Study at Cardiff | Postgraduate

Creative Writing (MA)

Course Aims

Offers knowledge and expertise in the practice and craft of writing, with extensive writing workshops designed to enhance your creative writing skills, plus supporting modules on analysis of the creative process and the teaching of creative writing. Provides an ideal preparation for writers and writer-teachers, and for those seeking work in publishing, arts administration and related fields.

Special Features

• A dedicated teaching staff of professional writers
• Students gain hands-on experience in teaching Creative Writing
• Workshops and readings by eminent authors, including Open Mics.
• Small Group workshops.

Course Description

This one-year, full-time course is designed for committed creative writers seeking to develop their writing skills and to receive professional guidance on editing and preparation of a manuscript for publication. Students attend workshops, produce two portfolios of creative writing, attend classes in various genres, and also gain experience in teaching creative writing to small groups. Students are assessed on their portfolios of creative writing (worth 66% of the course) and two essays (worth 33% together). There are no formal examinations.

Course Structure

The degree programme consists of four modules which are assessed discretely at separate stages of the academic year. The degree as a whole is worth 180 credits and is made up of a 60-credit portfolio of writing (worth 33% of the degree and to be completed in late March) and two essays (each 30 credits), one on the Creative Process (due mid January) and one on Teaching Creative Writing (due in mid May). Together the essays are worth a further 33% of the degree. The full MA award necessitates the completion of the second portfolio (equivalent to 60 credits). This is worth a further 33% of the marks. A Distinction is awarded to students who achieve an overall average of at least 70 across all the modules.

Semester 1:

• Portfolio One (to be completed in April)
• The Creative Process

Semester 2:

• Portfolio Two (to be completed by mid-September)
• Teaching Creative Writing

For more detailed information, including access to module descriptions, please visit the school website.

Skills Acquired

Students acquire in-depth knowledge of technique and craft with respect to the editing, revision and production of a manuscript. A close team ethic is nurtured, encouraging responsibility towards one’s work and group.

Career Prospects

Many graduates find work in arts administration, teaching, journalism, working for literary agencies or elsewhere in the publishing industry.

Student Testimonial

"Creative Writing MA at Cardiff was, quite simply, an adventure. From our road trip to a mid-Wales retreat to our tri-weekly poetry readings, I never wanted to miss a minute! Our classes were not only engaging, challenging, and well-structured, but they gave me something I had never had in the non-MA world: the opportunity to be among a group of like-minded people who loved and appreciated writing. The lecturers, alongside my quirky set of course mates, exposed me to things I may not have otherwise discovered, like the joys of micro-fiction, scriptwriting, and Welsh cakes, and inspired me to experiment and take risks with my own work. The teaching component of the course was equally inspiring and gave me the opportunity to more thoroughly explore my interests in creative writing education. Overall this program left me with things I never could have imagined and, now, would never want to be without: a newfound love for writing fiction and prose poetry, lifelong friends from across the country, and a strengthened desire to write, read, and teach."
Elizabeth Ford, in the final stages of her PhD in English Literature

Entry Requirements

1st or 2:1 UK Honours degree, or equivalent. Suitable for graduates of any academic background, depending on quality of applicant portfolio. Applicants whose first language is not English are normally expected to have a minimum IELTS score of 7 overall.

In addition to the application form and supporting documents applicants should also provide:

• Copies of recent creative work (undergraduate work is welcome).
• Word length will depend very much on the genre of work produced but we would expect approximately 20 pages of prose.

Next intake: October each year

More information

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