Creative Writing

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Published writers work closely with each student to develop their writing, and to help each student tailor a program of study over the year to fit their individual interests. Students may produce writing in conventional forms such as fiction, memoir, or poetry, or in innovative forms such as spoken word, performance, mixed media, or cross-genre.

In addition to offering practice-based workshops and one-to-one tutorials, the program also covers practical aspects of marketing and publishing. The program recently won a British Council PMI-2 UK-US New Partnership grant for international collaboration with a US university. Guest lecturers include writers, publishers, literary agents, and others from the industry, and the program draws on London as a vibrant city of literary and cultural production.

The final project is a creative dissertation that demonstrates originality, innovation, and expertise in the crafting of at least one form, with the aim of publication or performance.

Career opportunities
The program is designed to enable students to produce their creative writing through publication and/or performance. Recent graduates have also gone on to teach Creative Writing at all levels; teach and conduct research in academia; work with literary agencies; edit journals including e-journals, and work in publishing. The course provides transferable skills in related fields such as law, media, and librarianship.

The MA Creative Writing Programme convenor, Dr. Carolyn Hart, recently was awarded a highly competitive British Council UK-US New Partnership grant for collaboration with the MFA Creative Writing Program at Roosevelt University in Chicago, directed by Professor Scott Blackwood. The collaboration, including a joint module between the two programs aimed to increase students opportunities for grants, residencies, publishing, teaching and employment in both the US and the UK. Chicago-based guest writers on the British Council grant have included award-winning authors Scott Blackwood, Miles Harvey, Alex Kotlowitz and Christine Sneed.

Course Structure
Students will take six essential modules and complete a creative dissertation of about 16,000 words of prose; or about 25-30 pages of poetry; or 30 min. mixed media DVD and/or performance plus written text; or a combination of the above, with a reflective commentary of about 4000 words.

Core modules:
* Creative Writing and Performance
* Research and Innovation in Publishing
* Creative Writing Project (dissertation)

Optional modules include:

* Fiction and Prose Workshop I: Reading and Writing the Narrative
* Fiction and Prose Workshop II: Writing the City and Beyond
* Poetry, Spoken Word and Mixed Media Workshop
* Fundamentals of Screenwritinge
* Digital Video Production

Teaching methods

Teaching consists of workshops, seminars, and one-to-one tutorials. Students develop close relationships with their tutors, and produce drafts of creative writing for tutor and peer critique in workshops. Through workshop and seminar discussions, students acquire the critical and theoretical knowledge, and develop the practical skills, to provide thoughtful critique of creative writing. Through seminars and independent research, students gain both practical and theoretical knowledge of the publishing industry including e-publishing and alternatives to mainstream literary outlets in the UK and abroad.

Assessment
The program is designed to enable students to produce their creative writing through publication and/or performance. Recent graduates have also gone on to teach Creative Writing at all levels; teach and conduct research in academia; work with literary agencies; edit journals including e-journals, and work in publishing. The course provides transferable skills in related fields such as law, media, and librarianship.

The MA Creative Writing Programme convenor, Dr. Carolyn Hart, recently was awarded a highly competitive British Council UK-US New Partnership grant for collaboration with the MFA Creative Writing Program at Roosevelt University in Chicago, directed by Professor Scott Blackwood. The collaboration, including a joint module between the two programs aimed to increase students opportunities for grants, residencies, publishing, teaching and employment in both the US and the UK. Chicago-based guest writers on the British Council grant have included award-winning authors Scott Blackwood, Miles Harvey, Alex Kotlowitz and Christine Sneed.

Applicants should have at least a 2.2 degree or the equivalent. A relevant professional qualification and/or experience will also be considered.Submission of one of the following (or a combination) is required: a manuscript of 5-6 poems; or up to 10 pages of fiction or prose; or a performance or mixed media CD or DVD of up to 15 minutes, accompanied by text; or a combination of the above.

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Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course