
This Master of Arts (MA) in Creative Writing is designed for individuals aspiring to build a career in writing. The program aims to enhance your existing talent and ideas with the expertise needed to approach your chosen market confidently, creatively, and skillfully. It embraces a broad range of writing, from popular genre fiction to experimental literary work, with the goal of equipping graduates to succeed and influence the cultural landscape. The course uniquely combines genres and specialisms, encouraging professional practice and enabling exploration of areas such as science fiction, fantasy, crime, romance, historical fiction, fairytales, folklore, horror, writing for young adult readers, and graphic novels. The curriculum is structured around four core areas: developing pre-writing skills and techniques for full-length narratives; practical writing for first-person stories and various options; experimental, theoretical, and personal development work; and regular one-to-one editorial mentoring. Teaching is delivered by award-winning industry professionals over three trimesters, with assessments focused on practical creative challenges and critical reflection to foster self-sufficient and collaborative writers.
The MA programme is structured to provide a comprehensive understanding and practical application of creative writing techniques, spanning multiple genres and media. Taught over three trimesters, the course includes modules designed to develop narrative skills, explore authorship in the 21st century, and adapt writing for different platforms.
This MA is designed to professionalise your writing practice, preparing you for a career in the publishing industry. The course emphasizes the business aspects of publishing, including strategies for approaching agents, self-marketing, and understanding publishing contracts. Professional development opportunities extend to teaching, community engagement, and digital publishing platforms. An articulation agreement with Seton Hill University's MFA in Popular Fiction offers graduates the chance to pursue a further qualification and develop a market-ready commercial novel.
We welcome applications from candidates with a relevant professional background and/or experience in publishing, journalism, or related fields. Applicants with non-standard qualifications may be considered, and will be interviewed to assess their suitability for the course.
Tuition fees are subject to change annually.