creative writing university of lincoln

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MA Creative Writing

University of lincoln, different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, similar courses at different universities, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

MA - Master of Arts

Subject areas

Creative Writing

Course type

Welcome to MA Creative Writing

Join our international community of writers at the University of Lincoln. Our MA in Creative Writing is an innovative and exciting course that provides opportunities to work closely with practising creative writers and professionals from the publishing industry. It is designed to encourage you to improve your craft as a writer, develop your philosophy of composition, and explore contemporary forms of literature and the creative industries. The course has a strong focus on employability and aims to prepare you for a professional writing or publishing career.

You will have the opportunity to learn from an enthusiastic team of professional writers whose work has been widely published, broadcast, and staged. Our academic team includes award-winning poet, essayist, and literary translator Daniele Pantano; award-winning science fiction writer Chris Dows; award-winning novelists Sarah Stovell, Guy Mankowski, and Amy Lilwall; and award-winning playwright and short story writer Sue Healy.

There is an opportunity to gain hands-on experience working on The Lincoln Review, an international literary journal edited exclusively by undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Students may benefit from the experience of a range of writers, editors, dramaturges, producers, and directors who visit the University of Lincoln to deliver inspirational talks or masterclasses. Previous speakers include Patience Agbabi, Ann Cleeves, Andrew Graham-Dixon, Visiting Professor Chris Packham CBE, Robert Shearman, and the former Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, who became a Visiting Artist at the University in 2015 and regularly visits Lincoln to engage with students and read a selection of her works.

If you would like to discuss the MA Creative Writing in more detail, please contact the programme leader.

How You Study

This course offers the opportunity to work across different genres and formats, including, but not limited to, fiction, poetry, scriptwriting, creative nonfiction, and the graphic novel. Teaching takes place in lectures, seminars, and workshops.

How You Are Assessed

Student writers will be continuously assessed through a variety of exercises. These range from writing prose fiction, poetry, and drama, adapting work from one genre to another, editing, writing within the conventions of a specific genre, or undertaking a piece of creative nonfiction. The final piece of work required is a 15,000-word creative project. Submitted works are collated into portfolios, with evaluations on style and technique.

Career and Personal Development

This programme is designed to provide training for a career in writing, from fiction to screen and radio adaptation. You have the opportunity to develop advanced communication skills which can open up career opportunities across the creative industries in publishing, research, teaching and the media. Some graduates choose to continue their studies at doctoral level.

The University Careers and Employability Team offer qualified advisors who can work with you to provide tailored, individual support and careers advice during your time at the University. As a member of our alumni we also offer one-to-one support in the first year after completing your course, including access to events, vacancy information and website resources; with access to online vacancies and virtual and website resources for the following two years.

This service can include one-to-one coaching, CV advice and interview preparation to help you maximise your future opportunities. The service works closely with local, national and international employers, acting as a gateway to the business world.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

Students should have first or upper second class honours degree in a relevant subject.

Creative and Critical Writing PgCert

University of gloucestershire, creative and critical writing ma, creative and critical writing pgdip, english and creative writing ma by research, english and creative writing phd.

Creative Writing BA (Hons)

Want to know what it's like to study this course at uni? We've got all the key info, from entry requirements to the modules on offer. If that all sounds good, why not check out reviews from real students or even book onto an upcoming open days ?

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Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

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Welcome to BA (Hons) Creative Writing

Live the Writing Life at the University of Lincoln. If you love to read and write and want to explore the boundaries of your own creativity, Creative Writing at Lincoln can provide you with a new appreciation of literature.

Students can develop their own distinctive voice as an author and philosophy of composition, as well as explore the theory and practice of building a diverse portfolio of work across forms and styles. As a Creative Writing student at the University of Lincoln, you have the opportunity to work with, and become part of, an international community of writers who will aim to help you develop your skills in genres as diverse as prose fiction, psychological thrillers, scriptwriting, poetry, creative non-fiction, and the graphic novel. Our aim is to help you to develop your writing in innovative and exciting ways, becoming the best writer you can be.

How You Are Assessed

The way students are assessed on this course may vary for each module. Examples of assessment methods that are used include coursework, such as written assignments, reports or dissertations; but the greatest emphasis is on the production of a creative portfolio. The weighting given to each assessment method may vary across each academic year, and the University of Lincoln aims to ensure that staff return in-course assessments to students promptly. Please note this course has no examinations.

Career Opportunities

Creative Writing graduates may choose to pursue careers in various literary and creative professions, such as publishing, journalism, advertising, public relations, marketing, the civil service, and communications. Students can choose to continue their studies at postgraduate level or take qualifications in teaching.

Creative Writing

Average salary, £18,000, what students say.

It’s a great place for international students because they provide great hands on support. So far no bad experience.. Read more

The university of Lincoln is very student focused and they have so much on offer to make your uni experience, both inside and outside of class. There is so much student support on.. Read more

Modules (Year 1)

Modules (year 2), modules (year 3).

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Scottish Higher:

UCAS Tariff:

104 Grades / Points required

Access to HE Diploma:

GCSE/National 4/National 5:

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme:

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016):

DMM Grades / Points required

M Grades / Points required

104 UCAS points from a minimum of 2 A Levels or equivalent qualifications.

104 UCAS Tariff points to include a minimum of 4 Highers or a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers.

From a minimum of 2 A Levels or equivalent qualifications.

45 Level 3 credits with a minimum of 104 UCAS Tariff points

Applicants will also need at least three GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above, which must include English. Equivalent Level 2 qualifications may also be considered.

Pass Diploma from a minimum of 2 Higher Level subjects.

Students living in

£9,250 per year

Students from England

This is the fee you pay if you live within England. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

Students from Scotland

This is the fee you pay if you live within Scotland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

Students from Wales

This is the fee you pay if you live within Wales. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

Students from Northern Ireland

This is the fee you pay if you live within Northern Ireland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

Students from Channel Islands

This is the fee you pay if you live within Channel Islands. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

17,200 per year

Students from International

This is the fee you pay if you are an International student. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

Latest Creative Writing reviews

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The University of Lincoln has a renowned reputation for providing its students with a high-quality learning experience, led by...

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PhD Study At Lincoln: Creative Writing

There are so many opportunities for PhD study at the University of Lincoln, one being the Creative Writing PhD which I have been studying for almost a year. This article is going to go into all the information you need if you feel you’re interested in this academic avenue, all the way from the proposal & interview stages, how your studies will work, and all the opportunities doing a PhD brings with it!

Proposal & Prep

When it comes to applying to study a PhD there are a few stages, the main ones being your proposal, interview, and arrangement of funds. However, before you begin to put your proposal together you need to establish that there is someone available in the department who is a) interested and b) available to be your primary supervisor, and someone else available to be your secondary supervisor. Take the time to have conversations with faculty whose expertise fit the best with your project, and if they indicate they’d be able to work with you then you can go ahead and work on your proposal.

Your proposal is not something to be taken lightly, and a good quality proposal will likely take upwards of a month to produce. It must include an overview of what you intend to write – for creative writing the 80,000-word count is split into 60,000 words of creative work (or an equivalent page count if you’re doing poetry/script/another format instead of fiction), and a 20,000-word critical reflection. You must also include key research questions, research methodologies, a provisional bibliography, related works in the literary market, what your project will contribute to said market, a provisional work plan (you would mention here if you’ll be studying full-time (3 years) or part-time (6 years)), and a writing sample.

If your proposal is accepted you will then have an interview with a panel, including your prospective primary and secondary supervisors. Here you will be asked questions about your project both academic and personal, most of which will ask you to elaborate on points you made in your proposal. Also, at this stage, it is completely okay (and frankly encouraged) for you not to be able to answer absolutely everything, because that’s partly what studying a PhD is for – answering those questions. No one will be trying to catch you out, because if you’ve reached the interview stage that means there is genuine interest in your project and the people on your panel really want to see you carry it forward into the PhD.

If accepted you will be notified promptly after the interview, and it’s at this stage that you should apply for funding. If you are under the age of 60 and have not done a PhD before then you are eligible for a loan from Student Finance England to cover your costs, including tuition. However, if you’re uncertain about your financial eligibility then get in contact with Finance at the SU Advice Centre either by phone at 01522 837000, by e-mail at [email protected] , online here https://lincolnsu.com/advice/finance , or you can drop in to see them from 12pm-2pm Monday-Friday in the Advice Centre.

Meetings & Paperwork

So, what to expect when you’re finally enrolled? You’ll receive a number of introductory talks and sessions where you’ll learn about what to expect from your study timeline, such as milestones you’ll be hitting throughout the forthcoming years including your scheduled supervisor meetings. One of the most important things to keep track of, aside from your project itself, is the paperwork you’ll need to fill out as you move through your studies. The PhD is one of the most independent forms of study that exists, so you are responsible for managing your time and ensuring that you submit regular information so your progress is tracked and maintained. This is where time management is going to be essential because I can say from my experience that establishing my writer/admin routine helped me establish my work/life rhythm with these studies so I didn’t become overwhelmed.

Opportunities

Studying a creative writing PhD here at Lincoln not only gives you the chance to obtain the qualification, but also offers many other opportunities for you to create more academic connections, display your work at showcases and conferences, potentially get guest lecturing opportunities, and have access to a wealth of resources and events. In my first year, I gave talks on my work at the 2023 CoA PGR Showcase hosted at Lincoln & the 2023 online EMDoc Conference, this year hosted by Northampton University. I also had a chance to enter this year’s Images of Research Competition, and in 2024 I have plans to guest lecture for some undergraduate creative writing modules. All these opportunities are available to every single creative writing PhD student studying here at Lincoln, and there are so many more besides these. To say that I’m enjoying my Creative Writing PhD here at Lincoln is an understatement. So far I have felt so fulfilled and supported by both the faculty and the work itself, and if you’re considering this avenue I hope this article has been helpful!

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Welcome to the subject guide for   CREATIVE WRITING  

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Creative Writing

About creative writing.

The University of Lincoln Creative Writing Society is for students with a likeminded interest in creative writing and storytelling. We encourage all levels of writers- newbie to veteran, vast genres and mediums whether that be through novels; worldbuilding; comics; lyric; scripts; poetry; manga, fiction or non-fiction the list goes on. Each week will cover something new, for example, heroes vs villains, romance or sci-fi, what makes a good horror? Sessions may include some fun back and forth debates, open group discussions and time for personal writing and advancement in your own creations. If you would like feedback on your work, you’re more than welcome to ask someone in the committee or society to take a look in a supportive environment!

We also plan for some holiday themed sessions and socials to encourage getting to know one another outside of the society and make friends. If any of this sounds interesting to you, feel free to join or attend a taster session before applying for membership.  

Follow us on our Facebook for any updates and feel free to email any enquiries you may have! ([email protected])

All of our clubs and societies are run by a committee.

A committee is a team of people that lead, organise and publicise a group within your Students’ Union.

It can be really rewarding as well as being a great way to gain experience and invaluable skills for your future career.

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SUBJECT LEAGUE TABLE 2025

A Creative Writing degree will let you flex your storytelling abilities and study the work of literary legends.Our university rankings for Creative Writing include Scriptwriting and Poetry Writing.

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• 1 2 2 2 3 2 4 1 5 2 6 7 1 8 6 9 1 10 2 11 12 17 13 6 14 15 16 16 7 17 5 18 9 19 22 20 13 21 7 22 2 23 5 24 3 25 26 10 27 8 28 13 29 3 30 13 31 14 32 2 33 5 34 16 35 4 36 13 37 7 38 6 39 2 40 2 41 11 42 6 43 8 44 3 45 New 46 47 6 48 8 49 6 50 4
• University of Warwick VIEW COURSES Royal Holloway, University of Londo... VIEW COURSES University of Birmingham VIEW COURSES University of Leeds VIEW COURSES Newcastle University VIEW COURSES Lancaster University VIEW COURSES University of East Anglia UEA VIEW COURSES University of Strathclyde VIEW COURSES University of Kent VIEW COURSES University of Plymouth VIEW COURSES University of Lincoln VIEW COURSES Keele University VIEW COURSES Manchester Metropolitan University VIEW COURSES University of Hull VIEW COURSES Kingston University VIEW COURSES University of Chester VIEW COURSES Edge Hill University VIEW COURSES Bournemouth University VIEW COURSES Bristol, University of the West of ... VIEW COURSES Canterbury Christ Church University VIEW COURSES Aberystwyth University VIEW COURSES Nottingham Trent University VIEW COURSES Brunel University London VIEW COURSES University of Essex VIEW COURSES University of Westminster, London VIEW COURSES Bangor University VIEW COURSES University of Portsmouth VIEW COURSES Teesside University, Middlesbrough VIEW COURSES Bath Spa University VIEW COURSES University of Brighton VIEW COURSES GET PROSPECTUS University of Greenwich VIEW COURSES De Montfort University VIEW COURSES University of Gloucestershire VIEW COURSES Sheffield Hallam University VIEW COURSES Anglia Ruskin University VIEW COURSES York St John University VIEW COURSES Birmingham City University VIEW COURSES University of Chichester VIEW COURSES Liverpool Hope University VIEW COURSES University of Winchester VIEW COURSES University of Salford VIEW COURSES University of Central Lancashire VIEW COURSES Arts University Bournemouth VIEW COURSES University of Worcester VIEW COURSES University of Bolton VIEW COURSES Liverpool John Moores University VIEW COURSES University of Derby VIEW COURSES Falmouth University VIEW COURSES St Mary's University, Twickenham VIEW COURSES University of Wolverhampton VIEW COURSES
• 100% 100% 99% 98% 97% 97% 97% 97% 95% 95% 94% 93% 93% 92% 91% 91% 90% 90% 90% 90% 89% 89% 89% 89% 89% 88% 88% 88% 88% 88% 87% 86% 86% 86% 86% 86% 85% 85% 85% 85% 85% 85% 85% 84% 84% 84% 83% 81% 80% 79%
• 79% 74% 73% 76% 68% 71% 75% 100% 62% 68% 62% 55% 60% 60% 55% 59% 61% n/a 56% 60% 61% 55% 64% 58% 54% 53% 52% 62% 58% 47% 58% 54% 51% 54% 49% 55% 57% 56% 58% 55% 56% 56% 60% 50% 48% 62% 64% 57% n/a n/a
• 77% 77% 76% 74% 79% 78% 74% 71% 77% 80% 88% 87% 80% 92% 83% 80% 80% 75% 79% 84% 81% 81% 82% 78% 72% 77% 85% 82% 76% 78% 82% 77% 79% 76% 79% 87% 76% 83% 76% 77% 81% 85% 89% 77% 82% 84% 80% 80% 76% 72%
• 86% 87% 89% 90% 94% 82% 87% 85% 87% 86% 75% 83% 86% 84% 77% 70% 73% 70% 71% 82% 69% 75% 77% 81% 84% 77% 71% 79% 81% 78% 68% 82% 67% 80% 79% 63% 88% 72% 72% 64% 70% 74% 64% 63% 65% n/a 62% n/a n/a 80%
• 74% 82% 78% n/a 76% 74% 72% n/a 78% 66% n/a 76% 76% n/a n/a 78% 60% 78% 92% 64% 62% n/a 58% 62% n/a 64% 68% n/a 66% 68% 56% 56% 54% 64% 64% 62% 54% 46% n/a 58% 70% 40% 60% 58% 66% 60% 60% 54% 72% 46%

This table was first published on 14 May 2024. 

Read the  University and subject tables methodology  to find out where the data comes from, how the tables are compiled and explanations of the measures used. 

All measures used to compile the tables are available on the full table view. Maximum scores for the measures: 

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Continuation: maximum score of 100 

Graduate prospects – outcomes: maximum score of 100 

Graduate prospects – on track: maximum score of 100 

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T HE L INCOLN R EVIEW

The Lincoln Review  is an international literary journal published annually by the Creative Writing programme at the University of Lincoln and sponsored by the School of Creative Arts. Founded in 2019 by Daniele Pantano,  TLR  showcases new poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, translations, and art from both established as well as emerging and underrepresented voices from around the world. Past contributors have included Carol Ann Duffy, Gëzim Hajdari, Jee Leong Koh, Tom Pickard, Robert Shearman, Virgil Suárez, Helen Tookey, Joan Ure, Maria Luise Weissmann, Jennifer Wong, Franz Wright, and Nurit Zarchi.

" The Lincoln Review  is my favourite contemporary literary magazine."

––Marcus Slease  

contributors.

poetry, poetics, and literary translation research group.

TLR new voices student showcase.

on silence podcast.

TLR undergraduate student showcase.

Please submit your work via the SUBMIT link.

For any questions or queries, please write to us: [email protected]

T he Lincoln Review is edited exclusively by Creative Writing students at the  University of Lincoln .

The lincoln review is published annually. , we seek innovative work from both established authors as well as emerging and underrepresented voices. at the lincoln review , we actively encourage writers, artists, and photographers who come from marginalised and underprivileged backgrounds. we want to hear the stories of bame, lgbtqia+, neurodivergent, and disabled creatives. , send only one submission at a time. no previously published work. simultaneous submissions are accepted as long as we are notified of acceptance elsewhere. if you have a pending submission, please wait for a response before submitting again. our average response time is 3–5 months. please do not query until 5 months have passed., please note that current students and staff at the university of lincoln may not submit work. undergraduate and postgraduate alumni, as well as past employees of the university of lincoln, are asked to wait three years before submitting work to the journal., we are now reading submissions for issue 6. please note that our response time over the summer months will be considerably slower., we consider:, flash fiction and essays (up to 2000 words), creative nonfiction (up to 2000 words), poetry (up to 4 poems), art and photography (portfolio of up to 6 pieces), comics (up to 7 pages), book reviews (please query us first), interviews (please query us first) .

Please submit your w ork as a single Word document (or up to six jpgs for art and photography submissions) via the following link  (please note that a Google Account is required) : SUBMIT

ISSN 2632-4423

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MPhil/PhD Creative Writing

Key Information

MPhil: 1.5-3 years. PhD: 2-4 years

MPhil: 2-4 years. PhD: 3-8 years

Entry Requirements

Brayford Pool

Start Dates in October and January

Programme Overview

The Lincoln School of Creative Arts offers advanced research opportunities within the subject of creative writing. This research programme aims to provide training for a career in writing, from fiction to screen and radio adaptation.

MPhil/PhD students have the opportunity to be supervised by published writers and to undertake research in areas including poetry, experimental fiction, the short story, the historical novel, television drama, film scriptwriting, and realism.

Regular research seminars and postgraduate study groups are designed to provide a stimulating environment in which to discuss and debate work. Creative Writing has strong links within the Creative Arts and with the Schools of Film, Media, and Journalism, and Humanities and Heritage.

Key Features

Conduct independent, original, and academically significant research

Benefit from training courses to develop key research skills

Supervision and support from an advisory panel of academic staff

Present at talks and seminars to showcase your work

Enrol in January or October each year

How You Study

Study at MPhil/PhD level takes the form of supervised individual research. Students are expected to work on the writing practice of their choice for the duration of the study period. It is expected that, on a regular basis, students will produce appropriate written work for submission to their supervisors who will offer feedback and agree the next stage of work.

Due to the nature of postgraduate research programmes, the majority of time is spent in independent study and research. Students will have meetings with their academic supervisor(s), but the frequency of these will vary depending on individual requirements, subject area, staff availability, and stage of programme.

Research Areas

The key to success on a postgraduate research programme is to find a research topic that you are passionate about and identify a supervisory team that has expertise in this area. The first thing that all prospective students should do is directly contact a member of staff from one of these areas that you feel is best aligned with your chosen research area to discuss the application process further. The School’s research areas include:

• Experimental fiction
• The short story
• The historical novel
• Television drama
• Film scripting
• The publishing industry

Staff have published in a variety of these areas and have also worked in the publishing industry.

How you are assessed

The assessment at this level of study takes the form of an 80,000-word thesis. The Creative Writing dissertation will comprise 60,000 words of creative writing, plus a 20,000 word analysis of the creative piece(s).

A PhD is usually awarded based on the quality of the student's thesis and ability to present and successfully defend their chosen research topic in an oral examination (viva voce). They are also expected to demonstrate how their research findings have contributed to knowledge or developed existing theory or understanding.

Research Proposals

You will need to produce a research proposal as part of your application and a 3,000-5,000 word sample of creative writing along with the application form. The research proposal will allow the School to judge the quality of the application and decide whether there is an appropriate supervisor for the proposed project.

The research proposal is a project outline identifying what you want to study, why you want to investigate this area, and how you intend to conduct the research. You are not expected to be the expert, but you will need to demonstrate a sound knowledge of the subject and where your research will make a valuable contribution to the topic. When writing your research proposal, please take note of the following guidance:

A research proposal will only be considered if there are academics in the subject with an interest in your field. Please study the staff profiles closely to make sure there is at least one member of staff whose interests intersect broadly with your own.

The research proposal should be 1,000-2,000 words in length.

• Clearly define the topic you are interested in and demonstrate understanding of your research area.
• Include two or three research questions that you will explore in your research.
• Outline the range of research methodologies you will use to undertake the research.
• Include a provisional bibliography of primary and secondary sources.
• You might include a brief literature review of the key works that relate to your topic, particularly if this helps to exemplify the point below.
• Explain clearly how your research contributes to existing scholarship in the area; what gaps will it fill? How will it further knowledge of the area?
• Sketch out a provisional plan of work that includes research/archival visits and a timetable for the writing of chapters.
• Make sure the proposal is well presented with sections and subheadings and is free of errors.

Applicants with appropriate projects will be offered an interview with the programme leader and one or more subject specialists where they can discuss the de-tails of their research proposal.

How to Apply

Postgraduate Research Application Support

Find out more about the application process for research degrees and what you'll need to complete on our How to Apply page, which also features contact details for dedicated support with your application.

Entry Requirements 2024-25

Applicants should possess a relevant Master's degree or equivalent professional experience.

If you have studied outside of the UK, and are unsure whether your qualification meets the above requirements, please visit our country pages : https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/studywithus/internationalstudents/entryrequirementsandyourcountry/ for information on equivalent qualifications.

Overseas students will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 7.0 overall, with a minimum of 6.5 in each element. For information regarding other English language qualifications we accept, please visit the English Requirements page: https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/englishlanguagerequirements/ .

For further advice on IELTS and the support available, please contact the International College by email at [email protected].

Applicants with appropriate projects will be offered an interview with the programme leader and one or more subject specialists where they can discuss the details of their research proposal.

Programme Fees

You will need to have funding in place for your studies before you arrive at the University. Our fees vary depending on the course, mode of study, and whether you are a UK or international student. You can view the breakdown of fees for this programme below. Research students may be required to pay additional fees in addition to cover the cost of specialist resources, equipment and access to any specialist collections that may be required to support their research project. These will be informed by your research proposal and will be calculated on an individual basis.

Funding Your Research

Loans and Studentships

Find out more about the optional available to support your postgraduate research, from Master's and Doctoral Loans, to research studentship opportunities. You can also find out more about how to pay your fees and access support from our helpful advisors.

Career Development

A doctoral qualification can be the capstone of academic achievement and often marks the beginning of a career in academia or research. A research programme provides the opportunity to become a true expert in your chosen field, while developing a range of valuable transferable skills that can support your career progression. A research-based degree is also the most direct pathway to an academic career. PhDs and research degrees are a great chance to expand your network and meet diverse people with similar interests, knowledge, and passion.

The University’s Doctoral School provides a focal point for Lincoln’s community of researchers, where ideas and experiences can be developed and shared across disciplines. It also offers support and training to help equip you for both academic and non-academic careers.

Doctoral School

Academic Contact

For more information about this course, please contact:

Dr Jackie Bolton [email protected]

Research at Lincoln

Through our research, we are striving to change society for the better. Working with regional, national, and international partners, our academics are engaged in groundbreaking studies that are challenging the status quo. We also understand the importance of providing the best possible environment for pursuing research that can support our communities and make a tangible difference to the world around us.

Prioritising Face-to-Face Teaching

At the University of Lincoln, we strive to ensure our students’ experience is engaging, supportive, and academically challenging. Throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, we have adapted to Government guidance to keep our students, staff, and community safe. All remaining Covid-19 legal restrictions in England were lifted in February 2022 under the Government’s Plan for Living with Covid-19, and we have embraced a safe return to in-person teaching on campus. Where appropriate, face-to-face teaching is enhanced by the use of digital tools and technology and may be complemented by online opportunities where these support learning outcomes.

We are fully prepared to adapt our plans if changes in Government guidance make this necessary, and we will endeavour to keep current and prospective students informed. For more information about how we are working to keep our community safe, please visit our coronavirus web pages .

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M.a. program.

The Graduate Program in English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln offers the M.A. for students interested in Literary and Cultural Studies , Creative Writing , and Composition and Rhetoric . In recent years, students who graduated with a Masters Degree from our department subsequently were accepted with fully-funded offers to Ph.D. programs at UC Irvine, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Riverside, University of Southern California, U Wisconsin, U Minnesota, U Illinois, U Oregon, Ohio State U, Penn State, U Pennsylvania, Brandeis, SUNY Buffalo, Loyola-Chicago, U Utah, Claremont Graduate College, U Kansas, among others; of those, students accepted the offers by U Wisconsin, USC, SUNY Buffalo, Ohio State, Penn State, U Pennsylvania, and U Minnesota.

Program Details

The M.A. in English is generally a two-year degree. M.A. students take coursework in a variety of areas of English Studies and develop expertise within one or more areas. For detailed information, please download the M.A. Handbook .

There are two options by which a student may earn the M.A. degree:

• 30-hour degree with a thesis (24 hours of coursework and 6 hours of thesis) and an oral examination. (See Sections V and VII of the M.A. handbook for more on creative and scholarly theses.)
• At least 8 credit hours, excluding the thesis, must be taken in graduate-only courses (900-level classes and 800-level classes with no 400-level counterpart).
• At least one-half of the credit hours required for the degree, including the thesis, must be taken in the English Department.
• May include a minor of at least 9 credit hours selected from and approved by the minor department or interdisciplinary area. (See Section IV of the M.A. handbook for more information).
• 36-hour degree with an oral examination but without a thesis.
• At least 15 credit hours must be taken in graduate-only courses (900-level classes and 800-level classes with no 400-level counterpart).
• At least one-half of the credit hours required for the degree must be taken in the English Department.

M.A. in Creative Writing

M.A. students in Creative Writing follow the same area requirements as other M.A. students, except that they substitute another writing course for one of the areas. Students can choose from courses offered by our nationally-recognized faculty in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. All Creative Writing students write a thesis, guided by three faculty members.

M.A. with a Concentration in the Teaching of English

Students with established careers in K-12, community college, state college, and liberal arts college English teaching, or who envision careers in such teaching, may elect to complete an M.A. with a Concentration in the Teaching of English. The Concentration in the Teaching of English may be completed through Option A (Thesis Option) or B (Non-Thesis Option). However, instead of completing the area requirements for MA students, students pursuing an M.A. with a Concentration in the Teaching of English must complete 9-12 hours through three courses focused on teaching English. (See Section VI of the M.A. handbook or the Nebraska Writing Project website for more information.)

Interdisciplinary Certificates

The Department of English also offers interdisciplinary graduate certificates at the master's level in the following areas of specialization: Ethnic Studies , Great Plains Studies , Nineteenth-Century Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies . Additionally, we offer two graduate certificates: one in Teaching of Writing and one in Digital Humanities .

Financial Aid Deadline

December 1 is the deadline for admission and assistantship consideration for the following academic year (August through May).

There are no additional materials required to apply for departmental assistantships. Simply check the box on the admissions application! All of our assistantships provide tuition remission, access to health insurance benefits, and a competitive stipend.

Teaching & Assistantships

Department assistantships.

Students admitted into the M.A. program are eligible for up to 2 years of funding. They are not required to teach their first year, but are normally awarded Research Assistantships which give them the opportunity to work with the Prairie Schooner , the Walt Whitman Archive , or the Creative Writing Program , or to assist faculty on their research, plan national conferences, or arrange visits by nationally known writers. We also offer an Advising Center assistantship, which gives one M.A. or Ph.D. student the opportunity to work in the department’s undergraduate advising office. As much as possible, we match up students with professors and projects according to their interests in making these assignments. The second year of M.A. funding is a Teaching Assistantship. Students teach 2 sections of first-year composition each semester. We support new TAs with a required week-long teaching workshop the week before classes begin, and a seminar in Composition Theory and Practice during the fall semester.

Assistantship Package

For 2020-2021, the stipend for Research Assistants was $13,155 plus tuition remission (either out-of-state or in-state) for 12 hours each semester and 6 hours in the summer. For 2020-2021, the stipend for Teaching Assistants was $17,640 plus tuition remission (either out-of-state or in-state) for the regular academic year and summer. The assistantships cover a large portion of the student health insurance premium, but do not cover books and student fees. We expect our 2021-2022 stipends to be at these levels with possibilities for slight increases.

Research Assistantship sponsored by the Cather Project and the Cather Archive

The Willa Cather Project and the Willa Cather Archive are pleased to offer one Research Assistantship to an incoming M.A. student in English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln each year. This assistantship provides students with full funding for two years—stipend, benefits, and tuition remission—at the same level as other funded M.A. students in the department. Those selected will be welcomed to the collaborative research team behind the digital humanities project, the Willa Cather Archive . The team is currently finishing work on a scholarly edition, The Complete Letters of Willa Cather , and will begin work on A Digital Library of Willa Cather’s Literary Manuscripts in early 2023. The student may also be assigned to duties in support of the work of the Cather Project , the English department unit that produces the Willa Cather Scholarly Edition and Cather Studies and supports research and teaching on Cather.

Applicants who wish to be considered for this Research Assistantship should check the designated box in the graduate application and indicate their interest in their application statement. The successful applicant will have a demonstrated interest in the life and work of Willa Cather and/or a closely related field such as early twentieth century women’s writing, LGBTQ literature, or Western American literature. No prior experience is necessary as extensive training and mentoring will be provided, but we welcome applicants with experience in digital humanities, textual studies, and historical research.

Other Assistantships and Fellowships

Our M.A students have also obtained assistantships that include tuition remission plus a stipend in the Advising Office of the College of Arts and Sciences , Student Involvement , Women’s and Gender Studies , and Ethnic Studies . Still others teach at local colleges. Each year the English Department awards several fellowships to graduate students. M.A. students are eligible for the following recruitment fellowships: Chancellor's Fellowships, Centennial Fellowships, Pulos Fellowships (awarded to students in nineteenth-century literature), Stuff Fellowships, McPhee Fellowships, and Edgren Tuition Fellowships. M.A. students are also eligible for the Van Sickle Fellowship in creative writing and Stuff Retention Fellowships. In their second year M.A. students are eligible for fellowships through Graduate Studies.

M.A. Program Timeline

General recommendations for the M.A. in English

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Department of English

M.f.a. creative writing.

English Department

Physical Address: 200 Brink Hall

Mailing Address: English Department University of Idaho 875 Perimeter Drive MS 1102 Moscow, Idaho 83844-1102

Phone: 208-885-6156

Email: [email protected]

Web: English

Thank you for your interest in the Creative Writing MFA Program at the University of Idaho: the premier fully funded, three-year MFA program in the Northwest. Situated in the panhandle of Northern Idaho in the foothills of Moscow Mountain, we offer the time and support to train in the traditions, techniques, and practice of nonfiction, poetry, and fiction. Each student graduates as the author of a manuscript of publishable quality after undertaking a rigorous process of thesis preparation and a public defense. Spring in Moscow has come to mean cherry blossoms, snowmelt in Paradise Creek, and the head-turning accomplishments of our thesis-year students. Ours is a faculty of active, working writers who relish teaching and mentorship. We invite you in the following pages to learn about us, our curriculum, our community, and the town of Moscow. If the prospect of giving yourself three years with us to develop as a writer, teacher, and editor is appealing, we look forward to reading your application.

Pure Poetry

A Decade Working in a Smelter Is Topic of Alumnus Zach Eddy’s Poems

Ancestral Recognition

The region surrounding the University of Idaho is the ancestral land of both the Coeur d’Alene and Nez Perce peoples, and its campus in Moscow sits on unceded lands guaranteed to the Nez Perce people in the 1855 Treaty with the Nez Perce. As a land grant university, the University of Idaho also benefits from endowment lands that are the ancestral homes to many of the West’s Native peoples. The Department of English and Creative Writing Program acknowledge this history and share in the communal effort to ensure that the complexities and atrocities of the past remain in our discourse and are never lost to time. We invite you to think of the traditional “land acknowledgment” statement through our MFA alum CMarie Fuhrman’s words .

Degree Requirements

Three years to write.

Regardless of where you are in your artistic career, there is nothing more precious than time. A three-year program gives you time to generate, refine, and edit a body of original work. Typically, students have a light third year, which allows for dedicated time to complete and revise the Creative Thesis. (48 manuscript pages for those working in poetry, 100 pages for those working in prose.)

Our degree requirements are designed to reflect the real-world interests of a writer. Students are encouraged to focus their studies in ways that best reflect their artistic obsessions as well as their lines of intellectual and critical inquiry. In effect, students may be as genre-focused or as multi-genre as they please. Students must remain in-residence during their degrees. Typically, one class earns you 3 credits. The MFA requires a total of 54 earned credits in the following categories.

12 Credits : Graduate-level Workshop courses in Fiction, Poetry, and/or Nonfiction. 9 Credits: Techniques and Traditions courses in Fiction, Poetry, and/or Nonfiction 3 Credits : Internships: Fugue, Confluence Lab, and/or Pedagogy 9 Credits: Literature courses 12 Credits: Elective courses 10 Credits: Thesis

Flexible Degree Path

Students are admitted to our program in one of three genres, Poetry, Fiction, or Nonfiction. By design, our degree path offers ample opportunity to take Workshop, Techniques, Traditions, and Literature courses in any genre. Our faculty work and publish in multiple genres and value the slipperiness of categorization. We encourage students to write in as broad or focused a manner as they see fit. We are not at all interested in making writers “stay in their lanes,” and we encourage students to shape their degree paths in accordance with their passions. 

What You Study

During your degree, you will take Workshop, Techniques, Traditions, and Literature courses.

Our workshop classes are small by design (typically twelve students or fewer) and taught by core and visiting MFA faculty. No two workshop experiences look alike, but what they share are faculty members committed to the artistic and intellectual passions of their workshop participants.

Techniques studios are developed and taught by core and visiting MFA faculty. These popular courses are dedicated to the granular aspects of writing, from deep study of the poetic image to the cultivation of independent inquiry in nonfiction to the raptures of research in fiction. Such courses are heavy on generative writing and experimentation, offering students a dedicated space to hone their craft in a way that is complementary to their primary work.

Traditions seminars are developed and taught by core and visiting MFA faculty. These generative writing courses bring student writing into conversation with a specific trajectory or “tradition” of literature, from life writing to outlaw literature to the history of the short story, from prosody to postwar surrealism to genre-fluidity and beyond. These seminars offer students a dynamic space to position their work within the vast and varied trajectories of literature.

Literature courses are taught by core Literature and MFA faculty. Our department boasts field-leading scholars, interdisciplinary writers and thinkers, and theory-driven practitioners who value the intersection of scholarly study, research, humanism, and creative writing.

Award-Winning Faculty

We teach our classes first and foremost as practitioners of the art. Full stop. Though our styles and interests lie at divergent points on the literary landscape, our common pursuit is to foster the artistic and intellectual growth of our students, regardless of how or why they write. We value individual talent and challenge all students to write deep into their unique passions, identities, histories, aesthetics, and intellects. We view writing not as a marketplace endeavor but as an act of human subjectivity. We’ve authored or edited several books across the genres.

Learn more about Our People .

Thesis Defense

The MFA experience culminates with each student writing and defending a creative thesis. For prose writers, theses are 100 pages of creative work; for poets, 48 pages. Though theses often take the form of an excerpt from a book-in-progress, students have flexibility when it comes to determining the shape, form, and content of their creative projects. In their final year, each student works on envisioning and revising their thesis with three committee members, a Major Professor (core MFA faculty) and two additional Readers (core UI faculty). All students offer a public thesis defense. These events are attended by MFA students, faculty, community members, and other invitees. During a thesis defense, a candidate reads from their work for thirty minutes, answers artistic and critical questions from their Major Professor and two Readers for forty-five minutes, and then answer audience questions for thirty minutes. Though formally structured and rigorous, the thesis defense is ultimately a celebration of each student’s individual talent.

The Symposium Reading Series is a longstanding student-run initiative that offers every second-year MFA candidate an opportunity to read their works-in-progress in front of peers, colleagues, and community members. This reading and Q & A event prepares students for the third-year public thesis defense. These off-campus events are fun and casual, exemplifying our community centered culture and what matters most: the work we’re all here to do.

Teaching Assistantships

All students admitted to the MFA program are fully funded through Teaching Assistantships. All Assistantships come with a full tuition waiver and a stipend, which for the current academic year is roughly $15,000. Over the course of three years, MFA students teach a mix of composition courses, sections of Introduction to Creative Writing (ENGL 290), and additional writing courses, as departmental needs arise. Students may also apply to work in the Writing Center as positions become available. When you join the MFA program at Idaho, you receive teacher training prior to the beginning of your first semester. We value the role MFA students serve within the department and consider each graduate student as a working artist and colleague. Current teaching loads for Teaching Assistants are two courses per semester. Some members of the Fugue editorial staff receive course reductions to offset the demands of editorial work. We also award a variety of competitive and need-based scholarships to help offset general living costs. In addition, we offer three outstanding graduate student fellowships: The Hemingway Fellowship, Centrum Fellowship, and Writing in the Wild Fellowship. Finally, our Graduate and Professional Student Association offers extra-departmental funding in the form of research and travel grants to qualifying students throughout the academic year.

Distinguished Visiting Writers Series

Each year, we bring a Distinguished Visiting Writer to campus. DVWs interface with our writing community through public readings, on-stage craft conversations hosted by core MFA faculty, and small seminars geared toward MFA candidates. Recent DVWs include Maggie Nelson, Roger Reeves, Luis Alberto Urrea, Brian Evenson, Kate Zambreno, Dorianne Laux, Teju Cole, Tyehimba Jess, Claire Vaye Watkins, Naomi Shihab Nye, David Shields, Rebecca Solnit, Gabrielle Calvocoressi, Susan Orlean, Natasha Tretheway, Jo Ann Beard, William Logan, Aisha Sabatini Sloan, Gabino Iglesias, and Marcus Jackson, among several others.

Fugue Journal

Established in 1990 at the University of Idaho, Fugue publishes poetry, fiction, essays, hybrid work, and visual art from established and emerging writers and artists. Fugue is managed and edited entirely by University of Idaho graduate students, with help from graduate and undergraduate readers. We take pride in the work we print, the writers we publish, and the presentation of both print and digital content. We hold an annual contest in both prose and poetry, judged by two nationally recognized writers. Past judges include Pam Houston, Dorianne Laux, Rodney Jones, Mark Doty, Rick Moody, Ellen Bryant Voigt, Jo Ann Beard, Rebecca McClanahan, Patricia Hampl, Traci Brimhall, Edan Lepucki, Tony Hoagland, Chen Chen, Aisha Sabatini Sloan, sam sax, and Leni Zumas. The journal boasts a remarkable list of past contributors, including Steve Almond, Charles Baxter, Stephen Dobyns, Denise Duhamel, Stephen Dunn, B.H. Fairchild, Nick Flynn, Terrance Hayes, Campbell McGrath, W.S. Merwin, Sharon Olds, Jim Shepard, RT Smith, Virgil Suarez, Melanie Rae Thon, Natasha Trethewey, Philip Levine, Anthony Varallo, Robert Wrigley, and Dean Young, among many others.

Academy of American Poets University Prize

The Creative Writing Program is proud to partner with the Academy of American Poets to offer an annual Academy of American Poets University Prize to a student at the University of Idaho. The prize results in a small honorarium through the Academy as well as publication of the winning poem on the Academy website. The Prize was established in 2009 with a generous grant from Karen Trujillo and Don Burnett. Many of our nation’s most esteemed and celebrated poets won their first recognition through an Academy of American Poets Prize, including Diane Ackerman, Toi Derricotte, Mark Doty, Tess Gallagher, Louise Glück, Jorie Graham, Kimiko Hahn, Joy Harjo, Robert Hass, Li-Young Lee, Gregory Orr, Sylvia Plath, Mark Strand, and Charles Wright.

Fellowships

Centrum fellowships.

Those selected as Centrum Fellows attend the summer Port Townsend Writers’ Conference free of charge. Housed in Fort Worden (which is also home to Copper Canyon Press), Centrum is a nonprofit dedicated to fostering several artistic programs throughout the year. With a focus on rigorous attention to craft, the Writers’ Conference offers five full days of morning intensives, afternoon workshops, and craft lectures to eighty participants from across the nation. The cost of the conference, which includes tuition, lodging, and meals, is covered by the scholarship. These annual scholarship are open to all MFA candidates in all genres.

Hemingway Fellowships

This fellowship offers an MFA Fiction student full course releases in their final year. The selection of the Hemingway Fellow is based solely on the quality of an applicant’s writing. Each year, applicants have their work judged blind by a noted author who remains anonymous until the selection process has been completed. Through the process of blind selection, the Hemingway Fellowship Fund fulfills its mission of giving the Fellow the time they need to complete a substantial draft of a manuscript.

Writing in the Wild

This annual fellowship gives two MFA students the opportunity to work in Idaho’s iconic wilderness areas. The fellowship fully supports one week at either the McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS), which borders Payette Lake and Ponderosa State Park, or the Taylor Wilderness Research Station, which lies in the heart of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area. Both campuses offer year-round housing. These writing retreats allow students to concentrate solely on their writing. Because both locations often house researchers, writers will also have the opportunity to interface with foresters, geologists, biologists, and interdisciplinary scholars.

Program History

Idaho admitted its first class of seven MFA students in 1994 with a faculty of four: Mary Clearman Blew, Tina Foriyes, Ron McFarland (founder of Fugue), and Lance Olsen. From the beginning, the program was conceived as a three-year sequence of workshops and techniques classes. Along with offering concentrations in writing fiction and poetry, Idaho was one of the first in the nation to offer a full concentration in creative nonfiction. Also from its inception, Idaho not only allowed but encouraged its students to enroll in workshops outside their primary genres. Idaho has become one of the nation’s most respected three-year MFA programs, attracting both field-leading faculty and students. In addition to the founders of this program, notable distinguished faculty have included Kim Barnes, Robert Wrigley, Daniel Orozco, Joy Passanante, Tobias Wray, Brian Blanchfield, and Scott Slovic, whose collective vision, rigor, grit, and care have paved the way for future generations committed to the art of writing.

The Palouse

Situated in the foothills of Moscow Mountain amid the rolling terrain of the Palouse (the ancient silt beds unique to the region), our location in the vibrant community of Moscow, Idaho, boasts a lively and artistic local culture. Complete with independent bookstores, coffee shops, art galleries, restaurants and breweries, (not to mention a historic art house cinema, organic foods co-op, and renowned seasonal farmer’s market), Moscow is a friendly and affordable place to live. Outside of town, we’re lucky to have many opportunities for hiking, skiing, rafting, biking, camping, and general exploring—from nearby Idler’s Rest and Kamiak Butte to renowned destinations like Glacier National Park, the Snake River, the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area, and Nelson, BC. As for more urban getaways, Spokane, Washington, is only a ninety-minute drive, and our regional airline, Alaska, makes daily flights to and from Seattle that run just under an hour.

For upcoming events and program news, please visit our calendar .

For more information about the MFA program, please contact us at:  [email protected]

Department of English University of Idaho 875 Perimeter Drive MS 1102 Moscow, ID 83844-1102 208-885-6156

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Creative Writing Graduate Programs

About the Program and Placement Record

• Faculty Research Areas
• Teaching Assistantships

Creative Writing M.A.

• Admission Requirements
• Degree and Graduation Requirements
• Master's Essay
• Master's Thesis

Creative Writing Ph.D.

• Doctoral Dissertation
• Foreign Language Requirement
• Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination

One of the first universities in the country to offer a Ph.D. in Creative Writing, Ohio University continues as home to a thriving, widely respected graduate program with concentrations in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction.

Small by design, our graduate program offers a comprehensive curriculum, an award-winning faculty and the intimacy of small classes.

Placement Record

Over the past three years, seven of our nine graduating creative writing Ph.D. students have landed tenure-track jobs, post-doctorates, or prestigious visiting writer posts. Our MA graduates go on to study in the top MFA and Ph.D. programs.

• English M.A. Placements
• English Ph.D. Placements

Students in the Creative Writing M.A. and Ph.D. programs enjoy:

• Graduate stipends, up to $15,000 per year, with opportunities to teach a wide range of courses, including creative writing workshops
• Generous graduate student travel funding
• Editorial fellowships on New Ohio Review , Quarter after Eight , and Brevity
• Opportunities to interact with distinguished visiting writers

M.A. candidates complete two years of study and write a thesis of creative work in their genre. Doctoral candidates complete five years of study, comprehensive exams, a major critical essay, and a creative dissertation.

Literary Journals

The department and its students publish three literary journals:

• New Ohio Review , a national literary journal
• Quarter After Eight , a prose journal edited by graduate students
• Sphere , an undergraduate journal

Annual Events

The department hosts several annual events including an ambitious Spring Literary Festival that brings five nationally distinguished writers to campus for three-days of readings, craft talks, and student discussion. Recent visitors have included Tony Hoagland, Kathryn Harrison, Barry Lopez, Francine Prose, Peter Ho Davies, Kim Addonizio, David Shields, Robert Hass, Charles Simic, Yusef Komunyakaa, and Marilynne Robinson.

Visiting writers engage with our program year-round as well, appearing in both undergraduate and graduate classes, meeting one-on-one with select students, and offering evening readings in the intimate Galbreath Chapel.

In addition to a regular Dogwood Bloom reading series for our graduate students, the creative writing program hosts an annual Writers' Harvest benefit reading for the Southeastern Ohio Food Bank?s Second Harvest, a food distribution program serving Athens, Hocking, Perry, Vinton, Jackson, Gallia, Meigs, Morgan and Washington counties.