COURSE CURRICULUM

The MA Creative Writing programme is structured across three trimesters, offering students the flexibility to study multiple writing forms or genres while gradually developing specialist expertise in their chosen area of interest. The course combines practical workshops, individual supervision, small-group tutorials, and independent study to support the development of creative, critical, and professional writing skills. Throughout the programme, students participate in interactive workshops where they read, analyse, and provide constructive feedback on both published literary works and the creative writing of their peers, helping them refine their own writing through collaborative learning and critical reflection. In the autumn trimester, all students study Writing Apprenticeship or Writing Workshop to strengthen their creative practice, Being a Writer or Reading Project to explore the relationship between reading and writing while developing their identity as writers, and Editorial and Editing to gain practical skills in revising, editing, and preparing written work for publication. During the spring trimester, students continue with either Writing Apprenticeship or Writing Workshop and Being a Writer or Reading Project while studying What is the Imagination For?, a module that examines the nature of creativity, imagination, and the theoretical foundations of creative writing. Additional module choices during this trimester are determined by each student's selected pathway, allowing further specialisation in their chosen creative field. In the summer trimester, all students undertake a 60-credit Independent Project, producing a substantial original piece of creative work that serves as the dissertation and demonstrates the creative, research, and critical skills developed throughout the programme. Supported by dedicated academic supervisors, students independently plan, develop, and complete their major writing project while receiving expert guidance and constructive feedback. Overall, the programme provides a balanced combination of creative practice, literary study, editorial skills, academic reflection, and independent research, preparing graduates for careers in writing, publishing, education, media, and the wider creative industries, as well as further postgraduate research and professional creative practice.