Writing Popular Fiction MA

Program Overview

This dual-degree program blends online and on-campus learning in creative writing and popular fiction. Upon returning to Seton Hill, they complete an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction, gaining a unique combination of skills for careers in writing, publishing, and other related fields.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This program is a dual degree collaboration between Edinburgh Napier University and Seton Hill University, offering a unique blend of online and on-campus learning. It combines the MA Creative Writing program at Edinburgh Napier University with the MFA in Writing Popular Fiction at Seton Hill University. The program is designed to help students complete a full-length novel while earning two master's degrees. Students remain active in Seton Hill's online program during their time in Edinburgh. After completing the Edinburgh Napier University requirements, students receive a Master of Arts in Creative Writing. They then return to Seton Hill University for a final residency and complete the MFA in Writing Popular Fiction.

Assessment:

Assessments focus on practical creative challenges and achieving professional levels of critical reflection. This helps students develop their writing skills and become more self-sufficient as writers and collaborative practitioners. Tasks include:

• Crafting original short stories
• Creating pre-writing materials for full-length narratives
• Critical self-reflection on their work
• Keeping a learning journal of progress through one-to-one mentoring
• Developing strategies and content for teaching, public engagement events, and digital self-publishing

Teaching:

The MA Creative Writing program at Edinburgh Napier University is taught by a team of industry professionals:

• David Bishop, a successful working writer and former editor
• Laura Lam, an acclaimed science fiction and fantasy author
• Daniel Shand, an award-winning literary thriller author

Careers:

The program prepares students for a variety of careers in the writing and publishing industry, including:

• Book deals
• Bookselling
• Editing
• Representation by literary agents
• International and national competition wins
• Collaborations with comic artists
• Publication in magazines and anthologies
• Edinburgh International Book Festival appearances
• Marketing
• Paid editing and writing commissions
• Performances and teaching
• Publishing
• Working for national literary organizations

Other:

• Students have access to the Writers' Room, a private workspace with wi-fi, a library of 2,000 hand-picked books, DVDs, and graphic novels, for the exclusive use of creative writing students.
• The program is split between Edinburgh Napier University and Seton Hill University, Pennsylvania.

Students From 2024/25 2025/26 Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland £7,280 £tba Overseas and EU £18,800 £tba The University offers a 20% discount on Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes to its alumni. The discount applies to all full-time, part-time and online programmes. The discount can only be applied to year one of a full-time Postgraduate degree, any additional years are exempt from the discount. For part time Postgraduate degrees the discount will apply to years one, two and three only and any additional years will be exempt from the discount. Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.