Program Overview

MA, PG Cert, PG Dip Creative Writing

Introduction

Develop your writing in a supportive and creative environment. Learn from our team of professional writers how to improve your technique - and get published.

Course Options

• 12 months full-time
• 15 months full-time
• 2 years part-time

Key Facts

• Study options: 12 months full-time
• Start dates: September
• Location: Cambridge
• Fees:
  • £9,800 UK students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)
  • £17,500 International students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

Teaching and Assessment

Our Creative Writing Masters degree consists of four core modules and a Major Project. The core modules invite you to consider what it means to write novels and to be a writer, and to develop your writerly identity and presentational skills through consideration of form and structure across multiple genres.

• Patterns of Story: Fiction and its Forms
• Workshop: the Short Story
• Workshop: the Novel
• Special Topic in Creative Writing/English Literature
• Master's Project in Creative Writing

You will show your progress on the course through a mix of essays, your own writing samples, and critical reflections on your work.

Entry Requirements

• A good honours degree, typically 2.2 or above (or equivalent), normally in a related subject.
• If English is not your first language you will be expected to demonstrate a certificated level of proficiency of at least IELTS 7.0 (Academic level), or equivalent English Language qualification, as recognised by Anglia Ruskin University.

Fees and Paying for University

• Tuition fees for UK students (2025/26): £9,800 (full-time, per year)
• Tuition fees for international students (2025/26): £17,500 (full-time, per year)

Student Experience

Our MA Creative Writing will help you prepare for a career as a creative writer or in related areas such as publishing and the media. It will also give you critical and analytical skills valued by many employers.

Facilities and Showcase

As a postgraduate student at ARU you’ll be able to:

• network with agents, publishers and established writers in our talks and masterclasses
• get full support from our team of tutors, who are all published authors
• seek feedback and advice from our Royal Literary Fellows.

Lecturers

• Jon Stone
• Katharine Reeve
• Colette Paul
• Menna van Praag
• Tim Jarvis

Careers

Many of our past students have gone on to have successful careers as writers. These include Costa Short Story Award winner Caroline Ward Vine, Kaddy Benyon, Penny Hancock and Kate Swindlehurst.

Graduation doesn’t have to be the end of your time with us. You could choose to continue your academic career with a research programme at ARU such as our PhD Creative Writing. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and save £400 on your fees.