September 2025
All successful applicants who take up their place with us in September will be entered into our competition to have a consultation with Annabel White , an agent at top London literary agency Curtis Brown.
So make sure the creative work you submit with your application is your very best – it might win you a meeting with a literary agent.
As part of Kingston School of Art , students on this course benefit from joining a creative community where collaborative working and critical practice are encouraged.
Our workshops and studios are open to all disciplines, enabling students and staff to work together, share ideas and explore multi-disciplinary making.
In this video, one of our creative writing alumna and a current student discuss why they chose the course, what they enjoyed about it and why they'd recommend it to future applicants.
You'll attend writing workshops, examine literary genre and texts, take a module to prepare you for the world of publishing, and write a 15,000-word dissertation on a topic of your choice in the first year of the course. In the second year, you will progress to smaller group writing workshops. The extensive one-to-one supervision for the dissertation leading to the MFA (no less than 40,000 words) will be provided by one of the course's permanent staff, one of our distinguished professors.
MFA students need to complete all four MA modules (120 credits) before they can progress to the MFA (second) year. The MFA dissertation has 120 credits. The option modules and dissertation give you the chance to further specialise and pursue an area of interest in depth.
Mfa dissertation.
120 credits
This module provides students with one-to-one supervision over an extended period of time (approximately one year for full time students and two years for part time students). The module is assessed in two ways: firstly, by a creative dissertation of 40,000 words that may take the form of a single sustained piece of writing or a collection of pieces from a suitable range of genres; and secondly, by a critical reading log of approximately 4,500 words.
This module offers a regular and intensive review of your writing in one of the following genres: poetry, crime writing, prose fiction, biography, drama, scriptwriting or writing for children. You will be advised on how to strengthen your knowledge of the codes and conventions of your chosen genre to produce a substantial piece or collection of work that will reflect your knowledge of and engagement with your chosen genre. You will apply detailed feedback on your work to your writing as well as using your increased knowledge of your chosen genre to make your writing more effective. These elements will help you improve the key transferable skills of analysis and implementation that will feed forward into your dissertation module and into all analytical/practical tasks you subsequently undertake.
This module provides the opportunity to examine ways in which reading is essential to writing practice and teaches you to apply literary techniques and strategies from contemporary fiction, life writing and poetry texts to your own work. You will develop the concept of 'reading as a writer' in order to explore how contemporary concerns are brought to the fore by artistic strategies, and examine how an understanding of these can provide models for your own creative practice. You will submit work including a reflective reading journal as well as a creative piece in a genre of your choice.
The module is designed to introduce students to some issues of critical and literary theory. The module is also designed to make students more aware of how their work impacts upon wider literary, cultural, political and philosophical issues. Awareness of these theories and of some of the issues surrounding the production and reception of literary texts will stimulate them, encouraging creative and conceptual thinking. The module will explore debates about literature and the practice of creative writing through readings of essays and texts that are relevant to criticism and theory. The academic component of the assessment will support the creative work with the objective that students will also have to demonstrate critical, academic, analytical skills.
In this module you will present and discuss your own and each other's work in a weekly workshop. The draft work presented may include several genres and forms, such as crime writing, fantasy fiction, children's literature, historical fiction, science fiction, romance and autobiography. Practical criticism of student writing will be accompanied by discussion of the scope or constraints of the various genres, as well as the implications of particular forms. Attention will be paid to the transferable components of good writing: appropriate use of language, narrative pace, dialogue, expression, characterisation and mood.
Typical offer.
A 2:2 or above honours degree, or equivalent, in creative writing, English literature, literature and language, drama or theatre studies or a humanities subject.
All non-UK applicants must meet our English language requirements. For this course it is Academic IELTS of 6.5 overall, with 5.5 in all elements. Please make sure you read our full guidance about English language requirements , which includes details of other qualifications we'll consider.
Applicants from one of the recognised majority English speaking countries (MESCs) do not need to meet these requirements.
You will find more information on country specific entry requirements in the International section of our website.
Find your country:
Book-length creative dissertation; critical reading log of approximately 4,500 words.
When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This typically involves reading and analysing articles, regulations, policy documents and key texts, documenting individual projects, preparing coursework assignments and completing your PEDRs, etc.
Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS, the University's online virtual learning platform.
At Kingston University, we know that postgraduate students have particular needs and therefore we have a range of support available to help you during your time here.
A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on, for example 360 credits for a typical undergraduate course or 180 credits for a typical postgraduate course. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.
One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 180 credits across a year (typical for a postgraduate course) would equate to 1,800 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.
The exact balance between scheduled learning and teaching and guided independent study will be informed by the modules you take.
Your course will primarily be delivered in person. It may include delivery of some activities online, either in real time or recorded.
Assessment typically comprises exams (e.g. test or exam), practical (e.g. presentations, performance) and coursework (e.g. essays, reports, self-assessment, portfolios, dissertation).
The approximate percentage for how you will be assessed on this course is as follows, though depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose:
The MFA dissertation is a 45,000-word creative project plus a 4,500-word critical essay.
We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.
To give you an indication of class sizes, this course normally enrols 10-12 students and lecture sizes are normally 8-15. However, this can vary by module and academic year.
Year 1: 7% of your time is spent in timetabled learning and teaching activity.
Contact hours may vary depending on your modules.
As a student on this course, you will benefit from a lively study environment, thanks to the wide range of postgraduate courses on offer. The combination of academics and practitioners makes it a unique environment in which to further your studies and your career.
The University provides a vibrant and forward-thinking environment for study with:
Postgraduate students may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader.
Course director.
Fees for this course, 2025/26 fees for this course, home 2025/26.
Home 2024/25.
Home 2023/24.
This is a two year full time course with the published full time fee payable in each year of study.
If you start your second year straight after Year 1, you will pay the same fee for both years.
If you take a break before starting your second year, or if you repeat modules from Year 1 in Year 2, the fee for your second year may increase.
If you are a UK student, resident in England and are aged under the age of 60, you will be able to apply for a loan to study for a postgraduate degree. For more information, read the postgraduate loan information on the government's website .
Kingston University offers a range of postgraduate scholarships, including:
If you are an international student, find out more about scholarships and bursaries .
We also offer the following discounts for Kingston University alumni:
Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs that are not covered by tuition fees which students will need to consider when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees.
Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.
Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. You may prefer to buy your own copy of key textbooks, this can cost between £50 and £250 per year.
There are open-access networked computers available across the University, plus laptops available to loan . You may find it useful to have your own PC, laptop or tablet which you can use around campus and in halls of residences. Free WiFi is available on each of the campuses. You may wish to purchase your own computer, which can cost £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.
In the majority of cases written coursework can be submitted online. There may be instances when you will be required to submit work in a printed format. Printing, binding and photocopying costs are not included in your tuition fees, this may cost up to £100 per year.
Travel costs are not included in your tuition fees but we do have a free intersite bus service which links the campuses, Surbiton train station, Kingston upon Thames train station, Norbiton train station and halls of residence.
There is a wide range of facilities at our Penrhyn Road campus, where this course is based. You will have access to a modern environment with the latest equipment, including the Learning Resources Centre. This offers:
Kingston University has two major archives relating to Iris Murdoch, a significant philosopher and one of the 20th century's greatest novelists. These archives currently comprise:
Kingston is just a 30-minute train journey from central London. Here you can access a wealth of additional libraries and archives, including the British Library.
Former graduates have achieved multi-book publishing deals or gone on to work in the publishing industry; others have progressed in careers in translating, writing, journalism, advertising and film.
Research in English literature and creative writing at Kingston University covers the following areas:
It focuses around the following research initiatives:
We also hold regular seminars and host presentations by visiting speakers.
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Course changes explained .
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
Kingston University , Holmwood House, Grove Crescent, Kingston upon Thames KT1 2EE . Tel: +44 (0)20 8417 9000
Postgraduate taught degree
This course is for 2024/25 entry.
Details for 2025/26 entry are also available.
Dr Jonathan Gibbs explains what it is like to study Creative Writing at City.
Develop and hone your creative writing skills under our expert academic guidance as you work towards the completion of a full-length work in your preferred form of fiction, genre fiction or non-fiction. You will gain a range of transferable skills to significantly boost your employability in the field of writing and other creative industries.
City, University of London
Northampton Square
Unique teaching of practical approaches to creative writing, the business of being a writer, and the teaching of writing in educational and community settings.
Expert guidance and one-to-one supervision to help you produce a full-length original manuscript.
Fees and funding, how to apply, creative writing mfa course overview, benefits of this course.
You will learn how to read and think as a writer and explore the choices faced and decisions taken by writers. Regular workshops and bespoke reading lists will serve to inform and enrich your own work.
Over the course of the whole degree you will learn how to plan, research and complete a full-length manuscript in your chosen form (fiction, genre fiction, non-fiction) for potential publication.
We aim to give you a professional approach to editing, revising and critiquing creative work.
You will learn about the writing business, involving different forms and requirements of print and electronic publication, and the role of editors, agents and publishers. This includes how to present and advertise your creative work.
Our module on creative writing pedagogy offers a foundation for understanding how storytelling and creative writing can be taught in different educational settings.
You can select to apply for one of the available exit points for this course.
Who is this course for.
Our Creative Writing MFA is ideal if you are seeking to consolidate and develop your writing knowledge and skills, and work towards the completion of a full-length original manuscript.
You will embrace learning about all aspects of creative writing and gain a comprehensive understanding of the business and culture of writing.
Total credits: 300
Part 1 is made up of:
Part 2 is made up of:
Reading as a Writer (15 credits)
In this module you will read and discuss fiction and non-fiction from a writer’s perspective. You will gain an understanding of the techniques, forms and styles used by a range of writers and be able to apply them to your own writing.
Working as a Writer (15 credits)
You will acquire an understanding of the roles of agents, editors and publishers and how to interact with them. You will study the business aspects of being a writer and the ethical and legal concerns involved in publishing your work.
Creative Writing Workshop 1 (15 credits)
In this module you will study and develop key skills in creative prose writing, including creation and control of voice, point of view, setting, characterisation, dialogue, description.
Creative Writing Workshop 2 (15 credits)
In this module you will study and develop key skills in creative prose writing, including plot, structure and pacing, and thematic and character development. You will explore genre considerations (whether fiction, genre fiction or non-fiction) and the function of aspects such as theme, content, narrative momentum and pacing.
Special Study: Short Fiction (15 credits)
In this module you will study and analyse the form and creation of short fiction, and its role and position in the contemporary literary landscape
Special Study: The Contemporary Essay (15 credits)
In this module you will study and analyse the form and creation of the creative non-fiction essay, including lyric, personal and critical essays, and their role and position in the contemporary literary landscape.
Special Study: The Novel (15 credits)
In this module you will study and analyse the form and creation of the novel, and its role and position in the contemporary literary landscape
Special Study: The Genre Novel (15 credits)
In this module you will study and analyse the form and creation of the genre novel, and its role and position in the contemporary literary landscape.
Freelancing and Entrepreneurship in the Creative and Cultural Industries (15 credits)
How to Make a Book: Creating Content in Print (15 credits)
You will look at case studies from different sectors and global markets. You will learn how to apply creativity and innovation processes in your own response to current publishing conditions.
The Power of Publishing: Strategy, Diversity and Sustainability (15 credits)
You will gain an understanding of how cultural and publishing companies respond creatively and commercially to the opportunities and challenges in curating content, both digital and in print. You will look at case studies of innovative strategies especially in the area of digitalisation.
Digital Publishing (15 credits)
In this module you will analyse the impact of digitisation on the publishing industry. You will look at likely future developments with reference to industry case studies.
Publishing History and Culture (15 credits)
The Art and Business of Adaptation (15 credits)
Lifestyle specialism (15 credits)
Arts and Culture specialism (15 credits)
Creative Writing Dissertation and Reflective Essay (60 credits)
During this module you will develop an extended piece of Creative Writing in Fiction, Non-fiction or Genre Fiction. It may take the form of short stories, or a portion of a novel or book, to a total of 15,000 words.
Major Project and Reflective Essay (105 credits)
This module gives you the opportunity to consolidate your knowledge and skills in Creative Writing by building on your previous submitted work to complete a full-length original manuscript in your chosen genre that is prepared to professional standards.
The programme specification contains more information on how the course is organised, the requirements for progression for each part and credits required for awards.
In the first year you will learn through a mix of lectures, workshops, tutorials, group work, seminar contributions, study visits and independent learning.
Our visiting speakers will include guest authors, editors, agents and publishers, who regularly support your learning and module projects.
We encourage you to privately reflect on your professional practice during all of your applied work.
In the second year you will work independently on your major project. Supervision will be provided by an academic expert in your chosen genre.
You will also complete one 15-credit core module on teaching creative writing.
We assess you across the core and elective modules, and in the dissertation and major project.
Explore up-to-date information about funding options, available financial support and typical living costs.
Fees in each subsequent year of study (where applicable) will be subject to an annual increase of two percent. We will confirm any change to the annual tuition fee to you in writing prior to you commencing each subsequent year of study (where applicable).
Some of our degrees may involve additional expenses which are not covered by your tuition fees. Find out more about additional expenses .
Our Creative Writing MFA will give you the combination of creative and practical skills you need for a career as a writer.
We intend to develop your transferable skills relevant to careers such as teaching, editing, publishing and journalism.
You might also consider other creative industries such as advertising and game production, where storytelling is highly valued.
During the programme you can network with agents, editors and others within traditional and digital publishing.
Whether your ambition is to professionally pursue writing, work in publishing or another creative field, or undertake further study, you will be appropriately skilled
Below is a list of countries with information on each about which qualifications we accept. If your country is not listed please email [email protected] .
Applicants should normally:
We welcome applications from candidates who may not meet the standard entrance criteria but who hold alternative credentials and can demonstrate their potential to produce written work at the requisite level, or who can offer prior learning which may satisfy City's requirements for RPL/RPEL. The prime criteria are demonstrable writing ability and commitment to learning.
Don't meet the entry requirements? INTO City, University of London offers a range of academic and English language programmes to help prepare you for study at City, University of London. You’ll learn from experienced teachers in a dedicated international study centre.
These programmes are designed for international students who do not meet the required academic and English language requirements for direct entry. To prepare for this degree course, learn more about the Graduate Diploma in Social Sciences and the Arts .
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Zimbabwean equivalent required.
The equivalents provided are intended as a guide only and individual applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Zimbabwean Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with a 2:1 (65%) equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and a 2:2 (60%) equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
If you don't meet the entry requirements please check to see if there is a suitable preparatory programme available for your course at INTO City, University of London or Kaplan International College London .
International Students coming to study in the UK may need to apply for a visa or entry clearance to come to the UK to study. The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course. There are different rules for:
For more information see our main Visa page .
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Zambian equivalent required.
Zambian Masters degrees are typically accepted with GPA 3.5 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 3.0 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Vietnamese equivalent required.
Vietnamese Bachelor degrees (Bang Tot Nghiep Dai Hoc or Bang Cu Nhan) from selected institutions are typically accepted with 7 out of 10 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 6.5 out of 10 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Uzbekistani equivalent required.
Uzbekistani Bachelor / Bakalavr degrees are typically accepted with 71% equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 55% equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Ukrainian equivalent required.
Ukrainian Bachelor / Specialist Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with a GPA 4.3 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 4.0 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Ugandan equivalent required.
Ugandan Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with GPA 4.0/5.0 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 3.0/5.0 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the US equivalent required.
US Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with GPA 3.2 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 2.5 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Emirati equivalent required.
Emirati Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with GPA 3.2 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 2.5 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Turkish equivalent required.
Turkish Bachelor / Lisans Diplomasi degrees are typically accepted with GPA 3.2 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 2.7 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Tunisian equivalent required.
Tunisian Bachelor / Diplome degrees are typically accepted with 14 out of 20 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 12 out of 20 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Trinidadian and Tobagonian equivalent required.
University of the West Indies Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with a 2.1 (grade B+) equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and a 2:2 (grade B) equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Thai equivalent required.
Depending on the awarding institution Thai 4 year Bachelors degrees are typically accepted with GPA 3.0 to 3.2 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 2.6 to 2.8 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Tanzanian equivalent required.
Tanzanian Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with a 2:1 or 60% equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and a 2:2 or 50% equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Taiwanese equivalent required.
Taiwanese Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with 75% or grade B equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 70% or grade C equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Syrian equivalent required.
Depending on the awarding institution Syrian Bachelor degrees or Licence are typically accepted with 70-80% or 'very good' equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 60-70% or 'good' equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Swiss equivalent required.
Swiss Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with 4.75 out of 6.0, 8 out of 10 or 2 out of 5 (5 to 1 scale) equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 4.0 out of 6.0, 6 out of 10 or 3 out of 5 (5 to 1 scale equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
International Students from within the European Economic Area (EEA) may need to apply for a Student visa or entry clearance to come to the UK to study if they do not have EU Settlement Status.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Swedish equivalent required.
Swedish Bachelor degrees or Kandidatexamen are typically accepted with B- 180 ECTS minimum overall or at least 50% of credits graded at VG overall equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and C- (180 ECTS minimum overall) or at least 20% of credits graded at VG overall equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Sri Lankan equivalent required.
Sri Lankan 4 year Bachelor Special Degrees or Professional Degrees are typically accepted with a 2:1, grade B+ or GPA 3.3 out of 4.0 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and a 2:2, grade B or GPA 3.0 out of 4.0 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Spanish equivalent required.
Spanish Título de Licenciado, Título de Ingeniero and Título de Arquitecto are typically accepted with 7 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 6 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the South Korean equivalent required.
South Korean Bachelor degrees (Haksa) are typically accepted with GPA 3.5 out of 4.5 or grade B equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 3.0 out of 4.6 or grade C equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the South African equivalent required.
South African Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with a 2:1 or 70% equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and a 2:2 or 60% equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Slovenian equivalent required.
Slovenian Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with 8 out of 10 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 7 out of 10 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Slovakian equivalent required.
Slovakian Bakalar degrees are typically accepted with GPA 1.5 - 2.0 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 2.0 - 2.5 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Singaporean equivalent required.
Singaporean Bachelor and Bachelor Honours degrees are typically accepted GPA 3.0 out of 4.0 or 3.8 out of 5.0 or II (upper) - Second Class (Upper) Honours equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 2.5 out of 4.0 or 3.3 out of 5.0 or II (lower) - Second Class (lower) Honours equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Serbian equivalent required.
Advanced Diploma of Higher Education and Diplomirani are typically accepted with 8 out of 10 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 7 out of 10 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Saudi Arabian equivalent required.
Saudi Arabian Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with GPA 3.2 out of 4.0 or GPA 4.0 out of 5.0 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 2.4 out of 4.0 or GPA 3.0 out of 5.0 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Rwandan equivalent required.
Rwandan Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with a 2:1 or 16 out of 20 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and a 2:2 or 14 out of 20 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Russian equivalent required.
Russian Bachelor or Specialist Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with GPA 4.3 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 4.0 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Romanian equivalent required.
Romanian Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with 8 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 7 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Qatari equivalent required.
Qatari Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with GPA 3.0 out of 4.0 or GPA 3.6 out of 5.0 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 2.4 out of 4.0 or GPA 3.0 out of 5.0 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Portuguese equivalent required.
Portuguese Licenciado are typically accepted with 14 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 12 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Polish equivalent required.
Polish Bachelor / Licencjat or Magister degrees are typically accepted with GPA 4.5 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 3.5 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Filipino equivalent required.
Filipino Masters degree from any recognised institution and Bachelor degrees from selected institutions (i.e. Asian Institute of Management, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University Manila, University of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines Diliman) are typically accepted with GPA 3.0 out of 4.0, GPA 1.75 out of 5 or 86% equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 2.5 out of 4.0, GPA 2.5 out of 5 or 80% equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Peruvian equivalent required.
Peruvian Grado Académico de Bachiller or Título de Licenciado or Título (Profesional) degrees are typically accepted with 14 out of 20 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 12 out of 20 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Palestinian equivalent required.
Palestinian Bachelor or Bakalorius degrees are typically accepted with GPA 3.2 out of 4.0 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 2.6 out of 4.0 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Pakistani equivalent required.
Pakistani 4 year Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with GPA 3.2 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 2.6 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Omani equivalent required.
Omani Bachelor or Licence degrees are typically accepted with GPA 3.0 typically equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 2.4 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Norwegian equivalent required.
Norwegian Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with a B grade typically equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and a C grade equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Nigerian equivalent required.
Nigerian Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with a 2:1 or GPA 3.5 out of 5.0 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and a 2:2 or GPA 2.7 out of 5.0 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the New Zealand equivalent required.
New Zealand 4-year Bachelor degrees with Honours are typically accepted with Second Class (Division 1) Honours equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree, and Second Class (Division 2) Honours equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
New Zealand 3-year Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with B+ overall equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and C+ overall equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Dutch equivalent required.
Dutch Bachelor degrees or Doctoraal are typically accepted with 7 out of 10 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 6 out of 10 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honour Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Nepali equivalent required.
Nepali 4-year Bachelor degrees (post 2017) are typically accepted with GPA 3.3 out of 4.0 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 3.0 out of 4.0 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Burmese equivalent required.
Burmese Masters degrees are typically accepted with 70% equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 60% equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Moroccan equivalent required.
Moroccan Bachelors, Licence or Diplome degrees are typically accepted with 14 out of 20 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 12 out of 20 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Mexican equivalent required.
Mexican Titulo de Licenciado are typically accepted with 8 out of 10 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 7 out of 10 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Mauritian equivalent required.
Mauritian Bachelor degrees are accepted with a 2:1 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and a 2:2 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Maltese equivalent required.
Maltese Bachelor Honours degrees are accepted with a 2:1 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and a 2:2 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
International Students from within the European Economic Area (EEA) may need to apply for a visa or entry clearance to come to the UK to study. The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course. There are different rules for:
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Malaysian equivalent required.
Malaysian Bachelor degrees from Berdaya Saing (Competitive) institutions are typically accepted with GPA 3.0 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree, and GPA 2.6 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Malaysian Bachelor degrees from Berdaya Maju (Viable) institutions are typically accepted with GPA 3.2 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree, and GPA 2.8 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Macanese equivalent required.
Macanese Bachelor degrees or Grau de Licenciatura are typically accepted with GPA 3.2 or B+ equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 2.7 or B- equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
For more information see our main Visa page .
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Luxembourgian equivalent required.
Luxembourgian Bachelors degrees are typically accepted with 14 out of 20 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 12 out of 20 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Lithuanian equivalent required.
Lithuanian Bakalauras or Magistras are typically accepted with 8 out of 10 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 7 out of 10 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Lebanese equivalent required.
The equivalents provided are intended as a guide only and individual applications are assessed on a case by case basis.
Lebanese License or Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with GPA 3.2 or 13 out of 20 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 2.5 or 12 out of 20 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Latvian equivalent required.
Latvian Bakaluara Diploms are typically accepted with 7 out of 10 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 6 out of 10 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Laotian equivalent required.
Laotian Masters degrees are typically accepted with GPA 3.0 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 2.6 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Kuwaiti equivalent required.
Kuwaiti Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with GPA 3.2 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 2.6 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Kenyan equivalent required.
Kenyan Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with 2:1 (60%) equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 2:2 (50%) equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Kazakhstani equivalent required.
Kazakhstani Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with GPA 4.3/ 5.0 or GPA 3.3 / 4.0 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 4.0 / 5.0 or 3.0 /4.0 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Jordanian equivalent required.
Jordanian Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with GPA 3.0 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 2.5 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Japanese equivalent required.
Japanese Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with GPA 3.0, grade B or 80% equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 2.5, grade C or 70% equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Jamaican equivalent required.
University of the West Indies Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with a 2.1 (65%) equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and a 2:2 (55%) equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Italian equivalent required.
Italian Diploma di Laurea degrees are typically accepted with 104 (out of 110) equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 94 (out of 110) equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Israeli equivalent required.
Israeli Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with 80% equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 65% equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Irish equivalent required.
Irish Bachelor Honours degrees are accepted with a 2:1 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and a 2:2 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Iraqi equivalent required.
Iraqi Bachelor degrees from selected institutions are typically accepted with 75% equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 60% equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Iranian equivalent required.
Iranian Bachelor degrees (Licence Kharshenasi) are typically accepted with 15 out of 20 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 13 out of 20 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Indonesian equivalent required.
Depending on their accreditation Indonesian S1 / Sarjana and Dip IV (Sarjana Terapa) are typically accepted with GPA 3.0 to 3.2 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 2.7 to 2.9 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Indian equivalent required.
Depending on the awarding institution Indian 3 year Bachelor (Honours) or Bachelor (Special) degrees are typically accepted with 60 to 70% (7/10 to 8/10) equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 50 to 60% (6/10 to 7/10) equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Icelandic equivalent required.
Icelandic Baccalaurreatus degrees are typically accepted with 7.25 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 6.5 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Hungarian equivalent required.
Hungarian Bachelors degrees or University Diplomas are typically accepted with GPA 4 out of 5 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 3 out of 5 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Hong Kong equivalent required.
Hong Kong Bachelor Honours degrees are typically accepted with GPA 3.0 (or second class honours upper division) equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 2.5 (or second class honours lower) equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Greek equivalent required.
Greek Bachelor degrees or Ptychion are typically accepted with 7.0 out of 10 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 6 out of 10 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Ghanaian equivalent required.
Ghanaian Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with 2:1 (GPA 3.2/4.0) equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 2:2 (GPA 2.5/4.0) equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the German equivalent required.
German Magister Artium / Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with 2.5 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 3.5 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the French equivalent required.
French License are typically accepted with 12 out of 20 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 11 out of 20 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Finnish equivalent required.
Finnish Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with GPA 3.5 out of 5 or 2.0 out of 3.0 typically equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 2.5 out of 5 or 1.4 out of 3.0 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Ethiopian equivalent required.
Ethiopian Masters degrees are typically accepted with GPA 3.5 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 3.0 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Estonian equivalent required.
Estonian Bakalaurusekraad degrees are typically accepted with GPA 3.5 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 2.0 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Egyptian equivalent required.
Egyptian Bachelors degrees are typically accepted with 75% equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 65% equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Ecuadorian equivalent required.
Ecuadorian 4 year Título de Licenciado or Título de [subject area] are typically accepted with 80%, 8.0/10 or 18/20 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 70%, 7.0/10 or 14/20 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Danish equivalent required.
Danish Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with grade 6 - 7 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 4 - 5 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Czech equivalent required.
Czech Bachelor degrees or Bakalar are typically accepted with 2+ equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 2 or 2- equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Cypriot equivalent required.
Cypriot Bachelor degree or Ptychio are typically accepted with GPA 3.0 out of 4.0 (7.0 out of 10) equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 2.5 / 4.0 (6 out of 10) equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Croatian equivalent required.
Croatian Bachelor degree or Baccalaureus or Baccalaurea are typically accepted with GPA 4.0 / 5.0 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 3.0 / 5.0 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Colombian equivalent required.
Colombian 4 year Licenciado en [subject area] or Título de [subject area] or Profesional en [subject area] or Maestro en [subject area] degrees are typically accepted with GPA 4.0 / 5.0 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 3.5 / 5.0 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Chinese equivalent required.
Depending on the awarding institution Chinese 4 year Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with 75 to 80% (GPA 3.0 to 3.3 out of 4.0) equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 70 to 75% (GPA 2.8 to 3.0 out of 4.0) equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Chilean equivalent required.
Chilean 4 year Grado de Licenciado en [subject area] degrees are typically accepted with GPA 5.5 / 7.0 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 5.0 / 7.0 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Canadian equivalent required.
Canadian Bachelor degrees / Baccalauréat degrees are typically accepted with GPA 3.2 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 2.5 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Cameroonian equivalent required.
Cameroonian Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with 18/20 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 16/20 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Cambodian equivalent required.
Cambodian Masters degrees are typically accepted with GPA 3.0 out of 4.0 or 70% equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 2.5 out of 4.0 or 60% equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Bulgarian equivalent required.
Bulgarian Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with GPA 4.75 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 4.0 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Bruneian equivalent required.
Bruneian Bachelor (Honours) degrees are typically accepted with an Upper Second Class Honours classification equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and a Lower Secind Class Honours classification equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Brazilian equivalent required.
Brazilian 4 year Título de Bacharel or Título de [subject area] or Título de Licenciado are typically accepted with 7.5/10 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 6.5/10 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Botswanan equivalent required.
Botswanan Masters degrees are typically accepted with 80% (A grade) equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 70% (B grade) equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Bolivian equivalent required.
Bolivian 4 year Licenciado or Título de [subject area] are typically accepted with 75% equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 64% equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Belgian equivalent required.
Belgian Bachelor degrees (Bachelier) are typically accepted with 70% (14/20) equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 60% (12/20) equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Barbadian equivalent required.
The University of the West Indies Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with a 2.1 (65%) equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and a 2:2 (55%) equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Bangladeshi equivalent required.
Bangladeshi Bachelor degrees (from selected universities) and Masters degrees are typically accepted with GPA 3.25 out of 4.0 or 65% equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 3.0 out of 4.0 or 60% equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Bahraini equivalent required.
Bahraini Bachelors degrees are typically accepted with GPA 3.0 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 2.3 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Azerbaijani equivalent required.
Azerbaijani Bachelors / Bakalavr Diplomu degrees are typically accepted with GPA 4.5 out of 5.0 (80%) equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 4.0 out of 5.0 (70%) equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Austrian equivalent required.
Austrian Bachelor degrees are accepted with GPA 2.5 typically equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 3.5 typically equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Australian equivalent required.
Australian Bachelor Honours degrees are typically accepted with 70% (Second Class Division A) equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 60% (Second Class Division B) equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Australian Bachelor degrees are typically accepted with 70% (Distinction) equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 60% (Credit) equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Argentine equivalent required.
Argentine 4 year Titulo / Grado de Licenciado or Titulo de [subject area] are typically accepted with 7.5 out of 10 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 6.0 out of 10 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Algerian equivalent required.
Algerian Bachelors, Licence and Diplome degrees are typically accepted with 15 out of 20 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 13 out of 20 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Albanian equivalent required.
Second Level Integrated Diploma (5 years) and First Level University Diploma are typically accepted with 8 out of 10 equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and 7 out of 10 equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
Please refer to the UK entry requirements for the course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Afghan equivalent required.
Afghan Master's degrees from any recognised institution and Bachelor of Science (Engineering) from Kabul University are typically accepted with GPA 3.0 out of 4.0 or 80% overall equivalent to a UK 2:1 (second-class upper) Honours Bachelor degree and GPA 2.4 out of 4.0 or 70% overall equivalent to a UK 2:2 (second-class lower) Honours Bachelor degree.
If you are unable to find your country equivalents in the above list, City will consider other international qualifications on a case by case basis.
For further details, please contact us using the contact details at the bottom of this page.
If you're a national of a recognised majority English-speaking country as defined by the government , or have previously completed a university degree (or equivalent) in one, you will not need to prove your knowledge of English to apply for the course.
Please note that if your country is not defined as majority-English-speaking by the government you will need to demonstrate you meet the English language requirements for the course.
This course requires the equivalent of an IELTS academic test with an overall score of 7.0 with no less than 5.5 in any subtest.
We will also accept an equivalent score in any of the tests listed under the English language requirements section .
You must have completed the qualification no more than two years prior to the start of the course.
Know that this list is exhaustive and as such we are unable to accept any qualifications or evidence outside of this.
Please note that the scores stated at the link above are lower than those you would need to meet for entry to the course.
Contact the admissions team if you have any questions about qualification equivalencies.
Don't meet the English language requirements? INTO City, University of London offers English language programmes to help prepare you for study at university. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to degree courses.
When applications open you can apply online and will be expected to submit the following:
Telephone: 020 7040 8877
Email: [email protected]
Your studies are supported by a team of committed and enthusiastic teachers and researchers, experts in their chosen field. On occasion we also work with external professionals to enhance your learning and appreciation of the wider subject.
Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing
Lecturer in Creative Writing (Education & Research)
Lecturer in Creative Writing
Senior Lecturer
Ask a student.
Want to find out more about student life? Chat with our student ambassadors and ask any question you have
Housing and student life.
We offer accommodation options and support for all postgraduate students. Our dedicated Accommodation Service can help you to find private accommodation in London if required.
Our extensive support network spans from learning support and disability support through to counselling, financial advice and career advice. Please do tell us if you need our help.
We are based in the heart of one of the most vibrant and colourful cities in the world. London offers a rich variety of cultural experiences far beyond your studies.
Apr 23
Find out what it's like to study creative writing at City, in this sample seminar looking at three novels by Sally Rooney.
Tuesday, 23 rd April 2024 , 17:00 – 18:00
Location: Online
Audience: Public
Thursday, 25 th July 2024
Richard Jerram (MA Creative Writing, 2024) wins prestigious crime fiction Dagger award for his novel "Makoto Murders".
Wednesday, 22 nd May 2024
Dr Poonam Madar of City, University of London organises ACE-funded monthlong literary festival in Ealing to support the creative health of the community, called THE WRITE TRAIL..
Creative writing ma.
Explore your creative writing passion through the genre of your choice and learn how vivid imagination can impact all our lives.
Award: Master of Arts
Learn how to effectively combine business acumen with creative endeavour by building your knowledge of the publishing industry and significantly enhancing your writing skills.
Become professionally equipped to secure competitive positions in the stimulating and ever evolving industry of publishing with our Publishing MA
Postgraduate admissions office.
020 7040 8877
An MFA is a higher credential than the MLitt , and is the internationally recognized standard for teachers of Creative Writing in secondary and tertiary higher education; most consider the MFA the qualification required to teach creative writing in North America and Europe.
St Andrews is one of the first universities in the UK to confer an MFA degree. Within the programme, students will be able to focus on producing a substantial piece of creative work under the supervision of a world-class writing faculty, and on preparing themselves as teachers of writing in a variety of instructional contexts. Since our MFA Year 1 students complete the same taught classes as our MLitt students, there is a far stronger emphasis placed on contact time than in other universities.
The School offers two Master of Fine Arts degrees:
Both Masters of Fine Arts degrees are two-year postgraduate degrees, and consist of two distinct phases of study. In addition, there are two career skills modules – in MFA Year 1, ‘Research Skills for Creative Writers’; in MFA Year 2, ‘Practical Pedagogy for Creative Writers’.
MLitt students will have the option to transfer into the MFA programme upon successful completion of the taught element of their course, where their MLitt year will count as MFA Year 1.
The MFA in Creative Writing has two separate streams: Poetry and Prose, and prospective students should apply for one stream only. For their final submission, students on the prose track will submit a thesis of publishable quality of around 40,000 words; for poetry, a thesis of about 40 pages of verse.
Students taking the MFA in Playwriting & Screenwriting will submit a thesis of approximately 90 minutes performance time.
Mfa entry requirements.
MFA Year 1 entrants will normally be required to hold a good honours level undergraduate degree or equivalent. MFA Year 2 direct entrants will require to hold, or expect to obtain, a distinction level MLitt in Creative Writing or Playwriting and Screenwriting.
MFA study Applications should be submitted via the research degree option of the fully automated online application system and you should ensure that you have all additional documents required available for upload at point of application.
The writing samples provided within your application are incredibly important in the assessment process. Ideally, this should be a piece of distinction-grade writing which you have recently completed, and must be on a theme related to your programme intention.
Application document requirements
Application deadline for receipt of complete study application (including references): 31 May
In the first year, students pay the equivalent fee for taught postgraduate students. Taught tuition fee information can be found on the University's Fees and Funding page . This page also includes links to other relevant information, such as residence fees etc.
In the second year, fees will be charged in line with the equivalent research fee for the relevant academic year. Please see tuition fees for research postgraduate programmes for current fee levels.
Following submission of a study application, students should apply separately through the scholarships and funding catalogue for any available awards. Awards can be viewed on the scholarships and funding pages. Deadline dates and eligibility are separately listed for named individual awards within the catalogue, and students normally do not require to hold a study offer prior to application.
For general information about any aspect of funding, please contact the Scholarships Office at [email protected]
Year one entrants are not required to contact a prospective supervisor prior to application submission since one will be allocated during their studies automatically, but for Year 2 direct entrants this is a crucial step in the process. The following members of staff may be available to supervise research topics:
Ms Anne Boyer
Anne Boyer welcomes enquiries from students working in poetry and poetics, autotheory, and experimental literature. Of particular interest are the intersections of literature with critical theory or philosophy, social movements, and the visual arts.
Professor Zinnie Harris
Professor Harris is a playwright and screenwriter, and she hopes to supervise students who are interested in writing for stage or screen. She has also adapted novels and classic texts for both theatre and television, and has written for radio.
Ms Dina Nayeri
Ms Nayeri would be happy to supervise fiction or non-fiction, in a range of narrative forms, relating to displacement and movement of all kinds: not only across borders or in language and culture (though the middle east is one of her own focal points), but stories that reflect upon and dramatize moments of profound change, undoings, and times of estrangement and otherness in a variety of lives.
Ms Karen Solie
Karen Solie is interested in supervising students working with 20th-century and contemporary poetry. Particular interests include writing about work and place, ecopoetics, form and the potential of hybrid genres, epistemology and the influence of philosophy, research methods, and Canadian poetry.
The Creative Writing community cultivated at St Andrews is necessary for growth as writers. The people that I have met and write with have confirmed to me that St Andrews is a special place to work on my novel.
Jenna Rogers 2018
The quality of the poets who teach at St Andrews is still very difficult to fully appreciate. I could spend the next decade learning from them, and probably will keep doing so through their poetry, once I’ve left. Second best thing I’ve done in my life, taking my MFA in poetry here.
Sean Robinson 2018
I LOVE St Andrews. Living in this small stone town by the sea is the best thing that ever happened to me. The town practically begs you to write poetry to it. Professors are totally available and classmates are some of the best advocates. People here are rooting for you. There is something so magical– the berries in fall, icy dips in the sea in winter, sunsets all year round. And the English department has the best community for postgraduates by far. We take care of each other!
Lily Clarke 2017
I initially came to St Andrews as an MLitt student to study abroad, learn in a global context, and meet new people. I stayed on for the MFA to continue writing alongside my cohort and gleaning from accomplished professors. I also wasn’t ready to give up the view of the North Sea from Castle House steps..
Rachel Hall 2017
The benefits of postgraduate study at St Andrews stretch far beyond graduation. As well as joining a long line of notable alumni and academics, postgraduate students are supported in their next steps by both the Careers Centre and the University alumni relations team. See the University's page on Using your English degree .
The University also provides an extensive and award-winning generic skills development programme – GRADskills – for all of its early career researchers, including MFA students.
Join our community of internationally renowned, award-winning writers at the Manchester Writing School, where collaboration and experimentation are at the heart of what we do.
At the heart of the Manchester Writing School are our masters programmes in Creative Writing, available to study on campus in Manchester, City of Literature, or from anywhere in the world as part of our dynamic international online distance learning community.
On our Master of Fine Arts (MFA) programme, you will explore and practice techniques and styles of modern and contemporary writing and apply these through the development of your own full-length book or script.
MFA students undertake all of the elements of our MA Creative Writing programme (a taught element blending writing workshops with reading units, option units, and a dissertation), then take an additional unit about the publishing, literary and arts industries and submit a full-length manuscript: a completed novel or sh...
2 years full-time (campus) 3 years part-time (campus or online)
Students can begin studying in January or September.
"One of the greatest pleasures of my working life continues to be the Manchester Writing School at Manchester Metropolitan University, a department with a real sense of family, achievement and celebration, and an ethos of nurturing and innovation." Professor Carol Ann Duffy DBE – Creative Director of the Manchester Writing School
At the heart of the Manchester Writing School are our masters programmes in Creative Writing, available to study on campus in Manchester, and also from anywhere in the world via online distance learning.
MFA Creative Writing can be tailored to suit your writing preferences by following a specialist route in Novel (including Short Fiction), Poetry, Writing for Children & Young Adults, Scriptwriting (for stage, screen or radio) or Creative Non-Fiction. Watch our playlist to find out more about each route.
This MFA blends writing workshops, where you produce and develop your own work-in-progress, with regular feedback from tutors and fellow students, with reading courses, which look at the techniques, forms and styles used by a range of writers in modern and contemporary literature. All students also take 30 credits of optional units and can choose from a range of creative writing units or options from courses across arts and humanities subjects. MFA students also take a unit about the publishing, literary and arts industries, introducing you to a range of professional opportunities. The final piece of work for the MFA is the Manuscript – a full-length book or script completed with one-to-one supervision from a Manuscript Mentor.
The MFA is available to complete in two years full-time or three years part-time. The novel and poetry routes are available to study on campus (full-time or part-time) or online (part-time only). The writing for children and creative non-fiction routes are online (part-time) only. The scriptwriting route is available to study on campus only. We have intakes to the programme in September and January each year.
Visit the Manchester Writing School website for more information, including profiles of staff and published students, news, events and projects.
Please visit our scholarships page for information on funding opportunities .
The programme leader for this course is James Draper .
Classes for core Workshop and Reading units take place in the evenings (6-8pm UK time) during the autumn and spring semesters. Full-time students take all of these units in a single year and usually have classes two evenings per week. Part-time students spread these units over two years (running order may vary depending on specialist route) and usually have classes one evening per week. All students take 30 credits of option units, which run in the spring semester; delivery models and scheduling vary depending on choice and availability. This part of the MFA concludes with the submission of the Creative Dissertation, completed through independent study with one-to-one support from a Dissertation Supervisor.
This unit will build on and progress material produced during the Workshop units. You will compile and edit your creative writing into a substantial, continuous extract from a proposed longer work-in-progress and provide a Genesis Document: an account of the origins of and inspirations for your writing.
This route-specific unit looks at the forms, themes, styles and techniques used by a range of writers in literature. Outstanding writing is considered in terms of composition, process and presentation, and its relevance to your own work-in-progress.
Workshops are led by established practitioners in the specialist literary field (Novel, Poetry, Writing for Children/Young Adults, Scriptwriting or Creative Non-Fiction), giving student writers a committed editorial readership of professionals and peers, and generating and developing material for a proposed full-length book or script. It is expected that the creative work generated will eventually contribute to your Dissertation and Manuscript.
Creative project (30 credits).
On this unit, you will be asked to devise, scope, plan, conduct, report and reflect on a creative project of your own choosing. The project should involve a significant stretch from your core work on the programme and explore a new practice. This can be either working in a writing discipline different to your main route through the course, or by adapting or applying your work in a new context.
This unit will explore how creative writers can engage with ecological emergency during a time of crisis. The unit will examine different approaches to writing about nature, ecology and the environment, and demonstrate ways to respond creatively to contemporary climate science. You will study key texts in the field and produce your own original creative work using techniques drawn from those materials, learning how to bring traditionally ‘non-fiction’ perspectives into the realm of fiction.
Remaking games: creativity, play and communication (30 credits).
This unit explores the theory and practice of hacking and making games as a research method and mode of creative practice. It considers the intersection between creative writing and game design. In the unit we introduce students to reading and making games as a new methodology that combines creative and critical thinking with public engagement and impact at the point of research. For creative writers, the unit helps develop new ways to explore narrative and storytelling through interactive fiction, videogames and analogue games. You will develop new communication skills as part of the research process, creating games to share with other students and wider audiences as a way of engaging the public with your research.
This unit introduces techniques for developing and delivering creative writing workshops in a range of settings and considers how to encourage would-be participants to produce original writing in a variety of styles and genres. Consideration of key pedagogic theories and analyses of demonstrations will offer background context and enable critical reflection on workshop practice.
This course unit explores writing about love and partnership and is designed to help you gain confidence, avoid cliché and improve the quality of your prose style as you write about human relationships and intimacy.
10 credits equates to 100 hours of study, which is a combination of lectures, seminars and practical sessions, and independent study. A masters qualification typically comprises of 180 credits, a PGDip 120 credits, a PGCert 60 credits and an MFA 300 credits. The exact composition of your study time and assessments for the course will vary according to your option choices and style of learning, but it could be:
The Manchester Writing School is one of the UK's leading schools of creative writing. It is also home to ground-breaking outreach activities, international writing competitions, a series of city-wide literary events, innovative publishing projects, the Manchester Children's Book Festival , and Manchester Poetry Library . These activities will provide you with many opportunities to get involved and develop your experience in a number of exciting directions.
Year two of our MFA includes the development of a manuscript for a full-length book or script within your specialist route, completed through independent study with one-to-one support from a Manuscript Mentor. This is usually a continuation of the Creative Dissertation, but can be a new project. The year also includes a series of seminars and Q&A sessions with experts from the publishing, literary and arts industries in the spring semester. These units take place in year three for those studying the MFA part-time.
You will learn and acquire practical information about various aspects of the publishing, literary, arts and related industries through seminars and Q&A sessions with guest speakers. These may include agents, editors, publishers, publicists, booksellers, directors, producers, broadcasters, filmmakers, freelancers, performers, artists and illustrators. This unit is designed to give you a broad overview of the state of the industry, as well as some specialist knowledge about opportunities available for those working in your specialist area, as you complete your manuscript.
On this practice-driven unit, you will complete a full-length manuscript for a book or script within your chosen MFA route: Novel (or Short Fiction), Poetry, Writing for Children/Young Adults, Scriptwriting (for stage, screen or radio), or Creative Non-Fiction. The unit is completed over a full year and involves ongoing independent writing with regular one-to-one editorial input from a dedicated Manuscript Mentor. The final submission will consolidate your learning, research and writing to-date into a fully-realised and complete body of work.
Whether you've already made your decision about what you want to study, or you're just considering whether postgraduate study is right for you, there are lots of ways you can meet us and find out more about postgraduate student life at Manchester Met.
Your studies are supported by a department of committed and enthusiastic teachers and researchers, experts in their chosen field.
We often link up with external professionals too, helping to enhance your learning and build valuable connections to the working world.
Application is by submission of an online form including a personal statement, and a sample of your own creative work. Your application should be tailored to one of our specialist routes: Novel, Poetry, Writing for Children & YA, Scriptwriting or Creative Non-Fiction. You can apply online here: mmu.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/postgraduate-taught-course .
Please indicate at the top of your personal statement which specialist route you are applying for. You should use the rest of the statement to tell us a bit about yourself, give a good overview of your reading and writing interests, and a sense of what has led you to apply for our course and any ideas you have for what you’d like to write with us. Personal statements should be approximately 500 words long.
For the creative sample, applicants to the Novel, Children's & YA and Creative Non-Fiction routes should submit up to 2,000 words of prose; poetry applicants should submit up to 15 poems; and scriptwriting applicants should submit up to 15 minutes running time of script. The work submitted can be a complete piece, or an extract, or a number of extracts from a longer work or works, but must all be within the chosen specialist route.
We have intakes into the programme in September and January each year. For application deadlines, and links to apply, please see the 'How to Apply section'.
In each application assessed we will be looking for evidence of:
Applicants whose first language is not English are required to produce evidence of English Language proficiency. Overseas applicants will require IELTS with an overall score of 6.5, with no sub-component below 5.5, or an equivalent accepted English qualification.
Accepted English qualifications can be viewed here .
Uk and channel island students.
Full-time fee: £1584 per 30 credits per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
Part-time fee: £1584 per 30 credits studied per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
Distance learning fee: £1584 per 30 credits studied per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
Full-time fee: £3084 per 30 credits per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
Part-time fee: £3084 per 30 credits studied per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
Distance learning fee: £3084 per 30 credits studied per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
A masters qualification typically comprises 180 credits, a PGDip 120 credits, a PGCert 60 credits, and an MFA 300 credits. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of study provided the course is completed in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
Specialist costs.
Compulsory estimate : £300
Optional estimate : £2200
Books (novels, poetry collections, children/young adult books, scripts in print, or books of creative non-fiction depending on the specialist route of study) for study on Reading units (up to 10 books per unit for two units). Costs spread across years one and two for part-time students. There is also a list of additional, optional recommended reading for each unit students can access much of this via the Manchester Met library (either by loaning books or via the e-book system). All students will require access to a computer in order to undertake their studies (accessing online resources, forums and communication systems). Students can use loan laptops on campus. Students will also need access to broadband internet. While most students choose to purchase these for home use, computers with internet access are available to use on campus.
Compulsory estimate : £100
There is an optional summer school each year, where students are invited to spend two full days on campus for a suite of masterclass workshops, talks and social activities. Attendance at the school is free of charge, but students are asked to make their own arrangements for travel, accommodation and food. Students undertaking units which involve creating artwork, producing objects, or travelling to conduct research or interviews, etc. will need to cover the costs of any materials used and also make arrangements for accommodation, travel and food. Students based outside of Manchester, including distance learners, who wish to attend on-campus or in-person events, activities or classes are asked to cover the costs of accommodation, food, travel and additional fees for these.
Optional estimate : £500
Students may be invited to take part in optional public events (e.g. reading from their own work) and are expected to cover the costs of travel, accommodation and food.
More than 100 of our students and graduates have embarked upon publishing careers, launching first books, with others achieving publication in journals and magazines, winning writing awards and prizes, setting up small presses and anthologies, and seeing their work go into production and performance. Our alumni include winners of the Costa First Novel Award, Forward Poetry Prize and Yale Windham-Campell Prize, and a long-listing for the Man Booker Prize.
Our School plays a leading role in establishing Manchester as a city of writers with a commitment to finding diverse new voices and creating opportunities for writer development, enabling new writing and building audiences for the next generation of talent. Manchester has been designated a UNESCO City of Literature in recognition of its thriving live literature scene, with a year-round programme of author events, writers’ forums, networking opportunities and open mic nights.
We are home to a suite of ground-breaking outreach projects including the Manchester Children’s Book Festival and Mother Tongue Other Tongue , an international multilingual poetry competition that celebrates cultural diversity and the many languages spoken in schools in the UK. Our Manchester Poetry Library holds over 12,000 books and recordings that can be explored through our online catalogue, in person and through our annual events programme. Our School has a strong Manchester presence, with links to many of the city’s major cultural and arts organisations, and also a global reach with students and alumni based across the UK and continental Europe, and in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australasia.
Our strong partnerships and innovative projects mean that you will have plenty of opportunities to develop your industry experience and network.
On completion of this course you may decide to pursue PhD study, or to develop a career in bookselling, agenting, publishing, editing, producing or directing for screen, stage or radio, or in teaching creative writing. Students have access to the Careers and Employability Hub located in the Business School, offering a host of information resources, one-to-one careers support and employability events throughout the year. This service is also available for up to three years after you graduate.
The Power of Words Led by Professor Carol Ann Duffy DBE (UK Poet Laureate 2009-2019), the Manchester Writing School is the beating literary heart of a city alive with culture. Find out more about its prestigious past, present and future by watching our video, 'The Power of Words'. Watch the video Manchester Writing School
Register your interest, got a question.
Please contact our course enquiries team.
Please remember to tailor your application to one of our specialist routes (Novel, Poetry, Writing for Children, Scriptwriting or Creative Non-Fiction) and to include a creative sample relevant to that chosen route.
Please upload your creative sample under the 'Degree Transcript' section of the application portal.
The novel and poetry routes are available to study on campus (full-time or part-time) or online (part-time only). The writing for children and creative non-fiction routes are online (part-time) only. The scriptwriting route is available to study on campus only.
The application submission deadlines for September 2024 entry are:
International students: Monday 22nd July 2024
UK or Home/ Channel Islands/ IOM students: Applications remain open - deadline to be confirmed
Get advice and support on making a successful application.
You can review our current terms and conditions before you make your application. If you are successful with your application, we will send you up to date information alongside your offer letter.
Your new home, your new city, why university, related courses, english studies.
Programme review Our programmes undergo an annual review and major review (normally at 6 year intervals) to ensure an up-to-date curriculum supported by the latest online learning technology. For further information on when we may make changes to our programmes, please see the changes section of our terms and conditions .
Important notice This online prospectus provides an overview of our programmes of study and the University. We regularly update our online prospectus so that our published course information is accurate. Please check back to the online prospectus before making an application to us to access the most up to date information for your chosen course of study.
Confirmation of regulator The Manchester Metropolitan University is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education in England. More information on the role of the OfS and its regulatory framework can be found at officeforstudents.org.uk .
All higher education providers registered with the OfS must have a student protection plan in place. The student protection plan sets out what students can expect to happen should a course, campus, or institution close. Access our current student protection plan .
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Penrhyn road campus, kingston upon thames, united kingdom, # 251-300 qs subject rankings, 29,800 gbp tuition fee/year, english language and literature main subject area, program overview, main subject.
English Language and Literature
Admission requirements, exam scores, important dates, tuition fee and scholarships, tuition fee, scholarships, domestic students, international students.
One of the important factors when considering a master's degree is the cost of study. Luckily, there are many options available to help students fund their master's programme. Download your copy of the Scholarship Guide to find out which scholarships from around the world could be available to you, and how to apply for them.
Where to look for scholarship opportunities
How to apply to scholarships relevant to you
A list of available scholarships around the world
A scholarship application checklist
More programs from the university, bachelor ug.
While studying is a key part of university life, we encourage our students to enjoy the fantastic activities available and to take part in the many social events. These include student clubs, societies, sports and leisure activities and students' union events. You can also take part in volunteering opportunities available at Kingston University.
Along with the University's four modern campuses, Kingston has endless green spaces and beautiful riverside, with amazing entertainment, shopping, food and more in the centre. And you're only 25 minutes away from London – for more fun, study and career opportunities.
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bsc (hons), marketing & advertising bsc (hons) including foundation year, marketing & advertising bsc (hons) including sandwich year, marketing management bsc (hons), marketing management bsc (hons) including foundation year, marketing management bsc (hons) including sandwich year, real estate management bsc (hons), real estate management bsc (hons) including foundation year, real estate management bsc (hons) including sandwich year, engineering and technology (6), aerospace engineering (space technology) beng (hons), aerospace engineering (space technology) beng (hons) including sandwich year, aerospace engineering (space technology) meng, aerospace engineering (space technology) meng including sandwich year, aerospace engineering beng (hons), aerospace engineering beng (hons) including foundation year, aerospace engineering beng (hons) including sandwich year, aerospace engineering meng, aerospace engineering meng including sandwich year, aircraft engineering beng (hons), aircraft engineering beng (hons) top-up, aviation engineering beng (hons), aviation engineering beng (hons) including sandwich year, aviation operations with commercial pilot training bsc (hons), aviation operations with commercial pilot training bsc(hons) including sandwich year, civil and infrastructure engineering beng (hons), civil and infrastructure engineering beng (hons) including foundation year, civil and infrastructure engineering beng (hons) including sandwich year, computer games programming bsc (hons), computer games programming bsc (hons) including foundation year, computer games programming bsc (hons) including sandwich year, computer science bsc (hons), computer science bsc (hons) including foundation year, computer science bsc (hons) including sandwich year, construction management bsc (hons), construction management bsc (hons) including sandwich year, cyber security & digital forensics bsc (hons), cyber security & digital forensics bsc (hons) including foundation year, cyber security & digital forensics bsc (hons) including sandwich year, historic building conservation bsc (hons) top-up, mechanical engineering (automotive) beng (hons), mechanical engineering (automotive) beng (hons) including foundation year, mechanical engineering (automotive) beng (hons) including professional placement year, mechanical engineering (automotive) meng, mechanical engineering (automotive) meng including professional placement year, mechanical engineering beng (hons), mechanical engineering beng (hons) including foundation year, mechanical engineering beng (hons) including professional placement year, mechanical engineering meng, mechanical engineering meng including profession placement year, life sciences and medicine (6), adult nursing bsc (hons), biological sciences bsc (hons), biological sciences bsc (hons) including foundation year, biological sciences bsc (hons) including sandwich year, biomedical science bsc (hons), biomedical science bsc (hons) including foundation year, biomedical science bsc (hons) including sandwich year, children's nursing bsc (hons), criminology and forensic psychology bsc (hons), criminology and forensic psychology bsc (hons) including foundation year, criminology and forensic psychology bsc (hons) including sandwich year, forensic psychology bsc (hons), forensic psychology bsc (hons) including foundation year, forensic psychology bsc (hons) including sandwich year, learning disability nursing bsc (hons), mental health nursing bsc (hons), midwifery with registered midwife bmid (hons), midwifery with registered midwife bmid (hons) (for registered nurses), nutrition (exercise and health) bsc (hons), nutrition (exercise and health) bsc (hons) including foundation year, nutrition (exercise and health) bsc (hons) including sandwich year, nutrition (human nutrition) bsc (hons), nutrition (human nutrition) bsc (hons) including foundation year, nutrition (human nutrition) bsc (hons) including sandwich year, pharmaceutical science bsc (hons), pharmaceutical science bsc (hons) including foundation year, pharmaceutical science bsc (hons) including sandwich year, pharmaceutical science mpharmsci (hons), pharmaceutical science with regulatory affairs bsc (hons), pharmaceutical science with regulatory affairs bsc (hons) including sandwich year, pharmacology bsc (hons), pharmacology bsc (hons) including foundation year, pharmacology bsc (hons) including sandwich year, pharmacy mpharm (hons), pharmacy mpharm (hons) including foundation year, psychology bsc (hons), psychology bsc (hons) including foundation year, psychology bsc (hons) including sandwich year, psychology with criminology bsc (hons), psychology with criminology bsc (hons) including foundation year, psychology with criminology bsc (hons) including sandwich year, psychology with sociology bsc (hons), psychology with sociology bsc (hons) including foundation year, psychology with sociology bsc (hons) including sandwich year, natural sciences (6), biochemistry bsc (hons), biochemistry bsc (hons) including foundation year, biochemistry bsc (hons) including sandwich year, chemistry bsc (hons), chemistry bsc (hons) including foundation year, chemistry bsc (hons) including sandwich year, chemistry with medicinal chemistry mchem (hons), chemistry with medicinal chemistry mchem (hons) including sandwich year, environmental science bsc (hons), environmental science bsc (hons) including foundation year, environmental science bsc (hons) including sandwich year, environmental science with hazards and disasters bsc (hons), environmental science with hazards and disasters bsc (hons) including foundation year, environmental science with hazards and disasters bsc (hons) including sandwich year, social sciences and management (6), criminology bsc (hons), criminology bsc (hons) including foundation year, criminology bsc (hons) including sandwich year, criminology and sociology bsc (hons), criminology and sociology bsc (hons) including foundation year, criminology and sociology bsc (hons) including sandwich year, digital media technology bsc (hons), digital media technology bsc (hons) including foundation year, digital media technology bsc (hons) including sandwich year, early years: education & leadership in practice ba (hons) top-up, early years: teaching & learning ba (hons) top-up, economics bsc (hons), economics bsc (hons) including foundation year, economics bsc (hons) including sandwich year, filmmaking ba (hons), financial economics bsc (hons), financial economics bsc (hons) including foundation year, financial economics bsc (hons) including sandwich year, forensic science bsc (hons), forensic science bsc (hons) including foundation year, international law with professional experience llb (hons), international law with professional experience llb (hons) with study exchange, journalism ba (hons), journalism ba (hons) including foundation year, journalism and media ba (hons), journalism and media ba (hons) including foundation year, journalism and media ba (hons) including sandwich year, law with business llb (hons), law with business llb (hons) including sandwich year, law with criminology llb (hons), law with criminology llb (hons) including sandwich year, law with professional experience llb (hons), law with professional experience llb (hons) with study exchange, media & communication ba (hons), media & communication ba (hons) including foundation year, media skills ba (hons) top-up, primary education (qts) ba (hons), social work ba (hons), social work ba (hons) integrated degree apprenticeship, sociology bsc (hons), sociology bsc (hons) including foundation year, sociology bsc (hons) including sandwich year, special educational needs & inclusive practice ba (hons) top-up, sport science (coaching) bsc (hons), sport science (coaching) bsc (hons) including foundation year, sport science (coaching) bsc (hons) including sandwich year, sport science bsc (hons), sport science bsc (hons) including foundation year, sport science bsc (hons) including sandwich year, working with children and young people: social pedagogy ba (hons).
A vibrant, modern and supportive University based across four campuses, Kingston offers a wide range of postgraduate taught and research degrees. We offer people from all backgrounds and countries (140 at the last count) the opportunity to make a difference – not only to their own lives, but also to the world around them. You’ll earn a postgraduate degree with a difference via five specialist faculties and 118 years of teaching excellence. Our courses are relevant to today’s business environment and are developed through close links to professional organisations and practitioners, with a real emphasis on work-based skills. We offer a wide range of postgraduate taught and research degrees in areas such as art and design, business, social sciences, healthcare, engineering and computing.
Advanced product design engineering & manufacturing (msc) including professional placement, aesthetics and art theory ma, aesthetics and art theory ma including professional placement, architecture (arb/riba part 2) march, building surveying msc, building surveying msc including professional placement, communication design: graphic design ma, communication design: graphic design ma including professional placement, communication design: illustration ma, communication design: illustration ma including professional placement, composing for film and television mmus, creative writing ma, creative writing ma (distance learning) (full time), creative writing ma (distance learning) (part time), creative writing ma including professional placement, creative writing and publishing ma, creative writing and publishing ma including professional placement, curating contemporary design ma (in partnership with the design museum), curating contemporary design ma (in partnership with the design museum) including professional placement, english literature ma, english literature ma including professional placement, fashion ma including professional placement, fine art mfa, historic building conservation msc, interior design ma, interior design ma including professional placement, landscape architecture mla (li accredited), landscape and urbanism ma, modern european philosophy ma, modern european philosophy ma including professional placement, museum and gallery studies ma, museum and gallery studies ma including professional placement, music performance mmus, philosophy and contemporary critical theory ma, philosophy and contemporary critical theory ma including professional placement, photography ma, product & furniture design ma, product & furniture design ma including professional placement, quantity surveying msc, quantity surveying msc including professional placement, user experience design msc, user experience design msc including professional placement, accounting and finance msc, accounting and finance msc including professional placement, art market & appraisal (professional practice) ma, art market & appraisal (professional practice) ma including professional placement, banking and finance msc, banking and finance msc including professional placement, finance msc, finance msc including professional placement, financial economics ma, financial technology msc, financial technology msc including professional placement, financial and business management msc, financial and business management msc including professional placement, innovation management & entrepreneurship (msc), innovation management & entrepreneurship (msc) including professional placement, innovation management & entrepreneurship msc (policy), innovation management & entrepreneurship msc (policy) including professional placement, international business management msc, international business management msc (january start date), international business management msc including professional placement, international business management with entrepreneurship msc, international business management with entrepreneurship msc (january start date), international business management with entrepreneurship msc including professional placement, international business management with marketing msc, international business management with marketing msc (january start date), international business management with marketing msc including professional placement, international business management with project management msc, international business management with project management msc (january start date), international business management with project management msc including professional placement, investment and financial risk management msc, investment and financial risk management msc including professional placement, leadership and management in health msc, leadership and management in health msc top-up, managing in the creative economy ma, managing in the creative economy ma including professional placement, marketing communications and advertising msc, marketing communications and advertising msc including professional placement, marketing and brand management msc, marketing and brand management msc including professional placement, project management for creative practitioners msc, project management for creative practitioners msc including professional placement, real estate msc, real estate msc including professional placement, aerospace engineering masters (msc), aerospace engineering masters (msc) including professional placement, aerospace systems msc, computer animation ma, computer animation ma including professional placement, engineering projects & systems management msc, engineering projects & systems management msc including professional placement, it & strategic innovation msc, it & strategic innovation msc including professional placement, information systems msc, information systems msc including professional placement, international enterprise information management msc, management in construction (civil engineering) msc, management in construction (civil engineering) msc including professional placement, management in construction masters (msc), management in construction masters (msc) including professional placement, mechanical engineering msc, mechanical engineering msc including professional placement, mechatronic systems msc, mechatronic systems msc including professional placement, network & information security msc, network & information security msc including professional placement, network & information security with management studies (msc), network & information security with management studies (msc) including professional placement, networking & data communications msc, networking & data communications msc including professional placement, networking & data communications with management studies msc, networking & data communications with management studies msc including professional placement, renewable energy engineering msc, renewable energy engineering msc including professional placement, software engineering msc, software engineering msc including professional placement, software engineering with management studies msc, software engineering with management studies msc including professional placement, structural design and construction management msc, structural design and construction management msc including professional placement, structural design and construction management with sustainability masters (msc), structural design and construction management with sustainability masters (msc) including professional placement, adult nursing msc, behavioural decision science msc, biomedical science (haematology/medical microbiology) msc, biomedical science (haematology/medical microbiology) msc including professional placement, biomedical science with management studies masters (msc), biomedical science with management studies masters (msc) including professional placement, cancer biology msc, cancer biology msc including professional placement, child psychology msc, children's nursing msc, clinical applications of psychology msc, clinical leadership msc, forensic psychology msc, healthcare practice msc, learning disability nursing msc, mental health nursing msc, occupational and business psychology msc, occupational and business psychology msc including professional placement, pharmaceutical analysis msc, pharmaceutical analysis msc including professional placement, pharmaceutical analysis with management studies msc, pharmaceutical analysis with management studies msc including professional placement, pharmaceutical science msc, pharmaceutical science msc including professional placement, pharmaceutical science with management studies msc, pharmaceutical science with management studies msc including professional placement, pharmacy practice (overseas pharmacists assessment programme) msc top-up, physiotherapy (pre-registration) msc, psychology msc, radiography: breast evaluation msc, radiography: medical imaging (mammography) msc, radiography: medical imaging msc, analytical chemistry msc, analytical chemistry msc including professional placement, environmental management msc, environmental management msc including professional placement, sustainable design ma, sustainable design ma including professional placement, advanced social work ma, criminology ma, criminology with forensic psychology ma, data science msc, data science msc including professional placement, development and international economics ma, film making ma, film studies ma, forensic science msc, forensic science msc including professional placement, game development (design) ma, game development (design) ma including professional placement, game development (programming) msc, game development (programming) msc including professional placement, human resource management msc, human resource management msc including professional placement, human resource management msc top-up, human rights ma, international human resource management msc, international human resource management msc including professional placement, international human resource management msc top-up, international politics and economics ma, international relations msc, journalism ma, journalism ma including professional placement, logistics and supply chain management msc, logistics and supply chain management msc including professional placement, magazine journalism ma, magazine journalism ma including professional placement, master of social work (msw), media and communication ma, media and communication ma including professional placement, music education ma, music education ma including professional placement, public relations and corporate communications ma, public relations and corporate communications ma including professional placement, publishing ma, publishing ma including professional placement, terrorism and political violence msc, executive master of business administration, executive master of business administration (moscow), master of business administration (mba), master of business administration (mba) (moscow), master of business administration (mba) including professional placement.
Postgraduate Course
Develop your creative practice alongside an inspiring group of writers. Further your literary abilities and create a full-length manuscript.
If you have already completed a taught master's degree, the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing could be the next step for you, allowing you to pursue a project that you are passionate about. The academic team will work closely with you to develop your writing, and you will approach projects in ways that best suit your individual learning style while you work towards an original and engaging manuscript.
Course location York campus
MA at Merit/60/B
UK 2024-25 £4,500 full time --> full time
International 2024-25 £14,000 full time --> full time
On this course you will work independently with an expert supervision team to produce a 40,000 to 70,000 (book length) work, such as a novel, poetry collection, script or biography. You will write for publication, performance or dissemination, and your reflective commentary of 6,000 to 10,000 words will focus on this piece. Your creative submission can be in any genre or style. The MFA also includes an opportunity for a one to one meeting with an agent, editor or publisher.
York Centre for Writing
York Centre for Writing is a space for York St John's creative writing community to thrive. We compose 2 annual publications:
The Centre has welcomed celebrated authors, who have given talks that inspired students in their work and beyond. This includes Daljit Nagra, Michel Faber, Margaret Atwood and more.
How you will study.
The MFA is taught over 3 semesters, starting in February, and can be studied either full time (over 1 year) or part time (over 2 years). If you choose to study full time the course will take 1 year to complete.
You can find out which modules are available in each term in the Course Specifications .
Please note that while one to one meetings can be held online, the group workshops are in person only and are a compulsory element of the MFA. This is not an online course.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
This assessment is an opportunity for you to present the development of your work so far, reflecting on challenges, context and inspirations. You will be presenting your progress and critically reflecting on your research as you are working towards a final draft. This is a moment for peer review and analysis of your work, looking at inspirations, changes and context.
Credits: 160
During your final module you will create a full-length manuscript intended for publication/dissemination. During the module, you will go through the entire development and editing process for your final piece. This work may be:
Your 1 on 1 tuition for this final piece is modelled on the professional relationship that successful writers forge with their editors, agents and publishers.
Teaching and learning.
The MFA in Creative Writing is taught on a mainly one to one basis with an expert writer on the team guiding your unique project. One to one meetings can be arranged flexibly to suit your needs. We also provide group workshop time. Workshops are in person and take place twice per term for 3 hours during the day. Workshops are an opportunity to share writing in progress with a group of like-minded peers and receive inspiring masterclasses from the Creative Writing team on all aspects of writing craft.
You will also have the opportunity for a one to one meeting with an agent or publisher.
In your final year, you will be invited on a mini writing retreat in a scenic York location. The retreat is run by your tutors and can take place in a number of different locations. The only requirement is that the places be beautiful and inspiring.
We encourage you to attend the variety of events provided by the York Centre for Writing. These include visits from agents, publishers, editors and writers. This allows you to network and develop professional relationships within the literary community.
Our teaching draws on both our research and professional experience. This means your learning is informed by the most current thinking in the subject area. You can find out more about our research and backgrounds by visiting our staff pages.
Your final manuscript will be a piece of written work that will comprise of 40,000 to 70,000 words of prose or approximately 1,200 lines of poetry. If you are aiming to produce a script, it must be an equivalent length. Your final manuscript will be accompanied by a critical commentary of 6,000 words which reflects on the writing process. You will submit your final manuscript in January of the final year.
Qualifications.
MA at Merit/60/B See full entry requirements including GCSEs
You will also need to include a writing proposal and writing sample with your application.
We normally consider applicants who have a Master's in Creative Writing or a related subject, such as:
However, we will consider applicants with any Master's qualification, and assess your application based on your personal statement, writing proposal and writing sample.
If you are an international student you will need to show that your qualifications match our entry requirements.
Information about international qualifications and entry requirements can be found on our International pages.
If English is not your first language you will need to show that you have English Language competence at IELTS level 6.0 (with no skill below 5.5) or equivalent.
International entry requirements
For entry onto this course, you will also need:
If you do not have traditional qualifications, you might be able to provide evidence of professional experience in the subject as an alternative way to meet the entry requirements. This is called Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL). Appropriate references and records of employment would need to be presented to support your case for admission.
Our terms and conditions, policies and procedures contain important information about studying at York St John University. You can read them on our Admissions page .
Uk 2024 - 2025 entry.
This cost applies to all UK, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man students.
Postgraduate loans are available to help you pay for your master’s course. Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.
Funding opportunities
This price applies to all students living outside the UK.
Due to immigration laws, if you are an international student on a student visa, you must study full time. For more information about visa requirements and short-term study visas, please visit the International Visa and Immigration pages.
Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.
International Fees and Funding
UK 2024-25 £4,500 full time --> full time
If you are alumni of York St John University we have scholarships available to help you continue your studies.
Scholarships for alumni
Course-related costs.
While studying for your degree, there may be additional costs related to your course. This may include purchasing personal equipment and stationery, books and optional field trips.
View our accommodation pages for detailed information on accommodation and living costs.
Where could creative writing take you.
By developing your writing and creative process, you will be well positions to enter into a various careers. Your skills in critical analysis, working to deadlines and both independent and collaborative work will can be applied in industries such as:
Far fewer people have postgraduate degrees than undergraduate qualifications. This gives you something extra to set yourself apart in a competitive graduate job market. Those with a postgraduate qualification will earn an average of £6,500 a year more than those with only an undergraduate degree. (Department For Education Graduate Labour Market Report 2022).
Our careers service, LaunchPad, provides career support tailored to your ambitions. Through this service you can access:
This support does not end when you graduate. You can access our expert career advice for the rest of your life. We will help you gain the experience and confidence you need to succeed.
For postgraduate degrees you must apply directly to York St John University using the application links. This will take you to the application form you will need to fill out for this specific course.
To complete the online application form you will need to create login details.
Please contact 2 referees before submitting your application. An automated request for a reference will be emailed to them as soon as you submit. Your application will not be reviewed until both references are in place.
To complete your application for this course you will also need to attach:
Course highlights
Further your abilities and engage with other literary practitioners to create work you will be proud of.
Join our network of writers, editors, publishers and figures in York's literary community. Engage with them and develop your own network.
Journey with us during a writers' retreat, which will allow you to get away from the everyday and fully indulge in your creative process and practice.
In addition to regular supervisions, you can meet one to one with an industry professional, such as an agent or editor.
Get in touch, discover more courses.
View all of our Creative Writing courses Arrow icon
York St John University
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York St John London Campus
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01904 876 944
© York St John University 2024
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Download our course brochure
Discover more about this subject area
Year of entry: 2025
We normally expect students to have a First or Upper Second class honours degree or its overseas equivalent in a humanities-based subject area.
Full entry requirements
Full-time | Part-time | Full-time distance learning | Part-time distance learning | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MA | Y | Y | N | N |
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Fees for entry in 2025 have not yet been set. For reference, the fees for the academic year beginning September 2024 were as follows:
Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.
The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.
All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit: postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.
Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Each year the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures offer a number of School awards and Subject-specific bursaries (the values of which are usually set at Home/EU fees level), open to both Home/EU and international students. The deadline for these is early February each year. Details of all funding opportunities, including deadlines, eligibility and how to apply, can be found on the School's funding page where you can also find details of the Government Postgraduate Loan Scheme.
See also the University's postgraduate funding database to see if you are eligible for any other funding opportunities.
For University of Manchester graduates, the Manchester Alumni Bursary offers a £3,000 reduction in tuition fees to University of Manchester alumni who achieved a 1st within the last three years and are progressing to a postgraduate taught masters course.
The Manchester Master's Bursary is a University-wide scheme that offers 100 bursaries worth £3,000 in funding for students from underrepresented groups.
See: About us
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website .
You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website .
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Qualification, university name, mfa degrees in creative writing.
8 degrees at 7 universities in the UK.
Select the start date, qualification, and how you want to study
University of glasgow.
Our Creative Writing Research degrees are unique and intense programmes for practising writers who wish to complete an ambitious creative Read more...
On our Master of Fine Arts (MFA) programme, you will explore and practice techniques and styles of modern and contemporary writing and Read more...
Develop and hone your creative writing skills under our expert academic guidance as you work towards the completion of a full-length work Read more...
The first Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing in the UK, this course offers talented and aspiring writers the chance to refine their Read more...
Royal central school of speech and drama, university of london.
The MA/MFA Writing for Stage and Broadcast Media offers a vocational training in writing drama across a range of different media Read more...
Develop your creative practice alongside an inspiring group of writers. Further your literary abilities and create a full-length Read more...
University of st andrews.
About the MFAs Both Masters of Fine Arts degrees are two-year postgraduate degrees, and consist of two distinct phases of study. In Read more...
MFA is a higher credential than the MLitt, and is the internationally recognized standard for teachers of Creative Writing in secondary and Read more...
Related subjects:.
This is an attempt at creating an objective ranking of graduate creative writing programs.
For further and more detailed information on how the scores are generated see the methodology page.
Program | Overall score | Fiction score | Poetry score | CNF score | Genres | Degrees | State |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11475 | 10600 | 9350 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | MD | |
9225 | 10350 | 8100 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | IN | |
8484 | 7900 | 7100 | 12100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | OH | |
8400 | 9100 | 7700 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | VA | |
8300 | 10580 | 4350 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | IA | |
7183 | 8350 | 2600 | 10350 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | AZ | |
7016 | 5850 | 1933 | 183 | Fiction, Poetry, Drama, Screenwriting | MFA | TX | |
6988 | 9850 | 4350 | 6100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | PhD | OH | |
6850 | 2600 | 3350 | 1100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama | MFA, PhD | FL | |
5600 | 100 | 100 | 5600 | CNF | MFA, PhD | IA | |
5475 | 3100 | 1850 | 1412 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA, PhD | TX | |
5350 | 3850 | 1475 | 225 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | IN | |
5266 | 5600 | 3350 | 6850 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | MN | |
5183 | 6766 | 2100 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | NY | |
5100 | 6100 | 4100 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | NC | |
4600 | 3475 | 1225 | 475 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | AZ | |
4544 | 5100 | 3350 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry, Drama | MFA | MA | |
4500 | 3100 | 2100 | 9100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | PA | |
4366 | 3877 | 5100 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | NC | |
4266 | 6100 | 2433 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | PhD | CA | |
4266 | 3600 | 766 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama | MFA | WI | |
4145 | 2781 | 1372 | 190 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | MI | |
4100 | 1766 | 4433 | 6100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | ID | |
3975 | 1433 | 5100 | 5766 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA, PhD | OH | |
3933 | 2683 | 1433 | 183 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | CA | |
3645 | 6300 | 1433 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | FL | |
3266 | 4433 | 2100 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | TN | |
3100 | 1946 | 946 | 407 | Fiction, Poetry, Drama, Multimedia | MFA | RI | |
2933 | 1711 | 988 | 433 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA, PhD | NY | |
2918 | 3814 | 1350 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MA, PhD | MS | |
2900 | 4100 | 1700 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | OH | |
2850 | 850 | 850 | 1350 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | NM | |
2833 | 2242 | 2300 | 5100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | MT | |
2725 | 475 | 2100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | MD | |
2655 | 3350 | 1766 | 2600 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | FL | |
2600 | 1400 | 1300 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | OR | |
2500 | 2544 | 2200 | 4100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | MA | |
2475 | 1600 | 600 | 725 | MA, PhD | NE | ||
2475 | 100 | 4600 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | MS | |
2447 | 3946 | 300 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry, Drama | MFA | NY | |
2350 | 2100 | 2350 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | IN | |
2300 | 1300 | 1100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | MO | |
2266 | 5100 | 3100 | 4600 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | MI | |
2225 | 1350 | 3100 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | IL | |
2225 | 2500 | 100 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | CO | |
2166 | 616 | 333 | 1500 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA | MFA | VT | |
2100 | 766 | 4766 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | VA | |
2080 | 1000 | 320 | 960 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | VT | |
2016 | 1600 | 350 | 350 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | VA | |
2016 | 1016 | 916 | 316 | Fiction, Poetry | MA, MFA | NY | |
2000 | 1200 | 600 | 1400 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama | MFA | IA | |
1975 | 558 | 1058 | 975 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA, PhD | UT | |
1850 | 800 | 650 | 750 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | AL | |
1766 | 1600 | 266 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | FL | |
1766 | 100 | 1300 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | VA | |
1766 | 2600 | 850 | 2433 | Fiction, Poetry, Drama, Screenwriting | MFA | LA | |
1683 | 1100 | 183 | 600 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA, MFA | CO | |
1600 | 700 | 900 | 400 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | WA | |
1600 | 1475 | 225 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | LA | |
1600 | 3100 | 100 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | SC | |
1544 | 1544 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | WY | |
1529 | 744 | 529 | 462 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | NY | |
1463 | 1766 | 1350 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA, PhD | NV | |
1433 | 2766 | 100 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | ID | |
1385 | 385 | 528 | 671 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | AK | |
1385 | 1242 | 242 | 171 | Fiction, Poetry, Translation | MFA | AR | |
1372 | 100 | 100 | 3600 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | CA | |
1360 | 885 | 850 | 3100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA, Drama, Screenwriting | MA, MFA | KY | |
1350 | 766 | 516 | 266 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA, PhD | MI | |
1340 | 1016 | 725 | 2500 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | VA | |
1330 | 510 | 612 | 356 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA, PhD | MO | |
1300 | 544 | 100 | 855 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama, Screenwriting | MFA | MA | |
1300 | 1200 | 200 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | TX | |
1266 | 1266 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | IL | |
1262 | 748 | 370 | 289 | Fiction, Poetry | MA, MFA | CA | |
1260 | 1683 | 600 | 1100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama, Screenwriting | MFA | LA | |
1242 | 671 | 671 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | TX | |
1242 | 600 | 100 | 742 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | OR | |
1233 | 1385 | 766 | 1300 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | NH | |
1211 | 1475 | 957 | 1100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | WA | |
1100 | 433 | 683 | 266 | Fiction, Poetry, Screenwriting | MFA | DC | |
1100 | 513 | 341 | 651 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA, PhD | TX | |
1100 | 516 | 683 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MA | CA | |
1100 | 1100 | 100 | 1100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Screenwriting | MFA | KY | |
1100 | 100 | 1100 | 2100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | WV | |
1100 | 350 | 1600 | 1766 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | WA | |
1044 | 988 | 100 | 155 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | NY | |
1016 | 100 | 1766 | 3100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | IN | |
1000 | 1900 | 100 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | MO | |
1000 | 1000 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MA, MFA | NM | |
1000 | 100 | 600 | 500 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | UT | |
988 | 433 | 488 | 266 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama, Screenwriting | MFA | CA | |
975 | 2433 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | OH | |
957 | 1300 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | FL | |
933 | 100 | 100 | 272 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama | MA | ON | |
933 | 933 | 100 | 1766 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | NJ | |
900 | 546 | 376 | 176 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | NY | |
900 | 500 | 100 | 500 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA, MFA | IL | |
877 | 2433 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Graphic Novel | MFA | FL | |
839 | 100 | 1100 | 3433 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Popular Fiction | MFA | ME | |
833 | 633 | 100 | 300 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama, Screenwriting | MFA | NC | |
827 | 100 | 100 | 827 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | NC | |
822 | 488 | 100 | 433 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | MN | |
787 | 725 | 162 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | NJ | |
725 | 725 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | CA | |
700 | 100 | 100 | 500 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | OH | |
700 | 1350 | 100 | 433 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | GA | |
671 | 1100 | 100 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | PA | |
671 | 457 | 314 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | FL | |
671 | 528 | 814 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | NC | |
651 | 444 | 272 | 134 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | PhD | CO | |
633 | 633 | 100 | 366 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA, PhD | GA | |
625 | 175 | 200 | 450 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | WA | |
600 | 600 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, Drama | MFA, PhD | KS | |
600 | 100 | 600 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | TX | |
566 | 366 | 300 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA, PhD | TN | |
548 | 548 | 100 | 203 | Fiction, CNF | MFA, PhD | GA | |
544 | 1100 | 100 | 0 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Translation | MFA | NY | |
533 | 333 | 100 | 300 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Screenwriting | MFA | NM | |
520 | 300 | 180 | 240 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | OR | |
520 | 273 | 372 | 975 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA | MFA | CA | |
500 | 100 | 100 | 500 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | NV | |
500 | 100 | 100 | 500 | CNF | MFA | MD | |
479 | 203 | 410 | 134 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA | MA, PhD | NY | |
477 | 233 | 166 | 366 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA, PhD | TX | |
475 | 100 | 100 | 475 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | SC | |
461 | 127 | 100 | 350 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | IL | |
433 | 100 | 100 | 433 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | WA | |
433 | 700 | 1600 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | VA | |
433 | 133 | 166 | 266 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA, Drama, Screenwriting, Graphic Novel | MFA | VT | |
400 | 100 | 100 | 400 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | IL | |
400 | 400 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | NY | |
400 | 220 | 220 | 160 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA, PhD | WI | |
400 | 150 | 250 | 200 | Fiction, Poetry, Drama, Multimedia | MFA | CA | |
400 | 233 | 200 | 166 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA, PhD | IL | |
390 | 172 | 100 | 318 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA, Drama, Screenwriting, Translation, Lyric and libretto, Radio drama, Graphic Novel | MFA | BC | |
375 | 100 | 375 | 100 | CA | |||
341 | 237 | 168 | 134 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | PA | |
340 | 100 | 220 | 220 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA | MFA | MN | |
340 | 180 | 180 | 340 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA, Translation | MFA | NJ | |
340 | 340 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | OR | |
330 | 100 | 100 | 1100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA | AZ | |
306 | 100 | 100 | 306 | MA, PhD | LA | ||
306 | 100 | 306 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA, MFA | CO | |
300 | 300 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | KS | |
300 | 100 | 100 | 300 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | OH | |
300 | 100 | 300 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | NH | |
276 | 100 | 100 | 276 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | CA | |
273 | 100 | 100 | 600 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama, Screenwriting | MFA | CT | |
272 | 272 | 100 | 100 | ||||
272 | 272 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, Drama | MA | Québec | |
272 | 272 | 100 | 272 | MA | MO | ||
272 | 100 | 272 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, Multimedia | MFA | NY | |
272 | 100 | 100 | 272 | ||||
260 | 260 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | NY | |
242 | 100 | 100 | 242 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | SK | |
242 | 242 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | CA | |
240 | 450 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA, PhD | OK | |
237 | 237 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama | MFA | Ontario | |
237 | 100 | 134 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama | MFA | CA | |
237 | 100 | 237 | 100 | ||||
237 | 100 | 237 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MA | MS | |
227 | 188 | 139 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | NY | |
203 | 203 | 100 | 100 | MN | |||
203 | 203 | 100 | 203 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA | RI | |
203 | 203 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, Drama | MA, PhD | New Brunswick | |
200 | 150 | 150 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | CA | |
180 | 140 | 100 | 140 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | IL | |
168 | 168 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA | TX | |
168 | 168 | 100 | 168 | ||||
166 | 100 | 100 | 166 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA | OK | |
166 | 166 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | CA | |
134 | 134 | 100 | 100 | MA | Ontario | ||
134 | 100 | 100 | 134 | CT | |||
112 | 100 | 100 | 112 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA, MFA | PA | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama, Screenwriting | MFA | CA | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | TN | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | SC | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | MA, PhD | HI | ||
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | MA | CA | ||
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA | MI | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MFA | KY | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | MA, PhD | NY | ||
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | ||||
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | ||||
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | ||||
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA, Drama, Screenwriting | MFA | MA | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA | NY | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | MFA | MO | ||
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | ||||
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Screenwriting | MFA | MO | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama, Screenwriting | MFA | LA | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama, Screenwriting | MA, PhD | CT | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, CYA, Graphic Novel | MFA | MA | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF | MA | NE | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | CNF | MFA | GA | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Translation | MFA | CO | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Poetry | MFA | NJ | |
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | TX | |||
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Fiction, Poetry | MFA | MA |
Lists of authors without graduate creative writing degrees or whose degree status is unknown are available. Send questions, comments and corrections to [email protected] .
Disclaimer: No endorsement of these ratings should be implied by the writers and writing programs listed on this site, or by the editors and publishers of Best American Short Stories , Best American Essays , Best American Poetry , The O. Henry Prize Stories and The Pushcart Prize Anthology .
Awards: MSc
Funding opportunities
Programme website: Creative Writing
The community has been one of my favourite parts. The department has very warm and encouraging staff. Some of my classmates are now close friends, and we still workshop stories across time zones, and complain to each other about writing - and not writing! Bhavika Govil, prize-winning fiction writer MSc in Creative Writing, 2020
Join us online on 25 September to learn more about Scotland, the city of Edinburgh and postgraduate study at the University.
Find out more and register
Based in the first UNESCO World City of Literature, this one-year, full-time taught Masters programme is tailored towards your practice in either fiction or poetry.
There is a strong practical element to the programme, helping you develop your creative skills through:
You will also sharpen your critical skills through:
The programme culminates with the publication of ‘From Arthur’s Seat,’ an anthology of student work.
Literature has been taught here for over 250 years, and today Edinburgh thrives on its designation as the first UNESCO World City of Literature. The city is home to the National Library of Scotland and the Scottish Poetry Library, and a number of celebrated publishing outlets, from Canongate and Polygon, to Luath Press, Birlinn and Mariscat. The University hosts the prestigious James Tait Black Awards, established in 1919 and one of the oldest literary prizes in Britain.
There are lots of opportunities to write and share your work, from ‘The Student,’ the UK’s oldest student newspaper (founded in 1887 by Robert Louis Stevenson), to The Selkie, which was founded by Creative Writing students in 2018 to showcase work by people who self-identify as underrepresented.
Around the city, you will find:
Edinburgh isn’t just historic – it’s a modern hub for literature. That’s part of what makes the city great for writing.
Austin Crowley, MSc in Creative Writing, 2023
We team teach our programme so that you benefit from the input of a range of tutors, as well as your fellow students and our Writer in Residence, the poet and author Michael Pedersen, who also co-ordinates a range of student writing prizes and our annual industry and networking event.
The academic staff you will be working with are all active researchers or authors, including well-published and prize-winning writers of poetry, prose fiction and drama. They include:
Over the duration of the programme, you will:
The core activities in Creative Writing are:
We have a large number of option courses to choose from, including preferred courses for fiction and poetry (which will be offered to Creative Writing students in the first instance), and courses from across the Department of English Literature and the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures.
Throughout the programme, you will be expected to attend readings and talks by visiting speakers. Early on, these will be from published writers and, later, advisors from the writing business: literary agents, magazine editors and publishers.
The final element of the programme is your dissertation, a piece of creative writing (worth 60 credits) written with the advice and support of a designated supervisor.
Fiction dissertations are between 15,000 words and 20,000 words, and poetry dissertations between 25 and 30 pages.
On successful completion of this course, you should be able to:
Over the course of this programme, you will complete a body of creative work that has been rigorously peer reviewed.
Our students go on to careers in a wide variety of fields, including:
Some decide to extend their studies and take a PhD with us.
Many of our alumni go on to achieve literary success, publishing novels and short story and poetry collections, and winning awards. Our graduates’ recent successes include:
debut novels from:
debut short story collections from:
debut poetry collections from:
From Arthur’s Seat – stories from the heart of Edinburgh
Tim Tim Cheng
Entry requirements.
These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.
A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in any discipline. This will often be in a directly related subject like English Literature/Creative Writing, but we welcome applicants from all academic backgrounds.
Applicants who are entered into selection will be asked to provide a sample of written work to enable their suitability for the programme to be assessed.
This degree is Band C.
Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:
Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS , TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE , in which case it must be no more than two years old.
We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:
We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).
If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)
Find out more about our language requirements:
Read our general information on tuition fees and studying costs:
Featured funding.
If you are intending to study full time on this Creative Writing programme, you are eligible for a William Hunter Sharpe Memorial Scholarship which will contribute towards your tuition fees.
You do not need to apply for this scholarship – all eligible candidates who apply for the programme by Monday 6 May 2024 will be considered for them and contacted if successful.
If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.
The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:
Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.
Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:
This programme is not currently accepting applications. Applications for the next intake usually open in October.
Start date: September
Due to high demand, the school operates a number of selection deadlines. We will make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis, but hold the majority of applications until the next published selection deadline when we will offer a proportion of the places available to applicants selected through a competitive process.
Please be aware that applications must be submitted and complete, i.e. all required documents uploaded, by the relevant application deadline in order to be considered in that round. Your application will still be considered if you have not yet met the English language requirement for the programme.
Deadlines for applicants applying to study in 2024/25:
Round | Application deadline | Places awarded by |
---|---|---|
1 | 06 November 2023 | 21 December 2023 |
2 | 01 February 2024 | 28 March 2024 |
3 | 30 April 2024 | 25 June 2024 |
4 | 03 June 2024 | 23 July 2024 |
(Revised 27 March 2024 to extend Round 3 application deadline)
The online application process involves the completion of a web form and the submission of supporting documents.
You should supply a portfolio of writing.
These are firm limits.
If you are undecided about whether to apply for fiction or poetry, you should send a sample of both, i.e. six (6) pages of poetry and 2,500-3,500 words of fiction (if offered a place it will be for one or the other).
Work in other forms (for example journalism, life writing or advertising) will not be considered.
When writing your personal statement, consider the following questions:
What (if any) prior experience do you have of studying Creative Writing?
Guidance on the application process and supporting documents
All supporting documents, including references, must be uploaded to the online application system by the deadline date.
Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:
The MSt in Creative Writing is a two-year, part-time master's degree course offering a unique combination of high contact hours, genre specialisation, and critical and creative breadth.
The emphasis of the course is cross-cultural and cross-genre, pointing up the needs and challenges of the contemporary writer who produces their creative work in the context of a global writerly and critical community.
The MSt offers a clustered learning format of five residences, two guided retreats and one research placement over two years. The research placement, a distinguishing feature of the course, provides between one and two weeks' in-house experience of writing in the real world.
The first year concentrates equally on prose fiction, poetry, dramatic writing and narrative non-fiction. There is a significant critical reading and analysis component, which is linked to the writerly considerations explored in each of the genres. In your second year you will specialise in one of the following:
The residences in particular offer an intensive workshop- and seminar-based forum for ideas exchange and for the opening up of creative and critical frameworks within which to develop writerly and analytical skills. There is a strong element of one-to-one tutorial teaching. Tutorials take place within residences and retreats, and relate to the on-going work produced for the course.
You will be assigned a supervisor who will work closely with you throughout the development of the year two final project and extended essay. All assessed work throughout the two years of the course is subject to one-to-one feedback and discussion with a tutor. This intensive, one-to-one input, combined with the highly interactive workshop and seminar sessions, is a distinguishing feature of the course.
The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Department for Continuing Education and this role will usually be performed by the Course Director.
You will be allocated a supervisor to guide and advise you on your creative and critical work throughout the second year.
It is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Department for Continuing Education.
The MSt is assessed by coursework. In the first year, four assignments (two creative, two critical), one creative writing portfolio and one critical essay are submitted. Work is set during each residence and handed in for assessment before the next meeting. Feedback on work submitted is given during tutorials within the residence or retreat. In the second year, submissions comprise one research placement report, one extended critical essay, and a final project – a substantial body of creative work in the genre of choice.
You will be set specific creative and critical work to be completed between residences and handed in to set deadlines. Creative submissions in the first year must be in more than one genre. In the second year, submitted work focuses around the genre of your choice.
Graduate destinations have included publishing creative work in a chosen field, careers in arts/media, and doctoral programmes in creative writing.
The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made in circumstances of a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.
Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.
For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.
Proven and potential academic excellence.
The requirements described below are specific to this course and apply only in the year of entry that is shown. You can use our interactive tool to help you evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .
Please be aware that any studentships that are linked to this course may have different or additional requirements and you should read any studentship information carefully before applying.
As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:
For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA normally sought is 3.6 out of 4.0.
If your degree is not from the UK or another country specified above, visit our International Qualifications page for guidance on the qualifications and grades that would usually be considered to meet the University’s minimum entry requirements.
No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.
This course requires proficiency in English at the University's higher level . If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement. The minimum scores required to meet the University's higher level are detailed in the table below.
Test | Minimum overall score | Minimum score per component |
---|---|---|
IELTS Academic (Institution code: 0713) | 7.5 | 7.0 |
TOEFL iBT, including the 'Home Edition' (Institution code: 0490) | 110 | Listening: 22 Reading: 24 Speaking: 25 Writing: 24 |
C1 Advanced* | 191 | 185 |
C2 Proficiency | 191 | 185 |
*Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English or Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) † Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)
Your test must have been taken no more than two years before the start date of your course. Our Application Guide provides further information about the English language test requirement .
If your ability to meet the entry requirements has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (eg you were awarded an unclassified/ungraded degree) or any other exceptional personal circumstance (eg other illness or bereavement), please refer to the guidance on extenuating circumstances in the Application Guide for information about how to declare this so that your application can be considered appropriately.
You will need to register three referees who can give an informed view of your academic ability and suitability for the course. The How to apply section of this page provides details of the types of reference that are required in support of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.
You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application. The How to apply section of this page provides details of the supporting documents that are required as part of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.
Interviews are normally held as part of the admissions process.
For those applying by the January deadline, interviews are generally held in February and March. For March applicants, interviews are generally held in March and April.
The decision to call an applicant for interview is based on the University Admission Board's assessment of your portfolio, statement of purpose, academic and professional track record and references. Interviews will be conducted in person or by telephone. All applicants whose paper submissions indicate they are qualified for entry will generally be interviewed, either in person or by telephone/Skype. There are always two interviewers. Interviews usually last up to approximately 30 minutes and provide an opportunity for the candidate to discuss his/her application and to explore the course in more detail.
The interview is designed to ascertain, through a range of questions, the shape and emphasis of the candidate's writing and reading, and general suitability for the demands of the MSt.
Your application will be assessed purely on your proven and potential academic excellence and other entry requirements described under that heading.
References and supporting documents submitted as part of your application, and your performance at interview (if interviews are held) will be considered as part of the assessment process. Whether or not you have secured funding will not be taken into consideration when your application is assessed.
An overview of the shortlisting and selection process is provided below. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide more information about how applications are assessed .
Students are considered for shortlisting and selected for admission without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief (including lack of belief), sex, sexual orientation, as well as other relevant circumstances including parental or caring responsibilities or social background. However, please note the following:
Information about processing special category data for the purposes of positive action and using your data to assess your eligibility for funding , can be found in our Postgraduate Applicant Privacy Policy.
All recommendations to admit a student involve the judgement of at least two members of the academic staff with relevant experience and expertise, and must also be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies or Admissions Committee (or equivalent within the department).
Admissions panels or committees will always include at least one member of academic staff who has undertaken appropriate training.
The following factors will also govern whether candidates can be offered places:
If you receive an offer of a place at Oxford, your offer will outline any conditions that you need to satisfy and any actions you need to take, together with any associated deadlines. These may include academic conditions, such as achieving a specific final grade in your current degree course. These conditions will usually depend on your individual academic circumstances and may vary between applicants. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide more information about offers and conditions .
In addition to any academic conditions which are set, you will also be required to meet the following requirements:
If you are offered a place, you will be required to complete a Financial Declaration in order to meet your financial condition of admission.
In accordance with the University’s obligations towards students and staff, we will ask you to declare any relevant, unspent criminal convictions before you can take up a place at Oxford.
The department is committed to supporting you to pursue your academic goals.
The Rewley House Continuing Education Library , one of the Bodleian Libraries, is situated in Rewley House. The department aims to support the wide variety of subjects covered by departmental courses at many academic levels. The department also has a collection of around 73,000 books together with periodicals. PCs in the library give access to the internet and the full range of electronic resources subscribed to by the University of Oxford. Wi-Fi is also available. The Jessop Reading Room adjoining the library is available for study. You will have access to the Central Bodleian and other Bodleian Libraries.
The department's Graduate School provides a stimulating and enriching learning and research environment for the department's graduate students, fostering intellectual and social interaction between graduates of different disciplines and professions from the UK and around the globe. The Graduate School will help you make the most of the wealth of resources and opportunities available, paying particular regard to the support and guidance needed if you are following a part-time graduate programme. The department’s graduate community comprises over 600 members following taught programmes and more than 70 undertaking doctoral research.
The department provides various IT facilities , including the Student Computing Facility which provides individual PCs for your use. Many of the department's courses are delivered through blended learning or have a website to support face-to-face study. In most cases, online support is delivered through a virtual learning environment.
Depending on the programme you are taking with the department, you may require accommodation at some point in your student career. Rewley House is ideally located in central Oxford; the city's historic sites, colleges, museums, shops and restaurants are only a few minutes’ walk away. The department has 35 en-suite study bedrooms, all with high quality amenities, including internet access.
The Rewley House dining room has seating for up to 132 people. A full meal service is available daily. The department operates a Common Room with bar for students.
The need for new learning opportunities throughout life is now recognised throughout society. An intensive, initial period of higher education is not always enough in times of rapid social, economic and technological change. The Department for Continuing Education is known worldwide as a leading provider of extended learning for professional and personal development.
The department provides high-quality, flexible, part-time graduate education, tailored for adults. Students can undertake graduate-level certificates, diplomas and taught master’s degrees in a wide range of subjects. Increasing numbers of courses are delivered in mixed mode, combining intensive periods of residence in Oxford with tutored online study.
The department recruits adult students of all ages on a regional, national and international level. Many courses are offered jointly with other academic departments around the University. Courses are offered in the following areas:
All postgraduate students on the department's courses are members of its Graduate School. The Graduate School aims to provide a stimulating and enriching environment for learning and research. It also fosters intellectual and social interaction between students coming from different disciplines and professions. Interdisciplinary research seminars, training opportunities and other events are offered by the Graduate School in support of this goal.
All masters' and DPhil applicants are considered for Clarendon Scholarships . The department is committed to seeking scholarship support for other students wherever possible.
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The University expects to be able to offer over 1,000 full or partial graduate scholarships across the collegiate University in 2024-25. You will be automatically considered for the majority of Oxford scholarships , if you fulfil the eligibility criteria and submit your graduate application by the relevant December or January deadline. Most scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or potential.
For further details about searching for funding as a graduate student visit our dedicated Funding pages, which contain information about how to apply for Oxford scholarships requiring an additional application, details of external funding, loan schemes and other funding sources.
Please ensure that you visit individual college websites for details of any college-specific funding opportunities using the links provided on our college pages or below:
Please note that not all the colleges listed above may accept students on this course. For details of those which do, please refer to the College preference section of this page.
Further information about funding opportunities for this course can be found on the department's website.
Home | £9,630 |
Overseas | £15,105 |
IMPORTANT : Please note that while most of the content of these pages relates to the course starting in 2024-25, this information about course fees and the additional information section on this page relate to entry in 2025-26 . The remaining content will be updated for 2025-26 entry later in September.
Course fees are payable each year, for the duration of your fee liability (your fee liability is the length of time for which you are required to pay course fees). For courses lasting longer than one year, please be aware that fees will usually increase annually. For details, please see our guidance on changes to fees and charges .
Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. Unless specified in the additional information section below, course fees do not cover your accommodation, residential costs or other living costs. They also don’t cover any additional costs and charges that are outlined in the additional information below.
The Fees and Funding section of this website provides further information about course fees , including information about fee status and eligibility and your length of fee liability .
This course has residential sessions (residences and retreats) in Oxford. You will need to meet your travel costs in attending these sessions. The tuition fee includes the cost of board and lodging during the residences and retreats (eg for a four day residence, three nights accommodation will be provided). Further, as part of your course requirements, you will need to complete a research placement in the second year. For this placement you will need to meet your travel and accommodation costs, and any other incidental expenses. You may be able to apply for small grants from your department and/or college to help you cover some of these expenses. Further information about departmental funding can be found on the department's website. Please check with your specific college for bursary or other funding possibilities.
In addition to your course fees, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.
For the 2024-25 academic year, the range of likely living costs for full-time study is between c. £1,345 and £1,955 for each month spent in Oxford. Full information, including a breakdown of likely living costs in Oxford for items such as food, accommodation and study costs, is available on our living costs page. The current economic climate and high national rate of inflation make it very hard to estimate potential changes to the cost of living over the next few years. When planning your finances for any future years of study in Oxford beyond 2024-25, it is suggested that you allow for potential increases in living expenses of around 5% each year – although this rate may vary depending on the national economic situation. UK inflationary increases will be kept under review and this page updated.
If you are studying part-time your living costs may vary depending on your personal circumstances but you must still ensure that you will have sufficient funding to meet these costs for the duration of your course.
Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. Please note that ‘college’ and ‘colleges’ refers to all 43 of the University’s colleges, including those designated as societies and permanent private halls (PPHs).
If you apply for a place on this course you will have the option to express a preference for one of the colleges listed below, or you can ask us to find a college for you. Before deciding, we suggest that you read our brief introduction to the college system at Oxford and our advice about expressing a college preference .
If you are a current Oxford student and you would like to remain at your current Oxford college, you should check whether it is listed below. If it is, you should indicate this preference when you apply. If not, you should contact your college office to ask whether they would be willing to make an exception. Further information about staying at your current college can be found in our Application Guide.
The following colleges accept students on the MSt in Creative Writing:
Our guide to getting started provides general advice on how to prepare for and start your application. You can use our interactive tool to help you evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .
If it's important for you to have your application considered under a particular deadline – eg under a December or January deadline in order to be considered for Oxford scholarships – we recommend that you aim to complete and submit your application at least two weeks in advance . Check the deadlines on this page and the information about deadlines and when to apply in our Application Guide.
An application fee of £75 is payable for each application to this course. Application fee waivers are available for the following applicants who meet the eligibility criteria:
You are encouraged to check whether you're eligible for an application fee waiver before you apply.
You do not need to make contact with the department before you apply but you are encouraged to visit the relevant departmental webpages to read any further information about your chosen course.
If you have any questions about the course, these should be directed to the course administrator via the contact details provided on this page.
You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents .
If any document does not meet the specification, including the stipulated word count, your application may be considered incomplete and not assessed by the academic department. Expand each section to show further details.
Whilst you must register three referees, the department may start the assessment of your application if two of the three references are submitted by the course deadline and your application is otherwise complete. Please note that you may still be required to ensure your third referee supplies a reference for consideration.
Your references will support your commitment to creative writing and suitability to pursue a course of this nature at graduate level. Both professional and academic references are acceptable.
Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date. You should only upload official documents issued by your institution and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation.
More information about the transcript requirement is available in the Application Guide.
A CV/résumé is compulsory for all applications. Most applicants choose to submit a document of one to two pages highlighting their academic and writerly achievements and any relevant professional experience.
The statement of purpose should contain sufficient detail to allow it to be assessed against the indicated criteria.
Your statement should be written in English and explain your motivation for applying for the course at Oxford, your relevant experience and education, and the specific areas that interest you and/or in which you intend to specialise.
If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document.
This will be assessed for:
Your portfolio of creative writing for assessment can be in any of the four genres, or in more than one. It should be clearly indicative of your ability in creative writing.
This will be assessed for excellence in creative writing.
You can start or return to an application using the relevant link below. As you complete the form, please refer to the requirements above and consult our Application Guide for advice .
Application Guide Apply
Closed to applications for entry in 2024-25
Register to be notified via email when the next application cycle opens (for entry in 2025-26)
12:00 midday UK time on:
Latest deadline for most Oxford scholarships
Applications may remain open after this deadline if places are still available - see below
If places are still available, applications may be accepted after 4 March . The Admission status (above) will provide notice of any later deadline.
Part Time Only | |
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Course code | TS_NV9P1 |
Expected length | 2 years |
Places in 2024-25 | c. 30 |
Applications/year* | 345 |
Expected start | |
English language |
*Three-year average (applications for entry in 2021-22 to 2023-24)
This course is offered by the Department for Continuing Education
Advice about contacting the department can be found in the How to apply section of this page
✉ [email protected] ☎ +44 (0)1865 280145
See the application guide
We are unable to sponsor student visas for part-time study on this course. Part-time students may be able to attend on a visitor visa for short blocks of time only (and leave after each visit) and will need to remain based outside the UK.
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MA Creative Writing
Masters applications for 2023 entry are now closed.
Applications for September 2024 will open on Monday 25 September. Applications are now open for programmes with a January 2024 start. View our programmes »
UCAS code | 1234 |
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Duration | 1 year full time 2 years part time |
Entry year | September 2024 |
Campus | Streatham Campus |
Discipline | |
Contact | Programme Director: |
Typical offer
| 2:2 Honours degree |
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Programme Director: Professor Andy Brown
Web: Enquire online
Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72
Discover MA Creative Writing at the University of Exeter.
88% of our English research is internationally excellent
Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, submitted to UoA27 English Language and Literature
Top 50 in the world for English Language and Literature
QS World University Subject Rankings 2024
A thriving and supportive writing community - our team of prize-winning and best-selling authors will help you develop your creative writing skills
Top 10 in the UK for English
9th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024
We will consider applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree with 53% or above in their first degree in a relevant subject area. While we normally only consider applicants who meet this criteria, if you are coming from a different academic background which is equivalent to degree level, or have relevant work experience, we would welcome your application.
Applicants will be asked to submit a sample of creative writing which can be roughly 2,000 words of prose or 3-4 poems.
English language requirements.
International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile E . Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.
The MA in Creative Writing is designed for students to develop a longer piece of work during the MA, or find out what their strengths are in the different forms. It is for people, of any age, whether recent graduates or older, who wish to grow their talent quickly by acquiring knowledge and practice in the art of fiction, poetry, life-writing, nature writing or the writing of screenplays.
Our Creative Writing staff are well-published, practicing writers who take great pride in designing and delivering modules in their specialist areas.
Full time students take two modules in term 1, two modules in term 2, and write their dissertations in term 3. Each module has one two-hour seminar per week, with homework set that involves intensive, self-motivated practice and research.
The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
Stage 1: 60 credits of compulsory modules and 120 credits of optional modules (you may take up 30 credits from the MA English Literary Studies)
All students must take EASM123 Creative Writing Dissertation.
Code | Module | Credits |
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Creative Writing Dissertation | 60 |
You must choose 120 credits of optional modules (30 credits can come from English Literary Studies)
Code | Module | Credits |
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The Poetry of Events - Building a Plot | 30 | |
Publishing and Power: Black and Asian Literary Networks in the UK | 30 | |
Writing Nature: Ecology, Place, Memoir (Creative Writing) | 30 | |
The Structures of Realism | 30 | |
Writing for the Screen | 30 | |
Image, Shape and Music | 30 | |
Prose Writing Workshop | 30 | |
Writing for the Planet: Creative Writing as Climate and Ecological Activism | 30 | |
Story Machines: Interactive Texts and Narrative Games | 30 | |
Text & Image: Creative Writing | 30 | |
Making Progress? Literature in a Changing Environment | 30 | |
The Cultures of American Modernism | 30 | |
Criticism and Theory: Current Debates | 30 | |
Bodies Politic: Cultural and Sexual Politics in England, 1603-1679 | 30 | |
Revival and Return: Using the Past from Pope to Keats | 30 | |
Empire, Decadence and Modernity: Literature 1870-1910 | 30 | |
Modernism and Material Culture | 30 | |
Criticism and Theory: Critical and Literary Theory in a Global Context | 30 | |
The Body and Identity | 30 | |
The Literature of Cold War America | 30 | |
World Cinema / World Literature | 30 | |
Publishing and Power: Black and Asian Literary Networks in the UK | 30 | |
Expanding Queerness: Critical Debates in Theory, Literature, Film and Television | 30 | |
Writing Women in the English Middle Ages | 30 | |
Translation and Publishing: New Approaches to Literary Activism | 30 | |
Crossing Medieval Boundaries | 30 | |
Environments of Early Modern Drama | 30 | |
Global Voices: Shakespeare and the Early Modern World | 30 |
Uk fees per year:.
£12,000 full-time; £6,000 part-time
£24,300 full-time; £12,150 part-time
For more information on scholarships, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.
*Selected programmes only. Please see the Terms and Conditions for each scheme for further details.
Find out more about tuition fees and funding »
Learning and teaching.
Whether you already know what kind of books or screenplays you wish to write or are still searching for the best form in which to express your creativity, we offer the chance to try your hand in a range of genres, and to benefit from feedback tailored to your writing needs.
A programme of visiting speakers takes place throughout the academic year with writers, publishers and agents coming to talk to students about the next steps in their careers. The roll call changes every year to reflect both our students’ interests and new trends. Recent guest lecturers have included the Booker prize winning novelist Hilary Mantel; the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize-winning novelist Hisham Matar; the Pulitzer Prize winning US Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey; the writer, editor and publisher Richard Cohen, and many others.
Our MA can be taken over one-year full time, or two years part time. During your study, you will build a portfolio of creative work for possible publication, including a dissertation in your chosen genre. You will also be able to take a range of optional modules and explore literary genres and forms with a mutually supportive, like-minded group of fellow writers.
Exeter’s creative writing staff practise and publish in a range of literary genres. Their experience of the literary world is not limited to writing and teaching. They also worked – and continue to work - as editors, publishers, agents, radio producers, and journalists. This wealth of experience is reflected in the vibrancy and diversity of our workshops and tutorials.
As a creative writing student, you will also benefit from the academic expertise of the many world-leading scholars working in the English Department at our Exeter Campus, a lively community of doctoral students, and the activities of four dedicated research centres: the Medieval and Renaissance Research Group; the 18th-Century Narrative Consortium; the Victorian Studies Research Group; and the 20th and 21st Century Literature, Creative Writing and Film Research Group.
Andy has a notable national reputation as a poet, poetry commentator and poetry tutor. He is the author of 10 poetry collections and editor of several anthologies, including A Body of Work: Poetry & Medical Writing , for Bloomsbury. He has interests in Ecopoetics, and the Medical Humanities, and often collaborates with scientists. He is also a musician who performs regularly around the region.
Profile page
John is an award-winning poet, prose nonfiction writer and broadcaster. His full poetry collections include Ghost Pot (2013) and Landfill (2017) both of which explore place, ecology and the relationship between science and poetry. He regularly works across disciplines and has led major Arts Council-funded arts projects including Dictionary of Stone and Sea Swim. He presented The Books that Made Britain (2016) & Through the Lens of Larkin (2017), both for BBC4.
A prize-winning poet, memoirist, novelist and broadcaster. Vensa’s books have been translated into twenty languages and serialised by the BBC. Before becoming an academic in English Literature and Creative Writing, Vesna spent fifteen years in publishing and as a producer at the BBC.
Sam has written eight novels, two books on the craft of writing, and two films. In 2010 he won an Eric Gregory Award; in 2004 his novel The Unnumbered was long-listed for the Man-Booker prize. His first novel won the Somerset Maugham Award.
An internationally successful children’s writer, as well as an academic with nearly twenty years lecturing experience. Since her debut in 2012, Wendy has published 15 children’s books and her work has been translated into 16 languages. Award-winning titles include: A Hen in the Wardrobe (2012), the Wendy Quill series (2013-2015), and How the Library (not the Prince) Saved Rapunzel (2015).
Ellen’s first novel, The Invisible Crowd (Harper Collins, 2017) was awarded a Victor Turner Prize. Her first book, Saffron Shadows and Salvaged Scripts: Literary Life in Myanmar Under Censorship and in Transition (Columbia University Press, 2015) was the first to explore this literary culture through interviews and translations. Her new book, Live Literature: The Experience and Cultural Value of Literary Performance Events from Salons to Festivals (Palgrave, 2021), uses literary ethnography to explore participant experience, and has been described as ‘groundbreaking’, ‘stylish’, and ‘compelling’.
Ben’s debut novel Doggerland uses the lens of speculative fiction to engage with pressing contemporary issues such as renewable energy, ocean waste, climate change and the scale-effects of the Anthropocene. It was selected as a Guardian Book of the Year 2019.
Nazneen writes fiction for children and poetry for adults. Her first book, City of Stolen Magic , a historical fantasy for middle-grade readers, comes out with Puffin in summer 2023. She is represented by Louise Lamont at LBA Books, and currently holds the post of Hampshire Poet for 2022-23.
Whether your ambition is to become a full-time writer, a teacher of writing, or to develop a creative career which includes writing in one of its many forms, we have a strong track record of supporting our students through to publication and doctoral level work.
While at Exeter, our MA students publish their creative work in RIPTIDE and in the new postgraduate journal EXCLAMATION . The Creative Writing Society also run a journal called Enigma.
Former University of Exeter students who have gone on to develop a writing career include poets such as Luke Kennard, Abi Curtis, Eleanor Rees, Izzy Galleymore, Jaime Robles, Jos Smith, Sally Flint, and Samuel Tongue; novelists Virginia Baily, Lucy Wood, and Ruth Gilligan; and non-fiction writers such as Miriam Darlington.
Many of our former students now work in film, broadcasting, advertising, journalism, PR, publishing, teaching – including the teaching of creative writing – as well as other careers in the growing number of fields where good writing is an asset.
While studying at Exeter you can also access a range of activities, advice and practical help to give you the best chance of following your chosen career path. For more information visit Careers pages .
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The majority of students are based at our Streatham Campus in Exeter. The campus is one of the most beautiful in the country and offers a unique environment in which to study, with lakes, parkland, woodland and gardens as well as modern and historical buildings.
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Penryn Campus near Falmouth, Cornwall
Our Penryn Campus is located near Falmouth in Cornwall. It is consistently ranked highly for satisfaction: students report having a highly personal experience that is intellectually stretching but great fun, providing plenty of opportunities to quickly get to know everyone.
Find out more about Penryn Campus.
Many people have a talent for stories, but not everyone will become a successful author. In many cases, people simply need to hone their skills – and the best MFA creative writing programs are the key.
If you have an undergrad degree and are looking for the next step in your academic adventure, you’re in luck: We’ve scoured MFA creative writing rankings to find you the best programs.
Table of Contents
1. johns hopkins university – krieger school of arts & sciences.
Located in Baltimore, Maryland, Johns Hopkins is a world-renowned private research university. Their Master of Fine Arts in Fiction/Poetry is one of the best MFA creative writing programs anywhere. Students take courses and receive writing practice (in fiction or poetry) at the highest level. This MFA program also offers the opportunity to learn with an internationally renowned faculty.
The University of Michigan is a public research university – and the oldest in the state. Its Master of Fine Arts program is one of the best MFA creative writing programs in the country, exposing students to various approaches to the craft. While studying under award-winning poets and writers, students may specialize in either poetry or fiction.
The University of Texas at Austin is a well-known public research university with around 50,000 students at the graduate and undergraduate levels. It offers one of the best MFA programs for creative writing, aiming to enhance and develop its students’ artistic and intellectual abilities.
The University of Nebraska strives to provide quality, affordable education, including its online MA English program. Students can focus on four areas, including Creative Writing (which provides experiential learning in either poetry or prose).
Bay Path University is a private university with various programs at undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate levels (including women-only undergraduate programs). This creative non-fiction writing program is one of the first fully online programs in the country. No matter their location, students are able to develop their creative writing skills and knowledge – in a range of literary genres.
Brown is a world-famous Ivy League university based in Providence, Rhode Island. Its two-year residency MFA in Literary Arts is designed for students looking to maximize their intellectual and creative exploration. The highly competitive program offers extensive financial support. In fact, over the past 20 years, all incoming MFA students were awarded full funding for their first year of study (and many for the second year).
The University of Iowa is a public university located in Iowa City. As one of the most celebrated public schools in the Midwest, students learn under established professors and promising writers during their two-year residency program.
Cornell is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York. This highly competitive program accepts only eight students annually, and just two from each concentration. Not only do students enjoy a generous financial aid package, but they also have the opportunity to work closely with members of the school’s celebrated faculty.
Founded in 1754, Columbia University is the oldest tertiary education institution in New York – and one of the oldest in the country. The school offers a Writing MFA in nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and literary translation. The fiction concentration promotes artistic and aesthetic diversity, with a diverse teaching staff and adjunct faculty from a wide range of diverse experience.
New York University (NYU) is known for delivering high-quality, innovative education in various fields. Located in the heart of NYC, the institution’s MFA in Creative Writing boasts celebrated faculty from poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction backgrounds. This dynamic program fosters creativity and excellence through literary outreach programs, public reading series, a literary journal, and special seminars from visiting writers
As part of your master’s in creative writing program, you’ll usually need to complete a number of compulsory courses, along with certain electives. Common courses you’ll need to take include:
Besides the application form and fee, most MFA in creative writing programs have standard requirements. While the following are the most typical requirements, always check with the specific program first:
Make sure your resume includes all relevant information to showcase your interests, skills, and talent in writing.
MFA creative writing program selection committees look for applicants who are serious about writing. Therefore, they typically ask for at least one 10-20 page writing sample. The best samples showcase talent in your preferred area of writing (e.g., fiction, non-fiction). MFA poetry programs have varied sample requirements.
You’ll need to show your undergraduate degree (and possibly high school) transcript.
A statement of purpose is usually 1-2 pages and shows your passion for writing and potential to succeed in the program.
Most programs require letters of recommendation from academic or professional contacts who know you well.
Related reading: How to Ask a Professor for a Grad School Recommendation
Some MFA programs require GRE scores (though this is not the case for all universities). If you happen to need some assistance while studying for your GRE or GMAT, be sure to check out Magoosh for easy test prep!
As a creative writer with an MFA, you’ll have a variety of career options where your skills are highly valued. Below are a few of the common jobs an MFA creative writing graduate can do, along with the average annual salary for each.
A creative director leads a team of creative writers, designers, or artists in various fields, such as media, advertising, or entertainment.
An editor helps correct writing errors and improve the style and flow in media, broadcasting, films, advertising, marketing , and entertainment.
An academic librarian manages educational information resources in an academic environment (such as a university).
Copywriters typically work to present an idea to a particular audience and capture their attention using as few words as possible.
Technical writers are tasked with instruction manuals, guides, journal articles, and other documents. These convey complex details and technical information to a wider audience.
A writer usually provides written content for businesses through articles, marketing content, blogs, or product descriptions. They may also write fiction or non-fiction books.
A social media manager is responsible for creating and scheduling content on social media, and may also track analytics and develop social media strategies.
Journalists may work for newspapers, magazines, or online publications, researching and writing stories, as well as conducting interviews and investigations.
A public relations officer works to promote and improve the public image of a company, government agency, or organization. This is done through work such as: preparing media releases, online content, and dealing with the media.
Lexicographers are the professionals who create dictionaries. They study words’ etymologies and meanings, compiling them into a dictionary.
Yes, a number of institutions offer online master’s degrees , such as Bay Path University and the University of Nebraska. Online courses offer a high degree of flexibility, allowing you to study from anywhere – and often on your own schedule. Many students can earn their degrees while continuing with their current job or raising a family.
However, students won’t receive the full benefits of a residency program, such as building close connections with peers and working with the faculty in person. Some on-campus programs also offer full funding to cover tuition and education expenses.
Like anything, studying an MFA in Creative Writing and pursuing a related career can have its benefits as well as drawbacks.
Many people are talented but struggle sitting down to write. An MFA program will give you the motivation to meet your deadlines.
Writing can be a solitary pursuit. It can be hard to connect with others who are just as passionate about writing. An MFA program provides students with a community of like-minded people.
An MFA is one option that can help you find a teaching job at the university level. Unlike some majors that require a Ph.D. to enter academia, many post-secondary instructors hold an MFA.
Although an MFA in Creative Writing will provide several useful skills in the job market, these are not as marketable as some other forms of writing. For example, copywriting arguably has a wider range of job prospects.
There is a risk that your writing could become too technical or formulaic, due to the theories learned during your MFA. It’s important to know the theory, but you don’t want to let it limit your creativity.
A master’s in creative writing typically takes between 2-3 years to complete. Unlike other master’s degrees’ accelerated options, creative writing program requirements require a greater number of workshops and dissertations.
There are plenty of similar majors that can set you on the path to a career in the creative writing field. Consider alternatives like an MA in English , literature, humanities, media studies, and library sciences.
Related Reading: Master’s in Fine Arts: The Ultimate Guide
What can i do with an mfa in creative writing .
An MFA graduate could teach creative writing at a secondary or college level. They may pursue a career in advertising, publishing, media, or the entertainment industry. They could also become an author by publishing fiction, non-fiction, or poetry.
Having an MFA opens doors to a range of well-paid careers (more on that above). If you’re skilled in writing – and want to make a decent living with it – an MFA program might be an excellent choice.
First, consider whether an on-campus or online MFA program is best for you (depending on your lifestyle and commitments). Another key consideration is a university with renowned authors on their teaching staff who will give you the highest levels of training in creative writing. Also, consider your preferred focus area (e.g., fiction, poetry, nonfiction) .
An MFA in writing or creative writing is an advanced program that teaches students the art and practice of writing. During these programs, students hone their writing skills and equip themselves to publish their own work – or pursue a career in media, teaching, or advertising.
Yes! Teaching is one of the many career options an MFA provides . An MFA in creative writing can qualify you to be a teacher in creative writing (in schools or the higher education sector).
MFA creative writing programs are relatively competitive. Therefore, not all applicants will get into the program of their choice. However, if you are talented and ambitious that becomes more likely. Having said that, the most prestigious universities with the best MFA creative writing programs accept a small percentage of the applicants.
A number of creative writing programs are known for their famous faculty and excellent courses, like the Master of Fine Arts in Fiction/ Poetry from Johns Hopkins and the MFA in Literary Arts from Brown University . Outside the US, the most celebrated English program is likely the University of Cambridge’s MSt in Creative Writing.
An MFA is an intensive, highly-involved degree that requires a certain amount of dedication. Anyone with a passion for creative writing should find it rewarding and satisfying.
Whether you choose an MA or MFA in creative writing depends on your own interests and career ambitions. An MFA in creative writing is ideal for anyone passionate about pursuing a career in fiction, poetry, or creative non-fiction. An MA is a broader degree that equips students for a wider range of career choices (though it will qualify them for many of the same roles as an MFA).
Absolutely. However, studying for an MFA will equip you with a range of skills and knowledge that are extremely helpful in getting your work published, from honing your craft to submitting your manuscript to working with publishers.
An MFA in creative writing can help you land a range of jobs in the creative and literary fields. The highest-paying jobs for graduates with a master’s in creative writing include creative directors ($90,000) and technical writers ($78,000).
An MFA in creative writing program will hone your talents and develop the skills you need to become a successful writer. The best MFA creative writing programs will give you incredible knowledge of the field while developing your practical skills in fiction, non-fiction, or poetry.
The acceptance rate for the best MFA writing programs is fairly low, so it’s crucial to understand the requirements well and prepare thoroughly. To help you with your application, check out our guide to applying to grad school .
Lisa is a full-time writer specializing in career advice, further education, and personal development. She works from all over the world, and when not writing you'll find her hiking, practicing yoga, or enjoying a glass of Malbec.
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Find details about every creative writing competition—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, grants for translators, and more—that we’ve published in the Grants & Awards section of Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it in the Writing Contests database, the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.
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Well over ten thousand poets and writers maintain listings in this essential resource for writers interested in connecting with their peers, as well as editors, agents, and reading series coordinators looking for authors. Apply today to join the growing community of writers who stay in touch and informed using the Poets & Writers Directory.
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Find information about more than two hundred full- and low-residency programs in creative writing in our MFA Programs database, which includes details about deadlines, funding, class size, core faculty, and more. Also included is information about more than fifty MA and PhD programs.
Whether you are looking to meet up with fellow writers, agents, and editors, or trying to find the perfect environment to fuel your writing practice, the Conferences & Residencies is the essential resource for information about well over three hundred writing conferences, writers residencies, and literary festivals around the world.
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Each year the Readings & Workshops program provides support to hundreds of writers participating in literary readings and conducting writing workshops. Learn more about this program, our special events, projects, and supporters, and how to contact us.
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Our MFA database includes essential information about low- and full-residency graduate creative writing programs in the United States and other English-speaking countries to help you decide where to apply.
Poetry: Jan-Henry Gray, Maya Marshall Prose: Katherine Hill, René Steinke, Igor Webb
Poetry: Paul Robichaud Fiction: Sarah Harris Wallman Nonfiction: Eric Schoeck
Poetry: Leslie Contreras Schwartz, Jim Daniels, Benjamin Garcia Fiction: Karen E. Bender, Shonda Buchanan, Dhonielle Clayton, S. Kirk Walsh Creative Nonfiction: Anna Clark, Matthew Gavin Frank, Donald Quist, Robert Vivian
Poetry: Kyle Dargan, David Keplinger Fiction: Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Stephanie Grant, Patricia Park Nonfiction: Rachel Louise Snyder
Poetry: Victoria Chang Prose: Lisa Locascio
Poetry: Genevieve Betts, Michelle Reale Fiction: Stephanie Feldman, Joshua Isard, Tracey Levine, Eric Smith Literature: Matthew Heitzman, Christopher Varlack, Elizabeth Vogel, Jo Ann Weiner
Poetry: Genevieve Betts, Michelle Reale Fiction: Stephanie Feldman, Joshua Isard, Tracey Levine, Eric Smith
Poetry: Sally Ball, Natalie Diaz, Alberto Álvaro Ríos, Safiya Sinclair Fiction: Matt Bell, Jenny Irish, Tara Ison, Mitchell Jackson, T. M. McNally Creative Nonfiction: Sarah Viren
Poetry: Dexter Booth, Marcelo Hernandez Castillo, Adam Gellings, Tess Taylor, Vanessa Angélica Villareal Fiction: Kirstin Chen, Edan Lepucki, Sarah Monette, Nayomi Munaweera, Vi Khi Nao, Naomi J. Williams, Kyle Winkler Nonfiction: Cass Donish, Kate Hopper, Lauren Markham, Thomas Mira y Lopez, Lisa Nikolidakis, Terese Mailhot
Poetry: Michael Kleber-Diggs Fiction: Stephan Eirik Clark, Lindsay Starck Nonfiction: Anika Fajardo Playwriting: Carson Kreitzer, TyLie Shider, Sarah Myers Screenwriting: Stephan Eirik Clark, Andy Froemke
Poetry: Katy Didden, Mark Neely Fiction: Cathy Day, Sean Lovelace Nonfiction: Jill Christman, Silas Hansen Screenwriting: Rani Deighe Crowe, Matt Mullins
Jess Arndt, Shiv Kotecha, Mirene Arsanios, Hannah Black, Trisha Low, Christoper Perez, Julian Talamantez Brolaski, Simone White
Poetry: Lucy English, Tim Liardet, John Strachan, Samantha Walton, Gerard Woodward Fiction: Gavin James Bower, Celia Brayfield, Alexia Casale, Anne-Marie Crowhurst, Lucy English, Nathan Filer, Aminatta Forna, Samantha Harvey, Philip Hensher, Steve Hollyman, Emma Hooper, Claire Kendal, Natasha Pulley, Kate Pullinger, C.J. Skuse, Gerard Woodward Nonfiction: Celia Brayfield, Lily Dunn, Richard Kerridge Scriptwriting: Robin Mukherjee
Poetry: Lucy English, Tim Liardet, Gerard Woodward Fiction: Gavin James Bower, Celia Brayfield, Anne-Marie Crowhurst, Nathan Filer, Aminatta Forna, Samantha Harvey, Philip Hensher, Claire Kendal, Natasha Pulley, Kate Pullinger, Gerard Woodward Nonfiction: Lily Dunn, Richard Kerridge
Mel Allen, Leanna James Blackwell, Jennifer Baker, Melanie Brooks, María Luisa Arroyo Cruzado, Shahnaz Habib, Susan Ito, Karol Jackowski, Yi Shun Lai, Anna Mantzaris, Meredith O’Brien, Mick Powell, Suzanne Strempek Shea, Tommy Shea, Kate Whouley
Poetry: Jennifer Chang, Michael Dumanis, Randall Mann, Craig Morgan Teicher, Mark Wunderlich Fiction: Peter Cameron, Jai Chakrabarti, Stacey D’Erasmo, Monica Ferrell, Rebecca Makkai, Stuart Nadler, Téa Obreht, Moriel Rothman-Zecher, Katy Simpson Smith, Taymour Soomro Nonfiction: Garrard Conley, Sabrina Orah Mark, Spencer Reece, Lance Richardson, Shawna Kay Rodenberg, Hugh Ryan, Greg Wrenn
Poetry: Tina Chang, Joseph Weil Fiction: Amir Ahmdi Arian, Thomas Glave, Leslie L. Heywood, Claire Luchette, Liz Rosenberg, Jaimee Wriston-Colbert, Alexi Zentner Nonfiction: Amir Ahmdi Arian, Leslie L. Heywood
Poetry: Julie Hensley, Young Smith Fiction: Julie Hensley, Robert Dean Johnson Nonfiction: Robert Dean Johnson, Evan J. Massey Playwriting: Young Smith
Poetry: Martin Corless-Smith, Sara Nicholson, Taryn Schwilling Fiction: Mitch Wieland (Director), Anna Caritj Creative Nonfiction: Chris Violet Eaton, Clyde Moneyhun
Poetry: Andrea Cohen, Karl Kirchwey, Robert Pinsky Fiction: Leslie Epstein, Jennifer Haigh, Ha Jin
Odile Cazenave, Yuri Corrigan, Margaret Litvin, Christopher Maurer, Roberta Micaleff, Robert Pinsky (advising), Stephen Scully, Sassan Tabatabai, J. Keith Vincent, William Waters, Dennis Wuerthner, Cathy Yeh, Anna Zielinska-Elliott
Poetry: Abigail Cloud, Amorak Huey, Sharona Muir, F. Dan Rzicznek, Larissa Szporluk, Jessica Zinz-Cheresnick Fiction: Joe Celizic, Lawrence Coates, Reema Rajbanshi, Michael Schulz
Poetry: Kimberly Johnson, Lance Larsen, Michael Lavers, John Talbot Fiction: Chris Crowe, Ann Dee Ellis, Spencer Hyde, Stephen Tuttle Nonfiction: Joey Franklin, Patrick Madden
Poetry: Julie Agoos, Ben Lerner Fiction: Joshua Henkin, Madeleine Thien Playwriting: Dennis A. Allen II, Elana Greenfield
Program Details The core of the curriculum consists of writing workshops that concentrate on the production of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. The second-year thesis hours (ENG 768) are dedicated to shaping each student’s work into book form. In addition, students must defend their thesis in an oral exam. Total credits must add up to 30 hours of coursework following a plan drawn up by the MFA creative writing faculty. The Department offers funding in the form of Teaching Assistantships (with a tuition scholarship, health insurance, and stipend of at least $19,000 each year - students funded through UK must take three courses each semester). The thesis component of the MFA degree consists of a substantial body of original writing and an oral examination. Both are required for successful completion of the MFA degree. The thesis will be a substantial body of original writing—over 120 pages of fiction (short stories, novella or novel), non-fiction, or a collection of approximately 48 poems. A committee of three faculty members chosen by the student and approved by the Director of Creative Writing must approve the thesis.
Course Requirements
Application Details:
Students are admitted for the Fall semester only. We will begin reviewing applications on January 15, 2024 and admissions decisions will be communicated to applicants by April 15, 2024. Please be sure to fill out the teaching assistant application form and upload it with your online admissions application. For application details, see here . If you have additional questions, please contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Professor Andrew Milward.
Are you seeking one-on-one college counseling and/or essay support? Limited spots are now available. Click here to learn more.
May 15, 2024
Whether you studied at a top creative writing university or are a high school dropout who will one day become a bestselling author , you may be considering an MFA in Creative Writing. But is a writing MFA genuinely worth the time and potential costs? How do you know which program will best nurture your writing? If you’re considering an MFA, this article walks you through the best full-time, low residency, and online Creative Writing MFA programs in the United States.
Before we get into the meat and potatoes of this article, let’s start with the basics. What is an MFA, anyway?
A Master of Fine Arts (MFA) is a graduate degree that usually takes from two to three years to complete. Applications typically require a sample portfolio, usually 10-20 pages (and sometimes up to 30-40) of your best writing. Moreover, you can receive an MFA in a particular genre, such as Fiction or Poetry, or more broadly in Creative Writing. However, if you take the latter approach, you often have the opportunity to specialize in a single genre.
Wondering what actually goes on in a creative writing MFA beyond inspiring award-winning books and internet memes ? You enroll in workshops where you get feedback on your creative writing from your peers and a faculty member. You enroll in seminars where you get a foundation of theory and techniques. Then, you finish the degree with a thesis project. Thesis projects are typically a body of polished, publishable-quality creative work in your genre—fiction, nonfiction, or poetry.
You don’t need an MFA to be a writer. Just look at Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison or bestselling novelist Emily St. John Mandel.
Nonetheless, there are plenty of reasons you might still want to get a creative writing MFA. The first is, unfortunately, prestige. An MFA from a top program can help you stand out in a notoriously competitive industry to be published.
The second reason: time. Many MFA programs give you protected writing time, deadlines, and maybe even a (dainty) salary.
Third, an MFA in Creative Writing is a terminal degree. This means that this degree allows you to teach writing at the university level, especially after you publish a book.
Fourth: resources. MFA programs are often staffed by brilliant, award-winning writers; offer lecture series, volunteer opportunities, and teaching positions; and run their own (usually prestigious) literary magazines. Such resources provide you with the knowledge and insight you’ll need to navigate the literary and publishing world on your own post-graduation.
But above all, the biggest reason to pursue an MFA is the community it brings you. You get to meet other writers—and share feedback, advice, and moral support—in relationships that can last for decades.
Here are the different types of programs to consider, depending on your needs:
These programs offer full-tuition scholarships and sweeten the deal by actually paying you to attend them.
These programs include attending in-person classes and paying tuition (though many offer need-based and merit scholarships).
Low-residency programs usually meet biannually for short sessions. They also offer one-on-one support throughout the year. These MFAs are more independent, preparing you for what the writing life is actually like.
Held 100% online. These programs have high acceptance rates and no residency requirement. That means zero travel or moving expenses.
The following programs are selected for their balance of high funding, impressive return on investment, stellar faculty, major journal publications , and impressive alums.
1) johns hopkins university , mfa in fiction/poetry.
This two-year program offers an incredibly generous funding package: $39,000 teaching fellowships each year. Not to mention, it offers that sweet, sweet health insurance, mind-boggling faculty, and the option to apply for a lecture position after graduation. Many grads publish their first book within three years (nice). No nonfiction MFA (boo).
The only MFA that offers full and equal funding for every writer. It’s three years long, offers a generous yearly stipend of $30k, and provides full tuition plus a health insurance stipend. Fiction, poetry, playwriting, and screenwriting concentrations are available. The Michener Center is also unique because you study a primary genre and a secondary genre, and also get $4,000 for the summer.
The Iowa Writers’ Workshop is a 2-year program on a residency model for fiction and poetry. This means there are low requirements, and lots of time to write groundbreaking novels or play pool at the local bar. All students receive full funding, including tuition, a living stipend, and subsidized health insurance. The Translation MFA , co-founded by Gayatri Chakravorti Spivak, is also two years long but with more intensive coursework. The Nonfiction Writing Program is a prestigious three-year MFA program and is also intensive.
4) university of michigan.
Anne Carson famously lives in Ann Arbor, as do the MFA students in UMichigan’s Helen Zell Writers’ Program. This is a big university town, which is less damaging to your social life. Plus, there’s lots to do when you have a $25,000 stipend, summer funding, and health care.
This is a 2-3-year program in either fiction or poetry, with an impressive reputation. They also have a demonstrated commitment to “ push back against the darkness of intolerance and injustice ” and have outreach programs in the community.
Brown offers an edgy, well-funded program in a place that only occasionally dips into arctic temperatures. All students are fully funded for 2 years, which includes tuition remission and a $32k yearly stipend. Students also get summer funding and—you guessed it—that sweet, sweet health insurance.
In the Brown Literary Arts MFA, students take only one workshop and one elective per semester. It’s also the only program in the country to feature a Digital/Cross Disciplinary Track. Fiction and Poetry Tracks are offered as well.
This 3-year program with fiction, poetry, and nonfiction tracks has many attractive qualities. It’s in “ the lushest desert in the world, ” and was recently ranked #4 in creative writing programs, and #2 in Nonfiction. You can take classes in multiple genres, and in fact, are encouraged to do so. Plus, Arizona’s dry heat is good for arthritis.
This notoriously supportive program is fully funded. Moreover, teaching assistantships that provide a salary, health insurance, and tuition waiver are offered to all students. Tucson is home to a hopping literary scene, so it’s also possible to volunteer at multiple literary organizations and even do supported research at the US-Mexico Border.
With concentrations in fiction and poetry, Arizona State is a three-year funded program in arthritis-friendly dry heat. It offers small class sizes, individual mentorships, and one of the most impressive faculty rosters in the game. Moreover, it encourages cross-genre study.
Funding-wise, everyone has the option to take on a teaching assistantship position, which provides a tuition waiver, health insurance, and a yearly stipend of $25k. Other opportunities for financial support exist as well.
8) new york university.
This two-year program is in New York City, meaning it comes with close access to literary opportunities and hot dogs. NYU also has one of the most accomplished faculty lists anywhere. Students have large cohorts (more potential friends!) and have a penchant for winning top literary prizes. Concentrations in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction are available.
Another 2-3 year private MFA program with drool-worthy permanent and visiting faculty. Columbia offers courses in fiction, poetry, translation, and nonfiction. Beyond the Ivy League education, Columbia offers close access to agents, and its students have a high record of bestsellers. Finally, teaching positions and fellowships are available to help offset the high tuition.
Sarah Lawrence offers a concentration in speculative fiction in addition to the average fiction, poetry, and nonfiction choices. Moreover, they encourage cross-genre exploration. With intimate class sizes, this program is unique because it offers biweekly one-on-one conferences with its stunning faculty. It also has a notoriously supportive atmosphere, and many teaching and funding opportunities are available.
11) bennington college.
This two-year program boasts truly stellar faculty, and meets twice a year for ten days in January and June. It’s like a biannual vacation in beautiful Vermont, plus mentorship by a famous writer. The rest of the time, you’ll be spending approximately 25 hours per week on reading and writing assignments. Students have the option to concentrate in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Uniquely, they can also opt for a dual-genre focus.
The tuition is $23,468 per year, with scholarships available. Additionally, Bennington offers full-immersion teaching fellowships to MFA students, which are extremely rare in low-residency programs.
This two-year program emphasizes Native American and First Nations writing. With truly amazing faculty and visiting writers, they offer a wide range of genres, including screenwriting, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. In addition, each student is matched with a faculty mentor who works with them one-on-one throughout the semester.
Students attend two eight-day residencies each year, in January and July, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. At $12,000 in tuition a year, it boasts being “ one of the most affordable MFA programs in the country .”
VCFA is the only graduate school on this list that focuses exclusively on the fine arts. Their MFA in Writing offers concentrations in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction; they also offer an MFA in Literary Translation and one of the few MFAs in Writing for Children and Young Adults . Students meet twice a year for nine days, in January and July, either in-person or online. Here, they receive one-on-one mentorship that continues for the rest of the semester. You can also do many travel residencies in exciting (and warm) places like Cozumel.
VCFA boasts amazing faculty and visiting writers, with individualized study options and plenty of one-on-one time. Tuition for the full two-year program is approximately $54k.
14) university of texas at el paso.
UTEP is considered the best online MFA program, and features award-winning faculty from across the globe. Accordingly, this program is geared toward serious writers who want to pursue teaching and/or publishing. Intensive workshops allow submissions in Spanish and/or English, and genres include poetry and fiction.
No residencies are required, but an optional opportunity to connect in person is available every year. This three-year program costs about $25-30k total, depending on whether you are an in-state or out-of-state resident.
This 2-year online, no-residency program is dedicated entirely to nonfiction. Featuring a supportive, diverse community, Bay Path offers small class sizes, close mentorship, and an optional yearly field trip to Ireland.
There are many tracks, including publishing, narrative medicine, and teaching creative writing. Moreover, core courses include memoir, narrative journalism, food/travel writing, and the personal essay. Tuition is approximately $31,000 for the entire program, with scholarships available.
Whether you’re aiming for a fully funded, low residency, or completely online MFA program, there are plenty of incredible options available—all of which will sharpen your craft while immersing you in the vibrant literary arts community.
Hoping to prepare for your MFA in advance? You might consider checking out the following:
Inspired to start writing? Get your pencil ready:
Best MFA Creative Writing Programs – References:
With a Bachelor of Arts in English and Italian from Wesleyan University as well as MFAs in both Nonfiction Writing and Literary Translation from the University of Iowa, Julia is an experienced writer, editor, educator, and a former Fulbright Fellow. Julia’s work has been featured in The Millions , Asymptote , and The Massachusetts Review , among other publications. To read more of her work, visit www.juliaconrad.net
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Situated in historic Lexington and surrounded by the awesomeness of thoroughbred horse farms and bourbon distilleries, the University enjoys a rich literary heritage dating back to 1947, when Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist A.B. Guthrie first offered courses in fiction. Graduates of the English Department include Gurney Norman, Frank X Walker, Bobbie Ann Mason, Rebecca Gayle Howell, Wendell Berry, Kayla Rae Whitaker, Maurice Manning, Bianca Spriggs, Patrick O’Keefe, Holly Goddard Jones, and James Baker Hall. The MFA Program in Creative Writing builds upon that rich history by offering students access to a diverse faculty in fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction.
The MFA in Creative Writing is a two-year program with a flexible and interdisciplinary approach, combining a studio/research curriculum. The UK MFA in Creative Writing places equal emphasis on fostering the artistic process of the MFA student, as well as his or her literary study and related creative or scholarly work.
Assistantship application (optional - you may upload a blank document, if you do not intend to apply for assistance)
The GRE is not required for admission to this program.
Applicants must meet the Graduate School admission requirements .
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Creative Writing Rankings 2025
6. University of Strathclyde. Based in the center of Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, the University of Strathclyde is a multi-award-winning university. And when it comes to creative writing, Strathclyde offers some unique areas of study for undergraduates, including Scottish literature and the Glasgow novel.
Creative Writing MFA - Postgraduate courses
Lessons to be learnt from Sally Rooney's Counter-Intuitive Construction (MA/MFA Creative Writing Taster Session) Find out what it's like to study creative writing at City, in this sample seminar looking at three novels by Sally Rooney. Tuesday, 23rd April 2024, 17:00 - 18:00. Location: Online.
An MFA is a higher credential than the MLitt, and is the internationally recognized standard for teachers of Creative Writing in secondary and tertiary higher education; most consider the MFA the qualification required to teach creative writing in North America and Europe.. St Andrews is one of the first universities in the UK to confer an MFA degree.
MFA Creative Writing · Manchester Metropolitan University
We aim to give you a professional approach to editing, revising and critiquing creative work. You will learn about the writing business, involving different forms and requirements of print and electronic publication, and the role of editors, agents and publishers. This includes how to present and advertise your creative work.
Sport Science (Coaching) BSc (Hons) including sandwich year. Working with Children and Young People: Social Pedagogy BA (Hons) Learn more about Creative Writing MFA Postgraduate Program By Kingston University, London including the program fees, scholarships, scores and further course information.
The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) programme is designed to follow on from the established MA in Creative Writing and Publishing. It provides a high-level pathway aimed at emerging writers who wish to complete work-in-progress to a publishable standard. This MFA is unique in providing a supportive context specifically designed to support you to ...
York Centre for Writing. York Centre for Writing is a space for York St John's creative writing community to thrive. We compose 2 annual publications: The Centre has welcomed celebrated authors, who have given talks that inspired students in their work and beyond. This includes Daljit Nagra, Michel Faber, Margaret Atwood and more.
Fees for entry in 2025 have not yet been set. For reference, the fees for the academic year beginning September 2024 were as follows: MA (full-time) UK students (per annum): £12,500. International, including EU, students (per annum): £26,000. MA (part-time) UK students (per annum): £6,250. International, including EU, students (per annum ...
The first Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing in the UK, this course offers talented and aspiring writers the chance to refine their Read more... 2 years Full time degree: £9,900 per year (UK) 4 years Part time degree: £5,995 per year (UK) Apply now Visit website Request info. View 3 additional courses. Compare.
rankings - creativewritingmfa.info
Programme description. Based in the first UNESCO World City of Literature, this one-year, full-time taught Masters programme is tailored towards your practice in either fiction or poetry. There is a strong practical element to the programme, helping you develop your creative skills through: workshops. presenting your work for peer discussion.
MSt in Creative Writing - Graduate
Establish the contacts necessary for successful publication. Whether you like writing poetry, prose fiction, short stories, film scripts, game narratives, children's books or young adult (YA) novels, we invite you to join us on our mission to write to make a difference. Enquire online. +44 (0)1392 72 72 72. Discover MA Creative Writing at the ...
Its Master of Fine Arts program is one of the best MFA creative writing programs in the country, exposing students to various approaches to the craft. While studying under award-winning poets and writers, students may specialize in either poetry or fiction. 3. University of Texas at Austin - New Writers Project.
If you're interested in studying a Creative Writing degree in United Kingdom you can view all 32 Online Courses Programmes. You can also read more about Creative Writing degrees in general, or about studying in United Kingdom. Many universities and colleges in United Kingdom offer English-taught Online Courses degrees.
MFA Programs Database
The MFA Program in Creative Writing builds upon that rich history by offering students access to a diverse faculty in fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction. The course of study for the UK MFA in Creative Writing is very flexible and interdisciplinary in scope, combining a curriculum of studio and research.
2. Big thanks to The Workshop for putting this list together. They've done an incredible amount of research and due diligence to provide a list of MFA Creative Writing Programs that fully fund ...
15 Best Creative Writing MFA Programs in 2024
The MFA in Creative Writing is a two-year program with a flexible and interdisciplinary approach, combining a studio/research curriculum. The UK MFA in Creative Writing places equal emphasis on fostering the artistic process of the MFA student, as well as his or her literary study and related creative or scholarly work.