Program Overview

Creative Writing

Introduction

Our Creative Writing PhD programme offers a dedicated, supportive, multi-award-winning team of full-time supervisory staff specialising in poetry, fiction, non-fiction prose, and screenwriting.

Study Information

At a Glance

• Degree Qualification: PhD

Our Research

• David Wheatley is a poet and critic with particular research interests in the field of twentieth-century and contemporary poetry, Irish literature and Samuel Beckett. As well as Creative Writing applications in poetry and translation, he welcomes applications from prospective PhD students in the above research areas.
• Helen Lynch has research and practical expertise in short fiction, nature writing, life writing, travel writing, and fictional autobiography. She also has strong research interests in the literature and politics of the early modern period (especially Milton, Spenser, Shakespeare and the connections between them).
• Alan Marcus engages with different methodological approaches to creative non-fiction filmmaking, with an interest in documentary, the essay film, experimental film and drama. His research incorporates cinematic storytelling involving post-traumatic sites and marginalized communities. Thematically, his work is often located in the visualisation of urban environments in conflict settings, in addition to research on differing perceptions of the landscape and notions of home and displacement.
• Alan Warner is interested in Creative Writing research projects (generally in prose), across all genres, especially literary fiction, short stories, or thriller, crime, fantasy, science fiction, memoir and non-fiction.
• Shane Strachan’s practice-based research interests include prose fiction (particularly short fiction), creative non-fiction (across forms), poetry (including spoken word) and multidisciplinary projects working with other artforms such as visual arts and design, theatre and music. He also has research interests in Scottish Literature, the Scots language (including translation), and writing in regional dialects.

Potential Supervisors

• Dr Helen Lynch
• Mr Alan Warner
• Dr David Wheatley
• Professor Alan Marcus
• Dr Shane Strachan

Aberdeen Global Scholarship

Eligible self-funded international Postgraduate Research Masters' students starting in September 2025 will receive the Aberdeen Global Scholarship.

Entry Requirements

• Our minimum requirement is a 2:1 Hons degree or better in a cognate discipline (such as Creative Writing, English Literature, or other literature-focused discipline). Strong performance at PGT level (folio dissertation at Merit or above) is strongly preferred but not essential if UG performance has been outstanding.
• Where applicants possess relevant professional expertise (such as in Journalism or accredited authorship), the degree requirement may be waived, but this would only apply where applicants can clearly demonstrate an ability to work at an advanced level in both creative practice and academic research.

International Applicants

• Information about visa and immigration requirements
• Information regarding country or territory-specific entry requirements

Fees and Funding

• Please refer to our Tuition Fees page for fee information for this Research Area.

Scholarships

• Eligible self-funded international Postgraduate Research Masters' students starting in September 2025 will receive the Aberdeen Global Scholarship.
• To see our full range of scholarships, visit our Funding Database.

Careers

• As well as being successful published writers, graduates of our PhD in Creative Writing programme have gone on to work in academia and teaching, the creative industries including publishing and arts engagement, and exciting portfolio careers across these industries and beyond.