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Sophie Writes

Historical fiction writing tips, freelance writing tricks and general writing help.

Should I Do A Creative Writing MA?

Creative Writing MA’s have got a bit of a mixed reputation. Some see it as an exercise of the blind leading the blind, by which I mean unpublished writers telling other writers how to (hopefully) get published.

Others see them as ‘dalliances’ (which is a terrible word, because it implies it’s not being taken seriously by either the subject or the speaker) where hopeful writers go to waste a year or two before resigning themselves to “adult life”.

There’s also the dreaded MA ‘workshop’ which (apparently) churns out carbon-copy short fiction that loses all sense of the author’s voice after the cutting comments of their fellow classmates.

All of this adds up the overall feeling towards MAs… which is the equivalent of a shrug. Not the exciting, inciting push you might want (or need) before taking the plunge into a second degree.  But is any of this  fair?

I don’t know, is the honest answer. I can only speak for my specific experience on a specific writing programme (Stockholm University’s Transnational Creative Writing Masters ) (damn that’s a lot of capital letters) so I hesitate to draw broad brush strokes across programmes a world over.

But I’ll tell you this.

I don’t regret it for a second.

And here’s 5 reasons why:

1. They give you the chance to take your writing seriously

This is especially important if you’re coming into creative writing for the first time, or are exploring whether it’s something you’d like to make a career out of. Having spent most of my professional career in marketing my ‘creative’ writing was limited to the backs of food packets and the occasional quippy tweet. It was actually NaNoWriMo (I’ll do a post on that later) that kicked my arse into gear and got me writing creatively, this time in long-form, for the first time since my failed Year 8 book project (I wrote a story where Naomi Campbell and Heath Ledger got trapped in a cave in the Yellow Mountains. Unsurprisingly, my teacher hated it and told me writing probably wasn’t for me.)

More than likely you’ll need to submit a sample of your writing as part of your entrance exam (Stockholm needed a 2.5k word short story) but it doesn’t matter if it’s not ‘ready to get published’ quality, after all – that’s what you’re there for.

2. They give you the chance to get feedback on your work

This is a double-edged sword. As someone notoriously bad at taking criticism (my first taste of feedback from a previous job ended up with me crying in a coffee shop whilst my boss shifted uncomfortably in her seat and asked if I wanted another frappucino) this can be a little hard to get used to at first, but it’s  really good.  And here’s why.

When you write something, you’re (eventually) intending other people to see it. And those people have opinions, just like you do. So you have to get used to hearing them, even if their opinion is that your character is flat, or that your story is lacking oopmh. Whilst these things can be difficult to hear, they’re often the things that are going to propel your writing to the next level.

After all, if we were all excellent at giving ourselves honest, critical feedback then our work would improve without anyone else’s input… and Editors wouldn’t exist.

3. They give you the chance to build a network

I cannot stress the importance of this enough. Writers need supportive writers around them. People who will give you a nudge and say ‘hey how’s the book coming?’ or send you a ‘you can do it!’ text when you’re five days deep into writers’ block. These are also the people you can bounce ideas off, ask (very nicely) to read short excerpts and ask for feedback from.

Writing is a solitary life. At least with a community, we can all be alone, together.

4. They push you out of your comfort zone

On the spot writing exercises. Genres you haven’t done battle with before. Writing in third person, first person, second person. Writing from the point of view of a potted plant, or a fly on the wall. Creative Writing MAs often push writers out of their comfort zones because it helps them improve. I discovered I’m not half bad at writing creative non-fiction, despite it being a genre I find deeply uncomfortable, and that has given me some great things I can take forward into my fiction writing.

There’s a quote out there somewhere about great things happening at the edge of your comfort zone, but I’ll spare you it.

5. They put you in touch with the right people

Most creative writing MAs are taught by published professors. Some of them, like Maggie Gee who ran our Creative Non-Fiction classes, have whopping double-digits worth of books underneath their belts, so it’s safe to say they know a thing or two about the industry, how tough it is to crack and how gruelling it can be trying to get published.

For someone like me, for whom writing was a pipe dream less than a year ago (somewhat of a crazy thought now as it’s taken over my entire life…) this is the first time I’ve ever even  met published authors. So to then have them turn around and say ‘hey, if you ever finish that book, I’ll be happy to read it,’ is somewhat mind-blowing.

And it wouldn’t have happened without the MA.

But let me also make this clear.

You do not need an MA to achieve any of these things.  Check back next week with my tips on how to ‘build your own’ MA.

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Creative Writing and Literature Master’s Degree Program

Online Courses

11 out of 12 total courses

On-Campus Experience

One 1- or 3-week residency in summer

$3,220 per course

Unlock your creative potential and hone your unique voice.

Build a strong foundation in literary criticism and writing across multiple genres — including fiction, nonfiction, and drama — in our live online writing and literature program with an in-person writers’ residency at Harvard.

Program Overview

Through the master’s degree in creative writing and literature, you’ll hone your skills as a storyteller — crafting publishable original scripts, novels, and stories.

In small, workshop-style classes, you’ll master key elements of narrative craft, including characterization, story and plot structure, point of view, dialogue, and description. And you’ll learn to approach literary works as both a writer and scholar by developing skills in critical analysis.

Program Benefits

Instructors who are published authors of drama, fiction, and nonfiction

A community of writers who support your growth in live online classes

Writer's residency with agent & editor networking opportunities

Personalized academic and career advising

Thesis or capstone options that lead to publishable creative work

Harvard Alumni Association membership upon graduation

Customizable Course Curriculum

As you work through the program’s courses, you’ll enhance your creative writing skills and knowledge of literary concepts and strategies. You’ll practice the art of revision to hone your voice as a writer in courses like Writing the Short Personal Essay and Writing Flash Fiction.

Within the creative writing and literature program, you will choose between a thesis or capstone track. You’ll also experience the convenience of online learning and the immersive benefits of learning in person.

11 Online Courses

• Primarily synchronous
• Fall, spring, January, and summer options

Writers’ Residency

A 1- or 3-week summer master class taught by a notable instructor, followed by an agents-and-editors weekend

Thesis or Capstone Track

• Thesis: features a 9-month independent creative project with a faculty advisor
• Capstone: includes crafting a fiction or nonfiction manuscript in a classroom community

The path to your degree begins before you apply to the program.

First, you’ll register for and complete 2 required courses, earning at least a B in each. These foundational courses are investments in your studies and count toward your degree, helping ensure success in the program.

Getting Started

We invite you to explore degree requirements, confirm your initial eligibility, and learn more about our unique “earn your way in” admissions process.

A Faculty of Creative Writing Experts

Studying at Harvard Extension School means learning from the world’s best. Our instructors are renowned academics in literary analysis, storytelling, manuscript writing, and more. They bring a genuine passion for teaching, with students giving our faculty an average rating of 4.7 out of 5.

Bryan Delaney

Playwright and Screenwriter

Talaya Adrienne Delaney

Lecturer in Extension, Harvard University

Elisabeth Sharp McKetta

Our community at a glance.

80% of our creative writing and literature students are enrolled in our master’s degree program for either personal enrichment or to make a career change. Most (74%) are employed full time while pursuing their degree and work across a variety of industries.

Download: Creative Writing & Literature Master's Degree Fact Sheet

Average Age

Course Taken Each Semester

Work Full Time

Would Recommend the Program

Professional Experience in the Field

Pursued for Personal Enrichment

Career Opportunities & Alumni Outcomes

Graduates of our Creative Writing and Literature Master’s Program have writing, research, and communication jobs in the fields of publishing, advertising/marketing, fundraising, secondary and higher education, and more.

Some alumni continue their educational journeys and pursue further studies in other nationally ranked degree programs, including those at Boston University, Brandeis University, University of Pennsylvania, and Cambridge University.

Our alumni hold titles as:

• Marketing Manager
• Director of Publishing
• Senior Research Writer

Our alumni work at a variety of leading organizations, including:

• Little, Brown & Company
• New York University (NYU)
• Bentley Publishers

Career Advising and Mentorship

Whatever your career goals, we’re here to support you. Harvard’s Mignone Center for Career Success offers career advising, employment opportunities, Harvard alumni mentor connections, and career fairs like the annual on-campus Harvard Humanities, Media, Marketing, and Creative Careers Expo.

Your Harvard University Degree

Upon successful completion of the required curriculum, you will earn the Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Extension Studies, Field: Creative Writing and Literature.

Expand Your Connections: the Harvard Alumni Network

As a graduate, you’ll become a member of the worldwide Harvard Alumni Association (400,000+ members) and Harvard Extension Alumni Association (29,000+ members).

Harvard is closer than one might think. You can be anywhere and still be part of this world.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Affordability is core to our mission. When compared to our continuing education peers, it’s a fraction of the cost.

After admission, you may qualify for financial aid . Typically, eligible students receive grant funds to cover a portion of tuition costs each term, in addition to federal financial aid options.

What can you do with a master’s degree in creative writing and literature?

A master’s degree in creative writing and literature prepares you for a variety of career paths in writing, literature, and communication — it’s up to you to decide where your interests will take you.

You could become a professional writer, editor, literary agent, marketing copywriter, or communications specialist.

You could also go the academic route and bring your knowledge to the classroom to teach creative writing or literature courses.

Is a degree in creative writing and literature worth it?

The value you find in our Creative Writing and Literature Master’s Degree Program will depend on your unique goals, interests, and circumstances.

The curriculum provides a range of courses that allow you to graduate with knowledge and skills transferable to various industries and careers.

How long does completing the creative writing and literature graduate program take?

Program length is ordinarily anywhere between 2 and 5 years. It depends on your preferred pace and the number of courses you want to take each semester.

For an accelerated journey, we offer year round study, where you can take courses in fall, January, spring, and summer.

While we don’t require you to register for a certain number of courses each semester, you cannot take longer than 5 years to complete the degree.

What skills do you need prior to applying for the creative writing and literature degree program?

Harvard Extension School does not require any specific skills prior to applying, but in general, it’s helpful to have solid reading, writing, communication, and critical thinking skills if you are considering a creative writing and literature master’s degree.

Initial eligibility requirements can be found on our creative writing and literature master’s degree requirements page .

Harvard Division of Continuing Education

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) at Harvard University is dedicated to bringing rigorous academics and innovative teaching capabilities to those seeking to improve their lives through education. We make Harvard education accessible to lifelong learners from high school to retirement.

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Online MFA in Creative Writing Master of Fine Arts

Earn an MFA in Creative Writing Online

• $637/credit (48 credits total)
• Transfer up to 12 graduate credits
• 100% online – no residency required
• Four fiction genres to choose from
• Career-focused certificate included
• No application fee or GRE/GMAT scores required

Online MFA in Creative Writing Program Overview

Share your story with the world and let the power of storytelling take your career to new heights with an online Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing . As one of the only programs available that encourages a focus on genre fiction, our online MFA lets you hone your craft in an area specific to your strengths and interests. You'll also learn about the business side of creative writing, preparing you to market your work in the real world.

While most MFA programs require a residency, Southern New Hampshire University's online MFA in Creative Writing can be completed entirely online, with no travel necessary.

“Traditional MFA programs, whether full-time or low residency, are out of reach for many writers,” said Paul Witcover , associate dean of creative writing. “The SNHU online MFA was designed to make the MFA experience accessible to all fiction writers, opening the door to diverse voices excluded for too long from the literary conversation. Our program is dedicated to giving writers the tools to succeed on the page and beyond it.”

Graduates leave the program with a completed and revised novel in one of our four offered genres: Contemporary, Young Adult, Romance and Speculative. With the included certificates in either online teaching of writing or professional writing , you'll have the skills to support your writing career, no matter where it takes you.

.st0{fill:#21386D;} What You'll Learn

• The business and technical sides of professional writing
• How to navigate the publishing ecosystem, identify agents and editors, and market your work to appeal to decision-makers
• Using social media to gain a following and build your brand
• How to teach writing in a classroom setting

.cls-1 { fill: #21386d; } How You'll Learn

At SNHU, you'll get support from day 1 to graduation and beyond. And with no set class times, 24/7 access to the online classroom and helpful learning resources along the way, you'll have everything you need to reach your goals.

The Value of an Online MFA

Emily Jones ’20 embraced a transformational experience through the online MFA in Creative Writing program, which supported her in taking her writing career to the next level. “I can now say, without even a hint of imposter syndrome, that I am a writer,” said Jones. “And that is because of Southern New Hampshire University.”

Career Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, writers and authors made a median annual salary of $69,510 in 2021, while editors made $63,350. 1

“Our mission is to give students a degree and associated practical skills they can use to forge successful pathways in academia, business, or by blazing their own career trail,” said Paul Witcover , associate dean of creative writing.

Earning one of the included certificates in online teaching of writing or professional writing will also be an invaluable addition to your resume for part-time, full-time and freelance jobs in a variety of fields, including:

• Higher education. Instruct writing courses in higher education settings. In 2021, postsecondary teachers made a median annual wage of $79,640, and you can expect to see a 12% growth in available positions through 2031, according to the BLS. 1
• Advertising. Use your storytelling skills in a way that influences consumer action. As a copywriter, you could find yourself doing any number of writing projects from crafting emails and ads to writing entire commercials.
• Marketing. If you're more comfortable with long-form prose, many businesses have invested in content writers who create quality content such as blog posts, ebooks and podcasts to attract and retain customers.
• Entertainment. Good at building suspense or setting up punchlines? From movies and plays to comedy and podcasts, being a good storyteller and writer is important to finding success in the entertainment industry.
• History. Every person's life has a plot, but it takes writers like you to tell their stories in a compelling way. Help readers relive the experiences of historic figures and pop culture icons as a biographer.

Higher Education

Instruct writing courses in higher education at a college or university, either in-person or online.

Advertising

Influence consumer action through copywriting, from print ads to digital advertising and broadcast commercials.

Create written content such as blog posts, ebooks and podcasts to attract and retain customers.

Entertainment

From movies and plays to comedy and podcasts, writers often find success in the entertainment industry.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts favorable job growth in postsecondary education. And while statistics are not available for all job settings mentioned above, the BLS reports the following:

.cls-1 { fill: #21386d; } Job Growth

The BLS predicts an 8% growth in available postsecondary teaching positions through 2032. 1

.cls-1 { fill: #21386d; } Potential Salary

Writers and authors made a median annual salary of $73,150 in 2022, while editors made $73,080 and postsecondary teachers made $80,840. 1

Understanding the Numbers When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors — like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

Start Your Journey Toward an Online MFA in Creative Writing

If you're looking to earn your Master of Fine Arts online, you've found the right program. Even though there are no residency requirements, you'll still interact frequently with other students and faculty members in asynchronous discussions, critique workshops and within our online writer’s community, where students come together to share industry news, extend writing tips and develop critique partnerships.

"I liked MFA-514 (Advanced Studies in Genre Literature) best," said student Jamilla Geter . "It was a great look into the different genres. It really helped me narrow down what genre I wanted to write in."

"Though it was not writing exactly, its connection to it – especially in our digital world – was made clear almost immediately," she said. "Writing is not just providing content of value to your readers, but also creating avenues of access so those readers can find your content. This course helped me to understand that and to learn how I can create those avenues."

Besides allowing you to focus on your own creative interests, part of our 48-credit online MFA curriculum requires you to choose from 2 certificate offerings designed to round out your education and better prepare you for a multitude of writing-related careers.

The first choice is a Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching of Writing , which is tailored to those who see themselves teaching in an online classroom setting as a supplement to their writing careers. Students practice approaches to editing and coaching, learning how to establish a virtual instructor presence and cultivate methods for supporting and engaging students within online writing communities.

Learn more about the online teaching of writing graduate certificate .

Students can also choose the Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing , which highlights the technical and business opportunities available to writers. Students will develop a range of skills, such as copywriting, social media, marketing principles and/or content generation, learning many of the freelancing skills integral to today’s project-driven economy.

Learn more about the professional writing graduate certificate .

All of our courses are taught by accomplished authors and industry professionals who know both the craft and business of creative writing. They will work closely with you to develop both your creative and professional skill set.

"All instructors within my program were extremely knowledgeable and helpful," Warden said. "I learned a lot about the different career paths my instructors chose. ... The course instruction, along with their anecdotal experiences, helped in offering knowledge in different areas of our field.

MFA Program Thesis

The thesis for the Online MFA in Creative Writing is required to be a novel of at least 50,000 words in one of the four genres the program offers: Contemporary, Young Adult, Romance, and Speculative.

Every Southern New Hampshire University online MFA student who graduates from the program will do so with a revised novel manuscript in their chosen genre, which is completed in a three-course thesis series. Throughout your tenure in the program, you can either work on a singular idea that you will develop during the three thesis courses, or you can begin a new project for your thesis. You can also combine elements of the four genres offered in the program for your thesis. For example, your thesis might be a YA Speculative Fiction novel.

"My three thesis classes for the MFA degree were the most helpful," said Kathleen Harris '21 . "I was actually writing a book as my thesis, so it was both enjoyable and advantageous for the degree. And it was the end of a very long milestone of accomplishments."

Minimum Hardware Requirements Component Type   PC (Windows OS)   Apple (Mac OS)   Operating System  Currently supported operating system from Microsoft.   Currently supported operating system from Apple.  Memory (RAM)  8GB or higher  8GB or higher  Hard Drive  100GB or higher  100GB or higher  Antivirus Software  Required for campus students. Strongly recommended for online students.  Required for campus students. Strongly recommended for online students.  SNHU Purchase Programs  Visit Dell   Visit Apple   Internet/ Bandwidth  5 Mbps Download, 1 Mbps Upload and less than 100 ms Latency  5 Mbps Download, 1 Mbps Upload and less than 100 ms Latency  Notes:   Laptop or desktop?   Whichever you choose depends on your personal preference and work style, though laptops tend to offer more flexibility.  Note:   Chromebooks (Chrome OS) and iPads (iOS) do not meet the minimum requirements for coursework at SNHU. These offer limited functionality and do not work with some course technologies. They are not acceptable as the only device you use for coursework. While these devices are convenient and may be used for some course functions, they cannot be your primary device. SNHU does, however, have an affordable laptop option that it recommends: Dell Latitude 3301 with Windows 10.  Office 365 Pro Plus  is available free of charge to all SNHU students and faculty. The Office suite will remain free while you are a student at SNHU. Upon graduation you may convert to a paid subscription if you wish. Terms subject to change at Microsoft's discretion. Review system requirements for  Microsoft 365 plans  for business, education and government.  Antivirus software:  Check with your ISP as they may offer antivirus software free of charge to subscribers.  if (typeof accordionGroup === "undefined") { window.accordionGroup = new accordion(); } accordionGroup.init(document.getElementById('f756dce5bd874c61855f6f6e92d88470')); University Accreditation

Tuition & Fees

Tuition rates for SNHU's online degree programs are among the lowest in the nation. We offer a 25% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.

Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually. *Note: students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional Costs: Course Materials ($ varies by course). Foundational courses may be required based on your undergraduate course history, which may result in additional cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Related programs.

BU Creative Writing

for writers at Boston University and beyond

• Contributors

The MFA in Creative Writing: For Those Who Need to Write

February 18, 2015 at 3:30 PM

This is a guest post by Michael Samuels (fiction 2015), who interviewed CW Program Director Karl Kirchwey for his take on the Creative Writing MFA.

Michael Samuels

For Karl Kirchwey, prize-winning poet, translator, and director of creative writing at BU, existential questions surround the school’s prestigious Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program. The top-ranked program, whose alumni include Jhumpa Lahiri, Ha Jin, Elizabeth Alexander, and Rafael Campo, is not for the faint of heart. “What are you in fact preparing your students to do?” he sometimes asks himself. “Well, you’re preparing them to starve, right? Especially if they’re poets!”

That’s a joke, mostly, although Kirchwey is humble with the promises of an MFA: there’s no guarantee that the degree will make you a great writer. “That’s a question of how you were born,” he says, “what’s happened to you that might make writing an urgent necessity for you, what might have happened to you that has unfit you for any other activity in life.”

“There are writers who manage to actually combine careers,” Kirchwey clarifies, citing the “physician poet” Rafael Campo as the prime example. Since few people make a living from writing fiction or poetry alone, most former students of the program become teachers in the US and abroad, local journalists and foreign correspondents, translators, editors, founders and coordinators of publications and literary organizations – careers enriched by a creative writing background, and with time carved out for their own fiction and poetry.

In any case, for those who believe they have the skill and devotion, “identifying your own gift and identifying your desire to focus on that gift is something which can be respected,” Kirchwey says, “and which can be built on.” The program offers “more time for your own work, more time for reading, more time for making connections with other writers, more time for learning how to teach,” he explains. The Global Fellowship, unique to the program, also provides more time to write, an adventure to write about, and sometimes the international connection that leads to a post-graduation job abroad.

Before traveling the world, Kirchwey says it’s also extremely valuable that students find their place in the cultural universe. “Just as scientific progress is completely impossible without an acceptance and an understanding of the work that has come before,” Kirchwey explains, “our progress as artists but also as human beings is completely impossible without an understanding of the literature, the art, the music that has come before.”

Writing, says Kirchwey, means joining that stream. “It is not to avoid responsibility, it is not to live as an irresponsible artist, but it is instead to take the highest kind of responsibility.”

Michael Samuels is a current Fiction MFA candidate, and writes for the Office of Communications at Boston University College of Arts & Sciences.

Thank you, Michael!  

If you are a BU MFA student or alumnus and wish to write a post for this blog, please contact Catherine Con at [email protected].

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Writing, Master of Arts

Zanvyl krieger school of arts and sciences, ma in writing.

The MA in Writing program offers students the option of a fiction or nonfiction concentration to study the practice of writing in a series of workshops and reading courses. Students on the fiction track work on short stories, novellas, or novels. Students on the nonfiction track pursue long-form, literary journalism or personal essays, and memoir. 

Students in the MA in Writing program learn primarily through the practice of writing and the study of reading with a focus on craft. Depending on student goals, the program offers a broad foundation in fine arts/creative writing, in journalism, or in both fields. Some students cultivate skills to prepare for a career; others are seasoned writers who want to change focus; still others favor artistic exploration over professional ambition. Within the realm of literary writing, students have the flexibility to develop individual styles and pursue specialized subjects. The program’s goal is to create a nurturing yet demanding environment where writers work toward publication at the highest artistic and professional levels.

Admissions Criteria for all Advanced Academic Programs

Program-specific requirements.

In addition to the materials and credentials required for all programs, the Master of Arts in Writing requires:

• Two Letters of Recommendation
• Statement of Purpose
• Writing Samples: The samples should be up to 15 typewritten, double-spaced pages, or about 3,500 to 4,500 words, in the concentration of interest. Samples do NOT have to be a single, lengthy piece of writing.

The program’s admissions committees offer the following additional suggestions for writing samples for each concentration:

Fiction: Short stories or novel chapters in prose fiction, demonstrating literary content or themes. Any style, vision, or approach is permitted—traditional, experimental, hybrid, etc.

Nonfiction: Up to five separate works of prose nonfiction about any subject. Any nonfiction form or combination of forms, including feature article, commentary/blogs, memoir, travel, essay, profile, biography, book chapters and creative nonfiction, is permitted. Academic assignments, term papers, government reports, or scholarly criticism are not acceptable nonfiction writing samples.

Dual-Concentration Applicants

Applicants may seek formal degree candidacy in both fiction and nonfiction by submitting full writing samples in each proposed area. Such applicants should explain their multiple interest and reading in a single statement of purpose. The program makes individual admission decisions for each concentration in a dual-concentration application. Dual-concentration students must complete four more courses than the 10 required for a single-concentration degree.

Program Requirements

Students must complete ten courses:

• Two required core courses
• One required concentration core course
• Three customizable core courses from the declared concentration
• Electives to ensure the 10-course requirement is met

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Program overview

Fast-track your skills in the company of other writers. Pursue your thesis with a professor whose expertise  complements your area of interest. Take literature seminars that broaden your understanding of others’ work and your own. The literary culture you encounter will enhance every aspect of your development as a writer.

You’ll have the freedom to explore your creative vision and find your voice as a writer and scholar in the artistically vibrant city of Montreal. Our program’s flexibility allows you to propose a thesis project in traditional or innovative genres and media, including digital.

By pursuing training as a writer in the context of a literature program, you’ll experience a learning environment informed by a multiplicity of insights. Your classmates will include people pursuing scholarly interests as well as those with their sights set on writing careers, publishing and editing, gaming, and teaching.

You’ll also have the opportunity to forge professional and artistic relationships that will last throughout your career.  Concordia is home to the Centre for Expanded Poetics, the Mordecai Richler Reading Room , numerous publications, and the Writers Read series , which attracts renowned and emerging writers alike.

Program Details

Admission requirements, english literature ma with thesis (option a), english literature ma with thesis (option b) (45 credits), creative writing with thesis (option c), degree requirements, degree requirements.

Fully-qualified candidates are required to complete a minimum of 45 credits.

Please see the English Courses page for course descriptions.

English MA (45 credits)

Program options.

Degree options

You may choose one of three options. English Literature MA with Thesis (Option A) English Literature MA with Thesis (Option B) Creative Writing with Thesis (Option C)

Application process

Your completed application will include:

• Application form and Fee
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Three Letters of Reference and assessment form
• Statement of Purpose (2 pages maximum) outlining your academic and creative writing background and areas of interest, potential thesis area, and objectives in pursuing graduate studies
• Creative Writing  portfolio
• For international students, a sample of your written work, such as a course paper (15 pages maximum).
• Transcripts  for all post-secondary institutions attended
• Proof of Canadian citizenship (if applicable)
• Applicants whose primary language is not English, are required to submit  official language test scores , unless exempted.

Please apply  online . Read the  how-to guide  for application procedures.

Application deadlines

Consult the graduate calendar for a complete list of courses  and  read about upcoming, current and past course offerings .

Portfolio information

How to submit your portfolio 

Upload a PDF version of your portfolio on or before the application deadline.

If you are experiencing issues with uploading your portfolio, please send it to the Graduate Program Assistant  [email protected] .

Your portfolio MUST include the portfolio cover page   and a copy of your statement of purpose.

The subject line should read:   Last name, first name - graduate portfolio submission

About the portfolio

It is not necessary to submit all three genres; though you may wish to reflect your strengths in various genres, the focus should be on that in which you propose to complete your thesis. If you write prose, submit 35 to ( a maximum of ) 45 pages (double-spaced); if poetry, 20 to ( a maximum of ) 25 pages (single-spaced). If you are applying in drama, you must submit one complete play. In the case of a combined-genre portfolio, the total should not exceed 35 pages (unless drama is included).  Submit your strongest work that which you feel accurately represents your abilities and interests. Where possible, complete works are preferable to excerpts.

Students not accepted into the Creative Writing program may enter the Literature Option if they have met admission requirements and have indicated that they are interested in the other option on the  portfolio cover page form.

We’re committed to providing students the support they need to focus on their studies. Top students benefit from scholarships and teaching assistantships, and all students are eligible for conference awards and other funding .

Please also consult the English Department’s funding page and Financial Aid and Awards .

Faculty research interests

Our faculty members are accomplished scholars across many fields of literature. Learn about the diverse research interests through our research initiatives  and recent publications .

Student initiatives

Graduate students hold writing sessions and workshops, host literary and scholarly events, and publish a journal. Learn more about Concordia Write Nights , Headlight , and visit SAGE to get involved.

Your professional future

An MA in English prepares you for careers that require strength in research, writing, and communication.

You’ll also be qualified to teach in Quebec’s CEGEP system.

Our graduates  are well-placed to take on advanced study in a PhD program, in either English or Creative Writing.  Others have become icons of the Canadian literary scene. Still others work in such fields as editing (literary, copy), publishing (as employees or as small press publishers themselves), writing for online and print magazines (e.g. Maisonneuve , The Walrus ), developing video games, teaching CEGEP, teaching ESL, translating, and technical writing.

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Boston University MA in Creative Writing

Creative Writing is a concentration offered under the writing studies major at Boston University. We’ve gathered data and other essential information about the master’s degree program in creative writing, such as diversity of students, how many students graduated in recent times, and more.

You can jump to any section of this page using the links below:

• Graduate Cost
• Online Learning
• Student Diversity

Featured Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

MFA in Creative Writing - Online

Embrace your passion for storytelling and learn the professional writing skills you'll need to succeed with our online MFA in Creative Writing. Write your novel or short story collection while earning a certificate in the Online Teaching of Writing or Professional Writing, with no residency requirement.

MA in English & Creative Writing

Refine your writing skills and take a step toward furthering your career with this online master's from Southern New Hampshire University.

Low-Residency MFA in Fiction and Nonfiction

Harness your passion for storytelling with SNHU's Mountainview Low-Residency MFA in Fiction and Nonfiction. In this small, two-year creative writing program, students work one-on-one with our distinguished faculty remotely for most of the semester but convene for weeklong intensive residencies in June and January. At residencies, students critique each other's work face-to-face, meet with major authors, agents and editors and learn how to teach at the college level.

How Much Does a Master’s in Creative Writing from Boston U Cost?

Boston u graduate tuition and fees.

In 2019-2020, the average part-time graduate tuition at Boston U was $1,777 per credit hour for both in-state and out-of-state students. The average full-time tuition and fees for graduate students are shown in the table below.

Does Boston U Offer an Online MA in Creative Writing?

Online degrees for the Boston U creative writing master’s degree program are not available at this time. To see if the school offers distance learning options in other areas, visit the Boston U Online Learning page.

Boston U Master’s Student Diversity for Creative Writing

Male-to-female ratio.

Of the students who received their master’s degree in creative writing in 2019-2020, 50.0% of them were women. This is less than the nationwide number of 66.6%.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

Around 25.0% of creative writing master’s degree recipients at Boston U in 2019-2020 were awarded to racial-ethnic minorities*. This is about the same as the nationwide number of 24%.

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online

More about our data sources and methodologies .

Popular Reports

Compare your school options.

Creative Writing (MA)

• Duration: 1 year
• Mode: Full time

Conversion course

This is a conversion course . Conversion courses allow you to study a subject unrelated to your undergraduate degree or current career, and support you with a change of career path.

Find out more about studying here as a postgraduate at our next Open Day .

Why study this course

Develop your portfolio of writing in our prestigious programme designed for emerging and more experienced writers.

Taught by experts

Our teaching staff is made up of professional writers and leading researchers.

Hone your craft

Showcase events and Open Mic nights allow you to share your writing with an audience.

Learn outside the classroom

The opportunity to attend a writing retreat with your peers and course tutors.

Network with professionals

A creative industries symposium, featuring panels with agents, editors, and publishers, as well as a Visiting Writer series.

Designed for improving writers with previous experience of the writer’s craft, this one-year full-time course will extend your knowledge and understanding of the practice of creative writing.

Developing your creative writing abilities and ideas beyond your first degree, you will attend workshops, produce two extended portfolios of creative writing in your chosen genre(s), and attend classes in various topics in creative writing. In addition, you will have the opportunity to gain experience in teaching creative writing, or further your knowledge of other areas of creative practice or English Literature by choosing from a selection of research-led modules taught by specialists in the field.

A series of complementary modules stresses an integrated and cohesive experience of developing your craft and writing skills; at the same time, you will have the opportunity to engage with the writing industry, liaise with creative professionals, and showcase your work. 

You will master the ability to independently produce literary works of sophistication and skill, and to participate in writers’ workshops. You will also develop your knowledge and skills in the writing of one or more literary genre(s), the processes of editing and revision, and either the teaching of creative writing, or other areas of creative practice or English Literature.  

Where you'll study

School of English, Communication and Philosophy

Powered by pioneering research, we celebrate curiosity, engage in informed debate and critical analysis, and encourage creative thinking - across and beyond our disciplines.

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Admissions criteria

This is a conversion course. Conversion courses allow you to study a subject unrelated to your undergraduate degree or current career, and support you with a change of career path. No prior knowledge or degree in the subject is required.

In order to be considered for an offer for this programme you will need to meet all of the entry requirements. Your application will not be progressed if the information and evidence listed is not provided.

With your online application you will need to provide:

• A copy of your degree certificate and transcripts which show you have achieved a 2:1 honours degree in any subject, or an equivalent international degree. If your degree certificate or result is pending, please upload any interim transcripts or provisional certificates.
• A copy of your IELTS certificate with an overall score of 7.0 with 6.5 in all subskills, or evidence of an accepted equivalent. Please include the date of your expected test if this qualification is pending. If you have alternative acceptable evidence, such as an undergraduate degree studied in the UK, please supply this in place of an IELTS.
• A personal statement that does not exceed 750 words outlining your motivations for undertaking the course and an awareness of the programme aims and learning outcomes.
• A written piece of 2000 words of prose or drama, or up 10 poems - the number of pages will vary according to the genre or work you are submitting. Something you have previously submitted as part of your BA degree or another course is acceptable.
• A written piece of 1000 words of additional writing, made up of one of the following: literary criticism, an academic essay, journalism, an arts review, or a piece of creative analysis (as required for 'commentaries' on standard Creative Writing assignments).

Application Deadline

We allocate places on a first-come, first-served basis, so we recommend you apply as early as possible. Applications normally close at the end of August but may close sooner if all places are filled.

Selection process

We will review your application and the quality of the portfolio of creative writing submitted and if you meet all of the entry requirements, we will make you an offer.

Find out more about English language requirements .

Criminal convictions

You are not required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check or provide a Certificate of Good Conduct to study this course.

If you are currently subject to any licence condition or monitoring restriction that could affect your ability to successfully complete your studies, you will be required to disclose your criminal record. Conditions include, but are not limited to:

• access to computers or devices that can store images
• use of internet and communication tools/devices
• freedom of movement
• contact with people related to Cardiff University.

Course structure

Overall, the degree programme is worth 180 credits. You will study a mixture of core modules and a selection from a range of optional modules (either from within Creative Writing or the English Literature MA programme).  

The programme is divided into two stages. Stage 1 is comprised of all of your taught modules. On successful completion of Stage 1 you will progress to Stage 2 of the programme.  

As the focus of Stage 2, from May to September of your year of study, you will devote your time to completing your extended portfolio of writing and accompanying critical commentary produced exclusively during the course. You will be supported in this through one-to-one tutorial meetings with your portfolio supervisor. You must successfully complete Stage 2 and pass the module to gain your Master’s degree.

The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2024/25 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2024.

Stage 1 is comprised entirely of taught modules and takes places across the autumn and spring semesters.  It consists of a mixture of core modules and a selection from a range of optional modules that make up a total of 120 credits.

A selection of optional modules in Creative Writing provides you with the opportunity to learn about further areas of creative and critical practice; these may include ideas and approaches in the practice of translating creative work; how literary theory informs creative writing; or creative writing pedagogy, with an emphasis on practical applications and the chance to gain teaching experience.

Each year a wide selection of English literature modules are made available to Creative Writing students that may be taken; if you decide to study an English literature module you may need to submit a sample of critical writing to demonstrate the requisite writing skills, and potentially meet with the module tutor to ensure you have the required background knowledge to study on that module.

Please note that one core module requires evening attendance on select weeks throughout the year.

Stage Two is made up of a supervision-based module that provides you with the opportunity to further specialize in your writing area(s) and genre(s) of choice.  You will work with your assigned supervisor through one-to-one tutorials to further hone your craft, expertise, and knowledge while simultaneously developing an extended body of work.

The module is worth 60 credits and assessed by a final portfolio, which consists of a creative component and an accompanying critical commentary, both to be submitted at the end of the academic year.

The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.

Learning and assessment

How will i be taught.

Teaching and learning is by a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, tutor led one-to-ones, guest talks and panels, and showcasing events; it also includes the opportunity to attend a writing retreat and a creative industries symposium.

Throughout the course of your studies you will be expected to read and analyse a range of critical and literary texts, read and assess peer work, and develop self-reflective writing skills.  As you progress in your learning you will move from a wider consideration of the craft to a greater focus on your genre area(s).

Specific learning activities will vary from module to module, but may include writing exercises, critical reading, analysis of craft, the presentation of critical and creative work to others, teaching activities, etc. In the workshop-based modules you will be expected to read and critique the work of your peers, and give focused and constructive feedback in our supportive group environments.

Additional information

As part of the programme, Open Mic sessions take place at regular intervals throughout the academic year, often featuring a professional guest writer, providing you with the opportunity to present your work to an audience. Our Annual Creative Writers’ Retreat usually takes place at the beginning of December. Costs are included in your course fee. The retreat involves a combination of seminars, workshops, and showcase events, as well as time set aside for writing, reading, and reflection.

Each year, at the end of the spring semester we aim to hold an annual Creative Industries Symposium, which takes place over one day and involves guest talks, panels discussions, and presentations by industry professionals: authors, editors, agents, and/or publishers.  

How will I be assessed?

Assessment will vary from module to module. On your taught modules that comprise Stage One, assessment may consist of but is not limited to: portfolios of creative work, academic essays, reflective essays, journals, critical commentaries, video blogs and/or presentations. The assessment for Stage Two is made up of an extended portfolio of work that includes a combination of creative and critical writing.

How will I be supported?

You will be assigned a personal tutor for the course of your studies, who is available to discuss your general academic progress and student experience. You will also have the opportunity to meet with your module tutors to discuss particular aspects of their respective modules.  On some modules – and in particular Stage Two – you will also be assigned a supervisor with whom you will discuss your writing and work-in-progress through one-to-one tutorials.

There is extensive opportunity for formative feedback throughout the course, particularly in the workshop-based modules, in which you will share your own work in progress and receive constructive critique and advice from your peers and tutors. Each module culminates in a summative assessment, and for these assessments along with the mark (where applicable) in-depth feedback is provided by the module tutor. 

What skills will I practise and develop?

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will be able to do as a result of your study at Cardiff University. They will help you to understand what is expected of you. 

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme can be found below:

Knowledge & Understanding:

On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to:

• Demonstrate systematic understanding of the creative processes of published and established writers, both past and present
• Understand key aspects of creative writing theory and practice.
• Show comprehensive knowledge of the use of voice, point of view, character, setting, plot, and theme in creative works

Intellectual Skills:

• Analyse and critique specific writing modes, styles, and genres
• Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of others’ writing.
• Assess and critically reflect on your own writing practice 

Professional Practical Skills:

• Conceptualize and develop creative works to a high standard
• Design and undertake research to inform your creative writing and/or sustain a complex critical argument.
• Understand standards and conventions of the creative industries

Transferable/Key Skills:

• Edit and revise pieces of creative and/or critical writing
• Present your work and engage an audience
• Provide constructive feedback in a supportive manner

Tuition fees for 2024 entry

Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on your fee status. Your fee status could be home, island or overseas.

Learn how we decide your fee status

Fees for home status

Students from the eu, eea and switzerland.

If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national, your tuition fees for 2024/25 be in line with the overseas fees for international students, unless you qualify for home fee status. UKCISA have provided information about Brexit and tuition fees .

Fees for island status

Learn more about the postgraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man .

Fees for overseas status

More information about tuition fees and deposits , including for part-time and continuing students.

Financial support

Financial support may be available to individuals who meet certain criteria. For more information visit our funding section. Please note that these sources of financial support are limited and therefore not everyone who meets the criteria are guaranteed to receive the support.

Additional costs

Living costs.

We’re based in one of the UK’s most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff .

Master's Scholarships

An award open to UK students intending to study one of our taught master’s degrees.

Postgraduate loans

If you are starting your master’s degree in September 2024 or later, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study at Cardiff University.

Alumni Discount

The alumni discount is available for Cardiff University graduates who are planning to start an eligible master's in 2024/25.

Careers and placements

Postgraduate study is a gateway to many careers within and beyond academia. Many overseas postgraduates return to lectureships with much enhanced career prospects. Example employers in the UK include Cardiff University, Mencap, Poetry Wales magazine, Teach First, and the Welsh Government, with jobs that include Creative Writing Lecturer, Copyeditor, Copywriter, Librarian, Literary Agent, Literary Editor, Marketing Officer, Novelist, Poet, Publicist, Publisher, Playwright, Recruitment Consultant, Teacher, and Screenwriter, among many others.

Among our roll-call of alumni are Susmita Bhattacharya ( Table Manners , Dahlia), Wales Book of the Year winner Deborah Kay Davies ( True Things About Me , Canongate) and science fiction novelist James Smythe ( I Still Dream , HarperCollins).

Those opting to undertake the optional module Teaching Creative Writing module, will have the chance to sit in on undergraduate classes and to teach a session, and potentially to visit local schools and colleges.

Open Day visits

Make an enquiry, international, discover more.

Search for your courses

Related searches: Creative writing , English literature

HESA Data: Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2021. The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data. Data is from the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20, published by HESA in June 2022.

Module information

Postgraduate

Be part of a thriving postgraduate community in a university known internationally for outstanding research and teaching.

Postgraduate prospectus 2024

Download a copy of our prospectus, school and subject brochures, and other guides.

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Get in touch if you have a question about studying with us.

UCC University College Cork

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UCC Postgraduate courses

• Creative Writing

Course Outline

Course practicalities, why choose this course, requirements, fees and costs, how to apply.

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• Taught Courses

Only you can write the book that you would like to write, be it a collection of poetry, or essays, or a novel, or a memoir… nobody else can write that book. The purpose of the MA in Creative Writing at UCC is to give you the tools to write the book waiting to be written, and many more after it. As well as honing the techniques and craft of creative writing, our MA is also designed to introduce you to the publishing industry, and prepare you for a variety of career options, including publishing and the creative arts.

Engaging on a weekly basis with published authors and publishing professionals, we will provide access to the community of writers that exists, both in the wider world and in Cork, with its thriving literary scene. This programme affords you time to write; it will introduce you to other emerging writers, and like-minded individuals on the same pathway as yourself. Ultimately we aim to empower you to connect with your most creative and productive self.

This MA Creative Writing programme is offered by the Department of English which is part of the College of Arts, Celtic Studies & Social Sciences ( CACSSS ) at UCC.

Our Department of English treats writing as a living, evolving practice: students taking the course will read and write in a context in which literature is being performed, transformed and adapted, and in doing so offer you a safe space to learn, to practice, and to develop your craft towards inventive and authentic forms of expression. The course as a whole encourages and supports a full exploration of the creative self while also maintaining a strong vocational emphasis.

Directed by IMPAC longlistee Dr Eibhear Walshe , all of our courses are embedded in Cork’s thriving artistic scene, rooted in expert practice and taught by highly accomplished professionals.

A rich variety of modules are available covering fiction, poetry, life writing, creative non-fiction, and reading creatively.

Additionally, the Business of Writing module is dedicated to the professional life of the creative writer, including work placements, and a series of visiting speakers (writers, agents & publishers) such as Mike McCormack, Nidhi Zak/Aria Eipe, Nicole Flattery, Lisa McInerney,  Tramp Press ,  The Stinging Fly , John Connolly, Will Keohane, Eimear Ryan, Róisín Kiberd, New Island Press and many more.

Writing and reading are intertwined as acts — opposite ends of an attempt to understand what it’s like to be in the world. Never has that been more important. Never has the world needed more writers, and more readers, and an over-arching guide to the UCC MA in Creative Writing’s approach is to foster such readers and writers in achieving their potential.

Part I (50 credits)

• EN6036  The Business of Writing (10 credits)

Plus choose 40 credits from the following:

• EN6031  Poetry I (10 credits)
• EN6032  Fiction Workshop: Serving the Idea (10 credits)
• EN6033  Writing the Self: Fiction & non-Fiction (10 credits)
• EN6042  Creative Writing Workshop (5 credits)
• EN6056  Reading the Novel Creatively (5 credits)
• EN6057  Writing for Other Media (5 credits) 
• EN6060  Poetry II: Mythology & Contemporary Poetry (10 credits)
• EN6061  Poetry Workshop (5 credits)

In order to ensure coherence and a good workload balance over the course of the programme, you will select modules in consultation with the programme coordinator and other members of the Board of Studies as appropriate. 

• EN6040  Dissertation in Creative Writing (40 credits)

Academic Programme Catalogue

See the  Academic Programme Catalogue  where you can search for the complete and up-to-date content for this course. Note that the modules for all courses are subject to change from year to year. For complete descriptions of individual modules, see the  Book of Modules .

The MA in Creative Writing is taught on Mondays and Tuesdays during the Autumn and Spring Semesters (September to March). Seminar hours are approximately 6-8 per week and reading hours/writing assignments are likely to take a further 8 hours per week. The course involves a mixture of seminars, workshops, placement and writing practice, and students will work on self-reflexive essays and projects.

Our students are assessed continuously during the course, submitting specified creative work alongside commentaries on their own creative practice.

Part-time Option

The part-time option for the MA in Creative Writing is offered biannually and is taken over 24 months. This programme is taught during weekday working hours and evening hours over two years. 

After UCC I never looked back. I was treated as a writer by faculty and classmates. And so, I became one...

Tadhg Coakley, Graduate & author of The Game

"UCC’s MA in Creative Writing marked the start of my writing life. My first book came straight out of my dissertation & was published a year after my graduation. Now, six years later, I have had five books published & I’m working on number six. After UCC I never looked back. I was treated as a writer by faculty and classmates. And so, I became one."

UCC’s MA in Creative Writing helped me to develop my voice...

Molly Twomey, Graduate & author of Raised By Vultures

"UCC’s MA in Creative Writing helped me to develop my voice & to strengthen my editorial skills. Most importantly, it gave me access to a group of encouraging, kind & intelligent writers, some of whom I still send first drafts to today."

UCC’s MA in Creative Writing programme not only provided the opportunity to build a portfolio of work...

Mahito Indi Henderson, Graduate, author, & publisher with Skein Press

"UCC’s MA in Creative Writing programme not only provided the opportunity to build a portfolio of work, experiment with genre & receive guidance from renowned authors; it also provided a space for thinking about how writing & literature could become a viable career."

From UCC, I learned how writing can be put in the service of others…

Frani O’Toole, Graduate, author, & urban planner

"From UCC, I learned how writing can be put in the service of others… & can support & enliven whatever you choose to do… This is a faculty that thinks really seriously about writing & the community, & really brings people together."

I chose the MA in Creative Writing at UCC because the course has a specific focus on the crafting and development of each writer’s individual voice...

John McLeod, International Student

"I chose the MA Creative Writing at UCC because the course has a specific focus on the crafting and development of each writer’s individual voice, which is an aspect I had struggled developing. It also directly addresses the practical concerns of dedicating your life to writing, which is a focus that can be difficult to find at other universities. I was also really excited to step inside the rich literary tradition of Irish writing. The most rewarding aspect of the course was the sheer exposure to exceptionally kind and talented writers, from the teaching staff to guest speakers and workshop holders (writers, publishers, editors, agents, etc.), all of whom wanted to impart their experience to students in a safe and encouraging environment. Throughout the course, my confidence in drafting and developing my own creative work has increased exponentially. If I combine my continuous development with the wonderful network built throughout the course, I’d say my career path in creative writing has never looked brighter."

This Creative Writing MA programme will empower you in the honing and development of your craft as a writer; we will provide you with the tools and critical prowess to commence a career in writing and publishing.

Some of Ireland’s greatest writers have studied or taught at UCC, including Frank O’Connor, Sean O’Faolain, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, and John Montague, while more recently the Creative Writing programme boasts published graduates including Madeleine D’Arcy, Tadhg Coakley, and Laura McKenna. Notable writers associated with UCC include Mary Noonan, Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh, Thomas McCarthy, Sean Dunne, Paul Durcan, Theo Dorgan, and Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin.

The School of English hosts an annual Writer-In-Residence and holders of this prestigious post have included Mary Morrissy, Claire Keegan, Danielle McLaughlin, Thomas Morris, Eimear Ryan,Danny Denton, Cathy Sweeney and Matthew Sweeney. In addition to this, we host a reading series that has included guests such as Max Porter, Jackie Kay, Kevin Barry, Claire-Louise Bennett, Conor O’Callaghan, Nidhi Zak/Aria Eipe, Nuala O’Connor, Brian Turner, John Banville, and Zadie Smith.

Finally, outside of our for-credit modules, we also run series of optional craft-specific masterclasses from writers such as Dónal Ryan, Catherine Ryan Howard, Victoria Kennefick, Olivia Fitzsimons, Sean Williams and many others.

We encourage and support a full exploration of the creative self while also maintaining a strong vocational emphasis, sustaining and supporting a life-long relationship with writing.

Skills and Careers Information

This MA will provide an excellent foundation for a variety of writing and publishing careers, including authorship across a range of forms and styles, journalism, teaching, publishing, and arts administration.

The design of the MA fosters contacts with agents, publishers, and the professional world of the creative industries; it also produces well-crafted writing in one (or more) of the forms of creative writing.

Students experiment with, engage with, and reflect on a diversity of writing practices and establish an awareness of the role of technique and craft in their own work. They also learn how to interact with peers on an editorial level, and to understand the importance of editing and revision in the process of writing. Developing appropriate research methods and recording processes of self-reflection are also key components of the MA, encouraging students to reflect upon and discuss the conceptual challenges of the creative process, key contexts, and practical concerns. Finally, the MA fosters in its students an understanding of the practical constraints and professional opportunities of life as a writer, and a lifelong relationship with the written word.

Applications will be considered from graduates of all disciplines. Applicants will normally have a Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) or above, in any discipline. For North American students a cumulative GPA of 3.2 is normally expected. Applicants with relevant writing or arts experience (eg. working in publishing, journalism or arts administration) are also invited to apply.

All applicants will be asked to submit a short piece of creative writing (of 1000 words (any genre). This piece of creative writing will be used by the teaching team to evaluate each applicant's suitability. Further examples of the applicant's work may be requested.

For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison  page.

International/Non-EU Applicants

For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.

• In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.
• Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office .

English Language Requirements

Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Vsit our PG English Language Requirements  page for more information.

Postgraduate EU and International Fees 2024/2025

See our Postgraduate EU and Non-EU (International) Fee Schedule for the latest information.

Deposits 

If your course requires a deposit, that figure will be deducted from your second-semester fee payment in January.

Fee payment 

Fees are payable in two equal instalments. First payment is at registration and the balance usually by the end of January.

How can I pay? 

See different options on our How Do I Pay My Fees? page.

Any questions? See the 'Contact Us' section on the Fees Office page .

1. Check dates

Check the opening and closing dates for the application process in the fact file boxes at the top of the page.

2. Gather documents

Scanned copies of supporting documents have to be uploaded to the UCC online application portal  and include:

• Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC.
• Any supplementary items requested for your course if required.

3. Apply online

Apply online via the  UCC online application portal . Note the majority of our courses have a non-refundable €50 application fee.

Any questions? Use our web enquiry form to contact us.

Additional requirements (all applicants).

Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following:

• You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.
• Describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.
• Submit a short portfolio (no more than 1000 words) of your creative writing. This can be in the form of a poem/poems, a short story or an extract from a novel, or an excerpt of memoir.
• Detail your computing/technical/IT skills.
• Add the name and email addresses two referees.

Please note that successful EU applicants will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of €500 on acceptance of their place.

The closing date for non-EU applications is Open until all places have been filled or no later than 1 May 2024. Early application is advised.

Contact Details For This Course

• Dr Eibhear Walshe
• [email protected]
• +353 (0)21 490 2584
• http://creativewritingucc.com/
• Mr Danny Denton
• [email protected]
• +353 (0)21 490 3292

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• Creative Writing

Undergraduate Letter of Specialization

About Creative Writing

UMass students who are not English majors may pursue the Letter of Specialization in Creative Writing by completing the same five-course sequence as Concentrators. (English majors, primary or secondary, seeking a credential in creative writing should declare a Concentration in Creative Writing .)   The Letter of Specialization in Creative Writing (CW) leads students through a sequence of introductory, intermediate, and advanced courses. All creative writing courses invite students to work in various forms, styles, and modes, and they provide training in the elements of prosody and the craft of storytelling. Working with the UMass English Department’s esteemed creative writing faculty, students:

• Workshop their original stories, novel chapters, poems, and essays
• Study deeply the craft of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction with a focus in one genre
• Learn to read like writers

This specialization prepares students for successful careers as writers and equips them with important skills. Across fields and professions, few qualities are as prized among employers today as creativity and a facility with expressive written communication.

Requirements (5 courses)

The Letter of Specialization in Creative Writing requires that students take the following five courses:

• ENGL 254 Introduction to Creative Writing
• One 300-level intermediate creative writing class (genre-specific 350*, 355*, 356*, or 357*)
• One 400-level advanced creative writing class (genre specific 450*, 455*, 456*, 457*, or 499C/D**)
• Creative Writing Elective #1
• Creative Writing Elective #2

Eligible Creative Writing Electives include:

• ENG 146 Living Writers
• Any 300-level creative writing class*
• Any 400-level creative writing class*
• ENGL 396 (independent study)
• ENGL 496 (independent study)
• ENGL 499C/D Honors Project (2-semester thesis projects)**

*300-level creative writing courses require English 254 as a prerequisite; 400-level creative writing courses require a 300-level creative writing course as a prerequisite. 300- and 400-level creative writing courses may be repeated once for credit with a different instructor.   **ENGL 499C/D is a two-semester course that counts for two courses toward the certificate and can replace ENGL 450, 455, 456, or 457.

***Spring 2023 and prior instances of English 391NM Narrative Medicine also count as a 300 elective in creative writing.   If approved, students may substitute appropriate courses at UMass and the four colleges (Smith, Mount Holyoke, Amherst, and Hampshire) for the courses listed above. Pre-approval must be given by the Director of Creative Writing, Professor John Hennessy. You can reach him via email at @email . Oxford Summer Program courses in creative writing may also be counted toward the concentration. Transfer students may count creative writing courses taken at other institutions toward these requirements. 

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