masters creative writing scotland

MLitt Creative Writing

• Start date:  September
• Study mode and duration:  Full-time: 12 months Part-time: 24 months

Study with us

• work closely with experienced, published writers who know the industry to develop your writing practice
• benefit from workshops with peers and tutors while developing your ideas
• work on an extended creative project developed on a one-on-one basis with your tutor
• prepare for the practical side of literary development
• experiment with new and hybrid forms
• work in a dynamic, artistic city full of history and possibility

The Convener of the MLitt in Creative Writing is the award-winning novelist, short story writer, editor and biographer Rodge Glass, author of Bring Me the Head of Ryan Giggs, Stories for the EasyJet Generation and Alasdair Gray: A Secretary’s Biography.

Why this course?

This course is designed across three semesters, with each class intended to develop not just the skills aspiring writers need, but the right skills at the right stage in their development. The structure of the MLitt gives writers the freedom to pursue their chosen forms and genres in terms of their creative work, while providing guidance and support in an academic context too. The staff team aim for a collegiate, supportive atmosphere – we aren’t just a writing course, we’re a writing community.

Strathclyde staff can offer specialist tuition in a wide range of genres including:

• contemporary fiction & non-fiction
• historical fiction & fiction for young adults
• screenwriting

Kathryn Sandilands

The course provided a lot of freedom in terms of the creative writing which students were able to produce for assignments, with workshops focusing on tools and approaches which might help to achieve a final piece of writing.

I think the vast range of things that we were taught across the Masters degree was one of the things I enjoyed most about the course. I was encouraged to try many different forms of writing that pushed me out of my comfort zone but in the long run made me a better and more rounded writer.

Dr Rodge Glass

Course convener.

Read widely, think deeply, research thoroughly and revise closely, and you'll have a great time. Writing is a way of engaging with the world while trying to make sense of it. And the skills you learn will be useful whether you go on to work in the writing or publishing industries or not.

Entry requirements

Pre-masters preparation course.

The  Pre-Masters Programme  is a preparation course held at the  University of Strathclyde International Study Centre , for international students (non-UK/Ireland) who do not meet the academic entry requirements for a Masters degree at University of Strathclyde.

Upon successful completion, you'll be able to progress to this degree course at the University of Strathclyde.

Please note: Previous Maths & English qualifications and your undergraduate degree must meet GTCS minimum entry requirements as well as the pre-Masters course and an interview will be conducted before an offer can be made.

International students

We've a thriving international community with students coming here to study from over 140 countries across the world. Find out all you need to know about studying in Glasgow at Strathclyde and hear from students about their experiences.

Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences Scholarships

• EU Engagement Scholarships  are available to EU applicants who would have previously been eligible for Home (Scottish/EU) fee status.
• EU and International 50% Merit Scholarships available to self-funded, international fee-paying offer-holders (includes those classed as EU fee group). The scholarship entitles the recipient to a discount of 50% on tuition fees.

Fees & funding

All fees quoted are for full-time courses and per academic year unless stated otherwise.

Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy. Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter.

All fees are in £ sterling, unless otherwise stated, and may be subject to revision.

Annual revision of fees

Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that tuition fees are revised annually and may increase in subsequent years of study. Annual increases will generally reflect UK inflation rates and increases to programme delivery costs.

Please note : the fees shown are annual and may be subject to an increase each year.  Find out more about fees .

How can I fund my course?

• Students from Scotland

Scottish postgraduate students

Scottish postgraduate students may be able to apply for support from the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). The support is in the form of a tuition fee loan and for eligible students, a living cost loan. Find out more about the support and how to apply .

Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.

• Students from England

Students coming from England

Students ordinarily resident in England may be to apply for postgraduate support from Student Finance England. The support is a loan of up to £10,280 which can be used for both tuition fees and living costs.  Find out more about the support and how to apply .

Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding .

• Students from Wales

Students coming from Wales

Students ordinarily resident in Wales may be to apply for postgraduate support from Student Finance Wales. The support is a loan of up to £10,280 which can be used for both tuition fees and living costs.  Find out more about the support and how to apply .

• Students from Northern Ireland

Students coming from Northern Ireland

Postgraduate students who are ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland may be able to apply for support from Student Finance Northern Ireland. The support is a tuition fee loan of up to £5,500.  Find out more about the support and how to apply .

We've a large range of scholarships available to help you fund your studies.  Check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding .

Graduates from creative writing subjects at the University of Strathclyde have gone into writing, publishing, teaching, journalism and may other professions. Some graduates have also gone on to further their skills by undertaking a PhD. Other have chosen to become self-employed as tutors.

Writers who have taken masters and/or doctoral qualifications in creative writing at Strathclyde include Louise Welsh, Rachel Sieffert, Beatrice Colin and Colette Paul.

Glasgow is Scotland's biggest & most cosmopolitan city

Our campus is based right in the very heart of Glasgow. We're in the city centre, next to the Merchant City, both of which are great locations for sightseeing, shopping and socialising alongside your studies.

• Staff intranet
• Staff directory

Edinburgh Napier University

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

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

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

No peer review workshops?

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

• Load more from the gallery

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

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

Write Together: Edinburgh Napier & Seton Hill

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

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

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

About Edinburgh

About scotland.

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

MA Creative Writing Full-Time

Ma creative writing part-time.

MLitt Creative Writing

Develop your creative flair. Our MLitt Creative Writing offers you the opportunity to produce a body of work – poetry, fiction, or creative non-fiction – over the course of an inspiring and stimulating year.

• Award Masters / MLitt, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma
• Start date September 2024
• Application deadline $value
• Duration MLitt full-time: 12 months, MLitt part-time: 24 months
• Mode of study full time, part time
• Delivery on campus

On this Masters course, you’ll learn to produce fine, nuanced writing and a body of work in either poetry, fiction or creative non-fiction. We combine intensive writers’ workshops, technique-focused classes and one-to-one tuition by distinguished writers, along with fascinating and useful visits from authors, agents and publishers to help you on your creative journey. You'll be taught by acclaimed writers Lorna Gibb, Kevin MacNeil and Chris Powici.

The course is designed to develop your writing talent. It allows you to intensively focus on a project while engaging with a range of genres and working practices that draw upon our rich expertise in contemporary literature, publishing, film, media and journalism. You’ll also develop skills in listening, editing and peer feedback.

Our course is open to all, whether you’re already well established in your career, starting out on your creative journey or want to take our MLitt Creative Writing later in life to enhance your skills and explore new creative prospects. 

Top reasons to study with us

Work placements.

There are opportunities for collaboration and to take part in publications with the Stirling Art Collection and the Publishing Annual Anthology Showcase.

Flexible learning

If you’re interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma then please email Graduate Admissions to discuss your course of study.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements.

A minimum of a second-class honours degree (2:1 preferred) in a relevant subject or equivalent is required. If you don’t have these formal qualifications, but have significant relevant work and life experience, we still encourage you to apply. 

We require a sample of creative work as one of the academic requirements for entry. Here are our guidelines for what you need to submit.

Creative work guidelines

If you are choosing to study prose, we require up to ten pages (fiction or creative nonfiction). For poetry, we are looking for approximately eight poems. You can also send us half prose and half poetry as your sample.

Our tutors specialise in literary fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry and scriptwriting, and we welcome applicants who share those interests. Journalistic, professional and children’s writing are not taught on the course – so writing in these forms should not be included in your writing sample.

The personal statement is an opportunity for you to share your background, experiences and, crucially, the types of contemporary literature that you like to read and which you aspire to write.

These are some of the things we’re looking for you to demonstrate in the writing sample, across both prose and poetry. The list is not exhaustive or prescriptive, and should be used as a guide rather than a checklist.

• A degree of consistency and persuasiveness of setting, character and point-of-view (in creative fiction) and subject matter, theme and tone (creative non-fiction)
• Evidence of essential aspects of technique and form such as narrative point-of-view, dialogue, physical description and narrative time
• Clear and fluent expression, avoiding predictable, clichéd or expositional language
• Good editing and presentation skills, including a command of spelling, grammar and punctuation
• A good command of register and tone
• A willingness to engage with aspects of technique and form such as metre, rhyme, imagery, metaphor and simile (although not all of these need to be present)
• Expression that is lucid and focused, without reliance on abstractions
• Clear evidence of editing and presentation skills, including a command of spelling and punctuation.

Other routes of entry

If you don't currently meet our academic requirements, INTO University of Stirling offers a variety of preparation programmes that can earn you the qualifications and skills you need to progress onto some of our courses. Explore INTO University of Stirling to see the pathway and pre-masters routes available.

International entry requirements

View the entry requirements for your country.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

• IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) 56 overall with a minimum of 51 in each sub-skill.
• IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.

See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.

Pre-sessional English language courses

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner INTO University of Stirling offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.

Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses .

Course details

Our aim as you study the MLitt Creative Writing is to provide a supportive environment for you to develop your writing, allowing you the time and space to fine-tune your creative skills and make connections with your fellow writers and the wider literary landscape of Scotland.  

The module information below provides an example of the types of course module you may study. The details listed are for the academic year that starts in -->September 2024 -->. Modules and start dates are regularly reviewed and may be subject to change in future years.

Course Details

You’ll take part in intensive writers’ workshops, technique-focused modules and have one-to-one tuition by the distinguished writers on staff. There’s also intriguing visits from authors, book agents, publishers, poets and others involved in the literary world.

Workshops, seminars and guest lectures are held on campus. Throughout the course, we encourage our students to embrace the wider literary life by attending – even organising – events, readings, festivals and libraries.

Staff have strong links to local research and creative networks, including the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival, the Annual Charles Wallace India Trust and the Booker Prize Foundation Universities Initiative, and students are encouraged to attend a wide range of literary related events.

Assessment for each module you take will vary, but may include a critical essay, a journal or a creative project.

Assessment for the workshops will depend on the literary form you’ve chosen (e.g. prose or poetry), but will be based on reading journals and/or working notebooks, book reviews and completed pieces of creative work.

The most significant piece of work in the course is the creative dissertation, due at the end of the summer. This should be approximately 15,000 words of prose, or a collection of around 15 poems. A dissertation may be a portfolio of shorter texts – stories, personal essays, poems – or part of a novel. It’s expected to be revised and polished original work, written and presented to professional standards.

If you don’t embark on the dissertation you may be awarded a Diploma. The work of the best students completing the course may be deemed worthy of an MLitt with Distinction.

Course director

Dr Lorna Gibb

[email protected]

This course is taught by Liam Bell Lorna Gibb , Kevin MacNeil and Chris Powici .

Fees and funding

Fees and costs, select your fee status to see the tuition fee for this course:.

University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our  Stirling Alumni Scholarship .

Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our  Postgraduate Merit Scholarship . 

Fees shown are for a full-time, one-year Masters course. 

If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees. 

If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry. 

For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy .

Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000.  See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.

Postgraduate tuition fee loans

The full-time option for this course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details.

Additional costs

There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees .

Scholarships and funding

Funding .

Eligible international students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000.  See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students .

University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship .

Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our  Postgraduate Merit Scholarship .

If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances.

Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships.

Scottish students who study this course full-time may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £11,500 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.

English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,167 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme .

Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,770 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales .

Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £5,500 from Student Finance NI .

Cost of living

If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.

International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.

Find out about the cost of living for students at Stirling

Payment options

We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay

After you graduate

Our graduates leave the course with a sizeable portfolio of written work that can be used to contact publishing agents and literary magazines when seeking employment.

They also find a place for their creativity in many areas, including teaching, broadcasting, librarianship, publishing and community work. Many choose to become self-employed as writers and tutors. Some develop their interest further by studying for a PhD.

Our MLitt Creative Writing graduates are highly literate self-managers capable of realising sustained projects using their own initiative and creativity. By the end of the course, you’ll have developed skills in:

Communication and presentation

You’ll be able to articulate complex ideas and information in imaginative, comprehensible and entertaining forms. You’ll also have improved communication skills letting you present ideas in verbal and written forms to audiences in a range of situations, as well as being able to encourage, evaluate and assist with the work of others.

Self-management

You’ll be proficient in working independently, setting goals and meeting deadlines. You’ll use your creativity and imagination to meet challenges and to respond positively to change and uncertainty.

Critical engagement

You’ll gain the ability to formulate independent judgements, articulate arguments and research relevant material, presenting your findings in engaging and innovative ways.

Employability skills

We offer a comprehensive employability and skills programme to help you maximise your time at university and develop the attributes that employers look for. In the Faculty of Arts and Humanities we have a dedicated Employability and Skills Officer. The University of Stirling’s Careers Service also works in partnership with academic staff to ensure you get the most out of your University experience, and are ready for the employment market.

What our students said

It's hard to hear the truth when your work doesn't cut the mustard. But honesty changes your work for the better.

What I love about the course is that the core component is always writing itself, but it gives students a holistic and realistic understanding of pursuing a career in it.

Related courses

• MSc English Language and Linguistics

Which course would you like to apply for?

Search for another course

Creative writing

Discover your strengths as a writer and develop your own original voice.

At St Andrews, you can specialise in poetry, prose, or drama. You will be mentored by published fiction writers, playwrights and poets who are familiar with the writing process and the creative industry.

Undergraduate

Explore courses.

St Andrews does not offer a single Honours degree in creative writing, but undergraduates studying English may choose some creative writing modules. The  Creative Writing research group offers undergraduate instruction and mentorship in poetry, fiction, and drama.

Joint degree options

You can take the  English MA (Hons)  with another subject as part of a joint degree. Find out more about taking a joint Honours degree .

Supported pathways

These courses provide supported entry into degree-level study for applicants who do not meet the minimum entry grades, but meet contextual criteria.

• Gateway to Arts (pathway to MA Hons)
• FE-HE Pathway to Arts (pathway to MA Hons)

International Foundation programmes

International Foundation programmes enable international students from a wide range of countries to develop the necessary skills to meet the demands of an undergraduate degree programme at the University of St Andrews. 

• Social Sciences and Humanities - January 2024 entry
• Social Sciences and Humanities - September 2024 entry

Postgraduate taught

Postgraduate research.

The School of English offers two  Master of Fine Arts degrees in creative writing and Playwriting & Screenwriting .

The creative writing PhD is recommended only for students who can demonstrate equal ability in both academic research and creative work. If you are interested in taking a PhD in creative writing, you should first  contact the most suitable supervisor  for your project with a draft of your research proposal and a sample of original writing.

First in the UK for English Guardian University Guide 2023

First in Scotland and third in the UK for English The Complete University Guide 2023

91% of research activity rated 3* or 4* The most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021)

School of English

The School of English at the University of St Andrews has a long and distinguished history. Today, the School enjoys an international reputation as a centre for both academic research and literary creativity.

Studying in St Andrews

The University offers a variety of flexible entry options in order to allow all students, regardless of background or personal circumstances, to apply.

Scholarships and funding options are available at every level of study. 

St Andrews has variety of accommodation options to suit all tastes and budgets.

Visit St Andrews

If you’re interested in studying at St Andrews, join us at a visiting day or talk and tour to explore the town, find out about our courses and meet current students. You can also join us for one of our upcoming online events.  

Book a place

15 Best universities for Creative Writing in Scotland

Updated: February 29, 2024

• Art & Design
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
• Mathematics

Below is a list of best universities in Scotland ranked based on their research performance in Creative Writing. A graph of 60.2K citations received by 5.59K academic papers made by 15 universities in Scotland was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. University of Edinburgh

For Creative Writing

2. University of Glasgow

3. University of St Andrews

4. University of Strathclyde

5. University of Aberdeen

6. University of Stirling

7. University of Dundee

8. University of the West of Scotland

9. Heriot-Watt University

10. Edinburgh Napier University

11. Glasgow Caledonian University

12. Robert Gordon University

13. Queen Margaret University

14. Abertay University

15. Glasgow School of Art

Closest to Scotland states to learn Creative Writing

Art & design subfields in scotland.

• Schools & departments

Creative Writing MSc

Awards: MSc

Study modes: Full-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Creative Writing

The community has been one of my favourite parts. The department has very warm and encouraging staff. Some of my classmates are now close friends, and we still workshop stories across time zones, and complain to each other about writing - and not writing! Bhavika Govil, prize-winning fiction writer MSc in Creative Writing, 2020

Upcoming Introduction to Postgraduate Study and Research events

Join us online on the 19th June or 26th June to learn more about studying and researching at Edinburgh.

Choose your event and register

Programme description

Based in the first UNESCO World City of Literature, this one-year, full-time taught Masters programme is tailored towards your practice in either fiction or poetry.

There is a strong practical element to the programme, helping you develop your creative skills through:

• presenting your work for peer discussion
• hearing from guest writers and other professionals on the practicalities of life as a writer

You will also sharpen your critical skills through:

• seminars exploring the particulars of your chosen form
• option courses in literature, helping you move from theoretical considerations to practical applications

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

Why Edinburgh

Literature has been taught here for over 250 years, and today Edinburgh thrives on its designation as the first UNESCO World City of Literature. The city is home to the National Library of Scotland and the Scottish Poetry Library, and a number of celebrated publishing outlets, from Canongate and Polygon, to Luath Press, Birlinn and Mariscat. The University hosts the prestigious James Tait Black Awards, established in 1919 and one of the oldest literary prizes in Britain.

There are lots of opportunities to write and share your work, from ‘The Student,’ the UK’s oldest student newspaper (founded in 1887 by Robert Louis Stevenson), to The Selkie, which was founded by Creative Writing students in 2018 to showcase work by people who self-identify as underrepresented.

Around the city, you will find:

• library readings and bookshop launches
• spoken word gigs
• cabaret nights
• poetry slams

Edinburgh isn’t just historic – it’s a modern hub for literature. That’s part of what makes the city great for writing.

Austin Crowley, MSc in Creative Writing, 2023

We team teach our programme so that you benefit from the input of a range of tutors, as well as your fellow students and our Writer in Residence, the poet and author Michael Pedersen, who also co-ordinates a range of student writing prizes and our annual industry and networking event.

The academic staff you will be working with are all active researchers or authors, including well-published and prize-winning writers of poetry, prose fiction and drama. They include:

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

Programme structure

Over the duration of the programme, you will:

• take two core courses, both worth 40 credits
• two optional courses chosen from a wide range of subjects, both worth 20 credits

The core activities in Creative Writing are:

• tutor-led workshops, in which you will present your work-in-progress and critique the work of your fellow students
• regular seminars exploring techniques and issues specific to your practice (either fiction or poetry) and the statements and theories of practitioners

Optional courses

We have a large number of option courses to choose from, including preferred courses for fiction and poetry (which will be offered to Creative Writing students in the first instance), and courses from across the Department of English Literature and the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures.

Visiting speakers

Throughout the programme, you will be expected to attend readings and talks by visiting speakers. Early on, these will be from published writers and, later, advisors from the writing business: literary agents, magazine editors and publishers.

Dissertation

The final element of the programme is your dissertation, a piece of creative writing (worth 60 credits) written with the advice and support of a designated supervisor.

Fiction dissertations are between 15,000 words and 20,000 words, and poetry dissertations between 25 and 30 pages.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

• identify, conceptualise and define formal elements of craft in your chosen field (poetry or fiction) within published works and within works by your peers
• remain open to criticism and respond effectively and creatively to feedback on your own creative work
• work from initial conception through multiple drafts to the final version of a creative piece within your chosen field (fiction or poetry)
• transfer editorial skills and creative abilities from one context to another
• analyse creative works within your chosen field (fiction or poetry), work with a focus on craft effectiveness, and articulate strengths and weaknesses in a piece of writing in a constructive manner

Career opportunities

Over the course of this programme, you will complete a body of creative work that has been rigorously peer reviewed.

Our students go on to careers in a wide variety of fields, including:

• arts administration
• web and audio book editing
• script and ghost writing
• gaming narrative design

Some decide to extend their studies and take a PhD with us.

Many of our alumni go on to achieve literary success, publishing novels and short story and poetry collections, and winning awards. Our graduates’ recent successes include:

debut novels from:

• Amanda Block (The Lost Storyteller, published by Hodder Studio)
• Karin Nordin (Where Ravens Roost, published by Harper Collins)
• Marielle Thompson (Where Ivy Dares to Grow, published by Kensington Books)
• August Thomas (Liar’s Candle, published by Simon and Schuster)
• Rosie Walker (Secrets of a Serial Killer, published by One More Chapter)
• Mark Wightman (Waking the Tiger, published by Hobeck Books and shortlisted for Scottish Crime Debut of the Year 2021)

debut short story collections from:

• Dayle Furlong (Lake Effect, published by Cormorant Books)
• Dima Alzayat (Alligator and Other Stories, shortlisted for the James Tait Black Award for Fiction)
• a non-fiction debut from Sonali Misra (21 Fantastic Failures, published by Rupa Publications India)

debut poetry collections from:

• Rebecca Tamás (WITCH, published by Penned in the Margins)
• Naomi Morris (Hyperlove, published by Makina Books)
• Aileen Ballantyne (Taking Flight, published by Luath Press)
• the 2022 Edwin Morgan Poetry Award, won by Alyson Kissner
• the 2021 Brotherton Poetry Prize, won by Lauren Pope
• the 2021 Pontas & JJ Bola Emerging Writers Prize, won by Bhavika Govil

Meet our graduates

From Arthur’s Seat – stories from the heart of Edinburgh

Tim Tim Cheng

• Bhavika Govil
• Dima Alzayat

What's the best type of masters programme for you?

Entry requirements.

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in any discipline. This will often be in a directly related subject like English Literature/Creative Writing, but we welcome applicants from all academic backgrounds.

Applicants who are entered into selection will be asked to provide a sample of written work to enable their suitability for the programme to be assessed.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country
• English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced ( CAE ) / C2 Proficiency ( CPE ): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
• Trinity ISE : ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 62 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS , TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE , in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

Fees and costs

Scholarships and funding, featured funding.

If you are intending to study full time on this Creative Writing programme, you are eligible for a William Hunter Sharpe Memorial Scholarship which will contribute towards your tuition fees.

You do not need to apply for this scholarship – all eligible candidates who apply for the programme by Monday 6 May 2024 will be considered for them and contacted if successful.

• Find out more about the William Hunter Sharpe Memorial Scholarship and other scholarships in literatures, languages and cultures

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

• your programme
• the duration of your studies
• your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding

Further information

• Phone: +44 (0)131 650 4086
• Contact: College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Admissions Office
• School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures
• 50 George Square
• Central Campus
• Programme: Creative Writing
• School: Literatures, Languages & Cultures
• College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.

MSc Creative Writing - 1 Year (Full-time)

Application deadlines.

Due to high demand, the school operates a number of selection deadlines. We will make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis, but hold the majority of applications until the next published selection deadline when we will offer a proportion of the places available to applicants selected through a competitive process.

Please be aware that applications must be submitted and complete, i.e. all required documents uploaded, by the relevant application deadline in order to be considered in that round. Your application will still be considered if you have not yet met the English language requirement for the programme.

Deadlines for applicants applying to study in 2024/25:

(Revised 27 March 2024 to extend Round 3 application deadline)

• How to apply

You must submit one reference with your application.

The online application process involves the completion of a web form and the submission of supporting documents.

You should supply a portfolio of writing.

• For poetry, this should be six (6) pages of poetry, starting a new page for each new poem of 14 lines or over.
• For fiction, this should be a complete story or stories, or an equivalent amount from a longer work (between 2,500 and 3,500 words).

These are firm limits.

If you are undecided about whether to apply for fiction or poetry, you should send a sample of both, i.e. six (6) pages of poetry and 2,500-3,500 words of fiction (if offered a place it will be for one or the other).

Work in other forms (for example journalism, life writing or advertising) will not be considered.

Personal statement

When writing your personal statement, consider the following questions:

• What do you most hope to learn/gain from a Creative Writing degree, and why is ours the programme for you?
• Tell us about your writing: what are you interested in and why? Are there aspects of your current practice you're particularly proud of? Things you know you need to work on?

What (if any) prior experience do you have of studying Creative Writing?

Guidance on the application process and supporting documents

All supporting documents, including references, must be uploaded to the online application system by the deadline date.

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

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• Subjects A-Z

Creative Writing

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Creative Writing at Glasgow

Our postgraduate taught and research-led writing courses are among the most challenging and popular in Britain, and have helped launch the career of a number of successful writers including Anne Donovan, Louise Welsh, Rodge Glass, Jen Hadfield, Zoe Strachan, Luke Brown, Laura Marney, Rachel Seiffert, William Letford and many others.

• Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
• One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
• You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
• For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
• MA in Creative Writing

This qualification is an opportunity to develop your skills as a writer in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction and scriptwriting for film, radio and the stage. You'll be able to write in a genre of your choice and experiment with at least one other through practical and inspiring activities. You’ll work towards producing a substantial piece of your own creative writing to a professional standard. You'll also hone your practice through sharing, reading and critiquing the writing of your peers in online forums. You’ll work towards producing a substantial piece of your own creative writing to a professional standard.

• Develop writing skills and awareness of approaches to writing
• Progress and hone sophisticated writing skills in at least one genre
• Gain a sound knowledge of, and ability in, a secondary genre
• Engage in sharing, critiquing and reviewing a variety of writing by your peers.

Study for free We’ve a limited number of scholarships available to UK students for the 2023/24 academic year. If you’re passionate about creative writing, you could be eligible for an Open Futures Scholarship. To apply, visit our Creative Writing Scholarship page. Applications close on 24 July 2023.

How to register

Select the module you will study first, read the full description, and follow the instructions to register.

To gain the 180 credits you require for this qualification, you must study the modules in the order shown below and pass part 1 before progressing to part 2:

Please note that MA Creative Writing part 2 (A803) is worth 120 credits. Module fees for postgraduate modules are based on the number of credits you study. Therefore the fee for this 120-credit postgraduate module will be double that for the 60-credit module MA Creative Writing part 1 (A802).

You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 60 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.

Learning outcomes, teaching and assessment

The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:

• Knowledge and understanding
• Cognitive skills
• Practical and professional skills

If you’ve successfully completed some relevant postgraduate study elsewhere, you might be able to count it towards this qualification, reducing the number of modules you need to study. You should apply for credit transfer as soon as possible, before you register for your first module. For more details and an application form, visit our Credit Transfer  website.

On completion

On successful completion of the required modules you can be awarded the Master of Arts in Creative Writing, entitling you to use the letters MA (CW) (Open) after your name. You will have the opportunity of being presented at a degree ceremony.

If you leave the programme before you qualify for a degree you can qualify for a  Postgraduate Certificate in Humanities (C20)  after successfully completing 60 credits.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations  website. 

We regularly review our curriculum; therefore, the qualification described on this page – including its availability, its structure, and available modules – may change over time. If we make changes to this qualification, we’ll update this page as soon as possible. Once you’ve registered or are studying this qualification, where practicable, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes. If you’d like to know more about the circumstances in which the University might make changes to the curriculum, see our Academic Regulations or contact us . This description was last updated on 19 March 2024.

You must hold a UK honours degree (or equivalent), preferably with at least a 2:1 classification. Although your degree does not need to be in Creative Writing or a closely related subject, you will need some knowledge of the subject to successfully complete this qualification, as the MA in Creative Writing assumes all candidates have the knowledge and skills usually acquired by pursuing the subject at undergraduate level. Please note that this is not a qualification for those who are just starting to write creatively

If your degree is not in Creative Writing or a closely related subject, we strongly recommend that you read the preparatory work indicated on the MA Creative Writing part 1 . Alternatively, you could undertake our open-access creative writing courses on OpenLearn  and FutureLearn to ensure your skills (writing, reading, editorial, reflective, analytical) are at an appropriate standard.

If you don’t have a Creative Writing degree, please also make sure that you provide evidence of your experience of writing when you apply – whether through short courses, workshops, or publications.

How long it takes

You will be able to complete this masters qualification within two years by studying one module each year. If you do not study the modules consecutively, you must complete them in a maximum of 10 years to qualify for the degree.

Career relevance

If you wish to pursue a freelance writing career this Masters degree will equip you with necessary writing and editorial skills, as well as equipping you with a raft of highly valued transferable communication and collaborative skills necessary to the modern writer’s usual portfolio of occupations.

If you are aiming for an academic career in higher education, this qualification will provide a route towards a higher level research or writing practice degree (e.g. PhD), which is essential for such a career. A Masters degree can help to enhance your career prospects as a teacher in secondary and higher education (HE); most HE creative writing teaching now demands an MA in the subject.

If your aim is to enter professions associated with the media, culture, creative or knowledge industries, or if you already have a career in one of these areas and are seeking a further qualification as a means of career development, then a Masters degree, supplemented by relevant skills and experience, can prove invaluable. This degree is pertinent to those careers that directly call upon knowledge of the craft of writing, editing and critiquing (for instance, journalism, publishing, copywriting). It may also be relevant for careers that demand skills in the creative use and analysis of texts of various sorts, critical thinking and organisation, and understanding of culture in a broad sense.

Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.

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English and Creative Writing MA (Hons)

School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law

Combine the study of English literature with our distinctive creative writing course

On this course you can study the history of English literature from the medieval period right up to the present day, and combine this with studies in creative writing.

A range of modules give you the option to study anything from Shakespeare to science fiction, Romantic to contemporary poetry, or Victorian novels to Hollywood films.

Our creative writing modules help you explore and extend your own potential as a writer and engage you in a range of literary activities. Our students write novels, stories, poetry, monologues, as well as exploring creativity in non-fiction, essays, journalism, reviewing, and writing for the theatre.

For English literature we start by covering topics such as how to analyse a poem and how to read a novel as a literary critic, introducing you to key skills in critical-creative ways of reading and writing.

We then move on to historical surveys of literature, before exploring in more detail many of the periods, movements, and topics previously covered.

Kai Durkin, MA (Hons) English and Creative Writing student, 2018/19

National Student Survey 2022

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