MA in Creative Writing
Our MA in Creative Writing has recently expanded to become one of the UK's leading creative writing programmes. Available as a one-year, full-time programme or part-time over two years, it is taught by six permanent tutors and open to just thirty six students - giving it one of the highest staff-student ratios in the UK.
The MA is taught by a dedicated staff of publishing writers including Martin Amis, Patricia Duncker, M.J. Hyland, Vona Groarke, Geoff Ryman, Ian McGuire and John McAuliffe (for more information on our tutors visit the About Us section of the website). They offer consultation and advice throughout the year in both group and individual sessions; in person, by 'phone and by e-mail.
It consists of strands in fiction (novel-writing and the short story) and poetry, both of which are focused on practice. Each strand is punctuated by three-hour weekly workshops, where the work-in-progress of two or three students is discussed.
The other compulsory elements of the course are a weekly discussion of recent and contemporary writing, for which one text (a novel or poetry collection, depending on which strand you choose) is read, and one essay of 6,000 words. Students must also complete a dissertation of at least 15,000 words, or an equivalent amount of poetry.
Students may also choose from a wide range of critical seminars, on subjects including Contemporary Poetics and The Art of Fiction and Martin Amis's fortnightly seminars on The Novella, Nabokov and Bellow. During the second semester the course features regular sessions on approaching agents and publishers, encompassing visits from professionals in the publishing industry, these include publishers Bloomsbury, Tindal Street Press and Comma Press and agents Curtis Brown and Mulcahy & Conway who also sponsor a Best Manuscript prize each year.
Our successful Literature Live series, featuring readings and workshops or Q&As with leading writers, is integral to the course. We have recently hosted visits from such leading writers as John Banville, Sebastian Barry, Will Self, Jim Crace, Sarah Waters, Suzannah Dunn, Sean O'Brien, Lesley Glaister, Maurice Riordan and Hilary Mantel, whom our students were able to question about their work as well as hearing about their writing experience first-hand.
Visitors in 08/09 include DBC Pierre, A.L. Kennedy, Helen Dunmore, Andrew O'Hagan, Colm Toibin, Ciaran Carson and Jorie Graham.
2007/8's MA students established the magazine Wufniks, which publishes short fiction, reviews and writing challenges from the likes of Zadie Smith and Irvine Welsh.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS & HOW TO APPLY
Click here to download the course brochure (520 KB)
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