Program Overview

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Introduction to the University of Kent

The University of Kent is a leading research university that offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs. The university is committed to providing a high-quality education and research experience to its students.

About the Creative Writing MA Program

The Creative Writing MA program at the University of Kent is designed to help students develop their creative writing practice, experiment with different forms, and discover their voice. The program is taught by practicing, award-winning writers with a wide range of experience.

Key Features of the Program

• A wide range of expertise: Teaching is delivered by practicing, award-winning writers with a wide range of experience.
• Make your voice heard: Be at the forefront of debate in our lively, confident, and engaged research community.
• Join a new generation of critical thinkers: Develop your own critique of a culture in crisis and sharpen your critical language.
• A vibrant academic community: Join a lively, diverse community committed to high-quality literary fiction and exciting contemporary poetry.
• Share your work: Join regular open mic nights, or get involved in Canterbury’s lively poetry scene.

What You'll Learn

You are encouraged to try new approaches and to work across poetry, fiction, non-fiction, TV drama, or even translation. In your course, you'll read a wide variety of texts, share ideas in collaborative workshops, deepen your understanding of form and technique, experiment and develop your own ideas and those of your fellow writers.

Entry Requirements

• A first or second-class honors degree or equivalent in a relevant subject, or substantial creative writing experience.
• You are required to submit a sample of your creative writing, and this will be the most significant factor in admissions decisions.
• Applicants may be called to interview.

Writing Sample

A piece or portfolio of creative work should be uploaded on the ‘Declaration’ page of the online application form. If fiction, this should be around 1,500–2,000 words; if poetry, approximately four pages.

Request for Consideration on the Grounds of Equivalent Professional Status

Candidates who hold no first degree, or a first degree in a non-literary/creative subject area should include in their applications a summary of any information that might allow us to support the application on the grounds of ‘equivalent professional status’.

International Students

Please see our International Student website for entry requirements by country and other relevant information.

English Language Entry Requirements

This course requires an Excellent level of English language, equivalent to C1 on CEFR.

Course Structure

Modules

We’ve created the most progressive approach to higher education, developing and modernizing our curriculum. For 2025, our courses will be designed with you at their heart to deliver a top-class student experience and career outcomes.

• Stage 1: You take all compulsory modules. You then select three from the remaining list of optional modules.
• Compulsory modules currently include:
  • The Literary Landscape
  • Working as a Writer
  • Workshop
  • Creative Writing Dissertation
• Optional modules may include:
  • Fiction 1
  • Fiction 2
  • Life Writing
  • Translation, Variation, Adaptation
  • Poetry

Teaching and Assessment

You take a total of six modules, for which you will produce approximately 7,000 words each (or an equivalent number of poems or translations). In addition, you write a creative dissertation of about 12,000 words (or an equivalent number of poems or translations).

Programme Aims

For course aims and learning outcomes, please see the course specification.

Study Support

• Specialist resources: The Templeman Library has excellent research resources, as do the Canterbury Cathedral Archives and Library.
• Conferences and seminars: Our research centers organize many international conferences, symposia, and workshops.

Research

Eighteenth Century

The particular interests of the Centre for Studies in the Long Eighteenth Century converge around gender, class, nation, travel, and empire, and the relationship between print and material culture.

Nineteenth Century

The recently established Centre for Victorian Literature and Culture provides a stimulating and distinctive research environment for staff and students through seminars, conferences, and collaborative research projects.

American Literature

Research in north American literature is conducted partly through the Faculty-based Centre for American Studies, which also facilitates co-operation with modern US historians.

Creative Writing

The Centre for Creative Writing is the focus for most practice-based research in the School. Staff organize a thriving series of events and run a research seminar for postgraduate students and staff to share ideas about fiction-writing.

Medieval and Early Modern

The Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies has a distinctive brand of interdisciplinarity, strong links with local archives and archaeological trusts, and provides a vibrant forum for investigating the relationships between literary and non-literary modes of writing.

Modern Poetry

The Centre for Modern Poetry is a leading center for research and publication in its field, and participates in both critical and creative research.

Postcolonial

Established in 1994, the Centre for Colonial and Postcolonial Research has acquired an international reputation for excellence in research.

Your Future

Many career paths can benefit from the writing and analytical skills that you develop as a postgraduate student. Students have gone on to work in academia, journalism, broadcasting and media, publishing, writing, and teaching; as well as more general areas such as banking, marketing analysis, and project management.

Fees and Funding

The 2025/26 annual tuition fees for this course are:

• Full-time: £10,000 (UK), £19,300 (EU), £19,300 (International)
• Part-time: £5,000 (UK), £9,650 (EU), £9,650 (International)

Funding

Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at both:

• University and external funds
• Scholarships specific to the academic school delivering this program.

General Information

For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide. Tuition fees may be increased in the second and subsequent years of your course. Detailed information on possible future increases in tuition fees is contained in the Tuition Fees Increase Policy. If you are uncertain about your fee status, please contact us.