creative writing masters trinity

View the contact page for more contact and location information

Creative Writing (M.Phil.)

Course overview.

This course, the first Masters course in creative writing at an Irish university, was offered by the School of English for the first time in 1997–98. It is based in the Trinity Oscar Wilde Centre for Irish Writing, 21 Westland Row: the birthplace of Oscar Wilde. Its faculty includes some of Ireland’s leading contemporary writers, including Eoin McNamee, Deirdre Madden and Kevin Power, Harry Clifton and Carlo Gébler. Each year the Centre also hosts visiting Writer Fellows, who in recent years have included Claire Keegan and Colette Bryce. Distinguished alumni include Chris Binchy and Sean O’Reilly. Nicole Flattery and Lisa Harding have emerged as exciting new talents in the past few years.

The M.Phil. in Creative Writing programme is designed for students who are seriously committed to writing, are practising, or are prospective authors, and who wish to develop their writing within the framework of a university course and in the context of an Irish literary milieu. It involves the close and critical examination of the student’s work in group workshops and under guided personal tuition. At Trinity you will also join a diverse, supportive and dynamic community of students, scholars, and writers in a world-leading English department right at the heart of one of the world’s great literary cities.

Is This Course For Me?

This course is intended for students who are seriously committed to writing, are practising, or are prospective authors, and who wish to develop their writing within the framework of a university course and in the context of an Irish literary milieu.

Career Opportunities

Graduates have pursued careers in a range of areas including journalism, scriptwriting, copywriting, advertising, publishing, editing, the arts and culture sector, broadcasting, librarianship, education and research. Many alumni have also gone on to become successful writers.

Course Structure

The M.Phil. in Creative Writing is designed as a one-year, full-time course. Teaching is delivered through lectures, group workshops and personal tuition. Much of this takes place in the Oscar Wilde Centre for Irish Writing, which offers a supportive and sociable working environment for the School of English’s creative writers. Students are expected to continue developing their own individual work throughout the year. The course is assessed by means of various essays and portfolios, culminating in working towards a final dissertation portfolio of 15-16,000 words.

Course Content

The centrepiece of the Creative Writing M.Phil. is the three-hour weekly workshop. This is where you bring work and get to listen to others. The idea of it is daunting, but reality is hardworking, inclusive and dynamic. For the first term, students are encouraged to range across form and genre, to break habits and open new vistas. This is where students start to see the core of their portfolio emerge, although most don't see the portfolio taking shape until the following Spring. The Structure in Fiction and Poetry module works through the shapes and uses, the interior dynamics of writing. Writing for a Living addresses the demands of reviewing and essay writing. Both modules are structured and intellectually rigorous but at heart involve writers talking about writing and bringing the class into the orbit of their own experience.   In the second semester, the weekly Briena Staunton lectures brings a series of established writers in to talk about the practice of writing. A visiting Writer Fellow also leads a workshop, offering students a further chance to engage with a working writer in close-up.

The creation of a final portfolio is the formal endpoint of the M.Phil., but it is equally important for us to see writers emerge in rich, artistically textured, and diverse surroundings. That is the enduring satisfaction.

Click here for further information on modules/subjects.

Study Creative Writing (M.Phil.) at Trinity

Eoin McNamee of the School of English at Trinity College Dublin gives an overview of the Creative Writing (M.Phil.) programme.

Course Details

Number of places, next intake.

September 2024

Course Director

Professor Eoin McNamee

Closing Date

31st March 2024

Admission Requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a university degree or equivalent qualification (at least an upper second, or equivalent, GPA of at least 3.3). In addition, applicants must submit a portfolio of recent creative work. The portfolio of sample work should include no more than 3,000 words of prose (short stories, excerpt/s from a novel or drama) or six to eight poems.

Course Fees

Click here for a full list of postgraduate fees.

To apply, click on the relevant Apply Link below

• Creative Writing (M.Phil.) - Full-Time 31/Mar/2024

PLANNED ESSENTIAL SYSTEM MAINTENANCE

There will be no access to the my.tcd.ie direct online application portal from 17:00 on Friday 9 February until 12.00 on Monday 12 February, 2024 to facilitate an essential upgrade. Further information is available on the IT Services Alerts page using this link .

Get in Touch

Telephone number.

+353 (0)1 896 2885

Eoin McNamee (course director): [email protected]

www.tcd.ie/English/postgraduate/creative-writing

Register Your Interest

Register your interest in studying at Ireland’s leading university, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin.

Though I had published short stories before my year in The Oscar Wilde Centre, I lacked confidence in my work. After completing the M. Phil., I found that I wrote with far more authority and consistency – in the past three years I have had three plays produced, one optioned for a film, and another translated for performance in Italy. Through its expert and friendly guidance, and its stimulating blend of emerging talents, the Centre enabled me to refine my vision. I highly recommend it. Philip St John Graduate

The year I spent at the Oscar Wilde Centre gave me the time, the focus and, crucially, the support to complete my first novel. The collegiate atmosphere, the sharing of ideas, the opportunity to experiment with new forms, all underpinned by a sense that the work really mattered, were of immeasurable benefit to me. I honestly can’t envisage having brought the novel to completion without my Wilde time. Hilary Fannin Graduate

My year in the Oscar Wilde Centre represented a certain freedom while also providing a certain structure. I had some wonderful tutors and fascinating classmates. I didn't have had a manuscript by the time I graduated, but instead I had the requisite tool box to pursue a writing career. Sara Baume Graduate

Creative Writing

Course overview.

What do you want to write? Whatever mode or genre you wish to explore, this MA is structured in order to help you to become the writer you want to be.

Taught by internationally-renowned writers, this MA is designed to be as creative and practical as possible within the academic requirements of a postgraduate programme.

Our MA students are a diverse group, from recent graduates looking to enhance their professional qualifications in preparation for a career involving writing, to experienced writers aspiring to have their work published or those looking to explore their passion for writing later in life.

The Student Contract

About this course

This MA puts the emphasis on “creative,” giving you plenty of time to write and incorporating a creative element into every module. The course aims to develop your writing skills in either prose or poetry, as well as fostering your creative and critical reading and exploring key issues relating to the publishing business.

Individual modules help you to learn techniques from published works and put them into practice, and to bring your own work to a reading – and listening – public. Throughout, the focus is upon your development as a writer, and prose or poetry workshops, along with individual dissertation supervision, are designed to hone your writing skills in a supportive and stimulating critical environment.

Being a "writer" generally involves a mixed portfolio of skills and attributes, and this MA provides a foundation that extends beyond the writing itself. You will meet agents, publishers, and other professionals – alongside our internationally published staff team – in order to help you to reach your potential as a writer, and also negotiate your first steps towards getting your work out into the world.

Why study with us

• Creative elements and plenty of writing time is embedded into every module.
• Learn from internationally renowned writers, whose work has received critical acclaim from across the world.
• Opportunities to get published. Annual creative writing anthologies are published by Indigo Dreams Publishing under Leeds Trinity’s very own imprint, Wordspace, which was originally established by MA Creative Writing students for an assessment.
• Become part of a thriving creative writing community. This community comes together for our monthly Open Mic nights, book launches and readings, literature festival performances and our annual Leeds Trinity Writers’ Festival.

Course Modules

You will study a variety of modules across your programme of study. The module details given below are subject to change and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

Core modules

You will study the following modules throughout your degree.

In these sessions, you will study a wide range of published works to consider the ways in which writers engage their readers. You will then experiment with these techniques yourself.

Visiting professionals from the literary world, alongside course tutors, offer insight into the business of being a writer, and provide support as you undertake a creative project that could involve anything from editing an anthology to researching publication platforms, via arranging events or planning and delivering workshops.

Building on the workshop modules, this provides one-to-one support as you complete a major piece of work in your chosen genre.

Option modules

You may study the following modules.

You will choose between either Prose or Poetry and will study two Workshop modules (1 and 2) in your chosen area. These small group sessions focus upon the development of works in progress in a supportive and critical environment.

Course structure tables

Learning and teaching.

At Leeds Trinity we aim to provide an excellent student experience and provide you with the tools and support to help you achieve your academic, personal and professional potential.

Our Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy delivers excellence by providing the framework for:

• high quality teaching
• an engaging and inclusive approach to learning, assessment and achievement
• a clear structure through which you progress in your academic studies, your personal development and towards professional-level employment or further study.

We have a strong reputation for developing student employability, supporting your development towards graduate employment, with relevant skills embedded throughout your programme of study.

We endeavour to develop curiosity, confidence, courage, ambition and aspiration in all students through the key themes in our Learning and Teaching Strategy:

• Student Involvement and Engagement
• Integrated Programme and Assessment Experience
• Digital Literacy and Skills
• Employability and Enterprise

To help you achieve your potential we emphasise learning as a collaborative process, with a range of student-led and real-world activities. This approach ensures that you fully engage in shaping your own learning, developing your critical thinking and reflective skills so that you can identify your own strengths and weaknesses, and use the extensive learning support system we offer to shape your own development.

We believe the secret to great learning and teaching is simple: it is about creating an inclusive learning experience that allows all students to thrive through:

• Personalised support
• Expert lecturers
• Strong connections with employers
• An international outlook
• Understanding how to use tools and technology to support learning and development

Alongside timetabled contact hours, full-time students should expect to spend 35 hours a week on guided independent work, reading and writing; part-time students should allow half of this.

The workshop modules are assessed mainly on creative work, alongside an initial proposal and a reflective commentary; Reading as a Writer and Writing as a Profession are assessed on a portfolio of creative and critical work; and the Dissertation is assessed purely on creative work.

Entry Requirements

Leeds Trinity University is committed to recruiting students with talent and potential and who we feel will benefit greatly from their academic and non-academic experiences here. We treat every application on its own merits; we value highly the experience you illustrate in your personal statement.

The following information is designed to give you a general overview of the qualifications we accept. If you are taking qualifications that are not included below, please contact our Admissions Office who will be happy to advise you.

• A good 2:1 in Creative Writing, English or a related subject and a personal portfolio of creative writing (2,000 words or equivalent).
• Applicants with other qualifications will be considered on their own merit. Places will be offered subject to an informal interview.

For more information on meeting English language requirements and academic requirements by country, visit our  International Applicants  page.

Please contact us for personalised advice on 0113 283 7123 or at  [email protected]

Fees and finance

Uk home students:.

For information about our tuition fees please visit our Student Fees and Finance pages.

If you studied your undergraduate degree at Leeds Trinity University, you may be eligible for a discount of up to 50% on the cost of your tuition fees.

International Students, including EU Students:

Visit our web page for  international students .

Leeds Trinity Alumni Discount

Some Leeds Trinity graduates are eligible for a tuition fee discount on postgraduate courses of up to 50%, excluding PGCE Delivery Partner Model and Lead Partner Model, and Masters by Research courses. You will need to achieve a 2:2 or above in a Leeds Trinity undergraduate course to qualify.

How to apply

There is no official closing date for applications, but the course will be closed when it is full. We therefore encourage you to make your application as early as possible.

Please ensure you complete the application form in full and supply all the required supporting documentation when you make your initial application. Incomplete applications may be rejected.

If you need advice on your application, please contact our admissions team on  0113 283 7123  (Monday to Thursday, 9.00am to 5.00pm, or Friday 9.00am to 4.00pm) or  [email protected]

Home applicants - How to apply

Applicants who require a Student Route Visa

If you require a Student Route Visa in order to study in the UK, then you must apply to us by Sunday 30 June 2024.

Part-time study is not available for international students on a Student Route Visa.

For more information and to view academic requirements by country, visit our International Applicants page.

International applicants - How to apply

What happens next?

Our admissions team will acknowledge receipt of your application by email.

Where applications are submitted but references are still in progress, admissions will wait for the reference(s) to be received and then will process it, and forward it to the relevant Programme Leader within five days of receipt of the reference(s).

The Programme Leader will make a decision based on your application. You may be asked to provide a reference to demonstrate your academic and non-academic experiences, or you may be invited to attend an interview. If you are successful and are made an offer, the conditions will be outlined in your offer letter. 

Applications will be acknowledged within five working days. Applicants will be contacted within 15 working days with a request for additional information, invite to an informal interview or an application decision.

Made an offer?

You should accept or decline your offer by emailing  [email protected] .

If you accept, you'll need to prove you satisfy the conditions outlined in your offer letter.

You may be asked to present the relevant supporting documentation in person to the student information point on campus, if originals are not needed you’ll be contacted and given details of how to provide the supporting documentation.

Hi, what can we help you find?

• Current Students
• News and Opinion
• Staff Directory
•   UCD Connect
• Graduate Course Search
• Fees, Funding & Scholarships
• Apply to UCD

MA Creative Writing

Graduate taught (level 9 nfq, credits 90).

UCD offers two graduate courses in creative writing, an MA and MFA. The MA programme includes workshops, seminars and supervision meetings, providing committed students with the support they need to produce a major piece of writing by the end of the course. 

The MA in Creative Writing  builds on the well established commitment of the UCD School of English, Drama and Film to fostering and supporting new writing. The university has long been associated with some of Ireland’s greatest writers, including James Joyce, Flann O’Brien, Mary Lavin, Anthony Cronin, John McGahern, Neil Jordan, Conor McPherson, Marina Carr, Colm Tóibín, Emma Donoghue, Maeve Binchy and many others. The Booker Prize winning novelist Anne Enright is Professor of Creative Writing, and among the teaching staff are novelist Sarah Moss, poet Ian Davidson, poet and novelist Paul Perry, novelist and playwright Declan Hughes, life writer and critic Catherine Morris and novelist Paula McGrath. 

The MA programme :

• Provides opportunities to explore and develop your own creative writing skills supervised by experienced published staff of international reputation.
• Actively fosters the development of students' capacity to edit their own work.
• Ensures that the art of writing is informed by contemporary theory and practice.
• Offers courses incorporating the manuscripts of works of leading writers held in Special Collections and courses which explore material in the National Folklore Collection in UCD, one of the richest archives of oral tradition in the world.

Careers & Employability

Many graduates of the MA in Creative Writing establish successful writing careers. Graduate of the programme Colin Barrett won the Guardian First Fiction Prize with Young Skins  then went on to win both the Frank O'Conner International short story award and the Rooney Prize for Literature. Other graduates go into the publishing industry, while some go on to do an MFA in Creative Writing. 

Curricular information is subject to change

Who should apply?

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes

Course Description

Lectures, seminars, workshops and supervision meetings aim to provide committed writers with taught classes on the theory and practices of writing. These include presentation and editing techniques, creative reading of selected texts as well as the supervision of a major writing project. Among the important issues addressed on an on-going basis are voice and structure. Every effort is made to ensure that a student progresses on these as well as many other fronts.

Vision and Values Statement

A fundamental tenet of the MA in Creative Writing is a belief in the value of learning from writers who have mastered their craft. The writers who contribute to the course will vary from year to year, but recent module conveners have included Anne Enright, Laureate for Irish Fiction, Paula Meehan, Ireland Professor of Poetry, Eilis Ni Dhuibhne, Writer Fellow, Sinéad Gleeson, Writer in Residence,  and Paul Perry, Poetry co-ordinator. 

Towards that end the MA in creative writing offers a selection of modules in the first semester which direct and encourage students to explore several literary forms, the novel, the short story and poetry.  The aim here is to present students with a broad range of possibilities, set them on a course of discovery for a form, or combination of forms, where they will best realise their creative potential. The learning environment is positive, enabling and friendly and the class group, fourteen or less students, are actively encouraged to support each other in their creative endeavours.

The second semester modules provide an opportunity to embark on a more specific path, while at the same time continuing to extend the boundaries of what is possible in fiction. As the semester progresses a student’s individual work is increasingly guided by course conveners and supervisors, both in workshop settings and on a one-to-one basis.  The end goal is the creation of a substantial piece of writing, a solid basis from which a student will continue towards the completion of a full work, whether that be a collection of short stories, a novel or a collection of poetry.

Programme Outcomes

• Have a solid working knowledge of genres and forms.
• Have created a substantial piece of writing, a solid basis from which to continue towards the completion of a full work, whether that be a collection of short stories, a novel or a collection of poetry.
• Have developed a positive sense of themselves as writers, with an active role to play in the literary/artistic culture wherever they should find themselves.
• Have learned to read like writers, to recognise the challenges facing authors at various stages in the creation of a piece of fiction and to critically assess the extent to which these challenge have been met.
• On successful completion of the programme, students will have a thorough understanding of how to meet many of the challenges confronted in the construction of a piece of fiction; character, voice, place etc.
• Participated in a weekly visiting writer’s programme, contributed to an anthology and attended a selection of the literary events and festivals for which the city is renowned.

What modules can I take?

View All Modules Here

Fees, Funding and Scholarships

Tuition fee information is available on the  UCD Fees website . Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see  International Scholarships .

Entry Requirements

The entry requirement for the  MA programme  is a BA Hons English or equivalent (NFQ Level 8), and/or proven commitment to and experience in the field of creative writing; a portfolio (a 3,000 word sample of prose or 6 poems, or a combination of prose and poetry) of recent creative work; a personal statement of reasons for taking the course and references. Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 7.5 (no band less than 7.0 in each element), or equivalent. 

These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes 

Testimonial

Dave Rudden MA 2013 Award-winning author

The Creative Writing Masters in UCD has been incredibly useful to me as an author. I still use some of the lessons I learned in that year in my creative writing classes, and the expert advice of the lecturers contributed massively to me finding a home for my Knights of the Borrowed Dark trilogy at Puffin. I cannot recommend it highly enough.  

Graduate Profile Erika Meyers, USA Although there are many programmes that offer masters in Creative Writing in North America, I decided to attend UCD because it allowed me the opportunity to pursue my interests in poetry and fiction, rather than forcing me to choose one over the other. The creative versatility of the programme not only resulted in the publication of a novel and a poetry collection (both written while under the guidance of James Ryan and Éilís Ní Dhuibhne during my MA), but also provided me with the knowledge and experience necessary to earn a Santander scholarship and pursue my PhD in Irish Literature at the University of Edinburgh.

Related Programmes

• MA Drama & Performance Studies FT

How to apply?

The following entry routes are available:

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised

Open Days and Events

See details of any upcoming events and how to register.

Programme Overview:

Ask a question:.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.

Graduate Research Duration

• Creative Writing Publications

Students looking for a place to publish their writing and creative works at Trinity can search through the library’s list of curated publications.

Many publications overlap on the type of content they accept, but students may sort the list by type of content accepted, including creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry and other. Each publication link offers specific details about submission deadlines and requirements.

Call numbers and locations of each publication are also given so students can come by the library and browse the publication before submitting.

Creative Nonfiction

Creative Nonfiction / Fiction / Other / Poetry

American Poetry Review

Creative nonfiction / poetry.

Antioch Review

Bat City Review

Beloit Poetry Journal

Chicago Review

Creative nonfiction / other.

Conjunctions

Creative nonfiction / fiction / poetry.

Five Points

Georgia Review

Gettysburg Review

Harper’s

Indiana Review

Iowa Review

Kenyon Review

Massachusetts Review

Michigan Quarterly Review

Missouri Review

New Letters

North American Review

Paris Review

Other / Poetry

Ploughshares

Poetry Foundation

Southern Review

Southwest Review

Texas Observer

Creative nonfiction / other / poetry.

The Believer

Threepenny Review

Trinity Review

Virginia Quarterly Review

Voices de la Luna

Fiction / Other

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin

Trinity Search

Trinity menu.

• Faculties and Schools
• Trinity Courses
• Trinity Research

School of English

You are here Postgraduate > Ph.D. and Research degrees

Ph.D. and M.Litt.

Apply Please do not apply for PhD or M.Litt. study until you have followed the instructions detailed below under the heading, 'Admissions Information'. 

The School of English welcomes applications for two research degrees: the M.Litt. and the Ph.D. Both involve a student working closely with one or more supervisors to undertake an original independent research project, resulting in a dissertation thesis. The M.Litt. normally takes two years and the dissertation is up to 60,000 words. The Ph.D. takes up to four years and the dissertation is up 100,000 words. As well as the more conventional research dissertation, we offer the Doctor in Philosophy, Literary Practice, which comprises of an original piece of creative writing and a critical essay. We also have a Distance Ph.D. programme, to enable students to pursue a research degree remotely.

The diversity of our Faculty’s research interests means we are well-placed to supervise research in a very wide variety of areas of anglophone literary studies. The print and archival holdings of Trinity’s remarkable library underpins many of our research students’ projects. While here you will receive access to training that will develop your skills and knowledge as a researcher.  You will also join a supportive and dynamic community of students, scholars, and writers in a world-leading English department right at the heart of one of the world’s great literary cities. Current Research Students

As I approach the end of my Ph.D., I’m so grateful for the encouragement and support that I’ve found within the School of English, and for the opportunities it has given me.

The time I spent doing my Ph.D. in the School of English was the most fulfilling and intellectually stimulating experience for which I could ever have hoped. Having the time and space to work on my research while being supported by an excellent mentor was an immense privilege, but it also prepared me for life beyond the Ph.D.

Structured Ph.D.

The School of English provides doctoral training through a structured programme of research and study. Alongside pursing their original research project, Ph.D. students participate in other modules, seminars and workshops. These broaden the knowledge and skills of students in ways that are complementary to their research. They also support their wider professional development, including in aiding their entry into the academic and non-academic job markets. During the programme, Ph.D. students undergo various review processes, offering important evaluation and feedback on their progress.

Doctor in Philosophy, Literary Practice

How Do I Apply/Make an Initial Inquiry? 

The Doctor in Philosophy, Literary Practice is aimed at those interested in undertaking a combination of creative and critical writing at doctoral level. The main body of the thesis dissertation is an extended piece of creative writing, normally between 60,000 and 80,000 words in length. This may take the form of a novel, a collection of short stories or poetry, or a work of non-fiction, such as a memoir or piece of travel writing, or another form of output as agreed with the project’s supervisors. This is accompanied by a critical essay that intersects with the creative project. This might take the form of a scholarly investigation or commentary of some kind, or offer a reflection on the student’s own aesthetic practice. Again, its exact nature and scope will be decided by the student in consultation with their supervisors. The Doctor in Philosophy, Literary Practice is normally supervised by two members of the School of English, one a specialist in creative writing and the other a researcher with expertise in an area connected to the critical portion of the project.

Applying for the Doctor in Philosophy, Literary Practice  

The Doctor in Philosophy, Literary Practice generates a high volume of queries. To deal with these queries more effectively, we have initiated a separate initial inquiry protocol for this strand. 

IMPORTANT: You must not apply online for a Doctor in Philosophy, Literary Practice unless you have been pre-approved to do so by the School – all unauthorised applications will be rejected. 

If you are interested in applying for the programme:

• Please download the Doctor in Philosophy, Literary Practice inquiry template found here fill it in, and send it to the Director of Postgraduate Teaching and Learning, Prof. Aileen Douglas ([email protected]) no later than  November 1st, 2023  if you wish to be considered for March 2024 entry and no later than  December 1st, 2023 if you wish to be considered for September 2024 entry.  Use the subject line 'Doctor in Philosophy, Literary Practice Inquiry'. Further correspondence with the DPTL re: your prospective application will generally not be entered into at this time.
• Prof. Douglas will forward these details on to colleagues who work in Creative Writing after the December deadline.  At that stage, if a member of staff is interested in following up with you re: your proposed project, they will generally be in touch within 1-2 weeks. If a colleague is willing to consider taking you on as a PhD student, after discussion with the DPTL, you will be given the go-ahead to formally apply to the Doctor in Philosophy, Literary Practice. The instructions further down this page under the heading ‘Developing Your PhD Proposal’ also apply to LP applicants: however, please note that applicants for the Doctor in Philosophy, Literary Practice need to submit  two  writing samples: one piece of creative work (5000 words) and one critical essay (3000 words). 
• Please remember that being given permission to apply is not a guarantee of ultimate acceptance. We have limited supervision capacity in this subject area and unfortunately, we often turn down qualified applicants for this and for other reasons. We therefore advise you to consider applying to other institutions in addition to making inquiries at TCD. 
• If you have been given the go-ahead to apply for the Doctor in Philosophy, Literary Practice, you should upload all materials related to your application by the date listed on this website in due course. Full details on the materials which we need for a PhD application are listed on this page under 'Admissions Information'. Please follow these instructions in full. All materials, references and supplementary information must be provided before your application can be formally assessed. We reserve the right to reject incomplete applications after this date. You should use the ‘Doctor in Philosophy, English’ application link.
• Applications will then be considered by your prospective 'Doctor in Philosophy, Literary Practice' supervisors and by the School's admissions committee, who will read all applications in this area and the make the final recommendation as to whether a place can be offered to an applicant. This decision will generally be passed on to the applicant by the DPTL before the end of April.  

Non-Resident/Distance Ph.D. Programme

The Non-Resident PhD programme allows students who wish to undertake a structured Ph.D. within the School of English remotely from anywhere in the world. As part of this programme you will be a fully registered student of the School of English, Trinity College Dublin with access to our libraries and services whether you are on- or off-campus. A programme of online seminars and discussion groups will be made available to enable connection with fellow Trinity researchers within and across disciplines. The programme is four years full-time and six years part-time. The School is committed to providing the same quality of supervision for distance students as for those present on campus in person and will strive to ensure they feel part of the academic community. Students undertaking the Distance PhD will need to conform to the same regulations, expectations and procedures as our general PhD students. Distance PhD applicants will also need to confirm that they have access to a suitable workspace and to the equipment (i.e. laptop or PC) and internet access which is needed to successfully engage in this mode of study. They are also be expected to keep in regular touch with their supervisor via email and online-videoconferencing platforms such as Zoom, Skype and Microsoft Teams. They will also be expected to meet once a term with their thesis committee via one of these platforms. Students will also be expected to engage with webinars and online conferences within the School and in the College more widely. Please note that that students are normally expected to be on-campus in Dublin for their Confirmation hearing approximately half-way through their studies and for their Viva Voce examination at the end of their studies. Distance PhD students in the School (as within the College in general) will follow a structured PhD model which requires them to attain 20 ECTS of taught credits in their first 18th months of study.

Click here for further information about Trinty's Non-Resident/Distance Ph.D. Programme Applying for Non-Resident Study Prospective applicants can only proceed to a formal application for the Non-Resident Programme if they have been vetted and approved of by the Director of Postgraduate Teaching and Learning (Dr Carroll) and by a prospective supervisor beforehand. There is a form which both the applicant and the prospective supervisor need to fill in and sign, and an application link which needs to be sent on by the DPTL. The Non-Resident PhD programme cannot be applied for on the usual College online applications site. By undertaking a Non-resident Ph.D., students are ineligible for university funding schemes and may be ineligible for funding from other bodies. Students will be responsible for arrangements and bear all personal costs associated with their programme of study, including travel and technology-related costs.

Admissions Information

How Do I Make an Initial M.Litt. or PhD Inquiry? The School receives many postgraduate research admissions and supervision inquiries every year. To make the processing of initial expressions of interest more efficient for prospective applicants and for staff, we now require prospective PhD or M.Litt. applicants to fill in this  inquiry template  before their supervision/admissions query can be considered. Once you have completed this template you may forward it to the staff member who you feel would be a suitable PhD supervisor, or send it to the Director of Postgraduate Teaching and Learning (Dr Jane Carroll, [email protected] ) for circulation if no suitable supervisor seems immediately apparent.  The list of staff research interests and supervision interests can be found here:  staff research interests  . You should consult it before filling in the inquiry template .  Do not contact MORE THAN ONE staff member with your initial query. It causes confusion and delays when a prospective applicant emails several staff members with the same query at once. 

Developing Your PhD Proposal/Application Materials:

It is  strongly advised  that you develop your proposal in consultation with a relevant staff member, rather than applying online without contacting the School beforehand. If a staff member is interested in your initial project outline (as contained within the template) and has supervision capacity, they may ask you for further information and they may subsequently agree to work as you develop your proposal. Please note that an initial expression of interest from an academic member of staff is not in itself a guarantee of acceptance. All PhD applications are assessed by the prospective supervisor and by the School’s PhD admissions committee.  Your Ph.D. proposal should be around 2,000-3,000 words. This normally includes: an overview indicating the contribution to scholarship the proposed project will make in relation to the existing critical literature; a chapter-by-chapter outline of the proposed dissertation; a statement on methodology; and a short preliminary bibliography (listing 30-50 items of primary and secondary literature).  In addition to the research proposal, as part of your application you will need to submit: transcripts; degree certificates; a CV; proof of English competency, if English is not your native language; two academic references; and a writing sample (approximately 5,000 words).  Applications will not be considered until all documents are submitted, including both references. It is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure that all the necessary documents are uploaded as soon as possible after an initial application is opened online, and to check with referees to make sure that they have uploaded their references.   Acceptance depends on several criteria: your undergraduate degree (normally at least an upper-second class standard or GPA of 3.3 is required), the viability and originality of your research proposal, and the strength of your supporting academic references .  Applicants should also note that that the demand for research places in the School of English at Trinity College Dublin is high, and that sometimes excellent candidates are turned down because of the unavailability of staff to supervise in that area.

Doctor in Philosophy, Literary Practice Application Materials: Applicants for the Doctor in Philosophy, Literary Practice need to submit two writing samples: one piece of creative work (5000 words) and one critical essay (3000 words). 

IMPORTANT: A full revision of College internal PhD award schemes is currently being undertaken to ensure an equitable level of stipend for students in receipt of internal awards. Further information will be posted here in the Autumn.

Prospective applicants should very carefully consider how they intend to fund their studies in light of the scarcity of funding and the high costs of living and renting here in Dublin.  Various external bodies do offer funding.  The Irish Research Council  runs an annual scheme for doctoral candidates, advertised early in the autumn of each year. These awards are the most substantial funding available to our Ph.D. candidates. Prospective students may also be eligible for a grant via  Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) . Further advice and information on funding is also available on from the  Higher Education Authority .

Postgraduate Student Handbook 2023-24

Trinity College Postgraduate Research Student Handbook

• Postgraduate English at Trinity
• Student Life in Dublin
• Careers and Skills

[email protected]

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing The Write Stuff for Writers

Credit Hours

View Courses

100% online, 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Grow Your Writing Passion into a Career with Liberty’s Online MFA in Creative Writing

Many people write creatively, but few hone their skills to develop their writing craft to its highest form. Even fewer learn the other skills it takes to become a successful writer, such as the steps needed to get a book published and into the hands of readers. Liberty’s 100% online Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing can help you develop your writing passion into a career so you can set your works free to impact culture and the world.

Employers in every industry need professionals who have strong writing skills, so you can be confident that your ability to write effectively can also help set you apart in your current career. With in-demand writing expertise and the ability to customize your degree with electives in literature or writing practice, Liberty’s online MFA in Creative Writing can help you achieve your professional writing goals.

Our online MFA in Creative Writing is designed to help you build on your writing skills with specific workshops dedicated to the craft of fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, or screenwriting. With a work-in-progress approach to writing practice and mentorship from our faculty of experienced writers and scholars, you can learn the specific skills you need to make your writing stand out.

Ranked in the Top 10% of Niche.com’s Best Online Schools in America

• What Sets Us Apart?
• Private Nonprofit University
• 600+ Online Degrees
• No Standardized Testing for Admission
• Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
• Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Why Choose Liberty’s MFA in Creative Writing?

Our online MFA in Creative Writing is mainly offered in an 8-week course format, and our tuition rate for graduate programs hasn’t increased in 9 years. Through our program, you can study the writing process and develop your creative skills through workshops with experienced writing professionals. With our flexible format, you can grow in your creative writing while continuing to do what is important to you.

As a terminal degree, the online MFA in Creative Writing can also help you pursue opportunities to teach writing at the K-12 or college level. You will gain comprehensive and in-depth exposure to writing, literature, publishing, and many other professional writing skills that you can pass on to students. Partner with the Liberty family and learn under faculty who have spent years in the field you love. Your career in professional writing starts here.

What Will You Study in Our MFA in Creative Writing?

The MFA in Creative Writing program is designed to help you become an excellent creative writer across the genres of creative fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, and poetry. You can learn how to produce aesthetically and culturally engaged creative works while gaining professional knowledge and practice. You will also study foundational contemporary literature so that you have a background in studying important works to draw on for your writing.

To help you in your professional writing, you will also study many essential skills in editing, layout, and the business of publishing so that you can best position yourself for success in the market. Through your creative writing courses and workshops, you can develop your craft so that you will be ready for your thesis project.

Here are a few examples of the skills Liberty’s MFA in Creative Writing can help you master:

• Marketing your projects and pursuing new writing opportunities
• Organizing writing and adapting it to different types of writing
• Tailoring writing to specific audiences and markets
• Understanding what makes art effective, compelling, and impactful
• Writing compelling stories that engage readers

Potential Career Opportunities

• Book and magazine writer
• Business communications specialist
• Creative writing instructor
• Publications editor
• Screenwriter
• Website copy editor and writer
• Writing manager

Featured Courses

• ENGL 600 – Editing, Layout, and Publishing
• ENGL 601 – Writing as Cultural Engagement
• ENGL 603 – Literary Theory and Practice
• WRIT 610 – Writing Fiction

Degree Information

• This program falls under the College of Arts and Sciences .
• View the Graduate Arts and Sciences Course Guides (login required).
• Download and review the Graduate Manual for MFA .

Degree Completion Plan (PDF)

Not sure what to choose?

Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.

• Tuition & Aid

Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.

All Tuition & Fees

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Financial Aid Forms & Eligibility

Scholarship Opportunities

Admission Information for the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA)

Admission requirements.

• A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required) .
• Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form .
• Creative Writing Sample – A creative writing sample of one creative writing work of at least 2,500 words or a culmination of creative writing samples totaling 2,500 words.*
• Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy .

*A sample of one or more poems totaling a minimum of 750 words may also be submitted. Song lyrics are not accepted at this time as writing samples.

Preliminary Acceptance

If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:

• Be in your final term and planning to start your master’s degree after the last day of class for your bachelor’s degree.
• Complete a Bachelor’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
• Submit an official/unofficial transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show a minimum of 105 completed credit hours.
• If you are a current Liberty University student completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to submit a Degree/Certificate Completion Application .
• Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new master’s degree.

Dual Enrollment

Please see the Online Dual Enrollment page for information about starting graduate courses while finishing your bachelor’s degree.

Transcript Policies

Unofficial college transcript policy.

Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:

• Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
• Cumulative GPA
• A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
• Degree and date conferred (if applicable)

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to [email protected] .

If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Admissions Office Contact Information

(800) 424-9596

(888) 301-3577

Email for Questions

[email protected]

Email for Documents

[email protected]

Liberty University Online Admissions Verification

1971 University Blvd.

Lynchburg, VA 24515

Ready to Apply?

Submit your application online or over the phone.

Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

• Active Duty
• Reserve/National Guard
• Veterans/Retirees
• Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
• Current Department of Defense Employees

Available Benefits:

• Tuition discounts – $275 per credit hour for graduate courses
• Additional discount for veterans who service in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $625 per course) *
• 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)

*Not applicable to certificates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an mfa in creative writing.

A Master of Fine Arts degree, or MFA, is a terminal degree in an artistic craft that demonstrates that you have achieved the highest level of training and skill in your discipline. Like a doctorate, an MFA often allows you to teach courses at the graduate level while also providing many opportunities for scholarship and leadership in education. If you want to grow your creative writing skills to become the best writer you can be, then the Master of Fine Arts can help you get there.

How will students work towards developing their writing skills?

With creative writing workshops and a thesis project, you will receive support and guidance to help you become the best writer you can be.

How long will it take to complete the MFA in Creative Writing?

You can complete the MFA in Creative Writing in just 48 credit hours!

Inner Navigation

• Why Choose Liberty?
• What Will You Study?
• Admission Information

Have questions?

Are you ready to change your future?

Apply FREE This Week*

Request Information

*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, non-degree-seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and certificate students.

Request Information About a Program

Request info about liberty university online, what program are you interested in, choose a program level.

Choose a program level

Bachelor’s

Master’s

Certificate

Select a Field of Study

Select a field of study

Select a Program

Select a program

Next: Contact Info

Legal full name.

Enter legal full name

Legal Last Name

Enter legal last name

Enter an email address

Enter a phone number

Full Address

Enter an address

Apt., P.O. Box, or can’t find your address? Enter it manually instead .

Select a Country

Street Address

Enter Street Address

Enter State

ZIP/Postal Code

Enter Zip Code

Back to automated address search

Start my application now for FREE

• Campus News
• Study Abroad
• ITS Support
• Academic Calendar

Quick Links:

Engl-2310 introduction to creative writing.

Description Introduction to the crafts and techniques of poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction. Credits 3 credits Level Lower Division

Creative Writing (Full-time) (BA Hons)

Our Creative Writing programme is informed by the National Association of Writers in Education (NAWE) definition of the subject. It is designed to nurture creative writers and to facilitate the creation of new works in a supportive but critical community. You will develop your practice with modules that heighten creative and critical awareness of the elements and techniques of effective writing.

We introduce poetry, prose and drama in year one and broaden the focus in the second and third years to nurture the writing of voice, form and place.

There are dedicated modules that develop practice in poetry and fiction, and, while the critical, self-reflective and editorial aspects of practice are emphasised throughout, there is also a module devoted to the relationship between research and writing. You will draw on these skills to research and produce an extended independent project (equivalent to a dissertation).

These core skills – writing, research and editing – are supplemented by modules that introduce you to the worlds of publication and performance, enabling you to develop an understanding of the career prospects for writers in the creative industries and the application of writing skills in administrative and entrepreneurial contexts.

Course details

• Using your device
• X (formerly Twitter)
• September 2024
• Blended (On-campus)

Tuition Fees 2023/24 and 24/25 Home (Full-time): £9,000 per year Overseas (Full-time): £13,500 per year

Why choose this course?

What you will learn.

Alongside the form and genre options, you will take modules in research and archiving, following which you will create a major piece of work which may lead to publication. Throughout your three years you will have regular contact with, and support from, a range of different writers.

Workshop sessions will be held within which you will be encouraged to discuss your work with your community of fellow writers. Your tutor will support you in preparing your work for publication and advise on places to approach. Alongside one-to-one tuition, you will also take modules on different aspects of the writing industry, including sessions on reviewing, editing and writing to brief.

There is a strong sense of community among students and staff, and the ratio of staff to students is such that students can access their lecturers when needed. The small classes are always friendly and never intimidating, allowing staff to know their students on a first-name basis.

Year A and B 

Myths and Mythology: How Stories Shape the World

Exploring the Humanities

(20 credits)

Optional 

Year A

Year A and B

Year A 

(40 credits)

Year B

Course Disclaimer

We listen to student feedback and insights from industry and from professionals to ensure that course content is high-quality and up-to-date, and that it offers the best possible preparation for your future career or study goals. 

For this reason, there might be modifications to the content of your course over time, to keep up to date with changes in the subject area or in the sector. If a module is no longer running, we’ll make sure to keep you informed, and work with you to choose a different suitable module.

testimonial

Our people.

You will be taught and supported by a wide range of professional staff and teams here to help you get the university experience you are looking for. Our teaching staff were ranked 2nd in Wales for assessments and feedback (NSS 2023) meaning the comments you get back from your work will help you learn. Our commitment to your learning has seen our students place us as Top 10 in the UK for Lecturers and Teaching Quality. Find out more about our academic staff who teach across our courses. 

Accommodation

Lampeter Accommodation

Our Lampeter accommodation is based on our Lampeter Campus, meaning you are never far from what is happening on campus. We have a variety of different options open to our students which will suit all budgets. 

Further information

Entry requirements.

Grades are important; however, our offers are not solely based on academic results. We are interested in creative people that demonstrate a strong commitment to their chosen subject area and therefore we welcome applications from individuals from a wide range of backgrounds.

To assess student suitability for their chosen course we normally arrange interviews for all applicants at which your skills, achievements and life experience will be considered as well as your qualifications.

Assessment Methods

The programme is assessed in a variety of ways and will include several of the following types of assessment: essays of 1,000 to 4,000 words in length, document analyses, book reviews, short reports and reflective journals, timed tests, take-home exams, field journals, posters, group and individual presentations, dissertations of 10,000 words, wikis, commentaries and film evaluations.

Additional Costs

The Faculty has estimated on the assumption that students buy new copies of the books. Students may also choose to spend money on printing drafts of work.

Students may spend up to £300 per year on books and additional related materials.

Students are expected to submit two hard copies of their final project, the estimated cost for binding these is £20.

Optional Field trip: Faculty works to ensure that there are a range of fieldwork and field trip options available both locally and internationally. Thus students can opt to take either more expensive or less expensive placements. The Faculty subsidises these but the cost each year is dependent on airfare, location, and currency exchange rates. Below are the upper end of expected costs based on where students have currently done placements.

Fieldwork (depending on where student decides to do fieldwork): c. £500 - £1,500 Individual trips: c. £5 - £50

Bursary / Scholarship Information

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit our Scholarships and Bursaries section.

Career opportunities

Career and employment opportunities are very broad and include:

• Administrative and managerial jobs 
• Community Work
• Freelance work such as copywriting, editing 
• Independent and commissioned creative writing
• Marketing and fundraising
• Writing for film, television and media

More English and Creative Writing courses

Bilingualism and multilingualism (full-time) (ma), bilingualism and multilingualism (part-time) (ma), creative writing (full-time) (ma), creative writing (full-time) (pgdip), creative writing (full-time) (pgcert), creative writing (part-time) (ma), creative writing (part-time) (pgdip), creative writing (part-time) (pgcert), creative writing (part-time) (ba hons), modern literature (part-time) (ma), modern literature (part-time) (pgcert), modern literature (part-time) (pgdip).