Creative Writing

Program Overview

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The MA in Creative Writing at Durham University is a one-year full-time or two-year part-time program that develops writing skills in poetry and fiction while enhancing knowledge of 20th and 21st-century literature. Taught by award-winning writers, the program combines theoretical and practical elements, offering a supportive environment for individual creative writing journeys. Graduates are prepared for careers in writing, publishing, education, and other fields.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview

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Overview:

The MA in Creative Writing is a one-year full-time or two-year part-time program that develops your skills in writing poetry and fiction, while enhancing your knowledge of 20th and 21st-century literature. The course is taught by award-winning writers and offers a rigorous academic environment for both individual and collaborative learning.

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Objectives:

The program aims to:

• Sharpen your practical knowledge of writing poetry and prose fiction.
• Develop your knowledge and understanding of 20th and 21st-century literature.
• Offer a supportive environment for your individual creative writing journey.

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Description:

The program combines theoretical and practical elements, including:

• Conceptual and theoretical reflection: Engaging with different critical approaches to literature.
• Analysis of historical and cultural contexts: Exploring the historical and cultural forces shaping literature.
• Close attention to literary texts and primary sources: Developing your analytical skills through close reading and textual analysis.
• Imaginative creation of new writing: Encouraging you to develop your own creative writing practice in workshops and individual tutorials.

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Key Features:

• Taught by award-winning writers.
• Focuses on both poetry and prose fiction.
• Offers a balance of individual and collaborative learning.
• Provides opportunities for specialization and interdisciplinary exploration.

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Outline

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Program Structure:

• Major Research Project (60 credits): An extended critical essay on a topic of your choice and a portfolio of new creative work.
• Core Modules (30 credits): Choose one from Creative Writing Poetry or Creative Writing Prose Fiction.
• Elective Modules (90 credits): Choose from a wide range of modules offered by the Faculty of Arts & Humanities.

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Course Schedule:

• The program can be taken full-time (one year) or part-time (two years).
• The course is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, and individual tutorials.
• The schedule is designed to provide a balance of individual and collaborative learning.

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Individual Modules:

• Creative Writing Poetry: Focuses on developing your skills in writing and analyzing poetry.

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Assessment

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Assessment Methods:

• Essays
• Portfolios of creative work
• Extended critical essay for the research project
• Self-critique

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Assessment Criteria:

• Originality and creativity of your writing.
• Critical analysis and engagement with literary texts.
• Quality of your research and argumentation.
• Effective communication and presentation of your ideas.

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Teaching

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Teaching Methods:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Workshops
• Individual tutorials

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Faculty:

• Award-winning writers and experienced academics.
• Experts in their respective fields of literature and creative writing.

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Unique Approaches:

• The program emphasizes individual attention and support.
• It provides opportunities for collaboration and peer feedback.
• It encourages you to develop your own creative voice and style.

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Careers

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Potential Career Paths:

• Writer
• Editor
• Publisher
• Teacher
• Journalist
• Arts administrator
• Researcher

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Career Opportunities:

• The program prepares you for a wide range of careers in the creative industries and beyond.
• The skills you develop are highly transferable and valued by employers in various sectors.

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Career Outcomes:

• Graduates have gone on to successful careers in writing, publishing, education, and other fields.
• The program provides you with the knowledge and skills to pursue a fulfilling career in your chosen field.

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Other

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Department:

English Studies

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University:

Durham University

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Location:

Durham, UK

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Start Dates:

September 2024

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Duration:

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time

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Tuition Fees:

• UK/EU students: £11,750 per year (full-time), £6,500 per year (part-time)
• International students: £24,750 per year (full-time), £13,700 per year (part-time)

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Entry Requirements:

• Honours degree at 2:1 or higher (or equivalent)
• Sample of creative writing (4-6 poems or 2,000 words of fiction)

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Scholarships and Bursaries:

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Full Time Fees

• Tuition fees
• Home students: £11,750 per year
• EU students: £24,750 per year
• Island students: £11,750 per year
• International students: £24,750 per year

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Part Time Fees

• Tuition fees
• Home students: £6,500 per year
• EU students: £13,700 per year
• Island students: £6,500 per year
• International students: £13,700 per year