Creative Writing

The course can be taken in one year on a full-time basis or over two years in a part-time format within a structure that is varied and effective and able to nurture creative and imaginative work.

Learning is carried out in small group tutorials, lectures, seminars and one-to-one sessions when you will gain a thorough grounding in the genres, forms, histories and cultures of literature in English, with opportunities to specialise.

You will choose one of two core creative writing modules, in either Prose or Poetry, and will be required to write within your chosen literary discipline and share your work in workshops. You will also take a module focussed on the creative and publishing industries, called the Word in the World. This will prepare you to submit your creative work for publication and will give you valuable insight into the literary world, introducing you to the role of agents and editors.

You will also undertake a Creative Writing Dissertation, which will provide you with the opportunity to produce an extended piece of writing that you design and research yourself.

You will receive feedback and listen to suggestions about your work, and you will also be expected to contribute to the small group sessions and workshops by giving your own feedback.

Assessment

Assessment on the course is rigorous and very much focused, as you would expect, on your written work.

You will be expected to produce essays, a portfolio of poetry or prose fiction as well as an extended piece of writing for your research project.

We also want to understand how you see yourself and your own work, so your assessed creative work will be accompanied by a self-critique.

You will be expected to have at least a 2:1 Bachelor’s degree, or international equivalent, in any discipline.

Students should submit a sample of 4-6 poems or 2,000 words of fiction.

A 500-word personal statement which should include the following:

• An outline of your interest in studying Creative Writing at Master's level
• Your experiences of writing and editing your work prior to the course
• Any important literary influences and aspirations for your work
• What you hope to achieve during the course of the MA

Alternative qualifications

• Other UK qualifications

• EU qualifications 

• International qualifications

International students who do not meet direct entry requirements for this degree might have the option to complete an International Foundation Year.

Home students who do not meet our direct entry requirements, may be eligible for our Foundation Programme which offers multidisciplinary programmes to prepare you for a range of specified degree programmes.  

English language requirements

Country specific information

The fees for this academic year have not been confirmed yet.

Please also check costs for colleges and accommodation.

The Department’s reputation for the quality and intellectual rigour of its teaching means students are in possession of skills and experience that are much sought after by potential employers around the world.

Our postgraduates are equipped with highly transferable skills and the ability to analyse, assess and communicate knowledge effectively. Many choose to take these newly acquired abilities into professional roles in sectors including arts and theatre management, broadcasting, publishing and journalism, business, accounting, marketing and advertising, teaching, higher education, law, third sector and government positions. Others choose to continue their academic study at a higher level.

The University’s career service offers comprehensive support and we hold regular lectures and workshops that focus on personal development and key employability skills.

The Department of English Studies is one of the largest in the UK, respected for the range and intellectual rigour of our Masters courses. We offer a series of literary journeys from creative writing to Romantic and Victorian literature and nurture a love of the written word.

The Department of English Studies is one of Europe’s leading centres for research in literary studies. We carry out important and influential research into a wide range of literary topics with compelling historical and cultural themes.

We are one of the few departments in the world who teach and research in literature produced in Britain from the early medieval period to the present day as well as in anglophone literature from across the globe.

Courses are taught by leading subject experts and include MAs in Creative Writing and English Literary Studies.

The Department offers valuable partnerships with interdisciplinary research institutes and centres within the University. These include the Institute for Medieval and Early Modern Studies, the Centre for Poetry and Poetics, the Centre for Modern Conflicts and Cultures, and the Institute for Medical Humanities.

Our overriding aim is to enable you to develop the skills and abilities to produce research built on evidence-based argument, rigorous analysis, verbal accuracy and independent and creative thinking. We provide a vibrant learning community that is supportive and inclusive.

Facilities

The Department of English Studies is mainly situated in two buildings that are close to the historic city and centre with its glorious cathedral and UNESCO World Heritage status. Hallgarth House is a Georgian-listed building and Elvet Riverside stands beside the picturesque River Wear.

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