PhD Creative Writing

Program Overview

This practice-based PhD program supports writers in crafting publishable creative writing and developing a critical understanding of their practice. The final submission includes both a creative work (novel, poetry collection, screenplay, etc.) and a critical document. Students can study full-time, part-time, or through distance learning. The program provides support for academic research, teaching preparation, and career development opportunities.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This practice-based PhD will support you in the development of a long-form piece of creative writing, or a sequence of related works. You will also identify critical concerns and interests related to your creative practice, situating your work within a wider literary context. The final submission is divided between the creative piece and a related critical document.

Assessment:

Your PhD submission will usually entail:

• For prose: a creative document of either long-form prose/a novel, or a collection of short-form prose/stories supported by a critical paper.
The total word count will be between 80,000 and 100,000 words, though the weighting between the two elements will vary slightly. A novel, for example, usually between 60,000 to 80,000 words. The critical paper can therefore be between 20,000 to 40,000 words.
• For poetry: a creative document of collected poems or a single work of poetry supported by a critical thesis (usually 20,000-50,000 words)
• For scriptwriting (film or live performance): a single project or a collection of multiple shorts, which should be of comparable length and commitment as the prose element, again with an accompanying critical element between 20,000 to 40,000 words.
• Other creative formats (for example a script for a graphic novel) will follow the above model/weightings.
The creative document will be an original work of significant, publishable quality which demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of craft, genre, and form. The critical document will present a structured and developed argument that demonstrates an awareness of literary context, and discuss - where relevant - critical and creative processes.

Careers:

The research degree is of value for writers who wish to engage with research in academia, for preparation for teaching in Higher Education, and offers dedicated time and support to complete a significant creative project.

Other:

You can study our Creative Writing PhD full-time or part-time, on campus or by distance learning. The College of Arts and Law is experienced in delivering high-quality distance learning to students all over the world. Learn more about your postgraduate experience.

UK: £4,786 full-time; £2,393 part-time International: £21,840 full-time; £10,920 part-time (distance learning only)