university of surrey creative writing

• FindAMasters
• Masters Courses
• Search Masters Degrees

  Creative Writing MA

University of surrey     faculty of arts and social sciences, findamasters summary.

Unleash your literary potential with the MA in Creative Writing at the University of Surrey. This programme is your gateway to discovering your unique voice and honing your writing skills under the guidance of published writers and academics. Whether you are a budding writer eager to explore various forms or an experienced writer looking to enhance your project, our diverse community and engaging events will inspire you. The curriculum encourages lateral thinking, research, and writing proficiency, preparing you for a successful career in writing, publishing, journalism, or teaching. Benefit from our extensive library resources, archives, and special collections, as well as access to publishing rooms and computer suites. With a First/2:1 UK honours degree or equivalent international qualification, along with a portfolio of creative material, you can embark on this enriching journey towards literary excellence. Join us and let your creativity flourish at Surrey's MA Creative Writing programme.

About the course

Why choose this course.

• Drawing on the experience of our published writers and academics, you’ll discuss intriguing literary theories and writing techniques, discover how to find your niche and engage with the publishing world. 
• You’ll share ideas within a diverse, creative community and be able to attend a calendar of events that will broaden your thinking and develop your writing skills – this includes the annual  Surrey New Writers Festival  and the  Morag Morris Poetry Lecture .
• As part of our commitment to further enriching our students’ skills in creative writing, we host a Writer-in-Residence and a Poet-in-Residence in the School. They run workshops, masterclasses and one-to-one surgeries for our students. 
• This course is for both aspiring and experienced writers who want to refine their technical skills and enhance their comprehension of the cultural, literary, and theoretical aspects of the written word. 

What you will study

Whether you are an aspiring writer of prose or poetry or both, our MA in Creative Writing encourages lateral thought and will sharpen your research and writing abilities.

Entry Requirements

Applicants should have a first or 2:1 UK honours degree, or a recognised equivalent international qualification. We may be able to take relevant work experience into consideration if you don't meet these requirements. If you have at least one year of relevant experience in a full-time graduate-level role (or a minimum of two years’ experience in a relevant graduate-level part-time role) please provide full details of your role and responsibilities in your personal statement and CV when you submit your application. Applicants will be asked to provide a portfolio of creative material (5,000 words prose or equivalent).

Please see the university website for further information on fees for this course.

  Course Content

Register your interest for this course

The university will respond to you directly. You will have a FindAMasters account to view your sent enquiries and receive email alerts with new Masters opportunities and guidance to help you choose the right course.

It looks like you alredy have a FindAMasters Account

Log in to save time sending your enquiry and view previously sent enquiries

What would you like more information about? Optional

Which subjects are you interested in studying, which age group are you optional.

The information you submit to University of Surrey will only be used by them or their data partners to deal with your enquiry, according to their privacy notice . For more information on how we use and store your data, please read our privacy statement .

Please correct the errors indicated below to send your enquiry

Where will i study.

University of Surrey

One of the UK''s top professional, scientific and technological universities. Surrey has a world-class profile, a leading reputation in teaching and research, and received a prestigious Gold award in the first ever Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)

Where is University of Surrey

All Available Videos:

Based on your current searches we recommend the following search filters

Check out our other Masters Courses in Guildford , United Kingdom

Check out our other Masters Courses in Creative Arts & Design

Start a new search with our database of over 23,000 Masters Courses

Based on your current search criteria we thought you might be interested in these

Creative Writing MA University of Huddersfield

Creative Writing Edge Hill University

Creative Writing for Marketing MSc Brunel University London

FindAMasters. Copyright 2005-2024 All rights reserved.

Unknown    ( change )

Have you got time to answer some quick questions about Masters study?

Select your nearest city

• Aberystwyth
• Beaconsfield
• Bishop Burton
• Bournemouth
• Bridlington
• Chatham Maritime
• Cirencester
• East Malling
• Hemel Hempstead
• High Wycombe
• Huddersfield
• Isle of Man
• Jordanstown
• London Central
• London East
• London South
• London West
• Londonderry
• Loughborough
• Middlesbrough
• Milton Keynes
• Musselburgh
• Northampton
• Potters Bar
• Saffron Waldon
• Scarborough
• Southampton
• St Leonards on Sea
• Stoke on Trent
• Wolverhampton

You haven’t completed your profile yet. To get the most out of FindAMasters, finish your profile and receive these benefits:

• Monthly chance to win one of ten £10 Amazon vouchers ; winners will be notified every month.*
• Access to our £6,000 scholarship competition
• Weekly newsletter with funding opportunities, application tips and much more
• Early access to our physical and virtual postgraduate study fairs

Or begin browsing FindAMasters.com

or begin browsing FindAMasters.com

*Offer only available for the duration of your active subscription, and subject to change. You MUST claim your prize within 72 hours, if not we will redraw.

Do you want hassle-free information and advice?

Create your FindAMasters account and sign up to our newsletter:

• Find out about funding opportunities and application tips
• Receive weekly advice, student stories and the latest Masters news
• Hear about our upcoming study fairs
• Save your favourite courses, track enquiries and get personalised subject updates

Create your account

Looking to list your Masters courses? Log in here .

Let us help you find a Masters

Never miss a course

Enter our ambassador competition

Get funding news, tips and advice

Hear about upcoming events

Sign up to our newsletter today

We've been helping students find the right postgraduate course for over a decade.

Login to your account

Enter your username below to login to your account.

The Uni Guide has a fresh new look

• Teacher training
• Bangor University
• Birmingham City University
• Sheffield Hallam University
• University of Aberdeen
• University of East Anglia
• University of Hull
• University of Kent
• University of Reading
• Clearing and results day
• Preparing for university
• Ucas application
• Student finance
• Student accommodation
• Choosing a course
• A-level results day: what to expect
• A guide to Btec results day
• How Ucas Hub works on results day
• What to say in a Clearing phone call
• 10 tips to help you with Ucas Clearing
• A guide to Clearing 2024
• Which university is right for you?
• What you need to know about getting a university scholarship, grant or bursary
• How to decide on a university course
• Is a higher or degree apprenticeship right for you?
• Universities

English Literature and Creative Writing

University of surrey.

UCAS Code: G669 | Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

• Similar Courses

Entry requirements

Overall: BBB Required subjects: Grade B in English Language or English Literature. Applicants taking an A level science subject with the Science Practical Endorsement are required to pass the practical element. We do not include General Studies or Critical Thinking in our offers.

Access to HE Diploma

Overall: QAA recognised Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits overall including 27 at Distinction and 18 at Merit. Required subjects: Please contact us to discuss suitability.

Extended Project

Applicants taking the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) will receive our standard A level offer, plus an alternate offer of one A level grade lower, subject to achieving an A grade in the EPQ. The one grade reduction will not apply to any required subjects.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSE English Language at Grade C(4) and Mathematics at Grade C (4) (or equivalent).

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

Overall: 32 Required subjects: HL5/SL6 in English/Literature GCSE or Equivalent: English, HL4/SL4 (including MYP). Maths, HL4/SL4 (including MYP). Maths Studies, SL4.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

Overall: DDM Required subjects: Please contact us to discuss suitability.

Scottish Advanced Higher

Overall: BBB Required subjects: Grade B in English Language or English Literature. GCSE or Equivalent: English Language: Scottish National 5 - C Maths: Scottish National 5 - C.

Scottish Higher

Overall: ABBBB Required subjects: English Language or English Literature. GCSE or Equivalent: English Language: Scottish National 5 - C Maths: Scottish National 5 - C.

Overall: Pass overall with BBB from a combination of the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate and two A levels. Applicants taking an A level science subject with the Science Practical Endorsement are required to pass the practical element. Required subjects: A level grade B in English Literature or English Language. We do not include General Studies or Critical Thinking in our offers.

UCAS Tariff

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course

Course option.

Full-time | 2024

Creative writing

English literature

**Why choose this course** If you’re an aspiring writer and a literature enthusiast, here’s why you should choose our brand new English Literature and Creative Writing BA (Hons) degree:

-We conduct engaging and intellectually challenging teaching in literature and creative writing. All our academics are acclaimed writers and scholars as well as enthusiastic and experienced teachers who convey ideas and explain techniques and methodologies enthusiastically and accessibly -As a student of English Literature and Creative Writing at Surrey, you will become part of a community of literary and cultural scholars, writers, and creative practitioners, and will be able to explore the opportunities and challenges of studying, practising, and producing critical and creative forms of expression. -We have a firm eye on your future employability. We’ll equip you with skills that employers value – clear and compelling communication skills, independent thinking and collaborative working. If you choose to take one of our award-winning Professional Training placements, you’ll be able to enhance your readiness for employment. -You’ll gain professional and transferable skills in communications, writing, and critical thinking. You’ll learn how to write at a professional level in a variety of modes: analytical commentary and interpretive analysis, literary criticism, prose fiction, poetry, and writing for stage, screen, gaming and beyond. These skills are paramount in a wide range of professional environments and career paths, such as writing, editing, copywriting, teaching, publishing, marketing, journalism, social media and communications roles.

**What you will study** On our English Literature and Creative Writing BA (Hons) course, you’ll study vital and influential works of literature, read and discuss contemporary works as well as classics in a wide range of genres.

You’ll explore canonical forms, texts, and authors alongside perspectives, world views, and creative practices that have been historically silenced, marginalised, or endangered. Throughout the programme, you’ll develop sensitivity and appreciation for a diverse range of cultures and forms of artistic expressions, as well as emotional and cultural intelligence when discussing them with your peers and tutors.

The programme includes the refreshed and innovative modules Science Fiction and Renaissance Lives, plus a new Creative Writing poetry module and identities module, alongside our excellent existing creative writing and period-based literary modules in Medieval, Early Modern, 19th Century, Modernist and Contemporary Studies.

You’ll develop a wide range of creative writing skills and knowledge, looking at forms such as novels, short stories, poetry, plays, screenplays, graphic novels, writing for games. 

Alongside classic works like those of Shakespeare and George Eliot, you’ll study contemporary works by writers including Kazuo Ishiguro, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Jhumpa Lahiri. 

Genres you’ll study include travel writing, nineteenth-century theatre and fiction, science-fiction, contemporary global literatures, medieval writing, romantic literature, early modern, modernist and contemporary literatures. 

Our creative writing modules will develop your understanding of the techniques used and challenges faced by the writers you study on your English literature modules. You’ll assess the potential and challenges of forms of artistic expression that are increasingly central in contemporary culture and society, such as digital storytelling, video-gaming, blogging and podcasting. Your studies will also help you find inspiration and root your own creative work in the authors and literary traditions you’ll be exploring. 

To see the full range of modules for this course please visit our website – the link is under the Course contact details. You will also find full details of the programme, including programme structure, assessment methods, contact hours and Graduate prospects.

Extra funding

The University of Surrey offers a range of scholarships and bursaries to support our students, please visit https://www.surrey.ac.uk/fees-and-funding/scholarships-and-bursaries for more details.

FASS - School of Literature and Languages

What students say

We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Literature in english

Teaching and learning, assessment and feedback, resources and organisation, student voice, who studies this subject and how do they get on, most popular a-levels studied (and grade achieved), after graduation.

The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

Top job areas of graduates

The jobs market for this subject - which includes creative writing and scriptwriting courses - is not currently one of the strongest, so unemployment rates are currently looking quite high overall, with salaries on the lower side. But nevertheless, most graduates get jobs quickly. Graduates often go into careers as authors and writers and are also found in other roles where the ability to write well is prized, such as journalism, translation, teaching and advertising and in web content. Be aware that freelancing and self-employment is common is common in the arts, as are what is termed 'portfolio careers', having several part-time jobs or commissions at once - although graduates from this subject were a little more likely than many other creative arts graduates to be in conventional full time permanent contracts, so that might be worth bearing in mind.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

• What's it like studying a degree in Creative writing

Explore these similar courses...

Find the course that's right for you

This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

Course location and department:

Teaching excellence framework (tef):.

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

The Uni Guide and The Student Room are both part of The Student Room Group.

Promoted universities

• Durham University
• Lancaster University
• University of Glasgow
• University of the Arts London
• University of Southampton
• Swansea University
• Aston University, Birmingham
• Ulster University
• Cardiff University
• University of Essex

Browse expert advice

• Oxbridge applications
• Personal statements
• University open days
• Ucas deadline 2024 countdown
• A-level choices
• GCSE choices and university
• Making firm and insurance choices
• Student life
• Advice for parents

About this site

• Cookie policy
• List of universities and colleges
• Privacy notice
• Terms and conditions
• Where we get our info

Who we work with

• Your account settings

Ad privacy settings

Popular tools and features

• A-level Explorer
• Course search

Connect with us

• Log in
• Site search

Creative Writing

Entry requirements.

Applicants are expected to hold a good first degree (a minimum 2:1 or equivalent) and an MA in a relevant topic. In exceptional cases, students with a good first degree will be considered for Creative Writing where there is a substantial or promising creative portfolio.

IELTS Academic 7.0 or above with a minimum of 6.5 in each component (or equivalent).

Months of entry

January, April, July

Course content

We belong to the interdisciplinary School of Literature and Languages, which has research-active staff in English literature, film studies, translation studies, theoretical and applied linguistics, and literary and cultural studies as well as creative writing.

Our research in modern and contemporary writing includes both literary-critical and creative work. In particular, we explore:

• the work of living writers
• the tradition and future of innovative writing
• the environment and climate change
• the nature of publishing as an innovative and radical political enterprise
• literature and the body.

We’re part of TECHNE, an Arts and Humanities Research Council AHRC)-funded doctoral training partnership, which provides access to comprehensive academic and professional training programmes, as well as the possibility of funding for your studies.

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 ranked the School of Literature and Languages 10th for research impact, with 75% of our case studies rated as having outstanding impacts, in terms of reach and significance (4*). REF is the UK’s system for independently assessing the quality of research in higher education institutions. Our submission to REF included contributions from the Guildford School of Acting (GSA).

Information for international students

We are proud to be one of the most culturally diverse universities in the UK. We are here to help you throughout the application process – from advising on choosing the right course to applying for a visa and preparing for your first few weeks at Surrey.

For more information please go to - https://www.surrey.ac.uk/international

Fees and funding

Understand all of the costs involved for your studies.

Find out more about your tuition fees, available scholarships and bursaries, postgraduate taught student finance, how to pay your fees and our top tips on managing your money.

www.surrey.ac.uk/fees-and-funding

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

• Campus-based learning is available for this qualification

Course contact details

Staff & Students

• Staff Email
• Semester Dates
• Parking (SOUPS)
• For Students
• Student Email
• SurreyLearn

Surrey student experience

Current students share their thoughts on planning for university, student life and what it’s like to study at the university of surrey., english literature with creative writing at university of surrey.

Many people have asked me since I started University, and even before that, why I chose to study English Literature with Creative Writing. It’s unfortunately not as popular Medicine or Law, and people have certain assumptions about it and what you can do afterwards that I believe discourages them. 

So, let me tell you why I think it’s such an excellent course that allows you to follow numerous paths as well as explore different subjects, texts and roles.

1- Exploring different subjects

We’re always told that at some point we’re going to have to pick one subject, one thing, to study and later work with. I always found that difficult, because there were so many things that interested me. Throughout High School/GCSE/A-Levels, I was passionate about history, literature, sociology, philosophy, biology, even maths.

That is the main reason why I enjoy doing English Literature. In one course, I get the opportunity to explore many of these subjects. I have studied Marxism, Feminism, Structuralism, Queer theory and Postcolonial theory, which have all helped me to develop as a writer, literary scholar and person. Because of this, I now feel like a well-rounded individual which is incredibly useful in other areas of my life.

2- Freedom to choose your modules

At Surrey, students have the opportunity to choose many of the modules they will be studying. During your first year, most subjects are fixed in order to give you the basework of theories and concepts that you will need throughout your studies. 

As you carry on, there will be multiple optional modules, offering the opportunity to tailor the course to you and specialise in subjects that you’re interested in. Then, in final year students have complete freedom in structuring their course. The same applies to the dissertation, in which students are even able to choose between a creative and literary one. I know people who are writing poems, short stories or novels; others will be analysing their favourite book, movie, show or podcast. 

If you want to find out more about the course structure, have a look at the our website or check out this blog .

3- Wide range of job prospects

You might have been told that people who study English can only become teachers. That’s completely untrue. Though teaching is a common career choice, there are many paths you can follow. 

If writing is your passion, you can go into Journalism, Publishing or become a professional writer. Some people go for Marketing, Advertising or Communications roles which allow you to be creative. There’s even the option to choose Public Relations or Human resources since English students have the analytical and communication skills needed for these jobs. 

4- Literature is more than just books

Another common misconception about studying English Literature or Literature in general is that it only applies to books. Sure, if you search in the Cambridge dictionary, the main definition is “written artistic works, especially those with a high and lasting artistic value.”

However, what we sometimes don’t realise is that writing is present in everything, from novels to poems, plays, songs, movies, TV series and podcasts. Reading lists usually contain a balance between these different styles of writing, allowing for a wider perspective and interesting discussions.

Throughout my studies, I have encountered such distinct texts and mediums. I’ve analysed and written essays about novels like Chimamanda Adichie’s Americanah , short stories like Virgina Woolf’s Kew Gardens, poems such as Mary Wroth’s Pamphilia to Amphilantus , plays like Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and movies like Black Panther . 

5- Good study/life balance

One advantage of doing English Literature is that this is not a very time demanding course in terms of attending lessons. Most of the work involves reading/viewing the texts and preparing for lessons. This means that you can focus on learning in your own time, allowing students to work, volunteer and have a social life. 

For instance, during my second year at Surrey, I went to societies and events every week, worked as a Student Ambassador, volunteered as Course Representative and still had time to do all of my coursework. If you’re curious to learn more about what it’s like to study English, have a look at my blog about A Week In The Life . 

Overall, these are the main reasons why I think studying English can be a great choice that will help give you the opportunity to explore different subjects, types of texts and career prospects. It’s the kind of course that offers enough freedom to make you excited for assessments and allows you to schedule learning alongside your social life. 

Christmas at University of Surrey

Media and communication at university of surrey.

Accessibility | Contact the University | Privacy | Cookies | Disclaimer | Freedom of Information

© University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, United Kingdom. +44 (0)1483 300800

CHOOSE ONE OR MORE

Popular universities.

• University of Kent
• University of East Anglia UEA
• University of Chester
• Coventry University
• University of Aberdeen
• University of Portmouth
• Nottingham Trent University
• University of Sunderland
• London Metropolitan University
• London South Bank University
• University of East London
• BROWSE ALL UNIVERSITIES

Course search

Popular undergraduate courses.

• Computer Science
• LLB Bachelor of Laws
• Biomedical Sciences
• Physiotherapy
• Sports Science

Open days search

Upcoming open days.

• Cardiff Metropolitan University
• Ulster University
• Ravensbourne University London
• University of Leicester

Article search

Popular topics.

• Clearing advice for students
• Clearing advice for parents
• Clearing advice for teachers
• League tables
• Getting ready for uni

Popular articles

• What is UCAS Extra?
• Applying directly into Clearing
• Clearing success stories
• What's a university open day
• How university rankings can help you through Clearing
• BROWSE ALL ADVICE

You are looking at:

Courses starting in 2025

Looking for Clearing courses?

Results for Undergraduate Creative writing Courses at University of surrey

1 university offer 2 undergraduate courses

Add your grades

Find courses that match your qualifications.

University of Surrey

UCAS points

University League Table

120 - 152 UCAS points

Studying Creative Writing

Search through undergraduate Communication and Media degree courses to see what’s available from UK universities. Each page should give you an insight into what the course might be like, along with information on entry requirements, UCAS points and university league table performance.A degree in Communication and Media will give you the knowledge and skills required for a career in the media industry. Courses have an interdisciplinary approach where you think critically about the press, film, broadcasting, digital media, advertising and other areas. You’ll learn how to be flexible, adaptable and critical, and potentially gain valuable experience through industry work placements.

Filter by qualification

• Bachelors Degree

Filter by region

• South East England

Filter by subject

• Film Studies
• Computer Graphics
• Communication Studies
• Film and Television
• Creative Writing
• Media Studies
• Photography
• Film / Video Production
• Visual Communication
• Broadcasting Studies
• Film Special Effects
• Television Studies
• Television Production
• Multimedia Computing
• Photographic Techniques
• Play Writing
• Film/TV Makeup

Course type

Qualification, your ucas points 0.

Our cookies

We use cookies for three reasons: to give you the best experience on PGS, to make sure the PGS ads you see on other sites are relevant , and to measure website usage. Some of these cookies are necessary to help the site work properly and can’t be switched off. Cookies also support us to provide our services for free, and by click on “Accept” below, you are agreeing to our use of cookies .You can manage your preferences now or at any time.

Privacy overview

We use cookies, which are small text files placed on your computer, to allow the site to work for you, improve your user experience, to provide us with information about how our site is used, and to deliver personalised ads which help fund our work and deliver our service to you for free.

The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience.

You can accept all, or else manage cookies individually. However, blocking some types of cookies may affect your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.

You can change your cookies preference at any time by visiting our Cookies Notice page. Please remember to clear your browsing data and cookies when you change your cookies preferences. This will remove all cookies previously placed on your browser.

For more detailed information about the cookies we use, or how to clear your browser cookies data see our Cookies Notice

Manage consent preferences

Strictly necessary cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems.

They are essential for you to browse the website and use its features.

You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. We can’t identify you from these cookies.

Functional cookies

These help us personalise our sites for you by remembering your preferences and settings. They may be set by us or by third party providers, whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, then these services may not function properly.

Performance cookies

These cookies allow us to count visits and see where our traffic comes from, so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are popular and see how visitors move around the site. The cookies cannot directly identify any individual users.

If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site and will not be able to improve its performance for you.

Marketing cookies

These cookies may be set through our site by social media services or our advertising partners. Social media cookies enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They can track your browser across other sites and build up a profile of your interests. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to see or use the content sharing tools.

Advertising cookies may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but work by uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will still see ads, but they won’t be tailored to your interests.

Creative Writing PhD

University of surrey, different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, university information, similar courses at this uni, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

Subject areas

Creative Writing

Course type

Why choose this programme

We belong to the interdisciplinary?School of Literature and Languages, which has research-active staff in English literature, film studies, translation studies, theoretical and applied linguistics, and literary and cultural studies as well as creative writing.

Our research in modern and contemporary writing includes both literary-critical and creative work. In particular, we explore:

The work of living writers The tradition and future of innovative writing The environment and climate change The nature of publishing as an innovative and radical political enterprise Literature and the body.

Our diverse mix of subject specialities mean that we are a vibrant and imaginative community with lots of opportunity for intellectual exchange.

What you will study

Our Creative Writing PhD will train you in critical and analytical skills, research methods, and knowledge that will equip you for your future career. It normally takes between three to four years to complete our full-time PhD.

You’ll be assigned two supervisors who will meet with you regularly to read and discuss your work and make sure you’re on track. For us, writing is essential for understanding and developing new perspectives, so you’ll be submitting written work right from the start of your course.

In your first year, you’ll refine your research proposal and plan the structure of your work with the support of your supervisors. As you go into your second and third year, you’ll work more independently, and your supervisors will guide you on how to present at conferences and get your work published.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

Applicants are expected to hold a first or upper second-class (2:1) UK degree and an MA in a relevant topic. In exceptional cases, students with a good first degree will be considered for creative writing where there is a substantial or promising creative portfolio.

The University of Surrey was established in 1891, and has a rich history of education and innovation. Surrey welcomes more than 3,500 postgraduate students to its campus annually, and the university is home to an academic community which is represented by over 120 countries from around the world. Surrey is renowned for celebrating diversity, with cultural inclusivity is at the centre of all its activities. Surrey is a research-driven... more

Creative Writing MA

Full time | 1 year | 23-SEP-24

CREATIVE WRITING AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE - 2023/4

Module code: ELI3046

Module Overview

This module is intended to follow on from previous CW modules and help you develop with an advanced engagement with questions of form and craft. It will concentrate on the practicalities of writing creatively within the context of a broad narrative frame. The focus of the module is on prose fiction and on poetry, as well as helping you produce polished and professional quality work in either or both modes. This module also provides knowledge and advice on the processes of getting published, the workings of the publishing industry and invites reflection on the challenges and opportunities of writing professionally.    

Module provider

Literature and Languages

Module Leader

POPOWICH Jamie (Lit & Langs)

Number of Credits: 15

Ects credits: 7.5, framework: fheq level 6, module cap (maximum number of students): 45, overall student workload.

Independent Learning Hours: 106

Seminar Hours: 22

Guided Learning: 11

Captured Content: 11

Module Availability

Prerequisites / co-requisites.

None    

Module content

Topics covered are likely to include: * Mystery and Suspense and how to generate them * Sentence Structure and its impact on the reader * Poetry : Appreciating Form * Poetry: Patterns of Sound * Advanced Drafting, Redrafting, Editing and Revising * Allusion, Homage, Parody and Pastiche Endings * Life as a published writer and the workings of the publishing industry

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Assessment strategy.

The assessment strategy is designed to provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate: * your writing skills creative writing (prose fiction and/or poetry and/or other modes of writing), and your understanding of the context of their work in historical and cultural terms, as well as in terms of other creative writing in the field * the development of your research skills * productive and informed critical reflection on both your own creative writing and the critical and secondary material that surrounds it, and/or both the creative process itself and the finished work that has resulted from it Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of: Creative Writing Submission (2400 words) and Self-Reflective Critical Commentary (600 words)   Formative assessment and feedback Verbal feedback in class, written and/or oral feedback on prepared written work and class exercises, written feedback on up to 250 words of work from the module convenor

Module aims

• The module aims to: create a space for creative writing in a variety of professional domains and genres
• provide opportunities for self-reflection and reflections on the writing and production process
• encourage you to think about what and how you might want to write after graduation

Learning outcomes

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning

• To encourage you to reflect on the challenges of writing professionally, and to provide knowledge about the practical and economic realities of contemporary publishing in a variety of fields.
• To help you build on your previous writing experience on previous modules, by developing a personalised revision and editing checklist, specific to you as a writer, based on the patterns of feedback you have received on this and other modules.  

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ELI3046

Other information

Surrey's Curriculum Framework is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills and capabilities in the following areas:

It is designed to help build Resilience and Resourcefulness : By encouraging students to share their work in class for verbal feedback and written feedback from peers and tutor, and then to build experience responding in productive ways to feedback. This is both a transferrable skill and a vital professional one for writers (and many other careers). You will be expected to respond thoughtfully, productively, sensitively and in detail to other people’s creative writing. You will also be given practice in thinking carefully and creatively about how to assimilate, respond to and benefit from other people’s written and verbal feedback, and developing habits of resilience which will allow you to do so.

Global and Cultural Capabilities: This is a module explicitly designed to build cultural and global intelligence, presenting you with unfamiliar forms of writing, encouraging you to think historically about literary forms, and introducing you to authors and texts from a diverse range of global cultural backgrounds. As well as introducing you to a wide range of global points of view, we’ll also be discussing our position as writers within a global publishing industry, and the opportunities and challenges which this poses to writers.

Employabilty: This module is designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills to write at a professional level in a variety of modes (prose fiction, poetry, writing for stage and for screen). It is also designed to help you develop their ability to express themselves clearly and precisely and respond in a focused and thoughtful way to the writing and ideas of others – both verbally and on the page. These are skills which employers on the PTY programme have consistently praised in our students and explicitly linked to the programme in PTY placement visits. This module is also designed to improve and broaden your knowledge of different authors, modes of writing and techniques of writing, and to enable you to experiment with some of these modes and techniques yourself. It should also be noted that sensitively and productively phrasing feedback (as you will be expected to do) and responding to it graciously and thoughtfully are also valuable skills in almost any professional line of work!

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2023/4 academic year.

We use cookies to help our site work, to understand how it is used, and to tailor ads that are more relevant to you and your interests.

By accepting, you agree to cookies being stored on your device. You can view details and manage settings at any time on our cookies policy page.

MA — 2025 entry Translation and AI

Originally launched in 1986, our Translation and AI MA is one of the longest-running in the world and attracts students from all over the globe. We'll provide you with a solid, all-round translator education fit for the evolving realities and technological challenges of the language industry

Key course information

• September 2025 - Full-time
• September 2025 - Part-time

Why choose this course?

• Our teaching combines professional translation experience with expertise in translation studies and is designed to meet the true needs of today’s translation market, whilst also enabling you to develop a professional CV as you study.
• As a UK centre of excellence in Translation Studies, we are guided by an ambitious research programme which focuses on the responsible integration of tried-and-tested professional translation practices.
• These fast-evolving language technologies include translation memories, term management software, corpus linguistics as an aid to translation, machine translation and artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT.

Fantastic graduate prospects

97% of our School of Literature and Languages postgraduate students go on to employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2024, HESA)

10th for research impact

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 ranked the School of Literature and Languages 10th for research impact

4th in the UK

For Languages and Linguistics in the Guardian University Guide 2024

Course details Open

What you will study.

The course has a strong practical component that includes translation practice in the following languages paired with English: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Greek, Italian, Korean, Polish, Norwegian, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish. Other languages are available upon request, subject to a minimum number of students.

You will develop professional translation skills under the coordinated guidance of professional translators and experienced academics. You will simulate real-life translation scenarios and cover a variety of specialisms, as you develop a solid grounding in the linguistic, cognitive, technological, quality, social and ethical dimensions of the profession. You will learn to understand, discuss and justify translation processes and translation product decisions. You will confront a wide range of translation challenges, learn to use cutting-edge software to enhance your practice, including computer-assisted translation tools, corpus linguistics software for translation, machine translation, and the responsible use of generative AI tools. In doing so, you will gain a critical understanding of how technologies impact the profession.

Optional modules focusing on the creative, business, technological and research dimensions of translation enable you to customise your learning, according to your own strengths, personal tastes and career ambitions.

You will have the opportunity to gain experience of language services provision through work placements and/or other tasks and industry collaborations.

To conclude your MA, our flexible dissertation options enable you to submit a choice of one of the following: 

• A dissertation based on researching a specific translation topic
• An extended translation paired with a reflective analytical commentary
• A critical report of a language-industry work placement
• A critical report of a skills-enhancement programme (such as a summer school or similar).

During your studies, you will have the opportunity to have your academic and professional excellence rewarded with the following prizes:

• RWS Campus Top Student Award (two Trados licenses)
• Project management training (one free-of-charge place in the Pro PM Training and Certification Programme)
• Professional Engagement Portfolio Prize
• Best Performance in Translation Prize.

An international community

The Translation and AI MA attracts students from all over the world, forming a truly multilingual international community. Our MA cohorts tend to be a mix of students who have just completed their undergraduate degrees and more mature students, with different backgrounds of experience.

A future-proof education

The course helps you develop not just core translation and translation technology skills, but also competencies in terminology, transcreation, localisation, multimodal communication and other specialised and multilingual language services. The MA is taught by professional translators and research-active academics working closely together, offering you a combination of practical experience and research-led teaching.

The programme is industry-facing, and provides an education that is guided by Surrey’s research and expertise in translating both creative and specialised texts while interacting with translation-memory systems, machine translation, AI tools (such as ChatGPT), performing post-editing tasks, and collaborating through digital platforms. It addresses machine-translation quality, uses and usability, the translation of audio-visual content for diverse audiences, text mining, an introduction to natural language processing, and corpus linguistics approaches to terminology extraction, bilingual term compilation, and enhancing quality in translation.

Professional development

Our course is designed to help you develop the linguistic, translation, technological, business, interpersonal and other soft skills needed for a successful career in the language services industry.

Surrey’s expertise and the training it provides in translation technologies means our graduates are well prepared for the increasing demand for computer-assisted translation, post-editing, remote collaborative assignments, terminology management, interacting with LLMs (large-language models) and new, emerging modes of language services provision.

You will practise translation in your working language combination(s) in small groups under the guidance of professional translators, who simulate authentic translation scenarios and cover a variety of specialisms with an emphasis on real-world demands for translation.

Surrey’s Centre for Translation Studies also hosts regular seminars with guest speakers, providing you with further insights into the profession and what is new in translation research.

You will receive guidance on the development of a professional engagement portfolio to help you build a professional CV as you study. This involves documenting collaborations with language services providers (such as work placements and volunteer translation) and other extra-curricular activities (such as joining a professional association or attending professional development workshops and webinars). You will also be encouraged to use your skills in the local community. For example, past students have collaborated with the University’s International Office, Watts Gallery and Guildford Walking Tours.

Industry links

We have forged close links with the main professional bodies in the language industry. For example, we are part of the prestigious Chartered Institute of Linguists’ Higher Education Language Partnership and corporate members of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting . You can join these bodies as a student member during the course and become a full member after you graduate.  

We also collaborate with the Translation Automation User Society , the European Language Industry Association , and the Globalization and Localization Association , which gives you the possibility to apply for a work placement with various translation and interpreting partner companies. We have close links with language service providers, and have an extensive network of visiting professionals, so you will benefit from excellent connections and be taught to industry standards.

Dr Dimitris Asimakoulas

Programme leader

Literature and Languages

This course is taught by academic staff from Literature and Languages, part of the School of Arts, Humanities and Creative Industries.

Course structure Open

The MA Translation and AI course is studied over one year (full-time) or two years (part-time).

The taught part of the programme is divided into eight 15-credit modules. A 15-credit module is indicative of 150 hours of learning. The hours of learning comprise of contact hours, guided learning and private study.

The course has three compulsory modules, and you must select another five optional modules.

Our varied offer of optional modules will enable you to tailor the programme to your personal strengths and preferences. If you are a full-time student, you will take the compulsory modules Professional Translation Practice I and Principles and Challenges of Translation and Interpreting in Semester 1, and Professional Translation Practice II in Semester 2. You will then take two optional modules in Semester 1, and three in Semester 2.

If you choose to study part-time, you will take compulsory modules in your first year. You can distribute the five remaining modules flexibly over two years.

You will complete your degree with a Translation and Interpreting Studies Dissertation (60 credits), to be submitted at the beginning of September. You can choose between three types of dissertation:

• A topic-based dissertation
• An extended translation or interpreting analytical commentary
• A work placement (minimum 150 hours) plus critical report.

The structure of our programmes follows clear educational aims that are tailored to each programme. These are all outlined in the programme specifications which include further details such as the learning outcomes:

Translation and AI MA

Modules listed are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Modules are subject to teaching availability, student demand and/or class size caps.

The University operates a credit framework for all taught programmes based on a 15-credit tariff, meaning all modules are comprised of multiples of 15 credits, up to a maximum of 120 credits.  

Course options

Professional translation practice i.

This module introduces students to professional translation practice. Taking a holistic approach to translator education, students engage in regular, practical translation workshops in which they are encouraged to translate different types of texts and reflect critically on the principles and challenges of contemporary translation. Covering different types of professional assignments, including specialized terminology research, translation for different purposes and audiences, and proofreading and editing, the workshops enable students to engage critically with the quality of professional human translation; this will prepare students for professional translation practice, including post-editing and evaluation of machine-translation and artificial -intelligence (AI) solutions. The workshops are led by practising translators and include translation practice in language-specific and multilingual groups. The languages we regularly offer  include: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Korean, Polish, Norwegian, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish, all paired with English. Other languages are available upon request (please ask). All languages are subject to demand and tutor availability. Close alignment with the module ‘Principles and Challenges of Translation and Interpreting’ enables students to confront a wide range of issues, equipping them with both a solid grounding in the guiding principles that underpin the discipline and the strategic competences required to engage in best practices in the profession. As part of the module, students begin to compile a Professional Engagement Portfolio based on additional profession-oriented activities undertaken independently with guidance; these activities are gradually documented during the academic year and then formally assessed and, for instance, typically include participation in workshops, talks and seminars organised by professional associations as well as additional training or work related to the programme.  

PRINCIPLES AND CHALLENGES OF TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETING

This module provides students with a systematic framework for understanding key concepts in Translation and Interpreting Studies and how they relate and apply to the rest of the programme and to everyday professional practice. The module enables students to confront a wide range of translation and interpreting challenges, from the lack of equivalence between languages and cultures to contemporary technological, ethical and societal issues affecting translation and interpreting practice, including the rapidly evolving use of machine translation and artificial intelligence (AI). The module equips students with both a solid grounding in the guiding principles of translation and interpreting, derived from scholarly engagement with the discipline, and the strategies required to engage in best practices in the profession and future career development. Taking a holistic approach to translator and interpreter education, the module consists of lectures and seminars that discuss the main principles and challenges of translation and interpreting, and explore solutions in close alignment with other modules in the programme. Students complement lectures and seminars with practical exercises and independent reading. 

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTATIONAL THINKING FOR TRANSLATORS

The purpose of this module is to develop problem-solving skills, enabling students to acquire basic and intermediate concepts of computer science and programming, and to learn how to apply them to problems related to translation-related tasks such as glossary creation, error analysis, automatic substitution. Topics to be covered include computational thinking, basic programming concepts such as fundamental data types, control structures, as well as practical examples how this knowledge can be applied for extracting statistics from corpora, cleaning translation memories and preparing data for experiments and analyse the results. Students will be taught different prompting techniques which allows them to interact with Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT to solve problems.     Students will learn how to analyse a problem, design solutions and implement them in a chosen programming language with the help of LMMs. The programming language to be used in this module is Python. Students will learn not only how to implement solutions in Python, but they will also gain the skills to analyse the responses from LLMs existing pieces of code and understand how to adapt them for their needs. Practical sessions will give participants hands-on experience in LLM prompting and writing Python programs individually and in teams. The practical sessions will greatly enhance students’ problem-solving skills and resourcefulness.  The module is intended for students who have no programming experience, but students with programming background interested in learning Python and how it can be used in the area of translation technology will also benefit from it. 

WRITING AND REWRITING FOR TRANSLATORS

This module focuses on the intricate relationship between writing and translation through the practicalities of text production within a broad writing context (i.e. from fiction prose to technical text production), with a view to making translators aware of the basic elements required to create an effective text. It will combine weekly theoretical lectures with workshops to read and discuss students' work as well as rewriting and revising techniques.

TRANSLATION AS HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION

This module is an introduction to the practice of translation with the support of the most advanced technologies available, focusing on the demand for translators to possess expert skills to be in command of their performance and in control of the outputs of their work. The module is informed by the evolution of requirements of professional translation, namely under the influence of advanced technologies like machine translation. The focus of the module is on the interaction between translators and the computer tools that they use.

PROFESSIONAL TRANSLATION PRACTICE II

This module builds on the work of the Professional Translation Practice I module, by extending the approach of a connection between theory and practice to a connection between technology and practice. The module presents a sequence of themes related to the role of technology in translation, including the role of AI-powered tools such as neural machine translation and generative AI, recognising their different applications in translation and providing students with a growing perspective of the uses of technological tools to solve different professional translation challenges. The module focuses on several dimensions of tasks and roles translators need to perform in professional contexts. These are explored in a combination of language-specific and multilingual translation workshops and technology workshops, so that students have regular opportunities for hands-on practice and guidance from professional translators and experienced members of staff. As in semester 1, the languages we usually offer include: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Korean, Polish, Norwegian, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish andor Turkish, all paired with English. Other languages are available upon request (please ask). All languages are subject to demand and tutor availability. As part of the module, students also continue to work on their Professional Engagement Portfolio from semester one (see Professional Translation Practice I).

AUDIOVISUAL TRANSLATION

In this module students learn about the distinctive features of multimodal translation, such as subtitling, dubbing, audio description and live subtitling. The module introduces students to the main challenges in each mode of audiovisual translation across a variety of genres, such as film, documentaries and video games. As such, the module will combine tutor-led components and components with a prominent practical element.

SMART TECHNOLOGIES FOR TRANSLATION

Students taking this module explore the main theoretical and practical aspects of smart technologies for translation, with emphasis on how the latest developments in Natural Language Processing, Large Language Models (e.g. ChatGPT) and Corpus Linguistics can to help translators. The purpose of this module is to enable students to understand the challenges faced when using computers artificial intelligence to process text automatically or when they need to process speech as an input. The focus is on enhancing students’ digital capabilities, especially those linked to the translation industry. The module will provide students with knowledge about the fields of Machine Translation (MT), Natural Language Processing (NLP), Large Language Models (LLMs) and Corpus Linguistics (CL).    The module will start with an introduction to NLP and machine translation and will present different paradigms to produce automatic translations. Students will be provided with hands-on experience on how to train translation engines, and how it is possible to evaluate MT, as well as how to use LLMs for translation related tasks. . Other topics such as terminology extraction, speech recognition and translation will also be covered. The students will learn how to harvest relevant corpora from the web, clean them and use them for translation-related tasks.The practical tasks addressed in the module will improve students’ problem-solving skills and contribute to their future career development.    Knowledge of programming will not be necessary, but students who have a programming background will be given the opportunity to use this knowledge in the module. Links will be established with other modules such as TRAM500 and TRAM496.

TRANSLATION FOR THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

This module introduces students to the key critical considerations and creative and technical decisions faced by translators of works in the cultural/creative industries, such as the film, theatre, creative or publishing industries. By focusing on the repertoires and creative decisions that such translation entails, the definition of  ‘translation’ will be examined rather broadly, namely, both as a form of interlingual transfer and as a creative platform for (re)writing texts. Examples are offered from the areas of advertising, cultural heritage, tourism, performance (drama translation) and entertainment/art (children’s literature, comic books, films). The module is suitable for students with different language backgrounds and it offers a creative practical component as well as insights into how the creative industries work.

Semester 1 & 2

Translation and interpreting studies dissertation.

This module is designed to enable students to consolidate and further advance the knowledge and skills acquired during the taught components of the programme, and gain experience working independently on an extended project through one of the following options: Research on a Translation or Interpreting Studies topic and a written dissertation An extended translation with an analytical commentary or an interpreting simulation with an analytical commentary A work placement of at least 150 hours accompanied by a critical report. If taking this option, it is the responsibility of students to find a professional placement approved by CTS (this includes volunteer translation and a range of ad hoc language-industry activities carried out during the academic year). CTS will support students in finding a placement through professional engagement portfolios, invited seminar talks and a dedicated language industries careers fair. A practical skills-enhancement programme of 60 hours or equivalent and a written report. If taking this option, the skills-enhancement programme can be either run by CTS (subject to availability and demand) or external. If external (e.g. a summer school run by another organization), the programme must be approved by CTS in advance

Optional modules for Year 1 (full-time) - FHEQ Level 8

Students must choose five optional modules - two in Semester 1 and three in Semester 2. Professional Translation Practice language options include Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Greek, Italian, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish paired with English. They require native or near-native competency in English and one of the above languages.

Optional modules for Year 1 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7

For further information regarding programme structure and module selection, please refer to the course catalogue .

Optional modules for Year 2 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7

Students must choose four optional modules in year 2.

General course information

Contact hours.

Contact hours can vary across our modules. Full details of the contact hours for each module are available from the University of Surrey's module catalogue. See the modules section for more information.

Course timetables are normally available one month before the start of the semester.

Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week (Monday – Friday). Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities. The part-time timetable is based on the full-time one, so classes will run on any teaching day.

Translation Studies seminars take place on Wednesday afternoons – attendance is optional, but strongly encouraged.

Please note that as our practice-based classes are normally provided by professional interpreters and we may sometimes have to reschedule classes to accommodate professional commitments.

View our  code of practice for the scheduling of teaching and assessment (PDF) .

Stag Hill is the University's main campus and where the majority of our courses are taught. 

Career opportunities Open

We offer careers information, advice and guidance to all students whilst studying with us, which is extended to our alumni for three years after leaving the University.

There is a growing demand for novel modes of translation and multilingual language services that our MA Translation and AI students are specifically prepared for.

The course’s work placement dissertation option enables you to gain professional experience and nurture a close relationship with a prospective employer. We are regularly contacted by stakeholders from the language services industry wishing to recruit Surrey MA Translation and AI students and recent graduates.

Job opportunities include:

• Working as in-house and freelance translators
• Multilingual content writers
• Language-services managers
• Localisation specialists
• Terminology specialists
• Transcreation specialists
• Language and translation tutors.

Recent Surrey graduates have pursued careers at international organisations, government bodies and the private sector, as well as developing successful freelance ventures. A few of our MA students carry on  studying for a PhD , which will open doors for them to embrace an academic career.

To further help our students with work opportunities in the language services industry, we host an annual careers fair where local and international companies with an active interest in MA Translation and AI graduates meet our students in an informal, friendly atmosphere.

Facilities Open

As a student, you will have classes in dedicated  language-software computer labs . You will work hands-on with state-of-the-art tools such as:

• SDL Trados Studio
• Dragon Naturally Speaking
• SDL MultiTerm
• Sketch Engine

Hear from our students Open

Hayley Smith

Student - Translation MA

"I’d really love to go on to do a doctorate at Surrey following my MA. I didn’t expect this to be the case when I started, but my course has inspired me so much and I’m really keen to develop further research in my field."

"The course is a chance for me to upskill in terms of translation technologies, develop my understanding of the languages industries and expand my existing translation practice."

Entry requirements Open

Uk qualifications.

If you are a native English speaker, we require a minimum of a 2:2 UK honours degree in one of the languages listed below or in a related subject taught in one of these languages.

Native speakers of a relevant language (from the list below) require a degree in an arts, humanities or social science (e.g. economics, management, tourism and hospitality management) subject.

Alternative subjects will be considered by the Faculty on a case-by-case basis.

Relevant work experience to be considered by the Faculty on a case-by-case basis.

The languages available in the programme (subject to demand) are:

• Chinese (Mandarin)

Other languages may be available upon request.

Country-specific qualifications

International students in the united kingdom, english language requirements.

IELTS Academic:  6.5 overall with 7.0 in writing and 6.0 in each other element.

These are the English language qualifications and levels that we can accept.

If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses , designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.

Recognition of prior learning

We recognise that many students enter their course with valuable knowledge and skills developed through a range of ways.

If this applies to you, the recognition of prior learning process may mean you can join a course without the formal entry requirements, or at a point appropriate to your previous learning and experience.

There are restrictions for some courses and fees may be payable for certain claims. Please contact the Admissions team with any queries.

Fees and funding Open

Fees per year.

Explore  UKCISA’s website for more information if you are unsure whether you are a UK or overseas student. View the  list of fees for all postgraduate courses.

September 2025 - Full-time - 1 year

September 2025 - part-time - 2 years.

• If you are on the two-year part-time masters programme, the annual fee is payable in Year 1 and Year 2 of the programme
• These fees apply to students commencing study in the academic year 2025-26 only. Fees for new starters are reviewed annually.

Payment schedule

• Students with Tuition Fee Loan: the Student Loans Company pay fees in line with their schedule (students on an unstructured self-paced part-time course are not eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan).
• Students without a Tuition Fee Loan: pay their fees either in full at the beginning of the programme or in two instalments as follows:
• 50% payable 10 days after the invoice date (expected to be October/November of each academic year)
• 50% in January of the same academic year.
• Students on part-time programmes where fees are paid on a modular basis: cannot pay fees by instalment.
• Sponsored students: must provide us with valid sponsorship information that covers the period of study.

The exact date(s) will be on invoices. 

Additional costs

Additional costs may be incurred within the Dissertation module if the work placement is opted for. This may include expenses, such as travel to and from the workplace, any required accommodation and related subsidiary costs. However, please note that in the language services industry it is often possible to carry out work placements or parts of it remotely/virtually.

You may be able to borrow money to help pay your tuition fees and support you with your living costs. Find out more about postgraduate student finance .

Apply online

To apply online first select the course you'd like to apply for then log in.

Select your course

Choose the course option you wish to apply for.

Create an account and sign into our application portal.

Full-time, 12 months, September 2025

Applications are not yet open. If you would like us to email you when they open, then please register your interest.

Admissions information

Once you apply, you can expect to hear back from us within 14 days. This might be with a decision on your application or with a request for further information.

Our code of practice for postgraduate admissions policy explains how the Admissions team considers applications and admits students. Read our postgraduate applicant guidance for more information on applying.

About the University of Surrey

Accommodation

We have a range of housing to suit all requirements and budgets. There are more than 6,000 rooms available (en-suite, single-sex, studio flat, shared or single).

Student life

At Surrey we offer a friendly university campus set in beautiful countryside, with the convenience and social life of bustling Guildford on your doorstep.

Need more information?

Contact our Admissions team or talk to a current University of Surrey student online.

Next open day

Terms and conditions.

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Surrey, you are agreeing to follow our policies and procedures , student regulations , and terms and conditions .

We provide these terms and conditions in two stages:

• First when we make an offer.
• Second when students accept their offer and register to study with us (registration terms and conditions will vary depending on your course and academic year).

View our generic registration terms and conditions (PDF) for the 2023/24 academic year, as a guide on what to expect.

This online prospectus has been published in advance of the academic year to which it applies.

Whilst we have done everything possible to ensure this information is accurate, some changes may happen between publishing and the start of the course.

It is important to check this website for any updates before you apply for a course with us. Read our full disclaimer .