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University of westminster, london: creative writing: writing the city.

The Creative Writing: Writing the City MA is the only Creative Writing MA course to focus entirely on the city of London. It will allow you to explore the city as subject matter from a range of perspectives and across all genres. It will also give you a theoretical and practical platform from which to develop your understanding, and become part of the London writing scene.

Taught by professional writers and researchers, our course offers plenty of opportunities to network with other writers, agents, TV producers and performance poets. As part of the MA, you'll be part of the team managing the Wells Street Journal, our student-led in-house magazine. You'll be based in the University's headquarters building at 309 Regent Street, which means you'll be writing about the city in the heart of London, with ready access to the capital's excellent academic, social and cultural opportunities, including the vibrant West End theatre scene.

You can begin in January or in September. To receive your Master's award, you'll need to complete taught modules for a total of 120 credits, covered by three 40-credit core modules, and the 60-credit Writing Project (giving a total of 180 credits).

The workshop-based structure of the course will allow you to learn through interactive practice. Classes are weekly and normally last two or three hours. Teaching will also include visits to selected London institutions to support certain aspects of writing, and you'll be encouraged to use various archives, theatres and galleries. Assessment methods include coursework portfolios, reflective logs, essays, and workshop leadership, as well as the 10-12,000-word writing project. There are no formal exams.

Full-Time, 12 months starts Sep 2024

Part-time day, 24 months starts sep 2024.

The University of Westminster has a population of over 19,000 students, representing over 140 nationalities worldwide and proudly making the university one of the most diverse in the UK. Our friendly and diverse community is committed to the highest quality of teaching and learning. We pride ourselves on being an institution that welcomes and supports students from all backgrounds to achieve their full potential. It’s with this backdrop that our School of Humanities offers courses spanning areas including History, English and Creative Writing and Languages, taught by academics – many with extensive industry experience. 

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Creative Writing: Writing the City MA

University of Westminster

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Campus location

London, United Kingdom

Study format

Full time, Part time

Tuition fees

GBP 15,000 / per year **

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* we urge applicants to apply as soon possible and recommend applicants to apply at least three months before the course starts

** international | UK: £8,500

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The Creative Writing: Writing the City MA is the only Creative Writing MA course to focus entirely on the city of London. It will allow you to explore the city as a subject matter from a range of perspectives and across all genres. It will also give you a theoretical and practical platform from which to develop your understanding and become part of the London writing scene.

Taught by professional writers and researchers, our course offers plenty of opportunities to network with other writers, agents, TV producers and performance poets. As part of the MA, you'll be part of the team managing the Wells Street Journal, our student-led in-house magazine. You'll be based in the University's headquarters building at 309 Regent Street, which means you'll be writing about the city in the heart of London, with ready access to the capital's excellent academic, social and cultural opportunities, including the vibrant West End theatre scene.

You can begin in January or in September. To receive your Master's award, you'll need to complete taught modules for a total of 120 credits, covered by three 40-credit core modules, and the 60-credit Writing Project (giving a total of 180 credits).

The workshop-based structure of the course will allow you to learn through interactive practice. Classes are weekly and normally last two or three hours. Teaching will also include visits to selected London institutions to support certain aspects of writing, and you'll be encouraged to use various archives, theatres and galleries. Assessment methods include coursework portfolios, reflective logs, essays, and workshop leader, as well as the 10-12,000-word writing project. There are no formal exams.

Top reasons to study with us

• Write in and about London – you'll be based in the heart of London, a city which will inspire your writing and unlock your creative potential
• Run our student-led magazine – you can gain publishing experience through managing The Wells Street Journal, our in-house literary magazine
• A course run by professional writers – you'll study multiple genres and be taught by professional writers and researchers
• Networking opportunities – networking is encouraged as part of the course, and you'll be perfectly placed to access London's writing and publishing scene
• Vibrant culture – you'll have the opportunity to enjoy a host of extra-curricular events, workshops and talks

Why study this course?

• Get immersed in London You'll explore the city from a range of perspectives and genres and be encouraged to use London institutions and arts venues to support your learning, as well as network in London's writing scene.
• Learn how to succeed as a writer You'll learn practical skills such as how to use your creativity to promote your work, how to edit, how to choose a literary agent and how to use social media for self-promotion.
• Gain publishing experience You'll be able to choose how you contribute to our literary magazine, The Wells Street Journal – whether it's designing content, editing, organising the launch party or managing social media.

The critical and practical skills you'll acquire by the end of the course will make you a strong candidate in many areas, including arts management, copy editing, education, freelance writing, journalism, media, publishing, theatre and performance-based writing, and research and academia.

• Take the next step in your writing career In addition to learning the craft of writing, you'll develop transferable skills such as editing, critical analysis, advanced oral and written presentation, as well as in-depth knowledge of the publishing industry.
• Make industry connections Our course offers plenty of opportunities to network with other writers, agents, TV producers and performance poets. You'll be encouraged to identify useful career opportunities through extra-curricular activities including writers’ events and talks.
• Employers around the world The University’s Careers and Employability Service has built up a network of over 3,000 employers around the world, helping all our students explore and connect with exciting opportunities and careers.

Graduate success

A large number of our graduates are employed in graduate positions within six months of graduating, and many have also experienced success from their freelance work as writers, and from the growing list of prestigious publications and accolades attached to their names.

Our graduate successes include:

• Stephen Thompson published No More Heroes, his fourth novel, in 2015, one year after finishing his MA. Stephen has also written the script for BBC 1 Sitting in Limbo documentary, first aired on 8 June 2020, and has been nominated for two BAFTA awards (Best Single Drama, and Emerging Talent)
• Naji Bakhti’s Between Beirut and The Moon, a coming of age story set against the turbulent background of his native country of Lebanon, was published by Influx Press in 2020
• Jessica Wragg published her memoir Girl on the Block in 2019, which is due to become a TV programme produced in the US
• Gunther Silva Passuni, who is originally from Peru, published his second work, Pasos Pesados (a novel in his native Spanish) in 2016

This course will prepare you for a variety of roles, including:

• Digital content producer
• Freelance journalist
• Screenwriter

Graduate employers

Graduates from this course have found employment at organisations including:

• University of Lancaster
• University of Winchester

Westminster Employability Award

Employers value graduates who have invested in their personal and professional development – and our Westminster Employability Award gives you the chance to formally document and demonstrate these activities and achievements.

The award is flexible and can be completed in your own time, comprising a set of core and optional extracurricular activities.

Activities might include gaining experience through a part-time job or placement, signing up to a University-run scheme – such as mentoring or teaching in a school – or completing online exercises.

The following modules are indicative of what you will study in this course.

Core modules

• City Stories and Dramas: Fiction and Playwriting
• Mapping and Imagining the City: Non-Fiction and Poetic Writing
• The Writing Business
• The Writing Project

The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible undergraduate students, which cover all or part of your tuition fees.

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Professional Writing

Entry requirements.

A minimum of a lower second class honours degree (2:2).

Months of entry

January, September

Course content

The Professional Writing MA is designed for those who want to turn their love of words and writing into a dynamic and fulfilling career. It will give you the skills, motivation, networks and connections to work across a wide variety of industries – in publishing, journalism, public relations, advertising, as literary agents, copywriters and copyeditors. It will also allow you to explore the history and future of writing and the writing industries from a variety of perspectives, and to develop your own interests and specialisms.

Professional Writing takes a broad, holistic view of writing, because writing is not just about writing. It is about editing, about working with the words of others and with other languages, it is about the reader, it is about the form into which the words are packaged. It is about essays and tweets, novels and headlines, criticism and advertising, prizes and publicity. As a result, the course brings together the combined expertise of English, Creative Writing, Media, Communication, and Film and Cultural Studies to offer a truly interdisciplinary MA.

Information for international students

If your first language is not English you should have an IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.0 in writing.

Fees and funding

This course is eligible for an alumni discount. Find out if you are eligible and how to apply by visiting our Alumni discounts page . As well as tuition fee loans, there is a range of funding available to help you fund your studies .

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

• Campus-based learning is available for this qualification

Course contact details

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Creative Writing: Writing the City

University of Westminster

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Course Overview - Creative Writing: Writing the City

The Creative Writing: Writing the City MA is the only Creative Writing MA course to focus entirely on the city of London. It will allow you to explore the city as subject matter from a range of perspectives and across all genres. It will also give you a theoretical and practical platform from which to develop your understanding, and become part of the London writing scene. Taught by professional writers and researchers, our course offers plenty of opportunities to network with other writers, agents, TV producers and performance poets. As part of the MA, youll be part of the... Read more

The Creative Writing: Writing the City MA is the only Creative Writing MA course to focus entirely on the city of London. It will allow you to explore the city as subject matter from a range of perspectives and across all genres. It will also give you a theoretical and practical platform from which to develop your understanding, and become part of the London writing scene.<br/><br/>Taught by professional writers and researchers, our course offers plenty of opportunities to network with other writers, agents, TV producers and performance poets. As part of the MA, youll be part of the team managing the Wells Street Journal, our student-led in-house magazine. Youll be based in the Universitys headquarters building at 309 Regent Street, which means youll be writing about the city in the heart of London, with ready access to the capitals excellent academic, social and cultural opportunities, including the vibrant West End theatre scene.<br/><br/>You can begin in January or in September. To receive your Masters award, youll need to complete taught modules for a total of 120 credits, covered by three 40-credit core modules, and the 60-credit Writing Project (giving a total of 180 credits).<br/><br/>The workshop-based structure of the course will allow you to learn through interactive practice. Classes are weekly and normally last two or three hours. Teaching will also include visits to selected London institutions to support certain aspects of writing, and youll be encouraged to use various archives, theatres and galleries. Assessment methods include coursework portfolios, reflective logs, essays, and workshop leadership, as well as the 10-12,000-word writing project. There are no formal exams.

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University of Westminster

MA Creative Writing: Writing the City

MA Creative Writing: Writing the City  MA Creative Writing: Writing the City University of Westminster ../webroot/files/Institutions/cover_photo/1534160506University of Westminster.jpg

Masters Degree , Creative Writing

MA Creative Writing: Writing the City MA Creative Writing: Writing the City University of Westminster

Course description.

This Creative Writing: Writing the City Masters course is the first to focus entirely on the city of London. It will allow you to explore the city as subject matter from a range of perspectives and across all genres. It will also give you a theoretical and practical platform from which to develop your understanding, and become part of the London writing scene.

Taught by professional writers and researchers, the course offers plenty of opportunities to network with other writers, agents, TV producers and performance poets. As part of the MA, you will be part of the team managing the Wells Street Journal, our student-led in-house magazine. You will be based in the University's headquarters building at 309 Regent Street, which means you will be writing about the city in the heart of London, with ready access to the capital's excellent academic, social and cultural opportunities, including the vibrant West End theatre scene.

You can begin in January or in September. To receive your Masters award, you will need to complete taught modules for a total of 120 credits, covered by three 40-credit core modules, and the 60-credit Writing Project (giving a total of 180 credits). If you do not meet the requirements for a Masters award, you will be eligible for the award of a Postgraduate Diploma or a Postgraduate Certificate.

The workshop-based structure of the course will allow you to learn through interactive practice. Modules are taught by two-hour or tree-hour seminars/workshops per week. Teaching will also include visits to selected London institutions to support certain aspects of writing, and you will be encourage to use various archives, theatres and galleries. Assessment methods include coursework portfolios, reflective logs, essays, and workshop leadership, as well as the 10-12,000-word writing project. There are no formal examinations.

Course Content

The following modules are indicative of what you will study on this course.

Core modules

• Creative Practice
• Tales of the City
• The Writing Business
• The Writing Project

Entry Requirements

A minimum of an upper second class honours degree (2:1) in a humanities-based discipline. Successful applicants will be expected to have a proven interest in, and commitment to, language and its creative outlets. Candidates without formal qualifications will also be considered on the basis of their professional achievements in relevant areas of the creative industry (theatre, performance, journalism, publishing, etc). Applicants are required to submit a portfolio of creative writing (maximum of 10,000 words), which should not exclusively include poetry. Selected candidates will be invited for an interview.

If your first language is not English you should have an IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing.

Applicants are required to submit one academic reference and one employment reference.

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Creative, digital and professional writing - ma.

Many of our students are eligible for a Postgraduate Loan of over £10,000.

Entry requirements

You will be required to have:

• a 2:2 UK degree or equivalent (a relevant professional qualification or experience will also be considered)
• two contrasting writing samples of 750 words each ready for submission

Accreditation of Prior Learning

Any university-level qualifications or relevant experience you gain prior to starting university could count towards your course at London Met. Find out more about applying for Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) .

English language requirements

To study a degree at London Met, you must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. If you require a Student visa you may need to provide the results of a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. This course requires you to meet a specific standard listed under the  exceptions in our English language requirements .

If you need (or wish) to improve your English before starting your degree, the University offers a  Pre-sessional Academic English course  to help you build your confidence and reach the level of English you require.

Modular structure

The modules listed below are for the academic year 2023/24 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.

Year 1 modules include:

• autumn semester - Tuesday afternoon

This is a core, semester-long module that will introduce students of MA Creative, Digital and Professional Writing to the principles, techniques and forms of contemporary creative writing through practice and readings of long- and short-form fiction, digital texts, and other material. Seminars/workshops will develop students’ practice-based skills, primarily in fiction though students may also work in other genres.

The module aims to develop students’ knowledge and skills as follows:

• You will research, write and edit creative writing for print and other media.

• You will develop the ability to reflect upon, critique and evaluate your own writing and to articulate the ethical basis of your creative practice.

• You will learn to recognise and understand the historical development of literary forms and situate your own writing in both historical and contemporary literary and critical contexts.

• You will undertake and combine diverse forms of research appropriate to the professional ethos of the course and your own creative practice.

• You will develop a professional and international approach to creative writing with regard to potential audiences, commissioning editors, markets, publication platforms, digital opportunities and how to access these.

• summer studies
• spring semester
• autumn semester

This module focuses on the production of either a practice-based project or an academic dissertation. It provides students with the opportunity to produce a substantial piece of work that integrates subjects and approaches studied on the programme, or alternatively to specialise in one area of the curriculum. Students will devise, plan, research, draft and bring to final form a dissertation or a practice-based project plus reflective commentary. The emphasis throughout will be on the student’s ability to study independently under supervision.

• You will enhance your communication skills through an extended piece of creative, creative nonfiction or professional writing; or an audio-visual or digital production appropriate to the multi-media modes of current practice; or through individual research and writing of a scholarly or journalistic nature.

• You will develop a reflexive and value-led awareness of the creative, theoretical and/or technical processes required to engage in the planning, research and production of a substantial project or dissertation relating to the creative, digital or professional writing area.

• You will engage in a process of sustained independent enquiry and innovation appropriate to a Masters level award.

• You will refine your reflexive understanding of and ability to articulate the value and ethical basis of your own creative, professional or scholarly practice, as demonstrated by your project/dissertation.

• spring semester - Tuesday morning

This module explores the creative potentials of digital platforms and tools for writers within the postdigital era. It stimulates students to experiment with how their own writing practice and ideas about literature, storytelling and persuasive communication might continue to take new directions in response to the many ongoing innovations in digital media and their cultural impacts.

• You will extend your own writing practice in relation to digital innovations of narrative and rhetorical technique, form and effect. • You will develop your technical, theoretical and experiential understanding of the current state of the field of digital forms of creative and professional writing. • You will think critically about dominant cultures associated with various digital tools and platforms. • You will enhance your range and critical self-awareness as a writer in contemporary creative and/or professional domains.

• spring semester - Thursday morning

This module allows students to devise, research and write, in a workshop setting and through independent study, feature articles of the type published in magazines, newspapers, online and other journalistic outlets. Creative activity will be informed by critical reading of published work in feature and arts journalism and secondary texts about these fields. Students are required to develop, plan, research and write two or three feature articles with different orientations, based, for example, around a topical issue, arts event, interview, or profile.

This is a core module on the MA Creative, Digital and Professional Writing. It inducts students into the professional levels of research, writing, editing, and market awareness that they will need to develop in order to be published. As such it is a key employability module on the MA.

Aims • You will learn how to structure a feature article, develop an individual voice, and write to length. • You will devise, research, write, edit and pitch a variety of feature articles so as to understand their different requirements and imperatives. • You will develop an understanding of the imperatives and constraints exerted by different markets and outlets for feature articles. • You will explore the range of contemporary writing about the arts with a focus on related feature articles.

• autumn semester - Wednesday afternoon
• spring semester - Wednesday afternoon

This module explores how creative practitioners research, develop and reflect upon their own creative practices and those of others. You will study, through diaries, interviews, archives and other documentary sources, how writers and other creative practitioners, such as fine artists, choreographers, film-makers, screenwriters and performers, develop and sustain their professional practice and how this is shaped by economic, social, cultural and institutional factors, as well as creative and aesthetic ones. You will reflect upon how creativity is influenced by inequality, social class, race, gender, sexual preference and identity, among others, and the role played by funding decisions, networking, digital technologies and changing patterns of cultural consumption and the creative industries.

You will also learn about historical and contemporary theoretical ideas about the nature and value of creativity and originality and how to contextualise and theorise your own creative practice in the light of these. You will learn about the ethical challenges facing creative practitioners and other cultural constraints they may encounter and ways of resolving them. You will be encouraged to reflect upon your own positionality.

The module will act as a pathway to the MA final project, enabling you to situate your creative decisions effectively, and to reflect upon practice-based research, research-led practice and traditional academic research.

• You will learn how to research, develop and reflect upon your own creative practice • You will study the practices of other creative practitioners and how they develop and sustain their careers • You will study changing ideas about creativity and how they are shaped by economic, social, technological and institutional factors • You will learn to identify contemporary ethical challenges in creative practice and how to resolve them

This module enables postgraduate students to develop and extend practical arts and/or media experience and expertise in a professional environment. Students will work with and be mentored by selected arts and/or media practitioners. The responsibility for finding a suitable work placement is with the student; the University cannot guarantee a work placement, only the opportunity to undertake and gain appropriate academic credit for it. The placement will be co-conducted by the student, the practitioner(s) (who will act as, or nominate a member of staff to act as, the workplace mentor to the students) and the module convenor (who will advise on the suitability of the placement and assess its academic outcomes).

The module is primarily for postgraduate students studying and/or planning to work in arts, media, publishing, marketing, digital, PR, journalism or creative industries areas. It aims to develop students’ knowledge and skills accordingly:

• You will research a sector of professional practice to identify potential work opportunities and appropriate ways to apply for these. • You will work in a relevant environment and learn from professionals who are experienced in fields related to your programme of study. • You will consolidate and apply knowledge and skills acquired in your other postgraduate modules and develop new knowledge and skills through practical and professional work. • You will enhance your understanding of the requirements and constraints of a professional environment and develop your ability to reflect critically on your own skills and potential future role as a professional practitioner.

• autumn semester - Thursday morning

This module explores creative nonfiction, focusing on researching and writing different kinds of narrative such as history, life writing (biography and memoir), travel writing, science writing, sports writing, nature writing, reportage and literary journalism. You will study some leading examples of the genre. You will learn to identify suitable stories and apply techniques from both creative writing and long-form journalism to bring them to life in your own original portfolio of creative nonfiction. You will develop an understanding of the market for creative nonfiction and the ethical issues that can arise, along with an awareness of the history and cultural context of the form, and emerging, innovative new trends.

Creative nonfiction is a flourishing genre, opening up for novice writers a variety of pathways into publication. It bridges the Creative Writing and Feature and Arts Journalism core modules, so that together they provide you with a suite of advanced writing skills. It is a particularly valuable component of an inclusive curriculum since it encourages you to draw on your personal experience, to explore different ways of communicating this and to address the challenges of turning it into publishable writing.

The module will enable you to transform research and personal experience into creative nonfiction, to enhance your writing and editing skills through advanced writing workshop activities and to develop your understanding of the different markets and outlets for creative nonfiction and therefore the publishability of your writing.

Aims • You will learn how to plan, write and edit attractive pieces of creative nonfiction, with an understanding of how to structure them for different markets • You will develop a critical awareness of the creative processes and research techniques involved in producing your own and others creative nonfiction • You will learn how to identify the main characteristics of narrative nonfiction and be able to analyse creative nonfiction as a genre • You will be able to learn independently as part of your continuing professional development

• spring semester - Monday morning

Students will learn to place their skills in, and understanding of, journalism in relation to today’s digital environment. They will develop their writing, production and design skills to a professional level, learning how to adopt creative approaches to creating journalistic stories across different media platforms, (including social networks, such as Twitter TikTok, Facebook Live, Snapchat). Students will be asked to build multimedia packages, blogs, websites and develop ways of working that engage the audience in interactive and participatory ways.

Specifically, the module will introduce students to the writing skills and technical demands of online, audio and visual journalism. Students will be asked to develop and deliver news stories working individually and as part of a team.

• autumn semester - Monday afternoon

This module provides students with practical experience in the production of digital video. It will serve as an introduction to the topic but is also suitable for those with some experience in this area. Students will develop professional practices working individually or in small groups to produce a short documentary, promotional video, or mockumentary. They will be required to research, pitch, and develop a documentary proposal following industry guidelines and legal frameworks. The module will give an overview of the commissioning process and will include input from industry professionals. There will be an emphasis on how to film and work with documentary subjects (or characters) in an ethical way. Students will learn about a range of documentary modes, genres and techniques via screenings, discussion, and practice. Key figures and films will be explored as well as emerging styles and formats.

• autumn semester - Friday afternoon

This module will provide students with a detailed understanding of the essential changes new media bring about to society and culture; it will introduce them to the principles constituting new media functionality and will raise awareness of the operative structures new media enact and work through. This module will also help students develop a concept for and produce a new media project.

• spring semester - Wednesday morning

This module will introduce students to the major current forms, formats, platforms and processes of publishing and dissemination of writing in a range of creative genres and media. The module takes advantage of London’s location, both as the hub of UK publishing and as a key node for the multi-directional, global flow of literature. Students will learn about contemporary UK and international publishing markets and typical roles within the sector; identify key factors guiding the industry; investigate a range of challenges, opportunities and innovations in the sector; and thus find ways to place their own writing within it. Students will research technical, legal, and cultural aspects of publishing different kinds of content, such as long- and short-form fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, digital texts and other materials.

Through lectures and follow-up discussion seminars with guest speakers from the industry, students will be introduced to a range of current contextual knowledge as well as practical aspects of contemporary publishing, such as: submissions, queries, elevator pitches, book proposals, self-publishing and crowd-funding - thus providing students with an understanding of the wide spectrum of publishing activities today. These lecture-seminars will be shared with students on the BA Creative Writing and English Literature programme. Through tutorials (MA students only), students will explore how to apply this knowledge to their own professional development values and goals.

• You will become familiar with contemporary technical, cultural, and economic innovations in the field of publishing; • You will learn to situate your own creative practice and professional development goals within the context of contemporary globalised publishing industries; • You will develop transferable professional skills emphasising research, editing, communications and marketing; • You will plan next steps in your professional development as a writer, taking account of an enhanced understanding of contemporary publishing.

• spring semester - Tuesday afternoon

This module introduces students to dramatic storytelling and the craft of writing scripts for the media of film and television. In line with film and television industry practice, students learn how to develop their ideas via outlines, treatments and story beats. This process of development is essential work before a writer can create a good script or screenplay.

Through a series of seminars and workshops, the module aims to introduce students to the major principles and techniques of screenwriting: • You will develop new skills to enhance your writing and storytelling ability in the media of film and television. • You will learn what a dramatic story is and how that applies to screenwriting. • You will develop a critical awareness and understanding of existing screenplays, films and television drama. • You will learn how to produce a range of development documents and a screenplay, all of which are required to work professionally. • You will learn how to pitch your work professionally. Learning will be a mix of analysing existing film and television dramas along with the development of students’ own project for the assessment. This project could be an idea for a feature film or a television series. It must be an original work, developed into a treatment together with a screenplay and accompanied by a reflective essay.

What our students say

"The tutors are all very responsive and keen to offer their help. In one of my autumn semester modules (Digital Video Production) I had dozens of questions to ask my tutor about the details of the final piece we were meant to create and she never failed to answer them within an hour. Every tutor regularly makes it clear that should we have any questions or issues we can email them, which is very reassuring." -  Matt Prestage, Creative, Digital and Profession Writing student

"I found the lecturers to be refreshing and insightful. I enjoyed learning more and having my own thoughts being challenged. I really love the fact that I am learning new skills such as journalism in my MA course. I’ve gained this new skill and it’s interesting to see that with creative writing there are many different avenues that I can pursue." -  Fatha Hassan, Creative, Digital and Professional Writing student

"When I spoke to Anne Karpf I knew I had found the right place for me. London Met was also willing to take me on based on my writing experience and career to-date, rather than just saying, “No, you don’t have a BA, therefore you can’t do this.” I thought that was quite radical. I had a piece published in the Creative Writing Anthology and a piece I came up with in Feature Journalism was published in the New Statesman." -  Jade Angeles Fitton, Creative, Digital and Professional Writing graduate

Where this course can take you

This master’s course will give you the skills needed to help you forge a career in the media and creative industries. Almost every commercial and public company now requires a communications manager, and as a graduate of this course you’ll be equipped with the specialist skills this role demands. More diverse roles will also be open to you, including creative writer (fiction and creative nonfiction), journalist, editor, publisher, arts manager, web designer, arts curator and consultant and events manager professions.

Sectors you could work in include the arts, creative, cultural, publishing, public relations, music, media and marketing industries. Our students have gone on to find success as writers, editors and digital innovators around the world. One ex-student, now teaching part-time on the course, is helping pioneer the use of virtual reality in journalism.

Important information about this course

We're committed to continuously improving our degree courses to ensure our students receive the best possible learning experience. Many of the courses in our School of Art, Architecture and Design are currently under review for 2023-24 entry. We encourage you to apply as outlined in the how to apply section of this page and if there are any changes to your course we will contact you. All universities review their courses regularly and this year we are strengthening our art, architecture and design courses to better reflect the needs of employers and ensure you're well-equipped for your future career.

Teaching staff

The staff teaching on the MA are all practising writers or editors with close industry links. Award-winning novelist Sunny Singh is chair of the Authors' Club and co-founder of the Jhalak Prize for Writers of Colour. Course leader Andrew Cutting is author of Missions for Thoughtful Gamers. Anne Karpf is an award-winning journalist and writer, 'Guardian' columnist and author of four books of nonfiction. Other tutors include Tanya Nash, award-winning script editor who has worked in BBC Radio and TV, including on Eastenders and Holby City.

Additional costs

Please note, in addition to the tuition fee there may be additional costs for things like equipment, materials, printing, textbooks, trips or professional body fees.

Additionally, there may be other activities that are not formally part of your course and not required to complete your course, but which you may find helpful (for example, optional field trips). The costs of these are additional to your tuition fee and the fees set out above and will be notified when the activity is being arranged.

Stay up to date

Follow our School of Art, Architecture and Design on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with everything that's happening in our creative community.

Important information for international applicants

Due to unprecedented demand for our courses for the autumn 2023 intake, international admissions are now closed for this course. Any future intakes that are already open to applications can be found in the fees and key information section of this course page. If no future intakes are available, please check back at a later date.

How to apply

Use the apply button to begin your application.

If you require a Student visa and wish to study a postgraduate course on a part-time basis, please read our how to apply information for international students to ensure you have all the details you need about the application process.

When to apply

You are advised to apply as early as possible as applications will only be considered if there are places available on the course.

Apply for this course

Please select when you would like to start:

News and success stories

Join London Met’s 2022 Postgraduate and Research Exhibition

The exhibition, running from 12-17 September, will showcase the work of the University's postgraduate students and staff research projects.

Final Cuts Festival: the show goes on, triumphantly

The University’s annual film and media student screenings make a successful leap online.

Final Cuts 2020

23-25 June 2020

Online festival will showcase outstanding film and media work from students of the school of Computing and Digital Media.

Vice-Chancellor welcomes new cohort of inspiring international scholars

London Met welcomes 16 new international scholarship students to the University.

New Creative Writing Short Courses Starting at The Cass

Creative Writing courses lead by published authors to prepare budding writers for a career in writing.

2017/18 Academic Excellence Award winners announced

Congratulations to our 2017/18 Academic Excellence Award winners. We are proud of your achievements and wish you all the best for the future.

London Met graduate releases debut novel

Cass alumna Laura Nunziante releases novel Salute!

Irish Writers in London Summer School

7 June - 13 July 2018

Dates announced for 23rd annual summer programme where students work with leading authors.

Lecturer’s essay featured in ‘Goodbye, Europe’ literature collection

Creative writing lecturer, Sunny Singh, has had a piece published in literature collection, Goodbye, Europe.

Walford welcomes London Met alumnus

“Without the support and championship the University showed me, I wouldn't be here now,” says London Met alumnus.

Forging Partnerships Abroad

London Met partners with Spanish university

Students win big at fifth annual London Met Magazine Awards

Disrupt Mag walks away with the big prize...

Disrupt Mag beat off the competition to win London Met Accelerator's coveted Best Brand/Most Commercial Potential Award, with cash and mentoring prizes.

London Met graduate's poetry in Beyoncé's new visual album, Lemonade

Poetry by London Met graduate features in Beyoncé’s new album, Lemonade.

Creative Writing lecturer interviewed by Times Higher Education supplement

Sunny Singh interview

Lecturer Sunny Singh gave a wide-ranging interview to the Times Higher Education supplement.

Ireland 1916: Death of a Literary Revival?

London Met's Irish Studies Centre and the Irish Literary Society jointly hosted an evening of sparkling debate on 25 January 2016.

Meet the team

Dr Andrew Cutting

Course leader for Creative, Digital and Professional Writing MA

Dr Anne Karpf

Professor of Life Writing and Culture

Sunny Singh

Professor of Creative Writing and Inclusion in the Arts

You may also like...

Digital media - ma, documentary film production - ma.

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• MA Creative Writing

Creative Writing

Join our community of internationally renowned, award-winning writers at the Manchester Writing School, where collaboration and experimentation are at the heart of what we do.

Course overview

At the heart of the Manchester Writing School are our masters programmes in Creative Writing, available to study on campus in Manchester and also from anywhere in the world via online distance learning. 

On our Master of Arts (MA) Creative Writing programme, you will explore and practice techniques and styles of modern and contemporary writing and apply these through the development of your own creative work. You will undertake a taught element blending writing workshops with reading units and option units, and then complete your studies through submission of an extended piece of writing from a proposed full-length book or script. 

You will specialise in one of the following routes: Novel (including Short Fiction), Poetry, Writing for Children & Young Adults, Scriptwriting ...

What you need to know

• When does the course start? September 2024 January 2025

1 year full-time (campus) 2 years part-time (campus or online)

Students can begin studying in January or September.

• Where will I study this course? Manchester , Online

Features and benefits

"One of the greatest pleasures of my working life continues to be the Manchester Writing School at Manchester Metropolitan University, a department with a real sense of family, achievement and celebration, and an ethos of nurturing and innovation." Professor Carol Ann Duffy DBE – Creative Director of the Manchester Writing School

Course Information

At the heart of the Manchester Writing School are our masters programmes in creative writing, available to study on campus in Manchester, and also from anywhere in the world via online distance learning.

MA Creative Writing can be tailored to suit your writing preferences by following a specialist route in novel (including short fiction), poetry, writing for children & young adults, scriptwriting (for stage, screen or radio) or creative non-fiction. Watch our playlist to find out more about each route.

This MA blends writing workshops, where you produce and develop your own work-in-progress with regular feedback from tutors and fellow students, with reading courses, which look at the techniques, forms and styles used by a range of writers in modern and contemporary literature. All students also take 30 credits of optional units and can choose from a range of creative writing units or options from courses across arts and humanities subjects. The final piece of work for the MA is the dissertation – an extended piece of creative writing from a proposed full-length book or script. 

The MA is available to complete in one year full-time or two years part-time. The novel and poetry routes are available to study on campus (full-time or part-time) or online (part-time only). The writing for children and creative non-fiction routes are online (part-time) only. The scriptwriting route is available to study on campus only.  We have intakes to the programme in September and January each year. 

Visit the Manchester Writing School website for more information, including profiles of staff and published students, news, events and projects.

Please visit our scholarships page for information on funding opportunities .

The programme leader for this course is James Draper . 

Classes for core Workshop and Reading units take place in the evenings (6-8pm UK time) during the autumn and spring semesters. Full-time students take all of their units in a single year and usually have classes two evenings per week. Part-time students spread these units over two years (study pattern may vary depending on specialist route) and usually have classes one evening per week. All students also take 30 credits of optional units and can choose from a range of creative writing units or options from courses across arts and humanities subjects. The MA concludes with the submission of the Creative Dissertation, completed through independent study with one-to-one support from a Dissertation Supervisor.

Creative Dissertation

This unit will build on and progress material produced during the Workshop units. You will compile and edit your creative writing into a substantial, continuous extract from a proposed longer work-in-progress and provide a Genesis Document: an account of the origins of and inspirations for your writing.

Reading Unit 1

This route-specific unit looks at the forms, themes, styles and techniques used by a range of writers in literature. Outstanding writing is considered in terms of composition, process and presentation, and its relevance to your own work-in-progress. 

The Workshop

Workshops are led by established practitioners in the specialist literary field (Novel, Poetry, Writing for Children/Young Adults, Scriptwriting or Creative Non-Fiction), giving you a committed editorial readership of professionals and peers, and generating and developing material for a proposed full-length book or script. It is expected that the creative work generated will eventually contribute to your Creative Dissertation.

Option units

Creative project.

On this unit, you will be asked to devise, scope, plan, conduct, report and reflect on a creative project of your own choosing. The project should involve a significant stretch from your core work on the programme and explore a new practice. This can be either working in a writing discipline different to your main route through the course, or by adapting or applying your work in a new context.

Green Writing

This unit will explore how creative writers can engage with ecological emergency during a time of crisis. The unit will examine different approaches to writing about nature, ecology and the environment, and demonstrate ways to respond creatively to contemporary climate science. You will study key texts in the field and produce your own original creative work using techniques drawn from those materials, learning how to bring traditionally ‘non-fiction’ perspectives into the realm of fiction.

Reading Unit 2 (30 credits)

Remaking games: creativity, play and communication.

This unit explores the theory and practice of hacking and making games as a research method and mode of creative practice. It considers the intersection between creative writing and game design. In the unit we introduce students to reading and making games as a new methodology that combines creative and critical thinking with public engagement and impact at the point of research. For creative writers, the unit helps develop new ways to explore narrative and storytelling through interactive fiction, videogames and analogue games. You will develop new communication skills as part of the research process, creating games to share with other students and wider audiences as a way of engaging the public with your research.  

Teaching Creative Writing

This unit introduces techniques for developing and delivering creative writing workshops in a range of settings and considers how to encourage would-be participants to produce original writing in a variety of styles and genres. Consideration of key pedagogic theories and analyses of demonstrations will offer background context and enable critical reflection on workshop practice.

The Industry (30 credits)

You will learn and acquire practical information about various aspects of the publishing, literary, arts and related industries through seminars and Q&A sessions with guest speakers. These may include agents, editors, publishers, publicists, booksellers, directors, producers, broadcasters, filmmakers, freelancers, performers, artists and illustrators. This unit is designed to give you a broad overview of the state of the industry, as well as some specialist knowledge about opportunities available for those working in your specialist area, as you complete your manuscript.

Writing About Relationships

This course unit explores writing about love and partnership and is designed to help you gain confidence, avoid cliché and improve the quality of your prose style as you write about human relationships and intimacy. 

Study and assessment breakdown

10 credits equates to 100 hours of study, which is a combination of lectures, seminars and practical sessions, and independent study. A masters qualification typically comprises of 180 credits, a PGDip 120 credits, a PGCert 60 credits and an MFA 300 credits. The exact composition of your study time and assessments for the course will vary according to your option choices and style of learning, but it could be:

• Full-time 34% lectures, seminars or similar; 0% placement; 66% independent study
• Part-time 34% lectures, seminars or similar; 0% placement; 66% independent study
• Full-time 100% coursework; 0% practical; 0% examination
• Part-time 100% coursework; 0% practical; 0% examination

Placement options

The Manchester Writing School is one of the UK's leading schools of creative writing. It is also home to ground-breaking outreach activities, international writing competitions, a series of city-wide literary events, innovative publishing projects, the Manchester Children's Book Festival , and Manchester Poetry Library . These activities provide you with many opportunities to get involved and develop your experience in a number of exciting directions.

Whether you've already made your decision about what you want to study, or you're just considering whether postgraduate study is right for you, there are lots of ways you can meet us and find out more about postgraduate student life at Manchester Met.

• a virtual experience campus tour
• chats with current students

Taught by Experts

Your studies are supported by a department of committed and enthusiastic teachers and researchers, experts in their chosen field.

We often link up with external professionals too, helping to enhance your learning and build valuable connections to the working world.

Entry Requirements

Application is by submission of an online form including a personal statement, and a sample of your own creative work. Your application should be tailored to one of our specialist routes: Novel, Poetry, Writing for Children & YA, Scriptwriting or Creative Non-Fiction. You can apply online here: mmu.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/postgraduate-taught-course.

Please indicate at the top of your personal statement which specialist route you are applying for. You should use the rest of the statement to tell us a bit about yourself, give a good overview of your reading and writing interests, and a sense of what has led you to apply for our course and any ideas you have for what you’d like to write with us. Personal statements should be approximately 500 words long.

For the creative sample , applicants to the Novel, Children's & YA and Creative Non-Fiction routes should submit up to 2,000 words of prose; poetry applicants should submit up to 15 poems; and scriptwriting applicants should submit up to 15 minutes running time of script. The work submitted can be a complete piece, or an extract, or a number of extracts from a longer work or works, but must all be within the chosen specialist route.

We have intakes into the programme in September and January each year. For application deadlines, please see the 'How to Apply section'. 

In each application assessed we will be looking for evidence of:

A very high standard of written English; 

Control of form, style and technique; 

• Substantial reading of contemporary work within the relevant field; 

Commitment to the craft of writing and willingness to engage with the editorial process of receiving feedback and redrafting work-in-progress;  

Experience of the development of writing skills through workshops, supervision, mentoring or previous study.

Applicants whose first language is not English are required to produce evidence of English Language proficiency. Overseas applicants will require IELTS with an overall score of 6.5, with no sub-component below 5.5, or an equivalent accepted English qualification. Accepted English qualifications can be viewed  here .

If your application meets these criteria, a tutor may contact you to arrange a telephone or face-to-face interview at a mutually convenient time.

Fees and Funding

Uk and channel island students.

Full-time fee: £9,500 per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).

Part-time fee: £1584 per 30 credits studied per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).

Distance learning fee: £1584 per 30 credits studied per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).

EU and Non-EU International Students

Full-time fee: £18,500 per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).

Part-time fee: £3084 per 30 credits studied per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).

Distance learning fee: £3084 per 30 credits studied per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).

Additional Information

A masters qualification typically comprises 180 credits, a PGDip 120 credits, a PGCert 60 credits, and an MFA 300 credits. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of study provided the course is completed in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).

Additional Costs

Specialist costs.

Compulsory estimate : £300

Optional estimate : £2200

Books (novels, poetry collections, children/young adult books, scripts in print, or books of creative non-fiction depending on the specialist route of study) for study on Reading units (up to 10 books per unit for two units). Costs spread across years one and two for part-time students. There is also a list of additional, optional recommended reading for each unit. Students can access much of this via the Manchester Met library (either by loaning books or via the e-book system). All students will require access to a computer in order to undertake their studies (accessing online resources, forums and communication systems). Students can loan laptops on campus. Students will also need access to broadband internet. While most students choose to purchase these for home use, computers with internet access are available to use on campus. While most assessed work will be submitted and completed electronically, students taking the dissertation or manuscript units will be asked to submit printed and bound copies of their work.

placement Costs

Compulsory estimate : £100

There is an optional summer school each year, where students are invited to spend two full days on campus for a suite of masterclass workshops, talks and social activities. Attendance at the school is free of charge, but students are asked to make their own arrangements for travel, accommodation and food. Students undertaking units which involve creating artwork, producing objects, or travelling to conduct research or interviews etc. will need to cover the costs of any materials used and also make arrangements for accommodation, travel and food. Students based outside of Manchester, including distance learners, who wish to attend on-campus or in-person events, activities, or classes are asked to cover the costs of accommodation, food, travel and tuition for these.

other Costs

Optional estimate : £500

Students may be invited to take part in optional public events (e.g. reading from their own work), or attend meetings for extra-curricular projects (e.g. the Rosamond Prize) and are expected to cover the costs of travel, accommodation and food.

Career Prospects

More than 100 of our students and graduates have embarked upon publishing careers, launching first books, with many more achieving publication in journals and magazines, winning writing awards and prizes, and setting up small presses and anthologies. Our alumni include winners of the Costa First Novel Award, Forward Poetry Prize and Yale Windham-Campell Prize, and a long-listing for the Man Booker Prize. 

Our School plays a leading role in establishing Manchester as a city of writers with a commitment to finding diverse new voices and creating opportunities for writer development, enabling new writing and building audiences for the next generation of talent. Manchester has been designated a UNESCO City of Literature in recognition of its thriving live literature scene, with a year-round programme of author events, writers’ forums, networking opportunities and open mic nights. 

We are home to a suite of ground-breaking outreach projects including the Manchester Children’s Book Festival and Mother Tongue Other Tongue , an international multilingual poetry competition that celebrates cultural diversity and the many languages spoken in schools in the UK. Our Manchester Poetry Library holds over 12,000 books and recordings that can be explored through our online catalogue, in person and through our annual events programme. Our School has a strong Manchester presence, with links to many of the city’s major cultural and arts organisations, and also a global reach with students and alumni based across the UK and continental Europe, and in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australasia.

Our strong partnerships and innovative projects mean that you will have plenty of opportunities to develop your industry experience and network.  

On completion of this course you may decide to pursue PhD study, or to develop a career in bookselling, agenting, publishing, editing, the media, or in teaching creative writing. You will have access to the Careers and Employability Hub located in the Business School at Manchester Met, offering a host of information resources, one-to-one careers support, and employability events throughout the year. This service is also available for up to three years after you graduate. 

The Power of Words Led by Professor Carol Ann Duffy DBE (UK Poet Laureate 2009-2019), the Manchester Writing School is the beating literary heart of a city alive with culture. Find out more about its prestigious past, present and future by watching our video, 'The Power of Words'.   Watch the video Manchester Writing School

Want to know more

Register your interest, got a question.

Please contact our course enquiries team.

Please remember to tailor your application to one of our specialist routes (Novel, Poetry, Writing for Children, Scriptwriting or Creative Non-Fiction) and to include a creative sample relevant to that chosen route.

Please upload your creative sample under the 'Degree Transcript' section of the application portal. 

The novel and poetry routes are available to study on campus (full-time or part-time) or online (part-time only). The writing for children and creative non-fiction routes are online (part-time) only. The scriptwriting route is available to study on campus only.

Get advice and support on making a successful application.

You can review our current Terms and Conditions before you make your application. If you are successful with your application, we will send you up to date information alongside your offer letter.

Manchester is your city, be part of it

Your new home, your new city, why university, related courses, english studies.

Programme Review Our programmes undergo an annual review and major review (normally at 6 year intervals) to ensure an up-to-date curriculum supported by the latest online learning technology. For further information on when we may make changes to our programmes, please see the changes section of our Terms and Conditions .

Important Notice This online prospectus provides an overview of our programmes of study and the University. We regularly update our online prospectus so that our published course information is accurate. Please check back to the online prospectus before making an application to us to access the most up to date information for your chosen course of study.

Confirmation of Regulator The Manchester Metropolitan University is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education in England. More information on the role of the OfS and its regulatory framework can be found at officeforstudents.org.uk .

All higher education providers registered with the OfS must have a student protection plan in place. The student protection plan sets out what students can expect to happen should a course, campus, or institution close. Access our current Student Protection Plan .

Digital Media: Storytelling and Production MA

Can't attend? See more open events

Course Overview

• Full-time - September 2024

* Price per academic year

Course summary

The Digital Media: Storytelling and Production MA helps you build your knowledge and skills in digital media storytelling formats and production skills. You’ll become competent in a range of platforms and formats and then be able to specialise in an area of your choice.

You will work on media production and storytelling platforms, such as audio and video, digital publishing and online multimedia. You'll work with formats including video documentaries and podcasts, digital and print magazines, online sites, apps and social media content.  If your chosen focus is to explore immersive and interactive new media technologies and more experimental, non-linear approaches to narrative and content, you’ll have the chance to create interactive video and audio pieces, utilising virtual and augmented reality.

The course is primarily practice based. However, you’ll be able to critically explore current developments and debates in the creative industries in order to help evaluate and contextualise your own practice within the professional environment.

This practice-focused, research-informed course is designed to help you enter or further your career in the digital media production and publishing industries. The course covers key employability skills in its core modules, building your knowledge of the creative media production sector, the working routines of media professionals and freelancers.

Westminster is a leading provider in this academic discipline and is ranked top 15 among UK institutions for Communication and Media Studies in the  QS World University Rankings 2023 .

Top reasons to study with us

• Choose your own path – Our range of optional modules allows you to deepen your knowledge of specific areas and tailor your degree to your interests, whilst still gaining a broad understanding of the creative industries and their audiences
• State-of-the-art facilities – The course is supported by industry-standard resources, from media production kits to up-to-date multimedia production studios. You’ll have access to cameras, recorders and the software you need to create traditional audio/video and online work, as well as innovative AR and VR projects
• London’s vibrant industry – The course benefits from its location in London, which remains a key global centre for the creative media business. You’ll have many opportunities to hear from industry guest speakers, and access internships, professional experience and graduate employment
• Westminster is ranked top 15 among UK institutions for Communication and Media Studies in the QS World University Rankings 2023

Course structure

The following subjects are indicative of what you’ll study on this course.

Core modules

Interactive and immersive storytelling.

This module provides you with a theoretical and historical overview of digital and immersive non-fiction narratives. It covers the evolution of factual storytelling since the early 2000s, spanning the platforms that have emerged since (mobile phone, tablet, AR, VR, XR, social media, spatial media, locative audio, interactive spaces and AI). Theories of agency, user experience, interactivity, interface and non-linear narrative structures will be analysed while looking at a multitude of cases studies and engaging in class debate and in depth analysis. By the end of this module you will have acquired a solid understanding of the current breath of digital and immersive narratives; you'll be aware of current and future trends in the field and will be ready to pitch an interactive idea of your choice to the rest of the class.

Major project

This module is designed to help you create an extended digital media project and a related industry treatment - taken together these will constitute a piece of professional level work showcasing their skills which you can use as you build your career after graduation. Projects may take the form of more traditional linear media  - they can be audio, video or online narratives. But you can also explore and create projects that work in more non-linear ways, using interactive and immersive media technologies. Whatever path you choose, the work you do will build on the work done throughout the whole year, the knowledge, skills, and critical/analytic perspectives you have gained. The project will need to be backed up by research, context analysis and an industry treatment that you will present in person in the form of a pitch.

Media Storytelling

This module mixes theory and practice as it focuses on traditional linear media storytelling. It critically examines work designed to work on specific media platforms and also across a range of platforms simultaneously. You are introduced to – and develop a critical understanding of - classic narrative theory and its use by a variety of media producers and creatives. You'll apply what you have learned to analyse a range of media stories – from long form features and documentary reports to podcast investigations and video essays, evaluating how effectively they engage different audiences and their social and cultural impact. You will be encouraged to apply the theoretical knowledge gained to your own media story ideas, developing a long form feature and ideas for different media treatments of this story.

Multimedia News Reporting

You will be taught the professional skills to research, write, and produce multimedia journalism. The module will evaluate concepts and techniques in different fields and for different platforms of news journalism. Techniques for audio and video editing will be addressed and stories will be output for a news website and social channels on mobile and desktop devices. This module includes a series of all-day newsdays which are held within the newsroom and broadcast suite. You will individually and in groups practice professional news gathering, live reporting and news production. It also includes instruction in voice coaching in small groups, trips to court and City Hall, and video presentation skills which are requirements for BJTC accreditation for all students, regardless of pathway.

Option modules

Digital magazine publishing.

This explores the digital tools that are used to build and design compelling interactive content. You will work in editorial teams to produce content for a new digital magazine edition, content-driven app or CMS-based website. You are invited to select the best tools for the output and get instruction in the design of interactive magazine digital editions, app development and website creation.

Digital Marketing

This module examines the role of Digital Marketing within the eMarketing context. It provides you with advanced knowledge of how to use web-based technologies to develop, run and manage digital marketing campaigns. You'll build your understanding and use research-led and practice-informed approaches to predict future trends and develop an analytical approach to digital marketing.

Documentary Skills

This develops your practical production skills further into making documentary radio and television. Instead of reacting to immediate events as you do in broadcast news, documentary requires a more considered approach to the subject and offers time to research and dig into the topic.

Interactive and Immersive Media Production Skills

This module develops your skills in cutting-edge interactive and immersive media production technologies. You will be introduced to a range of interactive and immersive storytelling platforms. You'll research and explore different approaches to interactive video creation, geo-located audio, audio-visual interaction, and other online and interactive multimedia work. You will also be introduced to extended reality technologies and will have the chance to analyse and experiment with 360 content, immersive audio, AR projects and VR experiences. As the module progresses you'll focus on developing your own interactive or immersive production project,  learning how to implement your ideas and design them with a specific target audience in mind. In this module, you will develop theoretical knowledge and practical skills via in-class discussions, lectures and practical exercises, with opportunities for presentation and peer feedback.

Me, My Team and Our Project

Teamwork is at the core of the creative industries, so to be successful in their professional lives, you need to learn to have a voice while creating the conditions you want to work in, and to be aware of the values you stand by. Successful teamwork needs you to have a good understanding of who you are and what you can bring to others, a culture of respect and safety, a shared methodology to come to decisions, and an agreement of who is accountable for what. In this module, you will be encouraged to become more aware of your personality traits and what sort of professional environment you want to work in. You'll learn techniques to align your values to others, how to design a team alignment, how to be inclusive and give a voice to all, how to solve arising conflicts before they become problematic, how to create the right conditions for innovation and ultimately how to make yourself and the teams you work in thrive. This is a module that gives you soft skills that will serve you for life. It is hands-on, fun, experiential, co-created and deeply transformative.

Media Law, Ethics and Regulation

An exploration of the factors that influence journalistic practices in Britain and around the world. There is a detailed discussion of the theory and contexts of media law, ethical issues, regulation, and voluntary codes of conduct that must be followed by journalists. Additionally, there is also a discussion of public affairs – local and national government.

Podcast Production

In this module, you'll learn about the different facets of podcast making, exploring genres (e.g. journalistic/investigative, personal storytelling, fictional narrative, sports, comedy, interest groups) and the production techniques required for specific formats. You'll also learn about idea incubation, pitching, marketing and monetisation.

Self-Representation and Digital Practice

This module explores the use of different media practices as a means for people to tell personal stories about their own lived experience. It examines the roots of participatory media, considers different approaches to personal storytelling, explores a range of established practices, identifies emergent practice and enables you to make your own digital story.  It also addresses ethical dilemmas within participatory media practices, the impact of social media, the rise of influencers and ‘me media’ and considers the opportunity opened up by participatory platforms for more diverse media representations of identity. Mixing theoretical and practical work, the module helps you to develop an advanced understanding of a specialised area of contemporary media practice and utilise this to create stories about yourself and your experiences.

Start-up Incubator and Digital Entrepreneurship

This module offers you an introduction to digital entrepreneurship. It builds an understanding of start-ups, SMEs and micro businesses and then explores how they are developed, established and financed. The focus is on the critical evaluation of technical methodologies and entrepreneurship within the creative industries.  The module teaches the research methods and transferable skills needed to realise business ideas and plans. It uses readings, research, critical theory and successful case studies to help you come up with your own business ideas and then develop them. Whilst providing you with a theoretical and critical base, the module will also build your practical skills through assessments focused on business plans and e-commerce digital solution(s).

For more details on course structure, modules, teaching and assessment Download the programme specification (PDF) .

To request an accessible version please email [email protected]

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The Digital Media: Storytelling and Production MA has been designed to reflect emerging storytelling modes across a spectrum of traditional and new platforms, giving you a wide range of storytelling skills to become an expert in the market.

This course provides a clear progression for students with a first degree in a non-media area who now wish to develop their skills in media storytelling and production. In addition, for those who already have industry experience or are looking for a career change, this course provides the necessary tools to develop and extend existing skills, which will help them develop new careers or enhance their qualifications.

Industry engagement

You'll hear from a wide range of industry guest speakers, giving you an opportunity to build your professional network.

Employers around the world

The University’s Careers and Employability Service has built up a network of over 3,000 employers around the world, helping all our students explore and connect with exciting opportunities and careers.

Choose your specialism

Optional modules will allow you to plot your own route through your degree and develop specialist expertise in your areas of interest.  

Industry links

Our close links to the creative media production sector means you’ll work on live industry briefs and pitch ideas to professionals. You’ll also experience talks and presentations by industry guests, placements and site visits to key companies.

You’ll have access to industry-standard facilities such as newsrooms, TV and radio studios. Students also benefit from access to our Emerging Media Space, which includes the use of microprocessor devices, wearable technology for programmable fabric and ubiquitous computing, interactive environments, location-aware devices and applications.

This course will prepare you for a variety of roles in a range of present and future industries, including:

• Entrepreneurial content creators
• Mobile and platform producer
• Photo and video journalists
• Interactive factual narrators
• Social marketers
• Project managers

Westminster Employability Award

Employers value graduates who have invested in their personal and professional development – and our Westminster Employability Award gives you the chance to formally document and demonstrate these activities and achievements.

The award is flexible and can be completed in your own time, allowing you to choose from a set of extracurricular activities. 

Activities might include gaining experience through a part-time job or placement, signing up to a University-run scheme – such as mentoring or teaching in a school – or completing online exercises.

Read more about our Westminster Employability Award .

Course Leader

Nathasha Fernando

Dr Nathasha Fernando works as a Lecturer in Media and Communication at the University of Westminster.

Her current research interests include the study of migration, representation, discriminatory discourses, population movements, diasporic media, forms of activism on digital platforms, intersectionality and everyday life.

She co-authored Sulla Razza (On Race), a podcast that translates words and concepts on racial issues from the Anglo-American context to the Italian one. Sulla Razza, sponsored by Juventus FC, aims to deconstruct stereotypical imaginaries in Italy and produce new, complex, and diverse counterpublic representations.

Bringing together the best of traditional storytelling with innovative new technologies, the course will inspire you to tell stories that change the world.

Course Team

• Dr Sandra Gaudenzi - Senior Lecturer
• Rev. Matthew Linfoot - Principal Lecturer

Why study this course?

Join a leading Media School

Westminster ranked in the Top 15 in the Complete University Guide 2023 for 'Student Satisfaction' in Communication and Media Studies.

Learn from top academics

Our academics are internationally renowned researchers, working at our world-leading Communication and Media Research Institute (CAMRI) . 

Fantastic location

With central London only a 20-minute tube ride away, you’ll enjoy the benefits of studying in a major creative capital

Entry Requirements

• EU and International

A minimum of an upper second class honours degree (2:1) or a lower second class honours degree (2:2) and substantial relevant work experience, in an area of digital, journalism, photography, design, interactivity or visual media. Students with other first degrees will be considered, but will be required to show evidence that they possess some knowledge of, and a practice in, digital storytelling or design. Applicants will either be interviewed, set an assignment or requested to submit a portfolio. 

If your first language is not English you should have an IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.5 in writing and no element below 6.0.

Recognition of prior learning and experience

If you have previously studied at university level, or have equivalent work experience, academic credit may be awarded towards your course at Westminster. For more information, visit our Recognition of Prior Learning page .

Application process

Visit our How to apply page   for more information on:

• the application process
• what you need to apply
• deadlines for applications

More information

• Country-specific entry requirements
• English language requirements
• Visas and advice

Learn new skills

Volunteer and gain new skills

We offer a number of different volunteering opportunities for you to learn new skills, create connections, and make a difference in the community.

Develop your entrepreneurial skills

Our award-winning  Westminster Enterprise Network  offers industry networking events, workshops, one-to-one business advice and support for your start-up projects.

Get extra qualifications

We provide access to free online courses in Adobe and Microsoft Office applications, as well as thousands of specialist courses on LinkedIn Learning.

Fees and Funding

• INTERNATIONAL

UK tuition fee: £9,500 (Price per academic year)

When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase your tuition fees each year.

Find out how we set our tuition fees .

Paying your fees

If you don't wish to pay the whole amount of your fees at once, you may be able to pay by instalments. This opportunity is available if you have a personal tuition fee liability of £2,000 or more and if you are self-funded or funded by the Student Loans Company.

Find out more about paying your fees .

Alumni discount

This course is eligible for an alumni discount. Find out if you are eligible and how to apply by visiting our Alumni discounts page .

There is a range of funding available that may help you fund your studies, including Student Finance England (SFE).

Find out more about postgraduate student funding options .

Scholarships

The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible postgraduate students.

Find out if you qualify for one of our scholarships .

Additional costs

See what you may need to pay for separately and what your tuition fees cover .

International tuition fee: £17,000 (Price per academic year)

There are a number of funding schemes available to help you fund your studies with us.

Find out more about funding for international students .

Teaching and assessment

How you’ll be taught.

Teaching methods across all our postgraduate courses focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application. Learning typically falls into two broad categories:

• Scheduled hours: examples include lectures, seminars, practical classes, workshops, supervised time in a studio
• Independent study: non-scheduled time in which students are expected to study independently. This may include preparation for scheduled sessions, dissertation/final project research, follow-up work, wider reading or practice, completion of assessment tasks, or revision

How you’ll be assessed

Our postgraduate courses include a variety of assessments, which typically fall into two broad categories:

• Practical: examples include presentations, podcasts, blogs
• Coursework: examples include essays, in-class tests, portfolios, dissertation

Research groups

Our research achieves real-world impact and we are proud to claim a rich and diverse profile of high-quality research and knowledge exchange in a wide range of disciplines.

This course has connections with the following:

• i-Docs research network
• MIT Open Documentary Lab

Supporting you

Our Student Hub is where you’ll find out about the services and support we offer, helping you get the best out of your time with us.

• Study support — workshops, 1-2-1 support and online resources to help improve your academic and research skills
• Personal tutors — support you in fulfilling your academic and personal potential
• Student advice team — provide specialist advice on a range of issues including funding, benefits and visas
• Extra-curricular activities — volunteering opportunities, sports and fitness activities, student events and more

Visit our student hub

Course location

Harrow is our creative and cultural hub, home to most of our arts, media and digital courses. It houses state-of-the-art facilities for every discipline, including project and gallery spaces, film studios, creative labs, collaborative learning spaces, and the Westminster Enterprise Network.

Harrow Campus is based in north-west London, just 20 minutes from the city centre by train.

For more details, visit our Harrow Campus page .

Related Courses

Multimedia Journalism (Broadcast) MA

Multimedia Journalism (Print & Online) MA

Social Media and Digital Communication MA

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