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Pre-application guidance for the PhD in Creative Writing

Find out why and how you should apply for our PhD in Creative Writing, including guidance on the creative and critical components of your degree.

How is the Creative Writing PhD structured?

Doctoral degree candidates in Creative Writing spend three years writing a manuscript in consultation with a supervisor.

This manuscript consists of two components:

  • A creative component that comprises 75% of the final manuscript.
  • A critical component, which comprises 25% of the final manuscript.

In practical terms this amounts to the following:

  • Candidates in fiction write a creative manuscript (novel or collection of short stories) that should not exceed 75,000 words in length.
  • Candidates in poetry write a collection of poetry that should not exceed 75 pages of poetry.
  • All candidates (fiction writers and poets) must also write an essay that is approximately 20,000- 25,000 words. This is the ‘critical’ component.

What is meant by ‘critical component’?

The critical component of a thesis manuscript in Creative Writing can be where you analyse how a precise, focused theme or a specific element of craft (character, form, voice, etc.) operates in selected published works. Sometimes, this will be a traditional academic or ‘critical’ essay. Other times, this part of a thesis might tackle more craft-driven questions: in what ways does plot operate in Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse and Thomas Pynchon’s Gravity’s Rainbow and how do these ‘operations’ affect readers? How does the use of non-human personae in Louise Glück’s The Wild Iris, Les Murray’s Translations from the Natural World and Edwin Morgan’s poetry reshape reader perceptions?

Alternatively, the critical component may take the form of a critical-reflexive essay, in which you situate your creative project in a critical context. Such an essay is not simply an account of what you did and when you did it; instead, it should be a rigorous and scholarly work that aims for some deeper insight. It is likely to use self-reflection as a means of illuminating the creative process, interrogating the contribution made by your creative writing to a chosen genre and its tradition, and examining how it engages with, and contributes to, wider conceptual or theoretical issues. Examples of critical-reflexive essays can be found in Writing in Practice and Text Journal.

  • Take me to Writing in Practice
  • Take me to Text Journal

It is not expected that the critical component should constitute an original contribution to knowledge, as would be the case when pursuing a conventional 80,000-word thesis manuscript in literary studies; what is important is that it offers an in-depth analysis of a question that, although explored in part or in whole through the work of other writers, relates to, or grows out of, the creative component of your manuscript, and that the creative and critical components are sufficiently connected for the thesis as a whole to form a coherent body of work.

You have only 20,000 -25,000 words for this essay, so when writing your proposal it is important to be focused and specific.

What form does the application take?

Applicants are asked to supply a sample of either fiction (3,000 - 5,000 words; not exceeding 5,000 words) or poetry (10-15 pages of poetry; not exceeding 15 pages), as well as a shorter sample of academic writing (circa 2,000 words). You’ll also need to supply a summary of your proposed project. This summary should comprise an outline of your creative project as well as detailed discussion of your 20,000 to 25,000-word critical component.

Some questions that your proposal might address could be:

  • What would be the proposed structure of the creative portion of your final manuscript?
  • Which resources would you be using for the critical portion (mention a few critics and/or authors you will be discussing by name or, even better, specific titles)?
  • Is there a single overarching research question that both the creative and the critical work will investigate?
  • Why would Edinburgh be a good place for this project?

Please include a bibliography. The application also asks for a personal statement separate from the proposal. This is where you provide information about your previous experiences and attainments as a creative writer; also give a sense of why you want to do the PhD at Edinburgh.

How long should a proposal be?

There is no official limit or minimum length for a proposal. However, effective proposals tend to be 500-750 words long, excluding the indicative bibliography.

Do I need to find someone to supervise my project before applying?

There is no need to identify a supervisor in advance of your application. Applicants who receive an offer of acceptance are assigned a provisional supervisor, taking into account staff research interests and other factors. However, it’s important to make contact with the team if you’re intending to apply for SGSAH (AHRC) funding.

While you do not need to find a member of staff willing to supervise your project before applying, please do take some time to read over staff profiles, staff research interests, and publications in order to ensure that your project is something we can supervise effectively.

Who can supervise your PhD

The following members of staff supervise PhD students in Creative Writing. Follow the links to find out more about their research interests and expertise.

Is there anything else I should consider before applying?

Creative Writing at Edinburgh is staffed by a small cohort of writers of fiction and poetry and we are extremely selective in our recruitment. Sometimes, strong applications from talented writers do not receive offers because the proposed projects fall outside our areas of specialisation. A PhD requires close supervision from a specialist in the field: this holds equally for Creative Writing as for literary studies and applies to both elements of your project.

FAQs about our programme

Do doctoral degree candidates have the opportunity to teach.

In later years, suitably qualified PhD students are offered the opportunity to teach undergraduate tutorials. Please note that these tutorials are linked with pre-honours courses in literary studies, not creative writing.

Would my doctoral manuscript be made available through Open Access?

Conversations regarding Open Access are on-going and ever-evolving. At present, the same policy applies to Creative Writing doctoral manuscripts as to thesis manuscripts written by doctoral students in literary studies and other disciplines within the humanities.

When you submit, you can request a one-year embargo on public access to your thesis. If no embargo is requested then the full text of the thesis is made freely available online via ERA (Edinburgh Research Archive).

Find out more about Access to Thesis restrictions on the Scholarly Communications website

Find out more and apply

You can find out more about language requirements, facilities, fees, funding opportunities and application deadlines for this PhD programme, and formally apply to study on it, on the University of Edinburgh’s online Degree Finder.

Applications to start your PhD in September 2024 open in October 2023.

Take me to the University of Edinburgh's Degree Finder entry for the PhD in Creative Writing

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The university of edinburgh: creative writing, doctor of philosophy - phd, full-time, 3 years starts sep 2024.

The PhD in Creative Writing offers committed and talented writers the opportunity to study Creative Writing at the highest level.

Supported by an expert supervisory team you will work independently towards the production of a substantial, publishable piece of creative writing, accompanied by a sustained exercise in critical study.

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:

- Dr Jane Alexander - Fiction

- Dr Lynda Clark - Fiction

- Dr Patrick Errington - Poetry

- Dr Miriam Gamble - Poetry

- Dr Alan Gillis - Poetry

- Nicola McCartney - Drama

- Dr Jane McKie - Poetry

- Dr Allyson Stack - Fiction

- Kim Sherwood - Fiction

- Alice Thompson - Fiction

Part-Time, 6 years starts Sep 2024

Full-time, 1 years starts sep 2024.

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

- hearing from guest writers and other professionals on the practicalities of life as a writer

You will also sharpen your critical skills through:

- seminars exploring the particulars of your chosen form

- option courses in literature, helping you move from theoretical considerations to practical applications

The programme culminates with the publication of ‘From Arthur’s Seat,’ an anthology of student work.

**Why Edinburgh**

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:

- library readings and bookshop launches

- spoken word gigs

- cabaret nights

- poetry slams

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.

- Dr Lynda Clark

- Dr Patrick Errington - Poetry/Fiction

- Professor Alan Gillis - Poetry

edinburgh university creative writing phd

Edinburgh. Extraordinary futures await.

The  University of Edinburgh  is one of the world's top universities, consistently ranked in the world top 50, and placed 22nd in the 2024 QS World University Rankings. Our position as one of Britain’s leading research universities was reaffirmed by the results of the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF). The University of Edinburgh is one of the world’s top research-intensive universities, ranked 4th in the UK for research power (Times Higher Education, Overall Ranking of Institutions), with 90% of our research activity classified as world leading or internationally excellent in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework. Our …

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Creative Writing PhD The University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh

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Qualification.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

The University of Edinburgh

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  • UNIVERSITY INFO

Course summary

The PhD in Creative Writing provides the capstone to the postgraduate Creative Writing suite, offering students graduating from the MSc an opportunity to undertake work at a higher level. You will aim towards the production of a substantial, publishable piece of creative writing, accompanied by a sustained exercise in critical study.

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.

Training and support

We encourage you to share your research and learn from the work of others through a programme of work-in-progress seminars, reading groups, visiting speakers and conferences.

Our postgraduate journal, Forum, is a valuable conduit for research findings and provides an opportunity to gain editorial experience.

Application deadline

30 April 2024

Tuition fees

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£ 26,300 per year

Tuition fees shown are for indicative purposes and may vary. Please check with the institution for most up to date details.

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Creative Writing

Entry requirements.

A UK masters degree with distinction, or its international equivalent, in creative writing, normally with distinction.

We may also consider your application if you have equivalent qualifications or experience.

Months of entry

January, September

Course content

The PhD in Creative Writing provides the capstone to the postgraduate Creative Writing suite, offering students graduating from the MSc an opportunity to undertake work at a higher level. You will aim towards the production of a substantial, publishable piece of creative writing, accompanied by a sustained exercise in critical study.

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.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

  • Campus-based learning is available for this qualification

Course contact details

The University of Edinburgh home

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Research and the craft of creative writing

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  • The unconventional way to fund a PhD

When submitting to an academic journal goes wrong

What’s it like doing a PhD in creative writing at the University of Edinburgh?

Recent comments.

edinburgh university creative writing phd

Starting the PhD

I came into my PhD program not really knowing much about what a PhD really was. I knew the basics of my program. Write a 70,000 word novel and a 20,000 word critical reflexive. But I didn’t really know what else I was supposed to be doing. When doing a postgraduate program by research (as Edinburgh refers to it) you will arrive to discover that there are no classes. No schedule. And just a rough idea of what you are supposed to be researching.

The supervisor relationship

My primary supervisor is Dr Jane Alexander. At the University of Edinburgh, certainly in creative writing, the PhD application isn’t directed to any one specific supervisor. Applications come in and if you’re chosen, your supervisor gets allocated to you. So Jane and I became a team by chance, and although I had met her previously in my master’s program, we were tasked to set foot on this adventure together. Jane and I meet roughly every month, and I send chunks of my work to her about a week in advance so she has time to read it and make comments. We generally work around each other’s schedules, and in my first year, I would prepare agendas to discuss certain topics. In our first meeting, I shared my approach that I believed the mentee was responsible for driving the relationship, and so I book our meetings and manage the calendar of our appointments. I also take notes in our meetings and incorporate feedback into my subsequent work.

My secondary supervisor, Dr Jane McKie, only formally checks in with me at my annual progress review. She taught me during my master’s as well, and is pretty familiar with my work. We’ve had a few coffee chats, or meet ups over drinks outside of the PhD “formal programming” but these are social occasions and aren’t about driving forward any specific agenda.

Some of the things I chat about with my supervisors outside of my writing include:

  • Teaching courses (including the different approaches in the UK versus Canada)
  • How to write an abstract
  • What a call for papers is
  • How to attend a conference and what to do once I get there
  • Submitting funding requests
  • Preparing references for scholarship applications (kudos to Jane for doing a lot of these for me)
  • Potential job opportunities

What I do all day

In my first year, my days were spent trying to figure out what exactly I was supposed to do. I went around in circles, attempting to follow my original project idea, changing my mind, moving to something else, before I eventually settled on doing exactly what I had proposed in the first place. I read various articles, books I thought might be relevant, and dug around for resources at the library. I read a fair amount of Ian Rankin, Louise Penny, and skimmed other crime novels and ultimately ruled them out. My supervisors let me meander through this exercise, which I think is common in the first year, before I gained traction in my second year.

Now, I have a solid idea of what I’m doing. I alternate between writing my novel draft, and my critical reflexive. I’m still finding relevant and new research, but this is a focused exercise and I’m not flailing around (as much) and going down unrelated rabbit holes. I’m at the start of my third year, and my manuscript is essentially at the word count, but now I’m editing it. Editing looks like ripping out a distracting storyline, re-aliving a character, and removing other characters.

Desks arranged in a room with a view overlooking Arthur's seat, an inactive volcano in Edinburgh

The postgraduate room in 50 George Square

I spend most of my time writing in the dedicated post-graduate room at the University of Edinburgh located on the fourth floor of 50 George Square, or working in a co-working space in Canada. I had a weird start to my PhD in that I started during the pandemic, so about a third of my degree was done remotely  due to restrictions on international travel. I can’t write in my own home, so that means I’m either in dedicated workspaces, cafes, or the stereotypical Starbucks. The university library is too crowded and too hot, so I avoid it.

How I keep track of it all

I keep a whiteboard of everything I am supposed to do, including my word count on my critical reflexive, my upcoming scholarship deadlines, call for paper deadlines, and potential grants. I also have a physical agenda where I note deadlines for publications I was to submit to, events I want to attend, or workshops offered by the university. I take notes in a spiral bound book and in my OneNote binder.

Whiteboard with notes in blue pen

My whiteboard

Things I do besides writing

The magic of the University of Edinburgh, and the city in general, is that there is always something going on. Some of the things I like to do are:

  • Take academic workshops on topics like blogging (hello!), attending conferences, editing a thesis, etc.
  • Go to open mics and do readings of my work
  • Attend events put on by the writer in residence, this year we have Michael Pederson and he is fabulous.
  • Prepare abstracts to submit to conferences
  • Check in with my friends who are also doing PhD’s and share how far behind we are (or try to team up and submit to conferences together)
  • Go to book launches and support the local scene
  • Explore Edinburgh and check out various pubs, comedy nights, and performances (it’s a very artsy city)

edinburgh university creative writing phd

Attending the Bloody Scotland crime writing conference in Stirling

Not every PhD student has the same experience – some are on campus everyday, working diligently with piles of books and papers everywhere. Some come to campus only for their meetings, while others work full-time and do a mix of in-person and remote meetings. I was forced to do a lot of my work from Canada, which was honestly fine (and in some ways easier), but now that the university campus is back to normal and everything is open, it is nice to be on campus more.

Have any questions about doing a creative writing PhD? Put them in the comments below!

(Credit: Lexie Angelo, 2024)

(Photo Credit: Ryan Angelo, 2023)

edinburgh university creative writing phd

Posted by Lexie Angelo

25 February 2024

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Creative Writing PhD The University of Edinburgh

  • On campus - h
  • Sep 1, 2024 Part-time - 6 years
  • Sep 1, 2024 Full-time - 3 years

Key Course Facts

Student reviews.

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Salary of Graduates in Accounting

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Salary of all UK Graduates of Accounting

Course description.

The PhD in Creative Writing offers committed and talented writers the opportunity to study Creative Writing at the highest level.

Supported by an expert supervisory team you will work independently towards the production of a substantial, publishable piece of creative writing, accompanied by a sustained exercise in critical study.

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:

  • Dr Jane Alexander - Fiction
  • Dr Lynda Clark - Fiction
  • Dr Patrick Errington - Poetry
  • Dr Miriam Gamble - Poetry
  • Dr Alan Gillis - Poetry
  • Nicola McCartney - Drama
  • Dr Jane McKie - Poetry
  • Dr Allyson Stack - Fiction
  • Kim Sherwood - Fiction
  • Alice Thompson - Fiction

Accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) for the purpose of exemptions from some professional examinations.

Accredited by the Association of International Accountants (AIA) for the purpose of exemption from some professional examinations.

Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) .

Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) for the purpose of exemption from some professional examinations through the Accredited degree accelerated route.

Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) for the purpose of exemption from some professional examinations.

Accredited by the EFMD Quality Improvement System.

Accredited by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) for the purpose of exemption from some professional examinations.

Accredited by the Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland (ICAS) for the purpose of exemption from some professional examinations.

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

What graduates are doing after 15 months

Current jobs, job in line with future plans, utilise skills from studies, work is meaningful, required skill level of job after 15 months, % skilled jobs, jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation).

Example below based on all graduates of Creative Writing PhD at The University of Edinburgh

Grading & Study Time

Assessment methods, study time distribution, entry requirements / admissions, ucas tariff of accepted students for this course.

Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on our website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements.

Average student cost of living in the UK

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

University Rankings

Positions of the university of edinburgh in top uk and global rankings., rankings of the university of edinburgh in related subject specific rankings., languages & literature, about the university of edinburgh.

The University of Edinburgh is located in the Scottish city of the same name, and is one of the oldest universities in the entire United Kingdom, having opened in the year 1583. The university enjoys a strong reputation for its contributions to international research efforts, which is reflected in their inclusion in the Russell Group, Universitas 21, and Una Europa. Edinburgh offers its residents a historic yet modern city, with a lively nightlife scene, reliable public transport, and friendly locals.

List of 686 Bachelor and Master Courses from The University of Edinburgh - Course Catalogue

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edinburgh university creative writing phd

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  • Course title (Z-A)
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Creative Writing PhD

Anglia ruskin university.

  • 2 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
  • 2.5 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
  • 3 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)
  • 3.5 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

Bath Spa University

  • 24 months Full time degree: £7,325 per year (UK)

PhD English and Creative Writing

University of roehampton.

  • 4 years Full time degree: £4,711 per year (UK)
  • 7 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

PhD/ MPhil/ MRes Creative Writing

University of strathclyde.

  • 3 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)

Creative and Critical Writing PhD

Bangor university.

  • 5 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

PhD in Creative Writing and English Literature

Manchester metropolitan university.

  • 3 years Full time degree: £4,850 per year (UK)
  • 6 years Part time degree

PhD Postgraduate Research in Creative Writing

University of east anglia uea.

  • 6 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

English and Creative Writing PhD

University of gloucestershire.

  • 4 years Full time degree: £5,100 per year (UK)
  • 6 years Part time degree: £3,400 per year (UK)

PhD Creative Practice, History and Theory

University of central lancashire.

  • 3 years Full time degree: £5,000 per year (UK)
  • 6 years Part time degree: £2,500 per year (UK)

Aberystwyth University

University of surrey.

  • 4 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
  • 8 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

PhD Theatre Studies (Playwriting)

University of essex.

  • 4 years Full time degree: £9,375 per year (UK)
  • Literature - Research- Core
  • Dissertation
  • View all modules

University of Hull

English phd,mphil - life writing, university of leicester.

  • 4 years Distance without attendance degree: £5,913 per year (UK)
  • 3 years Full time degree: £4,786 per year (UK)
  • 6 years Part time degree: £2,393 per year (UK)

Creative Writing MPhil, PhD

Newcastle university.

  • 36 months Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
  • 72 months Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

University of Nottingham

  • 48 months Online/Distance degree: £5,100 per year (UK)
  • 96 months Online/Distance degree

University of Plymouth

  • 3 years Full time degree: £4,500 per year (UK)
  • 4 years Part time degree: £3,030 per year (UK)
  • GSRCWRI1 Research Creative Writing- Core
  • Research Skills in the Arts, Humanities & Business- Core
  • GSRCWRI2 Research Creative Writing- Core
  • GSRCWRI3 Research Creative Writing- Core
  • GSRCWRI4 Research Creative Writing- Core

Text, Practice and Research - PhD

University of kent, brunel university london.

  • 3 years Full time degree

University of West London

  • 4 years Full time degree: £3,995 per year (UK)
  • 6 years Part time degree: £2,000 per year (UK)

1-20 of 50 courses

About PhD Degrees in Creative Writing

Creative writing extends beyond the boundaries of normal professional journalism or academic forms of literature. It is often associated with fiction and poetry, but primarily emphasises narrative craft, character development, and the use of traditional literary forms.

A PhD level exploration of creative writing is a three-year full-time programme, where candidates delve into the complexities of literary expression, developing their own research and create projects with the goal of making an original contribution to the field.

There are more than fifty creative writing PhD programmes in the UK, and these give candidates a platform to fully immerse themselves in their ideas and take their work to the next level.

What to expect

A PhD in creative writing offers the time and space to develop personal creative methods, combined with advanced workshops, critical seminars, and guest lectures from working authors. Under an academic mentor's supervision, candidates typically work towards completing a novel, poetry collection or screenplay.

Postgraduate programmes such as these often foster a supportive community of writers and scholars, and collaboration with peers is encouraged. Graduates can expect to emerge as confident and aspirational authors, with a developed style and professional aspiration, prepared for careers in writing, publishing, academia, or other creative industries. The degree provides a pathway for making significant contributions to the world of literature through original and innovative creative works.

Course type:

  • Distance learning PhD
  • Full time PhD
  • Part time PhD

Qualification:

Universities:.

  • Cardiff University
  • University of Suffolk
  • University of Portsmouth
  • University of Buckingham
  • University of Aberdeen
  • The University of Edinburgh
  • King's College London, University of London
  • University of Sussex
  • University of Lincoln
  • University of Birmingham
  • Keele University
  • University of Manchester
  • University of York
  • Lancaster University
  • University of Liverpool
  • Swansea University
  • University of Hertfordshire
  • University of Bristol
  • Leeds Beckett University
  • Goldsmiths, University of London

Related Subjects:

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Edinburgh Napier University

Full of creative writing talent and ideas? Let us add the expertise.

Unique is a great way to describe the postgraduate creative writing programme at Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland. For a start, we put genre fiction front and centre in our course. If you love science fiction, fantasy, crime or horror, most MFAs and MAs don't want to know - but we embrace great genre writing and people who want to write it. Another unique focus at Edinburgh Napier is comics and graphic novels , which most other programmes ignore. In fact, we love this medium so much we devote an entire module about it, Writing Graphic Fiction. [Good news: no talent for drawing required!] We also specialise in Young Adult fiction , with acclaimed YA author Laura Lam leading a new module on this.

Edinburgh Napier's creative writing MA does not offer a poetry option. We repeat, poetry is not a requirement . There are plenty of other great courses with brilliant poets on the faculty - if you want to study poetry, seek them out. We have had prize-winning poets as students on our programme, but we don't teach or critique poetry.

No peer review workshops?

There are also no peer review workshops in Creative Writing MA classes at Edinburgh Napier. We repeat, no peer review workshops. This boggles the mind of some people, as such workshops are the dominant teaching method for creative writing pretty much everywhere else. But we don't have them in our classes. Not one! Instead, we set frequent writing assignments and expect you to bring the results to class. You're encouraged to critically self-reflect on your work [with prompts from us], and to share that thinking. You get professional editorial feedback on your writing and your self-reflection skills, delivered masterclass-style in class. And you get six hours of one-to-one mentoring .

  • Load more from the gallery

Introducing our Creative Writing tutors - David Bishop, Elizabeth Dearnley, Nicholas Binge and Noelle Harrison. Learn more about their backgrounds and their impressive careers in writing so far.

Through her work, Jenny Bloomfield has always strived to make a difference. Now she's looking to do it through an alternative medium - creative writing.

Write Together: Edinburgh Napier & Seton Hill

As a graduate of the MA in Creative Writing at Edinburgh Napier University, you can now earn your MFA – and finish the book you started at Edinburgh Napier – through the Writing Popular Fiction programme at Seton Hill. 

Beginning in January 2017, alumni from Edinburgh Napier University can enroll in the Writing Popular Fiction programme at Seton Hill and earn an MFA by taking 34 credits (instead of the usual 54) and attending four residencies (instead of six).

2015 graduate Ashley Stern is now working towards her MFA in popular fiction at Seton Hill University in Pennsylvania. We catch-up with her as she looks back on her time in Edinburgh.

About Edinburgh

About scotland.

Want an insight into the course and its going-ons? Visit the MA Creative Writing blog today.

MA Creative Writing Full-Time

Ma creative writing part-time.

IMAGES

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VIDEO

  1. University of Edinburgh application(ID S2709799)

  2. MA Creativity: Innovation and Business Strategy

  3. PhD student Fiona talks about writing a novel and researching cultural diversity in English folklore

  4. Studying at the University of Edinburgh (everything you need to know!)

  5. Edinburgh Napier University Graduation 11am Wed 5th July 2023

  6. Luksic Scholarship at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, University of Edinburgh

COMMENTS

  1. Creative Writing PhD

    Study PhD in Creative Writing at the University of Edinburgh. Through our postgraduate degree programme you will work towards creating a publishable piece of creative writing, accompanied by a sustained exercise in critical study. ... The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336 ...

  2. Pre-application guidance for the PhD in Creative Writing

    Applicants are asked to supply a sample of either fiction (3,000 - 5,000 words; not exceeding 5,000 words) or poetry (10-15 pages of poetry; not exceeding 15 pages), as well as a shorter sample of academic writing (circa 2,000 words). You'll also need to supply a summary of your proposed project. This summary should comprise an outline of ...

  3. Creative Writing PhD Program By The University of Edinburgh |Top

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  4. Creative Writing PhD at The University of Edinburgh

    Course Summary. The PhD in Creative Writing provides the capstone to the postgraduate Creative Writing suite, offering students graduating from the MSc an opportunity to undertake work at a higher level. You will aim towards the production of a substantial, publishable piece of creative writing, accompanied by a sustained exercise in critical ...

  5. Creative Writing

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  6. Creative Writing PhD at The University of Edinburgh

    The PhD in Creative Writing provides the capstone to the postgraduate Creative Writing suite, offering students graduating from the MSc an opportunity to undertake work at a higher level. You will aim towards the production of a substantial, publishable piece of creative writing, accompanied by a sustained exercise in critical study.

  7. Creative Writing

    Course content. The PhD in Creative Writing provides the capstone to the postgraduate Creative Writing suite, offering students graduating from the MSc an opportunity to undertake work at a higher level. You will aim towards the production of a substantial, publishable piece of creative writing, accompanied by a sustained exercise in critical ...

  8. What's it like doing a PhD in creative writing at the University of

    At the University of Edinburgh, certainly in creative writing, the PhD application isn't directed to any one specific supervisor. Applications come in and if you're chosen, your supervisor gets allocated to you. So Jane and I became a team by chance, and although I had met her previously in my master's program, we were tasked to set foot ...

  9. Creative Writing Program By The University of Edinburgh |Top Universities

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    The PhD in Creative Writing offers committed and talented writers the opportunity to study Creative Writing at the highest level. ... Postgraduate programmes at the University of Edinburgh. We offer over 300 taught masters courses and 135 research areas. Study with us and you will enjoy expert teaching from leading academics, at a university ...

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    The University of Edinburgh; Creative Writing ; About. ... Full Support for Tuition and Costs of Living- PhD Scholarship at the University of Essex . Merit-based. Read more about eligibility . Junhua Li. Location not available . Independent provider. Grant. 50000 INR. Deadline. 31 Mar 2024.

  14. Creative Writing, M.Sc.

    About. Based in the first UNESCO World City of Literature, the Creative Writing programme at The University of Edinburgh is tailored towards your practice in either fiction or poetry. The University of Edinburgh. Edinburgh , Scotland , United Kingdom. Top 0.5% worldwide. Studyportals University Meta Ranking.

  15. Creative Writing MSc at The University of Edinburgh

    They also attend a weekly 2-hour seminar exploring questions of structure, form and genre in creative writing. There are two pathways through the core course, one focusing on prose and one on poetry. MSc Creative Writing Dissertation (ENLI11032) (60 Credits) - Core. Students must gain an overall coursework pass of 50% or above in order to ...

  16. PhD Degrees in Creative Writing

    Anglia Ruskin University. (4.2) 2 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK) 2.5 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK) 3 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK) 3.5 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK) Apply now Visit website Request info Book event. View 4 additional courses. Compare.

  17. Creative Writing PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in ...

    University of Dundee Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design. This practice-led project aims to forefront working-class lived experience to produce new experimental, interdisciplinary writing. Read more. Supervisor: Prof M Fusco. 30 June 2024 PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only. More Details.

  18. MA Creative Writing at Edinburgh Napier

    Unique is a great way to describe the postgraduate creative writing programme at Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland. For a start, we put genre fiction front and centre in our course. If you love science fiction, fantasy, crime or horror, most MFAs and MAs don't want to know - but we embrace great genre writing and people who want to write it.