poetry, fiction and creative writing techniques.

MA in Creative Writing – Bangor University

Duration: 1 Year Full Time or 3 Years Part Time

Cost: £5,400 (UK or EU Students) / £12,250 (International Students)

What You Will Study:   Students complete modules on poetry and prose writing along with a module on literary research before you move to a 20,000-word dissertation. This is an opportunity to develop a long piece of creative writing and the chance to have it critiqued and assessed.

MLitt in Creative Writing – University of Aberdeen

Cost : £6,000 (UK or EU Students) / £14,300 (International Students)

What You Will Study:   The compulsory modules are about creative writing and critiquing poetry and fiction. Further modules cover subjects such as how to approach science and medicine and visual culture and theory.

MPhil in Creative Writing – Trinity College Dublin

Duration: 1 year full time.

Cost: €8,428 (UK or EU Students) / €15,408 (International Students)

What You Will Study:   Compulsory modules focus on creative writing , writing as a living and developing your writing skills. There are further workshops and lectures on Irish poetry and visiting writers’ workshops.

MA in Literary Studies: Writing, Editing and Mediating – University of Groningen

Cost: €2,006 (UK or EU Students) / €11,400 (International Students)

What You Will Study:   Subjects studied include creating a manuscript and developing it for publication, writing digital texts and editing text in written English.

MA in Creative Writing – University of Kent in Paris

What You Will Study:   Students should gain an understanding of the creative writing process and the terminology used in the professional world of publishing. The modules and subjects change from year to year but relate to creative writing in Paris and France.

There are other great options for students interested in studying a masters degree in creative writing, check out our course search to find out more.

PLEASE NOTE: As a result of Brexit, from Autumn 2021 postgraduate students from the European Union studying at a UK university will be charged the same tuition fees as international students. UK students studying their postgraduate course at a European university are also likely to incur higher tuition fees than their EU counterparts. It is advisable to check with the individual universities in the UK and Europe for up-to-date information on tuition fees for all postgraduate programs.

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Creative collaboration in a hybrid context: Becoming co-present and vulnerable in the writing of a TV series

Wed 6 dec 23.

12:00 - 13:00

  • Colchester Campus

Event speaker

Leo Bancou, Paris-Dauphine University.

Lectures, talks and seminars Cntre for Work, Organisation and Society (CWOS) Research Seminar Series

Event organiser

Essex Business School

Contact details

Professor Melissa Tyler [email protected]

The Centre for Work, Organisation and Society (CWOS) warmly invite you to join guest speaker Leo Bancou as he discusses creative collaboration in a hybrid context.

Seminar summary

In this talk, Leo Bancou will share the findings of research carried out as part of his doctoral thesis. It focuses on a European programme in creative screenwriting for a TV series, which involved numerous group writing workshops. He conducted a rich organizational ethnography throughout the 44-day programme, collecting extensive observation and interview data from both physical and digital sites. The paper he presents, which is under development, focuses on how experiences of co-presence shape creative collaboration. He examines how programme participants may have varied and sometimes paradoxical experiences of co-presence, which can be digitally mediated or hybrid. This influences both their sense of inclusion/exclusion and their collective creativity. He will present first-hand data as well as theorizing efforts. In particular, these involve the mobilisation of Maurice Merleau-Ponty’s processual phenomenology and Judith Butler’s concept of shared vulnerability to shed light on the embodied, ethical, and affective dimensions of co-presence. By studying participants’ lived experiences from such a combined framework, this paper seeks to contribute to emerging research on creative collaboration in new forms of working and organising.

How to attend this seminar

This seminar will take place on Wednesday 6 December at 12pm .

We welcome you to join us at our Colchester Campus in room EBS.2.65 .

Speaker bio

Leo Bancou is a PhD researcher in management and organisational studies at Paris-Dauphine University. He is interested in the changing nature of work and organisations in the digital age. His thesis focuses on the topic of co-presence and how it is experienced and organised in technology-enabled, hybrid ways of working. Using an ethnographic approach, he has conducted fieldwork with project teams in various sectors (e.g., consultants, engineering projects). He draws primarily on phenomenological perspectives and process philosophy to consider the bodily, fluid, and technologically mediated nature of contemporary work experiences.

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Course type

Qualification, university name, postgraduate creative writing in england.

212 degrees at 98 universities in England.

Customise your search

Select the start date, qualification, and how you want to study

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Related subjects:

  • Creative Writing
  • Biography Writing
  • British Sign Language
  • Broadcasting Studies
  • Cinematography
  • Communication Design
  • Communication Skills
  • Communication Studies
  • Communications and Media
  • Digital Arts
  • Digital Media
  • Documentary Photography
  • Film Photography
  • Film Special Effects
  • Film Studies
  • Film and Television Production
  • Film and Video Direction
  • Film and Video Editing
  • Film and Video Production
  • Interactive Media
  • Mass Communication
  • Media Production
  • Media Studies
  • Non-Fiction Writing
  • Novel Writing
  • Photography
  • Photography history
  • Play Writing
  • Radio Studies
  • Screenplay Writing
  • Script Writing
  • Sound Recording
  • Television Programme Production
  • Television Studies
  • Television and Radio Production
  • Visual Communication

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  • Course title (A-Z)
  • Course title (Z-A)
  • Price: high - low
  • Price: low - high

PhD Creative Writing

University of plymouth.

  • 3 years Full time degree: £4,500 per year (UK)
  • 4 years Part time degree: £3,030 per year (UK)
  • GSRCWRI1 Research Creative Writing- Core
  • Research Skills in the Arts, Humanities & Business- Core
  • GSRCWRI2 Research Creative Writing- Core
  • GSRCWRI3 Research Creative Writing- Core
  • GSRCWRI4 Research Creative Writing- Core
  • View all modules

PhD English and Creative Writing

University of roehampton.

  • 4 years Full time degree: £4,711 per year (UK)
  • 7 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

Creative Writing: Writing the City MA

University of westminster, london.

  • 1 year Full time degree: £7,500 per year (UK)
  • 2 years Part time day degree: £3,750 per year (UK)
  • City Stories and Dramas: Fiction and Playwriting (40 Credits) - Core
  • The Writing Project (60 Credits) - Core
  • Mapping and Imagining the City: Non-Fiction and Poetic Writing (40 Credits) - Core
  • The Writing Business (40 Credits) - Core

MA Creative Writing

Nottingham trent university.

  • 1 year Full time degree: £8,200 per year (UK)
  • 2 years Part time degree: £4,100 per year (UK)
  • Writing: Research Methods, Theory and Practice (40 Credits) - Core
  • Dissertation (60 Credits) - Core

MA Screenwriting

University of the arts london.

  • 15 months Full time degree: £12,700 per year (UK)
  • Short Film: Process and Practice (40 Credits)
  • Major Project - Process and Practice (60 Credits)
  • Industry Knowledge, Skills and Methodologies (20 Credits)
  • TV / Film / Radio: Adaptation - Existing Format ? Process and Practice (40 Credits)
  • Collaborative Unit (20 Credits)

Northumbria University, Newcastle

  • 1 year Full time degree: £9,250 per year (UK)
  • 2 years Part time degree: £9,250 per year (UK)
  • EL7011 - Creativity (30 Credits) - Core
  • EL7024 - Writing Portfolio (60 Credits) - Core
  • EL7020 - Professional Practice: Writing in an Industry Context (30 Credits) - Core

PhD Creative Practice, History and Theory

University of central lancashire.

  • 3 years Full time degree: £5,000 per year (UK)
  • 6 years Part time degree: £2,500 per year (UK)

Creative Writing MA

City, university of london.

  • 1 year Full time degree: £10,920 per year (UK)
  • 2 years Part time degree: £5,460 per year (UK)
  • Special Study: The Contemporary Essay (15 Credits) - Core
  • Special Study: The Novel (15 Credits) - Core
  • Special Study: The Non-Fiction Book (15 Credits) - Core
  • Creative Writing Workshop 2 (15 Credits) - Core
  • Special Study: The Genre Novel (15 Credits) - Core

English Literature with Professional Writing (MA)

Liverpool hope university.

  • 12 months Full time degree: £5,200 per year (UK)
  • 27 months Part time degree: £2,311 per year (UK)
  • Advanced Masters Research in English Literature (15 Credits) - Core
  • Research Dissertation (60 Credits) - Core

Creative Writing (Online) MA

Teesside university, middlesbrough.

  • 1 year Online degree: £4,870 per year (UK)
  • 14 months Online degree: £4,165 per year (UK)
  • Creative Writing Project- Core
  • The Professional Writer in the World- Core
  • Writing and the Self- Core
  • Writing Specialisms- Core
  • Core Skills and Techniques- Core

MA Creative Writing Poetry

University of east anglia uea.

  • 1 year Full time degree: £9,975 per year (UK)
  • 2 years Part time degree: £4,988 per year (UK)

MA Scriptwriting

Bournemouth university.

  • 1 year Full time degree: £8,500 per year (UK)
  • Scriptwriting Principles- Core
  • Story Development- Core
  • Media Production Masters Project- Core
  • Approaches to Industry- Core
  • Storytelling- Core

Creative Writing PhD

University of surrey.

  • 4 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
  • 8 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

MA Novel Writing (Distance Education)

Middlesex university.

  • 1 year Online degree: £8,600 per year (UK)
  • Writing as a Novelist (30 Credits) - Core
  • Reading as a Novelist (30 Credits) - Core
  • Research: Writing, Markets, Audiences (30 Credits) - Core
  • Developing and Publishing the Novel (30 Credits) - Core
  • Major Project (60 Credits) - Core

Creative Writing MA (Distance Learning)

Kingston university.

  • 1 year Distance with attendance degree: £9,860 per year (UK)
  • 2 years Distance with attendance degree: £5,423 per year (UK)
  • Special Study: Workshops in Popular Genre Writing (30 Credits) - Core
  • Critical Challenges for Creative Writers (30 Credits) - Core
  • Creative Writing Dissertation (60 Credits) - Core
  • Structure and Style (30 Credits) - Core
  • Writers' Workshop (30 Credits) - Core

Leeds Trinity University

  • 1 year Full time degree: £4,400 per year (UK)
  • 2 years Part time degree: £4,400 per year (UK)
  • Writing as a Profession
  • Dissertation
  • Prose or Poetry Workshops
  • Reading as a Writer

Creative Writing, MA

Faculty of liberal arts and sciences, university of greenwich.

  • 1 year Full time degree: £10,500 per year (UK)
  • 2 years Part time degree
  • Writing Fictions (30 Credits) - Core
  • The Creative Portfolio (60 Credits) - Core
  • Text and Theory (15 Credits) - Core
  • Research Skills for Literary Studies (15 Credits) - Core
  • Writing Performance (30 Credits) - Core

University of West London

  • 3 years Full time degree: £3,995 per year (UK)
  • 4 years Part time degree: £2,000 per year (UK)

MA Creative Practice

Leeds arts university.

  • 1 year Full time degree: £9,550 per year (UK)
  • 2 years Part time degree: £4,775 per year (UK)
  • LAUMACP702 - Research for Professional Context (30 Credits)
  • LAUMACP705 - Practice Resolution (60 Credits)
  • LAUMACP704 - Contextualising your Practice (30 Credits)
  • LAUMACP701 - Research for Practice (30 Credits)
  • LAUMACP703 - Practice Development (30 Credits)

School of English

University of leeds.

  • 12 months Full time degree: £12,000 per year (UK)
  • 24 months Part time degree: £6,000 per year (UK)

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Universities:.

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  • University of Gloucestershire
  • Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
  • University of Bolton
  • London Film School

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  1. 256 Postgraduate Creative Writing Courses in the UK

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    Course Overview The MA Creative Writing at Birkbeck is taught by one of the most diverse and vibrant departments in London. For nearly 20 years we have been enabling dynamic groups of students to improve their creative work and develop as writers. We have a growing list of published and prizewinning authors whose work started life in our seminars.

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    Course code: F71 This qualification is an opportunity to develop your skills as a writer in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction and scriptwriting for film, radio and the stage. You'll be able to write in a genre of your choice and experiment with at least one other through practical and inspiring activities.

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    Contact. Programme Director: Professor Andy Brown. Web: Enquire online. Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72. Discover MA Creative Writing at the University of Exeter. 88% of our English research is internationally excellent. Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, submitted to UoA27 English Language and Literature.

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    publishing. This PGCert and MA in Creative Writing provide a unique opportunity to explore and develop your creative writing skills. We teach creative writing in three areas: prose writing, with an emphasis on short fiction, creative non-fiction and the essay. poetry with an emphasis on the practice and study of a variety of poetic traditions ...

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    Creative writing at Bangor University offers a range of opportunities for postgraduate study in a dynamic critical and creative environment. We offer an engaging and supportive environment for postgraduate study, focusing on small group teaching and one-to-one supervision. You will work closely with academic staff in a research community that ...

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    Creative collaboration in a hybrid context: Becoming co-present and vulnerable in the writing of a TV series Wed 6 Dec 23. 12:00 - 13:00. Colchester Campus. EBS.2.65. Event speaker. Leo Bancou, Paris-Dauphine University. Event type. Lectures, talks and seminars Cntre for Work, Organisation and Society (CWOS) Research Seminar Series

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