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05th August 2022
A creative writing course will enable you to hone your craft. If you're keen to publish your work, use our guide to see if a creative writing master's or another postgraduate degree could set you on the right track.
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A master’s degree in creative writing will help you take your imaginative writing skills to the next level. Whether you want to write novels, poetry, TV scripts or plays, you have a lot of freedom in this subject to pursue what interests you most.
Courses are designed to support writers who have experience and would like to publish their work. Students on creative writing courses come from all different backgrounds – they either choose:
Courses will provide you with training for producing written works of art. Depending on where you study, you could be part of a tight-knit group that’s supported by prolific writers and writing experts.
Many courses offer retreats, workshops, showcases, competitions and one-on-one support from professionals. They usually have a focus on industry, meaning you’ll be set up for a career in the field after you graduate.
Alongside developing your creative storytelling ability, you’ll build on your transferable skills such as:
Qualification options include masters, doctorates, certificates and diplomas in creative writing. Each will have a slightly different focus and style of teaching.
Taught master’s in creative writing
Most creative writing masters are usually Master of Arts (MA). These are taught courses where you improve your technique through teaching, collaboration and experimentation.
Research in art therapy
Research and doctorate degrees are usually Master of Philosophy (MPhil) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). They let you undertake extensive research while completing a publication of creative work. You have more independence than on an MA but receive close support from a supervisor.
Certificates and diplomas in creative writing
Postgraduate certificates (PGCert) and postgraduate diplomas (PGDip) are segments of a master’s course, where your studies are similar but shorter. They can be useful if you're looking to develop your skills but not commit to a full MA.
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What are postgraduate degrees
Graduates go into many roles that require storytelling skills, such as:
Many students continue their studies to earn a doctorate (PhD) degree and pursue research work.
To qualify for a master’s course, you’ll usually need:
MA – bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with upper second-class honours (2:1) in any subject, along with strong examples of your creative writing
You may be admitted based on the quality of your writing examples alone.
For other postgraduate courses, you’ll usually need:
Examples of creative writing postgraduate degrees available in the UK:
Areas you could be taught in or choose to focus your research on include:
On a taught course (MA/PGCert/PGDip), you'll learn through methods like lectures, seminars, guest talks, workshops, one-on-one tutor sessions. Assessment could be through coursework, peer assessments, reflective essays, critical commentaries, blogs, presentations and journals.
If you pursue a research degree (MPhil/PhD), you’ll be guided by a supervisor but receive less support than on a taught course. You’ll be assessed on a large piece of creative writing work as well as an independent research project and oral exam.
It depends on the course, but usually full-time courses last:
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