Program Overview

Creative Writing MA

Overview

The Creative Writing MA is a postgraduate program that allows students to explore their creative writing skills in a supportive environment. The course is designed to help students develop their writing techniques, experiment with different forms and genres, and produce a portfolio of creative work.

Course Structure

The course consists of four core modules:

Core Modules

• Core Skills and Techniques: This introductory module allows students to explore and express their ideas in a supportive environment. Learning activities are designed to support students in establishing or deepening their creative practice and gathering ideas with an emphasis on developing their confidence, identifying their core strengths and interests, and extending their skills and knowledge.
• Creative Writing Project: This project draws together the learning and development students have gained throughout the course. Students complete this independent research project under the supervision of their tutor. With regular guidance and support, students develop an initial project proposal outlining their key aims and objectives, and work this into a final portfolio of creative writing (in any form or genre), of publishable standard. Students also produce an accompanying reflective and critical analysis of their work. This forms their final submission for the master’s award.
• The Professional Writer in the World: Students consider and frame their writing within contemporary contexts, developing the skills they need to thrive as a professional writer in the world. Students explore some of the many ways and contexts in which writers work, and the skills required to make an income as a writer or enjoy a sustainable writing life.
• Writing and the Self: Students explore the connections between creativity, writing, and the self, and reflect on the idea of the self in the writing process and use key ideas and theories drawn from literary autobiography, life writing, autofiction, narrative theory, and the psychology of creativity to develop their work and process.

How You Learn

The campus-based course is taught by blended learning - a mix of face-to-face classroom sessions and distance learning. The classroom sessions are held on Tuesday evenings from 6.00pm - 9.00pm. The distance learning elements are not taught at a set time. Students can access the course space and complete the coursework at times that work best for them.

How You Are Assessed

Each taught 30-credit module is assessed against clear learning outcomes through written assignments, usually consisting of both creative work and some critical or reflective work. In addition to the taught modules, students produce a final project (60 credits) in their chosen form and genre.

Entry Requirements

Students should normally have an undergraduate degree of 2.2 or above in English, creative writing, or a cognate discipline. Other relevant experience or equivalent qualifications are considered on an individual basis. Students are required to provide a portfolio of their creative writing of up to and no more than 2,000 words in any one or two forms or genres.

Employability

MA Creative Writing graduates go on to a wide choice of professions and careers. Apart from the more obvious routes of publishing, editing, and freelance writing, many work in the wider creative industries (television, journalism, new media) or in workplaces that require advanced writing skills.

Fees

• Full-time: £7,710 a year (UK applicants), £17,000 a year (international applicants)
• Part-time: £855 for each 20 credits (UK applicants)

Duration

• Full-time: within 1 year
• Part-time: 2 years

Start Date

September

Semester Dates

Available on the university website

Apply Now

Available on the university website