Creative Writing MA

University of Leicester

Course description

The MA in Creative Writing is a challenging course, both intellectually and imaginatively. You will be able to develop your writing skills in a supportive and stimulating environment, taught by experienced and professional writers.

The course offers you the opportunity to become involved in a uniquely vibrant literary scene in Leicester, with connections to the Centre for New Writing, the Creative Writing blog, Everybody's Reviewing, Leicester Shindig and many other events and organisations across the city.

Because of the mixture of forms and genres that the course covers - including poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, and script-writing - you will be encouraged to experiment beyond your usual experience. In your final dissertation, you'll be able to specialise in a chosen genre, through a sustained piece of work.

The course is highly innovative, in its mixture of creative and academic work and in its vocational elements, that are designed to enhance your employability prospects. It encompasses both traditional forms of writing and publishing and emerging technologies, such as e-books and new media writing. Teaching methods are similarly varied, ranging from seminars, to workshops, individual tutorials, computer labs and guest masterclasses and readings.

The degree can also be taken part-time over two years. If you choose to study part-time you will take one module per semester.

Teaching and learning

During the course you will be taught by a wide variety of methods, including:

• seminars
• workshops and feedback sessions
• computer lab sessions
• lectures

Careers and employability

Individual and personal tutorials also address issues of career management and planning. The course team have many connections with external networks, organisations and employers (e.g. publishers, agents, writing organisations, festivals etc.). This aspect of the course is closely connected with the Career Development Service, who offer relevant support, in the form of workshops, mock-interviews and more.

With its focus not only on writing skills, but also on the practical aspects of working in the Creative Writing field, this degree helps you work towards a variety of related fields, from publishing and e-publishing, editing, literary agency, to teaching the subject at school (with a PGCE qualification), or undertaking a PhD. Graduates in Creative Writing might be employed as author, poet, playwright, screenwriter, storyliner, video game creator, journalist, TV producer, publisher or agent, teacher or lecturer, stand-up comedian, academic research, public relations, advertising and marketing, political research and speech-writing, arts management, content provider, tweet writer, web editor, blogger, franchise creator, branding consultant, literary event manager, or intellectual property adviser.

Key transferable skills include:

• Oral communication skills
• Written communication skills: ability to write precisely, concisely and clearly
• Writing for different contexts, outlets, audiences and markets
• Research skills
• Digital skills
• Teamwork and providing feedback