creative writing degree wales

Creative Writing (Full-time) (MA)

Creative Writing is an increasingly popular subject at degree level and beyond.

It assists students in developing their passion for creative expression into successful writing (and we encourage and equip our graduates to publish their work).

It also supports independent writing projects that require both flexibility and sustained, self-motivated research - excellent training for a range of working lives and the bedrock of any entrepreneurial career.

The ability to produce good clear writing is an invaluable skill in a world awash with reports, from teaching to management.

Communicating clearly through precise language prepares students for a range of careers, from writing-based advertising or journalism, to related professions such as publishing, publicity or arts administration.

Creative Writing is well established at UWTSD. Our MA in Creative Writing was the first in Wales in 1997 and joint and single honours undergraduate programs soon followed.

As a result of their professional mentoring several former students now work in publishing and associated industries and we are proud of our track record of student publishing and award-winning success — we have at least one a year and many go on to further successful publications.

The course is offered both residentially and through blended (mixed on-campus/online) delivery.

Course details

• Using your device
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• October 2024
• February 2025
• Distance Learning

Postgraduate Fees

Why choose this course?

What you will learn.

The University has an excellent track record for the study of Creative Writing. Our Masters programme in Creative Writing has attracted students from a range of backgrounds and experiences — from recent graduates to mature students with a wealth of life experience.

The course comprises 4 taught modules which focus on advanced writing skills, approaches to research for the writer, publishing contexts and wider opportunities, and workshopping. In the second part of the course students get the opportunity to work on an independent project of their choosing with a practitioner

This programme is designed for committed writers who wish to complete significant pieces of work and generally broaden their experience as writers.

The programme offers participants an opportunity to work with a range of writers across a number of genres, both campus based and visiting. It also introduces students to understanding how publishing works.

Modules focus on acquiring an understanding of creativity and genre, research skills for writers, and self determined projects. The creative project/dissertation element of the course allows students to develop work of a publishable standard with an individual tutor.

(30 credits)

(60 credits)

We listen to student feedback and insights from industry and from professionals to ensure that course content is high-quality and up-to-date, and that it offers the best possible preparation for your future career or study goals. 

For this reason, there might be modifications to the content of your course over time, to keep up to date with changes in the subject area or in the sector. If a module is no longer running, we’ll make sure to keep you informed, and work with you to choose a different suitable module.

Our People

You will be taught and supported by a wide range of professional staff and teams here to help you get the university experience you are looking for. Our teaching staff were ranked 2nd in Wales for assessments and feedback (NSS 2023) meaning the comments you get back from your work will help you learn. Our commitment to your learning has seen our students place us as Top 10 in the UK for Lecturers and Teaching Quality. Find out more about our academic staff who teach across our courses. 

Ratings and Rankings

Accommodation.

Carmarthen Accommodation

Carmarthen has a variety of accommodation and we guarantee accommodation for 1st Years with availability for your 2nd and 3rd Years. Based on our Carmarthen campus you will be right in the middle of everything, with options to suit all budgets. 

Further information

Entry requirements.

Applicants may have achieved a 2:1 degree in Creative Writing or a cognate discipline (those with a 2:2 may be considered for entry to a Postgraduate Diploma in the first instance). Other applicants without a first degree but with a level of experience are also encouraged to apply. In all cases a writing sample and interview will form the major part of the application process.

Assessment Methods

The programme’s assessment strategy consists of formative and summative assessments. Students are assessed on a range of creative and reflective writings, including creative tasks, reflective journal, review, and research essay.

Assessment for the programme has been informed by studies in Creative Writing Education as well as the subject benchmark statements of the National Association of Writers in Education (NAWE, 2008) and the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA, 2016).

The decision to have 4 modules in part one - two assessed by portfolio and two through an individual research project – aims to hone particular writing skills and develop a larger sweep of focus. These modules prepare the student to manage the research and writing required for the Dissertation length Creative Project.

The first portfolio module presents the student with a range of different approaches to writing and a range of different tasks; the second introduces the writer to opportunities and ways of functioning as a professional writer. There is a similar stepped progression in the two research modules: the first focuses on researching and writing around an individual subject; the second broadens out to include context in the form of place or time. All require some meditation on, and reassessment of, writerly strategies employed in the practice.

The Assessment Strategy is designed in relation to the Learning Outcomes of the MA Programme and the individual component of that programme which is the module. Links are made throughout to the value of each assessment in enhancing the employability skills of graduates, both as professional writers and as writers applying their skills in an appropriate field. For Creative Writers a heightened awareness of linguistic pattern and meaning, high-level written and spoken communication skills and the invaluable skills of listening and discussion essential to any management position. 

The second purpose is that of developing highly skilled and flexible graduates with training in the key skills required for any high-level job: the abilities to discriminate, absorb, manage, and process complex information, to formulate and construct complex arguments that may be pitched appropriately to different audiences. As the study and practice of written communication, Graduates will be trained in good presentation and communication skills, particularly the skills of listening and co-operating without losing focus.

Additional Costs

There will be no mandatory additional costs to study beyond the payment of tuition. Students should be prepared to incur the basic costs associated with study such as transport and may wish to purchase coffees, snacks or other sundry items on campus.

Many students also choose to invest in study support tools such as laptops over the course of their study, though this is not a programme requirement. Any activities related to study or student life which bear a cost beyond tuition will be optional, and the expense shall be clearly communicated to students at the time of registration.

Bursary / Scholarship Information

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available, please visit our Bursaries and Scholarships section.

Career Opportunities

Through its links to a host of subjects including Drama, Media, Journalism, Film Studies and Theatre Studies, Creative Writing offers a range of possible writing opportunities. Our location in west Wales enables us to draw on opportunities in a developing area of film and television production here.

Students are introduced to understanding the world of the self-employed writer by being introduced to publishing (from approaching publishers, the steps of publication, the necessity of documents such as AI sheets), self-presentation in readings, collaborative, cross-disciplinary projects, residencies etc.

One of the biggest areas of growth is viral advertising narratives and there are also collaborative opportunities in games design and narrative. Links with Literature or History can lead to other possibilities, for example to careers involving narratives associated with archives and museums.

More widely the focus on both the structure and detail of language develops skills essential to any high-level graduate employment: to formulate and write clear and coherent narratives that present complex information to mixed (or at least varied) audiences. In addition, the programme focus on the respect and listening skills of the workshop is equally valuable. These skills are essential to any of the professions that deal directly with people. These may include social work, probation services, mental health advocates etc.

More English and Creative Writing courses

Bilingualism and multilingualism (full-time) (ma), bilingualism and multilingualism (full-time) (pgcert), bilingualism and multilingualism (full-time) (pgdip), bilingualism and multilingualism (part-time) (ma), bilingualism and multilingualism (part-time) (pgcert), bilingualism and multilingualism (part-time) (pgdip), creative writing (full-time) (ba hons), creative writing (full-time) (pgdip), creative writing (full-time) (pgcert), creative writing (part-time) (ma), creative writing (part-time) (pgdip), creative writing (part-time) (pgcert), creative writing (part-time) (ba hons), modern literature (part-time) (ma), modern literature (part-time) (pgcert), modern literature (part-time) (pgdip).

English Literature and Creative Writing

BA English Literature and Creative Writing Code QW38 Applicant Visiting Days Applicant Visiting Days --> Attend an Open Day Attend an Open Day Open Days - Register Now Open Days - Register Now --> Apply Now Scholarships and Bursaries worth over £15,000 – apply now --> Accepting late applications Apply now -->

You are viewing this course for September start 2024

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Course duration.

Further details on entry requirements

If you love living in a world of imagination and creativity, sign up for the English Literature and Creative Writing degree course here in Aberystwyth University where the beautiful landscape is sure to inspire you. Come and join our close-knit community of students and staff in the Department of English and Creative Writing and enjoy working with other young writers in a place full of energy and new ideas.

On this innovative course, you will have the opportunity to develop both your creative and critical writing skills. Taught by distinguished, practising writers, you will find this degree both challenging and rewarding. By studying various genres and styles, writing forms and techniques, you will develop a range of competencies and capabilities, skills and attributes that are widely sought by employers, placing you in a strong position for gaining work when you graduate.

Course Overview

Why study English Literature and Creative Writing at Aberystwyth?

• You will be taught by staff who are distinguished practising writers and published authors across a broad spectrum of literary fields.
• You will be encouraged to develop your creative and critical writing skills.
• You will be encouraged to expand your range and capabilities as a writer to enable you to work confidently in a variety of forms and genres.
• We offer you opportunities to engage with a wide variety of approaches to literature and cultural history, combining critical thinking with scholarship.
• You will have the opportunity to explore literary theory - philosophical and conceptual ideas that inform, challenge and problematize the ways we read.
• In your final year you will have the opportunity to take part in a writing retreat at a country house in mid-Wales - an amazing opportunity to spend time with fellow students and staff, developing your final year projects and dissertations, in a splendid rural setting.
• We have one of the biggest libraries in the world, the National Library of Wales, on our doorstep. This copyright institution receives a copy of every book published in the UK.
• The department is home to New Welsh Review , Wales’ foremost literary magazine - this could be an exciting opportunity for you to get involved.
• You will be immersed in a supportive and vibrant community of creative and critical thinkers, literary experts, and published authors from every field.

All academic staff in the Department of English and Creative Writing are active scholars and experts in their fields. They are either qualified to PhD level or have commensurate experience. Our Lecturers either hold or are working towards a Higher Education teaching qualification and the majority of academic staff also hold the status of Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Modules September start - 2024

Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.

* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

Career Prospects

A degree in English Literature and Creative Writing offers a “golden standard” for any employment setting where communication and the written word are valued. All of our modules deliver key skills that enable you to build a comprehensive CV that evidences your diverse range of competencies.

Our graduates have been successful across the widest possible range of career destinations including:

• broadcasting
• advertising
• the Civil Service

Your degree in English Literature and Creative Writing will equip you with:

• the ability to express ideas and communicate information in a clear and structured manner, in both written and oral form
• effective problem-solving and creative thinking skills
• the facility to deal with abstract concepts
• the ability to work independently
• time-management and organisational skills, including the ability to meet deadlines
• self-motivation and self-reliance
• team-working, with the ability to discuss concepts in groups, accommodating different ideas and reaching agreement
• research skills.

What work experience opportunities exist while studying? 

Click  here  to find out about the various opportunities that our Aberystwyth University Careers team offer. 

Enhance your employability prospects with  GO Wales and YES  (Year in Employment Scheme) managed by our Careers department. 

Teaching & Learning

What will I learn?

The breakdown below will provide you with an illustration of what you may study during the three year degree scheme.

This degree is based on our strongly held belief that in order to become a really great writer you need to be a good reader. You will develop advanced skills in the interpretation and analysis of literary texts, you will encounter texts from a range of historical periods and genres. Throughout the course you will use your knowledge of literature and textual production in your own creative work, exploring the relationship between creative and critical practice.

In your first year you will discover:

• a range of techniques for reading and writing fiction and poetry
• modes of descriptive writing
• the importance of plot
• the use of dialogue
• some key figures from literary history (from Shakespeare to the Brontës)
• lesser known texts, and writers who are new-to-you
• a variety of “ways of reading” and some theoretical approaches to textual analysis
• poetry, prose, drama, American literature, adaptations, Classical literature, contemporary writing, medieval texts and much more.

In your second year you will explore:

• the theoretical approaches to, and the practice of, literary criticism
• your own writing style, informed by your reading and research
• a range of selected core texts from the medieval period through to the twenty-first century
• a number of specialist topics chosen by you (these might focus on a specific genre (such as crime fiction), historical period (such as the Victorian era), or theme (such as “transpositions”).

In your final year you will master:

• theory for writers and the application of theoretical perspectives the production and critical evaluation of your own creative work
• extended writing and independent research in your final year writing project (chosen and defined by you with the support of a published author)
• your own specialisms drawn from a diverse range of option modules taught by writers in those fields, covering topics such as Elizabethan drama, the ghost story, queer fiction, writing for children, science fiction and fantasy, and much more.

In your final year you will also have the opportunity to take part in a writing retreat at a country house in mid Wales - an amazing opportunity to spend time with fellow students and staff, developing your final year projects and dissertations, in a splendid rural setting.

How will I be taught?

Our degree is taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, and one-to-one tutorials. We also encourage self-directed learning designed to stimulate your academic interest in reading and writing and to nurture your personal and intellectual development.

You will be assessed through portfolios of your creative work, critical commentaries, essays, exams and oral presentations. You will also be required to complete additional, non-assessed, assignments and to work with others on particular tasks.

Further information:

As you study, you will develop a range of skills which will benefit you in further study or any graduate workplace. You will learn to: employ multiple critical techniques when approaching texts; develop a reflective practice in reading and writing; articulate a detailed critical analysis of your subject; and respond to any task with creativity, flair and style.

You will be assigned a personal tutor who will help you with any problems or queries, whether these are academic-related or pastoral issues. Your personal tutor will also be responsible for delivering tutorials that will help you in the development of key skills.

You will also have the opportunity to complete a Personal Development Plan (PDP) at Aberystwyth. This is a structured process of self-appraisal, reflection, and planning, which will enable you to chart your personal, academic and professional development throughout your time at university. By recording your academic performance, and highlighting the skills you already have and those you will need for future employability, the PDP portfolio will equip you with the necessary tools to plan effectively, develop successful approaches to study, and consider your future career options and aspirations.

Student Testimonials

Pouring through the literature provided on the English side of the course constantly expands your knowledge, enabling you to really exist in the world of the Romantics, or feminists of the 1900s. Yet, the Creative side of the course allows you to enhance and mould your imagination to be the very best it can be. Melding the two together leaves you with a great knowledge of existing literature, allowing you to better understand how to create your own. With the guidance of the tutors on the course, I feel I have learnt so much and am continually learning more about how to write and construct prose. It's given me the best chances of one day publishing my own novel. Camilla Woodrow-Hill

It expands your imagination, challenges your abilities, and teaches you different styles and techniques that you might never have thought to try if you hadn't been on this course. I have learnt so much, and am so proud of my achievements - being able to see ticks and positive remarks scribbled next to my creations gives me even more inspiration for the future of my writing. Hannah Buck

English and Creative Writing at Aberystwyth University offer students the chance to learn from classic and contemporary Greats, and then develop your own writer's craft during Creative Writing Workshops. The choice was so varied: from Medieval and Renaissance to Women on the Stage and War Fiction modules. I loved studying English and Creative Writing because I got to learn and write about things that interested me. The lecturers were always willing to help, listen and talk about any problems that I had which made my degree very enjoyable. Nicola Anne Henderson

Typical Entry Requirements

UCAS Tariff 120 - 104

A Levels BBB-BCC

GCSE requirements (minimum grade C/4): English or Welsh

BTEC National Diploma: DDM-DMM

International Baccalaureate: 30-28

European Baccalaureate: 75%-65%

English Language Requirements: See our Undergraduate English Language Requirements for this course. Pre-sessional English Programmes are also available for students who do not meet our English Language Requirements.

Country Specific Entry Requirements: International students whose qualification is not listed on this page, can check our Country Specific Entry Requirements for further information.

The University welcomes undergraduate applications from students studying the Access to Higher Education Diploma or T-level qualifications, provided that relevant subject content and learning outcomes are met. We are not able to accept Access to Higher Education Diplomas or T-levels as a general qualification for every undergraduate degree course. Our inclusive admissions policy values breadth as well as depth of study. Applicants are selected on their own individual merits and offers can vary. If you would like to check the eligibility of your qualifications before submitting an application, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for advice and guidance.

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A Creative Writing degree will let you flex your storytelling abilities and study the work of literary legends.Our university rankings for Creative Writing include Scriptwriting and Poetry Writing.

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8 Universities in Wales offering Creative Writing degrees and courses

More Information

Are you looking for Creative Writing courses? Here you can find course providers offering full-time, part-time, online or distance learning options.

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Cardiff Metropolitan University

THE World Ranking: 1201

Cardiff University

THE World Ranking: 190

Bangor University

THE World Ranking: 401

University of South Wales

THE World Ranking: 1001

Swansea University

THE World Ranking: 251

Aberystwyth University

THE World Ranking: 501

Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD Carmarthen / Lampeter / ...

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• English - Global

Creative Writing (MA)

• Duration: 1 year
• Mode: Full time

Conversion course

This is a conversion course . Conversion courses allow you to study a subject unrelated to your undergraduate degree or current career, and support you with a change of career path.

Find out more about studying here as a postgraduate at our next Open Day .

Why study this course

Develop your portfolio of writing in our prestigious programme designed for emerging and more experienced writers.

Taught by experts

Our teaching staff is made up of professional writers and leading researchers.

Hone your craft

Showcase events and Open Mic nights allow you to share your writing with an audience.

Learn outside the classroom

The opportunity to attend a writing retreat with your peers and course tutors.

Network with professionals

A creative industries symposium, featuring panels with agents, editors, and publishers, as well as a Visiting Writer series.

Designed for improving writers with previous experience of the writer’s craft, this one-year full-time course will extend your knowledge and understanding of the practice of creative writing.

Developing your creative writing abilities and ideas beyond your first degree, you will attend workshops, produce two extended portfolios of creative writing in your chosen genre(s), and attend classes in various topics in creative writing. In addition, you will have the opportunity to gain experience in teaching creative writing, or further your knowledge of other areas of creative practice or English Literature by choosing from a selection of research-led modules taught by specialists in the field.

A series of complementary modules stresses an integrated and cohesive experience of developing your craft and writing skills; at the same time, you will have the opportunity to engage with the writing industry, liaise with creative professionals, and showcase your work. 

You will master the ability to independently produce literary works of sophistication and skill, and to participate in writers’ workshops. You will also develop your knowledge and skills in the writing of one or more literary genre(s), the processes of editing and revision, and either the teaching of creative writing, or other areas of creative practice or English Literature.  

Where you'll study

School of English, Communication and Philosophy

Powered by pioneering research, we celebrate curiosity, engage in informed debate and critical analysis, and encourage creative thinking - across and beyond our disciplines.

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• Telephone +44 (0)29 2087 9066
• Marker Colum Drive, Cardiff, CF10 3EU

Admissions criteria

This is a conversion course. Conversion courses allow you to study a subject unrelated to your undergraduate degree or current career, and support you with a change of career path. No prior knowledge or degree in the subject is required.

In order to be considered for an offer for this programme you will need to meet all of the entry requirements. Your application will not be progressed if the information and evidence listed is not provided.

With your online application you will need to provide:

• A copy of your degree certificate and transcripts which show you have achieved a 2:1 honours degree in any subject, or an equivalent international degree. If your degree certificate or result is pending, please upload any interim transcripts or provisional certificates.
• A copy of your IELTS certificate with an overall score of 7.0 with 6.5 in all subskills, or evidence of an accepted equivalent. Please include the date of your expected test if this qualification is pending. If you have alternative acceptable evidence, such as an undergraduate degree studied in the UK, please supply this in place of an IELTS.
• A personal statement that does not exceed 750 words outlining your motivations for undertaking the course and an awareness of the programme aims and learning outcomes.
• A written piece of 2000 words of prose or drama, or up 10 poems - the number of pages will vary according to the genre or work you are submitting. Something you have previously submitted as part of your BA degree or another course is acceptable.
• A written piece of 1000 words of additional writing, made up of one of the following: literary criticism, an academic essay, journalism, an arts review, or a piece of creative analysis (as required for 'commentaries' on standard Creative Writing assignments).

Application Deadline

We allocate places on a first-come, first-served basis, so we recommend you apply as early as possible. Applications normally close at the end of August but may close sooner if all places are filled.

Selection process

We will review your application and the quality of the portfolio of creative writing submitted and if you meet all of the entry requirements, we will make you an offer.

Find out more about English language requirements .

Criminal convictions

You are not required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check or provide a Certificate of Good Conduct to study this course.

If you are currently subject to any licence condition or monitoring restriction that could affect your ability to successfully complete your studies, you will be required to disclose your criminal record. Conditions include, but are not limited to:

• access to computers or devices that can store images
• use of internet and communication tools/devices
• freedom of movement
• contact with people related to Cardiff University.

Course structure

Overall, the degree programme is worth 180 credits. You will study a mixture of core modules and a selection from a range of optional modules (either from within Creative Writing or the English Literature MA programme).  

The programme is divided into two stages. Stage 1 is comprised of all of your taught modules. On successful completion of Stage 1 you will progress to Stage 2 of the programme.  

As the focus of Stage 2, from May to September of your year of study, you will devote your time to completing your extended portfolio of writing and accompanying critical commentary produced exclusively during the course. You will be supported in this through one-to-one tutorial meetings with your portfolio supervisor. You must successfully complete Stage 2 and pass the module to gain your Master’s degree.

The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2024/25 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2024.

Stage 1 is comprised entirely of taught modules and takes places across the autumn and spring semesters.  It consists of a mixture of core modules and a selection from a range of optional modules that make up a total of 120 credits.

A selection of optional modules in Creative Writing provides you with the opportunity to learn about further areas of creative and critical practice; these may include ideas and approaches in the practice of translating creative work; how literary theory informs creative writing; or creative writing pedagogy, with an emphasis on practical applications and the chance to gain teaching experience.

Each year a wide selection of English literature modules are made available to Creative Writing students that may be taken; if you decide to study an English literature module you may need to submit a sample of critical writing to demonstrate the requisite writing skills, and potentially meet with the module tutor to ensure you have the required background knowledge to study on that module.

Please note that one core module requires evening attendance on select weeks throughout the year.

Stage Two is made up of a supervision-based module that provides you with the opportunity to further specialize in your writing area(s) and genre(s) of choice.  You will work with your assigned supervisor through one-to-one tutorials to further hone your craft, expertise, and knowledge while simultaneously developing an extended body of work.

The module is worth 60 credits and assessed by a final portfolio, which consists of a creative component and an accompanying critical commentary, both to be submitted at the end of the academic year.

The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.

Learning and assessment

How will i be taught.

Teaching and learning is by a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, tutor led one-to-ones, guest talks and panels, and showcasing events; it also includes the opportunity to attend a writing retreat and a creative industries symposium.

Throughout the course of your studies you will be expected to read and analyse a range of critical and literary texts, read and assess peer work, and develop self-reflective writing skills.  As you progress in your learning you will move from a wider consideration of the craft to a greater focus on your genre area(s).

Specific learning activities will vary from module to module, but may include writing exercises, critical reading, analysis of craft, the presentation of critical and creative work to others, teaching activities, etc. In the workshop-based modules you will be expected to read and critique the work of your peers, and give focused and constructive feedback in our supportive group environments.

Additional information

As part of the programme, Open Mic sessions take place at regular intervals throughout the academic year, often featuring a professional guest writer, providing you with the opportunity to present your work to an audience. Our Annual Creative Writers’ Retreat usually takes place at the beginning of December. Costs are included in your course fee. The retreat involves a combination of seminars, workshops, and showcase events, as well as time set aside for writing, reading, and reflection.

Each year, at the end of the spring semester we aim to hold an annual Creative Industries Symposium, which takes place over one day and involves guest talks, panels discussions, and presentations by industry professionals: authors, editors, agents, and/or publishers.  

How will I be assessed?

Assessment will vary from module to module. On your taught modules that comprise Stage One, assessment may consist of but is not limited to: portfolios of creative work, academic essays, reflective essays, journals, critical commentaries, video blogs and/or presentations. The assessment for Stage Two is made up of an extended portfolio of work that includes a combination of creative and critical writing.

How will I be supported?

You will be assigned a personal tutor for the course of your studies, who is available to discuss your general academic progress and student experience. You will also have the opportunity to meet with your module tutors to discuss particular aspects of their respective modules.  On some modules – and in particular Stage Two – you will also be assigned a supervisor with whom you will discuss your writing and work-in-progress through one-to-one tutorials.

There is extensive opportunity for formative feedback throughout the course, particularly in the workshop-based modules, in which you will share your own work in progress and receive constructive critique and advice from your peers and tutors. Each module culminates in a summative assessment, and for these assessments along with the mark (where applicable) in-depth feedback is provided by the module tutor. 

What skills will I practise and develop?

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will be able to do as a result of your study at Cardiff University. They will help you to understand what is expected of you. 

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme can be found below:

Knowledge & Understanding:

On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to:

• Demonstrate systematic understanding of the creative processes of published and established writers, both past and present
• Understand key aspects of creative writing theory and practice.
• Show comprehensive knowledge of the use of voice, point of view, character, setting, plot, and theme in creative works

Intellectual Skills:

• Analyse and critique specific writing modes, styles, and genres
• Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of others’ writing.
• Assess and critically reflect on your own writing practice 

Professional Practical Skills:

• Conceptualize and develop creative works to a high standard
• Design and undertake research to inform your creative writing and/or sustain a complex critical argument.
• Understand standards and conventions of the creative industries

Transferable/Key Skills:

• Edit and revise pieces of creative and/or critical writing
• Present your work and engage an audience
• Provide constructive feedback in a supportive manner

Tuition fees for 2024 entry

Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on your fee status. Your fee status could be home, island or overseas.

Learn how we decide your fee status

Fees for home status

Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland

If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national, your tuition fees for 2024/25 be in line with the overseas fees for international students, unless you qualify for home fee status. UKCISA have provided information about Brexit and tuition fees .

Fees for island status

Learn more about the postgraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man .

Fees for overseas status

More information about tuition fees and deposits , including for part-time and continuing students.

Financial support

Financial support may be available to individuals who meet certain criteria. For more information visit our funding section. Please note that these sources of financial support are limited and therefore not everyone who meets the criteria are guaranteed to receive the support.

Additional costs

Living costs.

We’re based in one of the UK’s most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff .

Master's Scholarships

An award open to UK students intending to study one of our taught master’s degrees.

Postgraduate loans

If you are starting your master’s degree in September 2024 or later, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study at Cardiff University.

Alumni Discount

The alumni discount is available for Cardiff University graduates who are planning to start an eligible master's in 2024/25.

Careers and placements

Postgraduate study is a gateway to many careers within and beyond academia. Many overseas postgraduates return to lectureships with much enhanced career prospects. Example employers in the UK include Cardiff University, Mencap, Poetry Wales magazine, Teach First, and the Welsh Government, with jobs that include Creative Writing Lecturer, Copyeditor, Copywriter, Librarian, Literary Agent, Literary Editor, Marketing Officer, Novelist, Poet, Publicist, Publisher, Playwright, Recruitment Consultant, Teacher, and Screenwriter, among many others.

Among our roll-call of alumni are Susmita Bhattacharya ( Table Manners , Dahlia), Wales Book of the Year winner Deborah Kay Davies ( True Things About Me , Canongate) and science fiction novelist James Smythe ( I Still Dream , HarperCollins).

Those opting to undertake the optional module Teaching Creative Writing module, will have the chance to sit in on undergraduate classes and to teach a session, and potentially to visit local schools and colleges.

Open Day visits

Make an enquiry, international, discover more.

Search for your courses

Related searches: Creative writing , English literature

HESA Data: Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2021. The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data. Data is from the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20, published by HESA in June 2022.

Module information

Postgraduate

Be part of a thriving postgraduate community in a university known internationally for outstanding research and teaching.

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Download a copy of our prospectus, school and subject brochures, and other guides.

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We specialise in residential creative writing courses. Every week we welcome a new group of individuals from Wales, the rest of the UK and beyond to our home. The group spend time together under the tutelage of professional writers, taking part in workshops and one-to-one tutorials, enjoying readings and basking in the inspirational setting of Tŷ Newydd. Participants also help in the kitchen, where homemade meals are prepared with local ingredients, by our resident chef.

Our programme features a mix of residential courses and retreats – both in the English and Welsh language – and cover many genres, forms and styles, including poetry, fiction, non-fiction, script writing, nature writing, illustration, writing for children and young adults, storytelling, yoga and more.

We choose our tutors and guest readers carefully, and welcome some of the best practitioners in their fields to Tŷ Newydd every year. Present and past tutors include Carol Ann Duffy , Gillian Clarke , Pascale Petit , Paula Meehan , Mark Cocker , Menna Elfyn , Patrick McGuinness , Kaite O’Reilly , Imtiaz Dharker , Niall Griffiths , Daljit Nagra and Malachy Doyle .

“Tŷ Newydd is my favourite writing centre, that’s why I keep coming back to teach there. The welcome is Welsh and warm, the house is so comfortable and the garden, sloping down to the seaview, is inspiring! It’s a home from home.” – Pascale Petit

Our historical house was the last home of former Prime Minister David Lloyd George. It still retains the recognisable touches implemented by architect Clough Williams-Ellis, famous for his quirky Italianate village Portmeirion, the setting of classic TV series The Prisoner and Festival No.6. Nestled in a quiet spot between mountain and sea, we’re the perfect haven to retreat to and spend some time being creative.

In addition to our open course programme, we offer bespoke courses for educational groups where we work alongside tutors and teachers in order to create a perfect course for their group. It is also possible to hire Tŷ Newydd privately for a corporate course, a holiday, a wedding or a special occasion.

For further information, visit Tŷ Newydd’s website at: www.tynewydd.wales

Nant Writers' Retreat

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Are you a UK or International Student?

Study an ma in creative writing and develop literary and media writing skills, key course details.

Course Overview

The MA in Creative Writing is a uniquely inspirational programme that delivers integrated training in the writing of literary and media text. Taught by experienced writers of major profile, this course provides teaching on a range of genres including fiction, short story, poetry, drama, screenwriting and creative non-fiction. Your studies will connect with the unique literary culture of Wales, home to one of the oldest bardic traditions in Europe.

Why Creative Writing at Swansea?

As part of a vibrant Swansea community of writers and artists, you will have the chance to forge personal links with National Theatre Wales and open-mic events at venues such as the Dylan Thomas Centre and Howl. There is also scope for work experience with local publishers. The School of Culture and Communication is based on our energising Singleton Park campus, in parkland overlooking Swansea Bay. Designed to promote individual and collaborative research activity of international standard, the Graduate Centre provides a supportive environment for postgraduate research and taught masters study. It offers postgraduate training to enhance academic and professional development, and facilitates seminar programmes, workshops and international conferences.

Your Creative Writing Experience

You will study a set number of optional 20-credit modules, before undertaking a 60-credit creative writing dissertation in the second part of the course. Varied modules include long fiction, writing radio drama, screenwriting, James Joyce and literary theory, global media and comparative journalism. Drama writing is a particular teaching strength, and contains the relatively new and unexplored field of Dramaturgy. You have the chance to write for online journal The Swansea Review , student-run online journal The Siren , and The Waterfront student newspaper. On the annual Writers’ Day at the Dylan Thomas Centre, you can meet with editors, agents, publishers and writers, to discuss the finer details of publication and the craft of writing. You will also benefit from guest visits by figures from the world of arts and publishing and free membership of Literature Wales, the national literature promotion agency.

Creative Writing Employment Opportunities

As well as significantly improving your writing skills, you should develop oral communication skills by learning to present your ideas in a range of formats. Graduates from this course enter a range of creative industries including publishing, broadcasting, marketing and advertising.

You study a set number of optional 20-credit modules before undertaking a 60-credit creative writing dissertation in the second part of the course. The wide mix of modules includes long fiction, writing radio drama, screenwriting, James Joyce and literary theory, global media and comparative journalism.

MA 1 Year Full-time

Year 1 (level 7t), fheq 7 taught masters / pgdip / pgcert.

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules

None found.

Optional Modules

Choose Exactly 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Students must select two of the three TB1 modules listed below.

Choose Minimum Of 60 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : MA CW students to choose up to three per semester; – please note that you need to have selected 2 of the compulsory (selective) modules overall. Creative Writing students may take English Literature/Welsh Writing in English modules at the discretion of the Literature MA Programme Director. Students must have an equal number of modules in each semester. To take EN-M78 you must have successfully completed EN-M34. To take EN-M40 you must have successfully completed EN-M36.

Choose Maximum Of 20 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Credits permitting Creative Writing students may take One English Literature/Welsh Writing in English modules at the discretion of the Literature MA Programme Director. MS-M12 is offered by the Media Department.

Year 2 (Level 7D)

Fheq 7 taught masters dissertation.

Students choose 60 credits from the following:

Choose Exactly 60 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Following successful completion of Part-1, students take the 60 credit Dissertation module listed below

MA 2 Year Part-time

Choose Minimum Of 20 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Select 1 or 2 from the following 3 TB1 modules in years 1 and 2

Choose Maximum Of 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : MA CW 2-yr P/T students to choose up to three per academic year and no more than 2 in one semester; – please note that you need to have selected 2 of the compulsory (selective) modules overall. To take EN-M78, you must have successfully completed EN-M34. To take EN-M40 you must have successfully completed EN-M36.

NOTE : Credits permitting, Creative Writing students may take one English Literature/Welsh Writing in English modules at the discretion of the Literature Writing MA Programme Director . MS-M12 is offered by the Media Department

Year 2 (Level 7T)

MA 3 Year Part-time

NOTE : Select 1 or 2 from the following 3 TB1 modules. Students must take 2 of these modules over the course of their MA overall.

NOTE : Select sufficient credits to total 60 overall. Students can also choose one of the English Literature listed in options 2 at the discretion of the Eng Lit Programme Director, in each Academic year. You may not exceed 40 credits in any one teaching block . To take EN-M78 you must have successfully completed EN-M34. To take EN-M40 you must have successfully completed EN-M36.

NOTE : Credits permitting Creative Writing students may take one English Literature/Welsh Writing in English modules at the discretion of the Literature Writing MA Programme Director. MS-M12 is offered by the Media Department.

NOTE : Select 1 or 2 from the following 3 TB1 modules. Students must take 2 of these modules over the course of their MA overall. You may not repeat any modules already taken at Year 1.

NOTE : Credits permitting Creative Writing students may take one English Literature/Welsh Writing in English module at the discretion of the Literature Writing MA Programme Director. MS-M12 is offered by the Media Department.

NOTE : Following successful completion of Part-1 students take the 60 credit Dissertation module listed below

Entry Requirements

How you're taught.

We are proud to provide an outstanding educational experience, using the most effective learning and teaching approaches, carefully tailored to suit the specific needs of your course. Our courses consist of in-person, on-campus teaching, enabling full engagement with your lecturers and fellow students.  

Practical skills sessions, seminars, and workshops predominantly take place in person, allowing for group working and presentations. However, our approach also includes the use of some online learning to support and enhance traditional face-to-face teaching.  

Online learning may take place ‘live’ using software such as Zoom, allowing you to interact with the lecturer and peers and to ask questions. Lecture recordings also allow for more flexibility to revisit material, to revise for assessments and to enhance learning outside of the classroom. Some modules have extra resources in our virtual learning environment (Canvas), such as videos, slides and quizzes enabling further flexible study.

Students study two compulsory modules and four optional modules in part-one and a dissertation, a portfolio in a genre of their choosing in part-two.

Welsh Provision

Some provision.

There are opportunities for Welsh speakers to study some elements of this postgraduate course through the medium of Welsh but there is not yet enough provision to reach 40 credits in each year. The Programme Director can outline to you what is available in Welsh.

Academi Hywel Teifi is here to support you throughout your time at Swansea University. We can offer you:

• Access to generous Welsh-language study  scholarships or bursaries .
• Access to the Arwain mobile app for the latest information about Welsh-medium courses and modules available to download free on the  App Store  and  Google Play .
• An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
• Personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually.
• The option to create and submit your coursework or sit exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and your work will be assessed in Welsh.
• A Welsh-speaking Personal Tutor.
• One-to-one support to improve your academic Welsh language skills.
• An opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers.
• Membership of the Swansea University Branch of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

Visit the Welsh Language Rights webpage for further information about Students' Welsh Language Rights.

Continuing to study through the medium of Welsh will be:

• a natural step for you if you have studied through the medium of Welsh at undergraduate level.
• a way of maximizing your chances of getting the best education.
• a way of receiving a high level of support as the study groups are smaller.
• a valuable addition to your CV and career development.

Meet Your Lecturers

Our degrees are taught by experts, who have a wealth of knowledge to pass on to our students.

You can find out more about our academic expertise on  our staff pages.

Tuition Fees

Ma 1 year full time.

MA 2 Year Part Time

MA 3 Year Part Time

Tuition fees for years of study after your first year are subject to an increase of 3%.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page .

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page .

International students and part-time study: It may be possible for some students to study part-time under the Student Visa route. However, this is dependent on factors relating to the course and your individual situation. It may also be possible to study with us if you are already in the UK under a different visa category (e.g. Tier 1 or 2, PBS Dependant, ILR etc.). Please visit the University information on Visas and Immigration for further guidance and support.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page .

Funding and Scholarships

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.

If you're a UK or EU student starting a master’s degree at Swansea University, you may be eligible to apply for Government funding to help towards the cost of your studies. To find out more, please visit our postgraduate loans page.

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Additional Costs

Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Swansea University. Access to wifi in your accommodation will also be essential to allow you to fully engage with your programme. See our dedicated webpages for further guidance on suitable devices to purchase, and for a full guide on getting your device set up .

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but not limited to):

• Travel to and from campus
• Printing, photocopying, binding, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
• Purchase of books or texts
• Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Careers and Employability

Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

• Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
• Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
• Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
• Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
• Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

We also provide help and advice for Swansea University Alumni up to two years after you graduate.

Academic Support

As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your personal tutor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas such as:

• Academic writing
• Maths and statistics
• Critical thinking
• Time management
• Digital skills
• Presentation skills
• Note taking
• Revision, memory and exam techniques
• English language skills (if English is not your first language).

In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability, mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.

We care about our students and our aim is to ensure that you achieve the best degree classification. We have a personal mentoring system where you will be allocated a personal tutor. We also have an “open door” policy where our academic teachers are available to talk to you at any time about any queries or academic concerns you may have.

Please apply through the University’s central application system .

EU students - visa and immigration information is available and will be regularly updated on our information for EU students page.

Application Deadlines

We recommend that you submit your application to our courses as early as you can in advance of our application deadlines. Courses will close earlier than the application deadlines listed if all available places are filled. You can find further information on our Application Deadlines webpage.

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Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre

Residential creative writing courses to develop writers in Wales and beyond

Tŷ Newydd, Llanystumdwy, Cricieth, Gwynedd, LL52 0LW, +44 (0)1766 522 811

Cross-artform

Genre fiction

Literary fiction

Performance

Tŷ Newydd is the National Writing Centre of Wales. Tŷ Newydd’s residential creative writing courses, retreats and masterclasses guide and support writers at all levels of their career to achieve excellence and encourage innovation. Every week a new group of individuals come to Tŷ Newydd to spend time together under the tutelage of professional writers.

The varied programme caters for different abilities, ages and interests, and courses cover many genres, forms and styles, including poetry, fiction, non-fiction, scriptwriting, nature writing, illustrating, storytelling, yoga and more. In addition we work alongside tutors and teachers to create bespoke courses for educational groups.

Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre is run by  Literature Wales , the national company for the development of literature.

International Priorities

Tŷ Newydd has historically worked in partnership with the Wales Literature Exchange and an European network of literature and translation centres to develop a programme of activity to promote creative translation. In the wake of Brexit, 2017 will focus on reintroducing these initiatives with a focus on translating children’s literature between the languages of Europe, especially minority languages like the Welsh.

Tŷ Newydd’s open course programme attracts a few international participants annually, including the USA, Ireland, France, the Netherlands and Australia.

Tŷ Newydd’s flagship project Y Labordy (2014-15) was a new initiative for experienced Welsh language writers of theatre, film and TV to develop their ideas alongside some of the most respected scriptwriters and producers in their industry. The objective was to create a pool of contemporary writing talent with the capability of writing high calibre scripts for different media platforms and to broaden ability for writing from an international perspective. Contributors to the initiative included Jeppe Gjervig Gram, Lisa Albert and Rebecca Lenkiewicz. We hope to run a similar scheme again soon.

Key Strengths

Our beautiful centre in rural north Wales lends itself to residential gatherings, we can accommodate and cater for up to 25 guests. It’s a perfect location for courses, workshops, retreats, and small festivals. Although a peaceful retreat between the sea and the mountains, we’re also within reasonable driving distance from Manchester and Liverpool airports (2 hours) and close to the  port of Holyhead for ferries from Dublin, Ireland (1 hour).

As part of Literature Wales, we have great links with multilingual authors who would be eager to take part in translating programmes, mentoring, and networking. We also work in close partnership with the publishing houses of Wales; Universities, and other establishments that might be useful for international partnerships.

Seeking Partnerships With

Similar creative writing centres and retreats; authors and poets who are interested in translating their and others’ work; publishing houses; writers / publishers in minority languages.

Purpose of Partnerships

Introducing international literature into Welsh and English through writer translation collaborations. Experimenting with genres and art form to create new collaborations between minority languages. Retreat exchanges.

Head of Tŷ Newydd - Leusa Llewelyn

[email protected]

Literature organisations

Verbal arts centre, london international literature festival, tilted axis press, scottish book trust, denise mina, paul mcveigh, neel mukherjee, sabrina mahfouz, william letford, jessie burton, melissa lee-houghton, stephen collins, glenn patterson, discover more, connections.

Everything is Foreign

Krakow City of Literature Presents: Poetry Projections

Traversing the print/digital divide.

East Meets West on Mobile Storytelling Platforms

See all connections.

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8 Best universities for Creative Writing in Wales

Updated: February 29, 2024

• Art & Design
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
• Mathematics

Below is a list of best universities in Wales ranked based on their research performance in Creative Writing. A graph of 22.5K citations received by 2.3K academic papers made by 8 universities in Wales was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. Cardiff University

For Creative Writing

2. University of Wales

3. Swansea University

4. Bangor University

5. Aberystwyth University

6. University of South Wales

7. Cardiff Metropolitan University

8. University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Closest to Wales states to learn Creative Writing

Art & Design subfields in Wales

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English & creative writing

English and creative writing at UNSW School of the Arts & Media houses a passionate group of writers and scholars working in diverse fields. Our research consistently achieves high rankings. In the latest (2018) Excellence for Research in Australia (ERA) assessment, we scored 5 for creative writing (well above world standard) and 4 for literary studies (above world standard). 

Our internationally renowned researchers produce monographs, novels, poetry collections, edited collections and essays in major international journals. We attract significant external funding from the Australia Council and Australian Research Council (ARC). We also receive support from international funding bodies such as the Research England Development Fund, the Canadian Humanities and Social Sciences Research Council, the Swedish Research Council and the Flemish Research Foundation (FWO). 

Our academics include the presidents of the Australasian Association for Literature and the Association for the Study of the Australian Literature (ASAL), the incoming president of the International Society for the Study of Narrative, as well as past and present executive members of the Australian University Heads of English.

English and creative writing at UNSW Sydney is home to a thriving postgraduate research culture, with a strong record of successful completions in a broad range of areas. We particularly welcome research proposals in any of the fields below. 

Research strengths

UNSW School of the Arts & Media is the largest hub globally for research in Australian literature. We address the global dimensions of Australian writing, including diasporic and expatriate writing, writing by refugees and asylum seekers, Indigenous writers alongside continuing engagement with more foundational works. 

Among our many recent publications are monographs on Christina Stead and America, and on literary islands and colonialism, as well as edited collections on the works of Elizabeth Harrower, Antigone Kefala and Shirley Hazzard. Our academics include the president and two former presidents of the peak scholarly body ASAL. We also host Southerly, Australia’s oldest literary journal. 

The large and constant flow of local and international postgraduate students expand and invigorate our research strength in contemporary studies in Australian literature. Our many institutional and publishing activities create a wealth of opportunities for our students’ academic and professional development. 

We welcome enquiries about higher degree research (HDR) supervision across all areas of Australian literature. Recent projects include: queer Australian masculinities; the Australian girl; contemporary Indigenous women’s writing; sound and Australian literature; Brian Castro and weird English; Indigenous speculative writing and ecopoetics; Australia and utopia; studies of Antigone Kefala and Eleanor Dark; and a biography of Marjorie Barnard. 

UNSW School of the Arts & Media has a long history of excellence in modernist studies. Our research spans a wide variety of topics within the broad field of modernist studies, including modernist poetics, the modernist novel, modernist periodical studies, and modernism and media. 

Our research addresses the formal experiments and political meanings of modernism’s responses to and critiques of global modernity. Recent publications include edited collections on modernism and sound, modernism and technology, and modernism and work. Our academics also regularly publish articles on modernist and modernism-adjacent subjects in leading journals. Among our academics are the treasurer of the Australasian Modernist Studies Network and two editors of the network’s journal Affirmations: of the modern.

Our school welcomes research proposals on all aspects of modernist literature and culture. Recent projects include: studies of rhythm in modernist short fiction; philosophical poetry in a time of crisis; bodily experience in the writing of Virginia Woolf; architectural subjectivity in the fiction of Elizabeth Bowen, Jean Rhys and Christina Stead; and ‘textual becoming’ in Proust.

UNSW School of the Arts & Media’s renowned literary historical research fosters interdisciplinary dialogues between literature and artificial intelligence, literature and visual culture, literature and sound, literature and the history of political struggle, book history and literary biography.  

Our research includes work on historical poetics and the historical development of the novel, with a strong focus on archival research. Work includes an editorial project on Charlotte Bronte and a large collaborative project on ‘Rioting and the literary archive’, which traces literature’s enduring engagement with forms of popular resistance and riotous assembly. 

Recent publications include a range of monographs and edited collections, as well as pieces in major international journals, such as ELH, NLH, Textual Practice, Victorian Studies, Modernism/Modernity, Studies in the Novel, and NOVEL: A Forum on Fiction. Our academics have edited special issues of Poetics Today, on narrative theory and the history of the novel, and of Critical Quarterly, on historical poetics and the problem of exemplarity. Forthcoming publications include an edited collection on ‘Writing the global riot: literature in a time of crisis’, the ‘Edinburgh companion to literary sound studies’ and the authorised biography of Australian-US author Shirley Hazzard. UNSW is also home to the  Juvenilia Press .  

Postgraduate supervision encompasses diverse areas of literary history, ranging from single-author studies to more expansive thematic and historical approaches. Projects include: studies of voice in the 19th-century novel; literary precarity; reading domestic spaces; Thomas Chatterton and the performance of literary professionalism; writer characters in fiction from the 1890s to the present; the Anthropocene in science fiction; time and empathy in cognitive literary criticism; and the sonic animal in 19th-century fiction. 

UNSW School of the Arts & Media has a strong focus on literary theory and literary approaches to philosophy. Our researchers are experts in queer theory, feminism, narratology, postcolonial theory, animal studies, ecocriticism, Lacanian psychoanalysis, Derridean and de Manian deconstruction and Deleuze studies. We engage with figures as diverse as Søren Kierkegaard, Alain Badiou, Maurice Blanchot, Bruno Latour, Peter Sloterdijk, Jacques Derrida, Sigmund Freud, G. W. F. Hegel, Jacques Rancière, Slavoj Žižek and Jacques Lacan.  

The work of our academics has appeared in monographs and journals such as symploke, Substance, Angelaki, Continental Philosophy Review, Filozofski vestnik and Crisis & Critique. We also engage in large international and national research projects investigating literary and critical climate change. Forthcoming publications include the ‘Routledge companion to narrative theory’ which locates the novel in the context of the larger multidisciplinary study of narrative, and a special issue of S: Journal on the work of the contemporary French philosopher Barbara Cassin. 

UNSW School of the Arts & Media’s research in world literatures spans the fields of postcolonial, diasporic and transnational literary studies. Australia’s settler colonial history means we engage in ways that contribute to and shape the dynamic fields of postcolonial and transnational writing. We focus on works in English, in translation and in other languages. One key question is: What do we do with texts when they circulate outside their context of origin?  

From the deployment of big data to close textual analysis, our research examines both the aesthetics and politics of literary representation in context, as well as the modes of literary production and the circulations of literature in globalised modernity.  

We’re interested in the networks of Australia’s diverse writing cultures and the circulation of their work in global contexts. Our publications range from colonialist histories and imaginaries to the production and circulation of contemporary Iranian literature, to questions of trans-Indigenous writing and representation.  

Recent and forthcoming monographs by our academics include Christina Stead and America, the imaginary geographies of colonialism and Iranian literature since the revolution. Themed issues of Southerly include the writing of detained refugees, the Persian diaspora, the inter-generational legacies of migration in Australia and the mobility of textual circulation. 

We have many local and international postgraduate students working on topics ranging from Irish-language poetics to Iranian women’s romance fiction, to contemporary African fiction. Our school is a long-standing sponsor of the Institute of World Literature (Harvard University) and UNSW academics and postgraduate students regularly participate in the institute’s summer programs. PhD projects include: post-Independence African novels; psychogeography and the novel; domestic violence in postcolonial writing; and Irish women’s writing. 

Creative writing at UNSW School of the Arts & Media is a dynamic program, boasting researchers who are award-winning novelists and poets. Our academics have won numerous prizes including the Literary Fiction Book of the Year in the Australian Book Industry Awards, the Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction and the Best Young Australian Novelist award. They have also been shortlisted for the Victorian and NSW Premier’s Awards and the Newcastle Poetry Prize. 

We have judged major prizes such as the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards and the ALS Gold Medal. We publish creative work in Australia’s top literary journals such as Meanjin, Overland, Island, Westerly, Southerly, Cordite Poetry Review and Australian Poetry Journal. 

Our researchers are committed to public and cultural engagement and frequently collaborate with the broader publishing industry and media outlets. We have longstanding relationships with the Adelaide International Festival, Tasmanian Writers’ Festival, Perth Writers’ Festival, Asialink, Varuna, The Writers’ House and the Oxford Centre for Life Writing at Wolfson College, Oxford University. 

Editing and publishing at the School of the Arts & Media plays a leading role in the dissemination of traditional and non-traditional research. We explore new forms of scholarly communication as editors and editorial board members of academic journals such as Affirmations, Southerly, S: Journal, Continental Thought & Theory, Journal of World Literature and Iranian Studies. 

We promote strong international outreach through our founding role in Open Humanities Press, which publishes open-access journals and books in a variety of humanities fields. Bernard Stiegler, Timothy Morton, Claire Colebrook, Joanna Zylinska and Isabelle Stengers, among others, have been published recently. 

Southerly magazine is Australia’s oldest literary journal and publishes scholarly work on Australian literature alongside creative fiction and prose. Southerly is particularly notable among Australia’s literary journals for publishing more fiction and poetry, and it also publishes essays, commentary and reviews. The themed component of each issue is often prompted by research interests of UNSW academics including intergenerational migrant writing; Utopian fiction; writing by refugees in Australian detention centres; and transnational writing cultures of the Persian diaspora in Australia. 

Our academics are also working on Live Crossings , an online open-access creative practice magazine publishing work by refugees and asylum-seekers as well as Indigenous writers and artists.

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If you've been interested in creative writing but unsure of where to start, you have come to the right place. At UWG, you can learn from talented and experienced faculty who don't just read books—they write them—and they are committed to teaching you from the ground up in small class sizes and dynamic workshops. With a creative writing minor at UWG, you'll emerge a well-trained writer able to tap into your creativity, transforming worlds into words.

Creative Writing minors are required to take one introductory course (3 hours), two intermediate courses in different genres (6 hours), and two advanced courses in any genre (6 hours). You can choose classes in a variety of genres:

• Creative Nonfiction
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