Program Overview

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Creative Writing, MLitt or PgDip

Introduction

The MLitt in Creative Writing is a taught programme designed to offer you a constructive, highly supportive learning environment in which to develop your writing and creative potential. You will be introduced to the processes and challenges involved in producing creative work of publishable quality, whether in poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction prose, or screenwriting.

Study Information

Study Options

• Learning Mode: On Campus Learning
• Degree Qualification: MLitt or PgDip
• Duration: 9 months, 12 months, 21 months or 24 months
• Study Mode: Full Time or Part Time
• Start Month: September or January

Programme Fees

Fee Information

Fee Category	Cost
EU / International students	£23,000
UK	£11,100

Degree Content

Compulsory Courses

• Dissertation: Creative Writing Portfolio (EL5906)
• Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD5006)
• Critical Skills: Reading and Engagement (PD50C2)
• Critical Skills: Research and Dissemination (PD55C1)

Optional Courses

• Creative Writing I (EL5072) – Poetry
• Creative Writing II (EL5067) – Short Fiction
• Writing Prose Fiction: The Journey (EL55C4) – Long-form Fiction
• Writing the Self (EL55C2) – hybrid English and Creative Writing course
• Screenwriting: The Narrative within the Frame (EL55TM) – Creative Writing course
• Locations and Dislocations: The Role of Place in Literature (EL50C1) – English
• The Novel: Environments and Encounters (EL50C5) – English
• Infinite Scotlands: Scotland and the Literary Imagination (EL55C7) – English
• Places and Environments: Critical Dialogues (EL55D3) – English

Careers

Many of our graduates have gone on to be published writers. Graduates in Creative Writing are also well-fitted for work in the creative industries, including publishing, journalism, advertising, broadcasting and literary agency.

Entry Requirements

The standard entrance requirement is a good first degree in any Humanities discipline.

Applicants for the MLitt in Creative Writing are required to submit a writing sample with their application. This should be between 3 and 6 poems, or a prose sample of at least 2000 words.

English Language Requirements

To study for a Postgraduate Taught degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:

• IELTS Academic: OVERALL - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 6.0; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
• TOEFL iBT: OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 21; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
• PTE Academic: OVERALL - 62 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59
• Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency: OVERALL - 176 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 169; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169

Funding Opportunities

The SFC Postgraduate tuition fee scholarship may be available for those classified as Home/EU fee status students for this programme.

Scholarships

All eligible self-funded international Postgraduate Masters students starting in September 2025 will receive an £8,000 scholarship. Learn more about this Aberdeen Global Scholarship here.

How You'll Study

Learning Methods

• Individual Projects
• Lectures
• Research
• Tutorials

Assessment Methods

Assessment methods vary by individual course and include written exercises, oral presentations and folios of poetry or prose. The MLitt also requires a 12-15,000 word folio dissertation, while the diploma consists of coursework alone.