Creative Writing MA

Manchester Metropolitan University

COURSE OVERVIEW

At the heart of the Manchester Writing School are our masters programmes in Creative Writing, available to study on campus in Manchester, and also from anywhere in the world via online distance learning.

On our Master of Arts (MA) Creative Writing programme, you will explore and practise techniques and styles of modern and contemporary writing and apply these through the development of your own creative work. MA students undertake a taught element blending writing workshops with reading units and an elective, and then complete their studies through submission of an extended piece of writing from a proposed full-length book or script.

You will specialise in one of the following routes: Novel (including Short Fiction), Poetry, Writing for Children & Young Adults, Scriptwriting (for stage, screen or radio) or Creative Non-Fiction.

The MA is available to complete in one year full-time or two years part-time. This course is available to study on campus (full-time or part-time) or online (part-time only). We have intakes to the programme in September and January each year.

Visit the Manchester Writing School for more information, including profiles of staff and published students, news, events and projects.

Please visit our masters scholarships page for information on funding opportunities.

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

• One of the most successful programmes of its kind in the UK today – with more than 95 students and graduates publishing first books in the past ten years.
• Extensive calendar of events - including The Manchester Children's Book Festival, The National Creative Writing Industry Conference, Manchester Writing Competition Gala, Poetry Festivals, book launches, podcasts, and question and answer sessions with guest writers at Manchester Met and Manchester arts venues.
• Industry links - strong links to the publishing industry with visits from major agents, editors and publishers.
• Flexible learning - core Reading and Workshop units take place in the evenings (6-8pm UK time) during the autumn and spring terms, with electives delivered on an intensive three-day model or studied independently with one-to-one tutorial supervision during the summer term.
• Extended piece of writing - all MA students will complete an extended piece of writing from a proposed full-length book or script, supported by a term of one-to-one supervision.
• Gain an MFA – students who successfully complete the MA can continue their studies with an additional year, completing a further 120 credits (which includes writing a full-length book or script) and gaining an MFA.
• Live online teaching - the course can be completed entirely online, with core teaching for distance learning students via weekly online classes in Microsoft Teams.
• Academic expertise - taught by high-profile writers and critics including: Carol Ann Duffy DBE, Susan Barker, Laura Barnett, Andrew Biswell, Malika Booker, Chloe Buckley, Sarah Butler, Eleanor Byrne, David Cooper, Nikolai Duffy, Paul Evans, Catherine Fox, Rachel Genn, Blanka Grzegorczyk, Andrew Michael Hurley, Danielle Jawando, Sarah Ilott, Oliver Harris, Rachel Lichtentsein, Anjum Malik, Alistair McDowall, Andrew McMillan, Livi Michael, Helen Mort, Gregory Norminton, Adam O'Riordan, Minoli Salgado, Michael Symmons Roberts, Monique Roffey, Nicholas Royle, Jean Sprackland, Simon Stephens, Joe Stretch, Alex Wheatle MBE and Julie Wilkinson.
• Visiting Fellows – our course features contributions from our visiting fellows, including: Ed Caesar, Mandy Coe, Tim Cresswell, Amanda Dalton, Steve Dearden, Guy Garvey, Colin Harvey, Jennifer Makumbi, Rachel Mann, Shirley May, André Naffis-Sahely, Ra Page, Stephen Raw, David Shook, Hugh Stoddart and Barry Wood.