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Lancaster University: Creative Writing
| Institution | Lancaster University View institution profile |
|---|---|
| Department | School of Arts |
| Web | www.lancaster.ac.uk |
| fass-pg-admissions@lancaster.ac.uk | |
| Telephone | 01524 510880 |
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD
Summary
Why Lancaster?
-
Develop your own writing with one-to-one tutorial support from our many celebrated author-tutors.
-
Study online or join us on campus to be close to the Lake District, home of the Romantic poets, and inspiration for many writers since
-
Study on campus in the University Library’s bespoke Postgraduate Study Space
-
Benefit from our rich programme of literary events on campus, online, and in the city’s historic Castle Quarter
-
Make the most of our partnership with The Wordsworth Trust in Grasmere and Lancaster’s city-wonderful based LitFest
Our Creative Writing programme has a long and distinguished history which dates back to 1970, meaning that, in the UK, we were there at the very beginning of the discipline. And we remain at the fore with prize-winning authors as tutors, and students who go on to publish their work both while with us and after.
Your project Typically, we would expect a critical writing piece around 20,000 words long and a creative writing piece of around 60-80,000 words. You can work in a traditional form such as poetry, fiction, drama, and memoir and/or a newer form such as fantasy, game writing, young adult fiction, and the graphic novel. These, though, are just examples; we’re happy to discuss other forms and projects with you.
Supervision Finding the right supervisor is key to your success. We would, therefore, recommend that you already have one in mind and contact them before submitting your application. To find out more, see here.
Campus and/or online Our pioneering virtual learning and research facilities mean you can study from anywhere in the world. Our campus students enjoy a lively programme of Department events, and both distance and campus students meet in termly Work in Progress sessions.
If you haven’t studied a Master’s in Creative Writing at Lancaster, you’ll be able to take our Creative Writing module, Research Methods and Professional Practice. You can take this module in person or online.
Events and Support We have rich literary connections with the city and nearby Lake District. Many of our special literary events, such as talks from visiting scholars and authors, take place in The Storey, Lancaster’s Victorian Art Centre or at Lancaster’s spectacular medieval Castle.
The archive-rich Wordsworth Museum at Grasmere is usually the venue for our annual study retreat day, and the Department’s May Gathering, a social event, is usually held at Lancaster’s ancient Priory, as is our annual October Lecture.
We seek, when possible, to offer students the opportunity to undertake limited, but paid, undergraduate teaching at some point during their programme of study.
Prizes Our author-tutors have won or been listed for:
-
The Betty Trask Award, Portico Prize
-
BBC National Short Story Award
-
Waterstones’ Children’s Book Prize
-
Tir na n-Og Award
-
Carnegie Medal
-
Somerset Maugham Award
-
Whitbread Poetry Prize
-
TS Eliot Prize
-
Costa Book Award
-
Edge Hill Prize
-
Papatango Prize
-
Eric Gregory Award
-
Crashaw Prize
-
Bridport Prize
-
Pigott Poetry Prize, Desmond Elliott Prize
-
Polari First Book Prize
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | RQF Level 8 |
| Entry requirements | Masters degree or equivalent in English literature or literature in other languages, usually with an average of at least 65% for UK MAs. 2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in English Literature or related subject, for example literature in other languages. -A viable research proposal. We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously. We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 7.0, and a minimum of 6.5 in each element of the test. |
| Location | Main Site Admissions Bailrigg Lancaster LA1 4YW |
Summary
Why Lancaster?
-
Develop your own writing with one-to-one tutorial support from our many celebrated author-tutors.
-
Study online or join us on campus to be close to the Lake District, home of the Romantic poets, and inspiration for many writers since
-
Study on campus in the University Library’s bespoke Postgraduate Study Space
-
Benefit from our rich programme of literary events on campus, online, and in the city’s historic Castle Quarter
-
Make the most of our partnership with The Wordsworth Trust in Grasmere and Lancaster’s city-wonderful based LitFest
Our Creative Writing programme has a long and distinguished history which dates back to 1970, meaning that, in the UK, we were there at the very beginning of the discipline. And we remain at the fore with prize-winning authors as tutors, and students who go on to publish their work both while with us and after.
Your project Typically, we would expect a critical writing piece around 20,000 words long and a creative writing piece of around 60-80,000 words. You can work in a traditional form such as poetry, fiction, drama, and memoir and/or a newer form such as fantasy, game writing, young adult fiction, and the graphic novel. These, though, are just examples; we’re happy to discuss other forms and projects with you.
Supervision Finding the right supervisor is key to your success. We would, therefore, recommend that you already have one in mind and contact them before submitting your application. To find out more, see here.
Campus and/or online Our pioneering virtual learning and research facilities mean you can study from anywhere in the world. Our campus students enjoy a lively programme of Department events, and both distance and campus students meet in termly Work in Progress sessions.
If you haven’t studied a Master’s in Creative Writing at Lancaster, you’ll be able to take our Creative Writing module, Research Methods and Professional Practice. You can take this module in person or online.
Events and Support We have rich literary connections with the city and nearby Lake District. Many of our special literary events, such as talks from visiting scholars and authors, take place in The Storey, Lancaster’s Victorian Art Centre or at Lancaster’s spectacular medieval Castle.
The archive-rich Wordsworth Museum at Grasmere is usually the venue for our annual study retreat day, and the Department’s May Gathering, a social event, is usually held at Lancaster’s ancient Priory, as is our annual October Lecture.
We seek, when possible, to offer students the opportunity to undertake limited, but paid, undergraduate teaching at some point during their programme of study.
Prizes Our author-tutors have won or been listed for:
-
The Betty Trask Award, Portico Prize
-
BBC National Short Story Award
-
Waterstones’ Children’s Book Prize
-
Tir na n-Og Award
-
Carnegie Medal
-
Somerset Maugham Award
-
Whitbread Poetry Prize
-
TS Eliot Prize
-
Costa Book Award
-
Edge Hill Prize
-
Papatango Prize
-
Eric Gregory Award
-
Crashaw Prize
-
Bridport Prize
-
Pigott Poetry Prize, Desmond Elliott Prize
-
Polari First Book Prize
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | RQF Level 8 |
| Entry requirements | Masters degree or equivalent in English literature or literature in other languages, usually with an average of at least 65% for UK MAs. 2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in English Literature or related subject, for example literature in other languages. -A viable research proposal. We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously. We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 7.0, and a minimum of 6.5 in each element of the test. |
| Location | Main Site Admissions Bailrigg Lancaster LA1 4YW |
MA
Summary
Develop your own writing under the guidance of celebrated author-tutors at one of the very first UK universities to teach Creative Writing. Through a mix of masterclasses, workshops and tutorials you will learn from author-tutors who together can offer specialisms from right across the spectrum of literary genres and forms. At all times the focus will, ultimately, be your own writing and progressing, if you wish, toward publication.
Why Lancaster? - Study close to the beautiful Lake District and home of our partners, the Wordsworth Museum at Grasmere
-
Enjoy a rich programme of literary events on campus, online, and in the city’s historic Castle Quarter
-
Gain experience with our student-run literary journals and our partners, Lancaster’s long-running LitFest
-
Discover quiet corners in the University Library – from cosy study nooks to collaborative workspaces and our bespoke Postgraduate Study Space
-
Learn both to perform and promote your writing
-
Explore how writing can lead to a wide range of career destinations
Quartet This programme is founded on a unique quartet – two series of masterclasses and two series of workshops. The masterclasses will focus on Form, Theme & Genre, and enable you to enhance your work through learning from each tutor’s own writing. The workshops will focus on Voice, Process, Shaping & Editing, and enable you to develop your work through having it discussed by your tutors and peers.
You will acquire a rich overview of all the traditional genres (poetry, prose, short fiction, drama, scriptwriting) as well as newer forms such as song lyric, graphic novel, fantasy, science fiction, memoir, queer fiction, game writing, writing for young adults, and the lyric or personal essay.
Specialise in genre or form Each series of masterclasses and workshops will be overseen by one author-tutor but taught by several – some poets, some novelists, some playwrights. This means that, when submitting work, you will be able to specialise in one particular genre or form. You will get to know those tutors who write your preferred genre or form, and they will be on hand to advise you as you develop your writing, particularly as you move toward creating your final portfolio.
Writing in the world The programme will guide you through writing’s many professional dimensions – from redrafting and working with editors through to publishing and promotion. In addition, we will explore how writing flourishes in fields such as museums, film, journalism, new media, podcasting, gaming and fashion.
Literary life At Lancaster you will be part of a dynamic literary community founded on a series of free literary events, many of which take place in the Castle Quarter, with our October Evening and May Gathering being usually held at Lancaster’s ancient Priory. For many years the students on this programme have together published an anthology which is then launched with a public reading event. Recently, several of the students have also taken part in our annual student in-city showcase as part of Lancaster LitFest, one of the UK’s oldest literary festivals.
In addition, we have a unique partnership with the archive-rich Wordsworth Museum at Grasmere in the nearby Lake District. This includes an annual study retreat day, free entry at any time of the year and the chance to apply for one of four residential internships.
| Study type | Taught |
|---|---|
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
| Entry requirements | 2:2 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in a related subject is normally required. We will also consider applications on an individual basis where you have a degree in other subjects or extensive relevant experience. As part of your application you also need to provide a portfolio of original writing (no more than 12 poems or 20 pages of prose/scriptwriting) showing potential for publication. We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously. We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.5 in reading and writing and 6.0 in listening and speaking. |
Summary
Develop your own writing under the guidance of celebrated author-tutors at one of the very first UK universities to teach Creative Writing. Through a mix of masterclasses, workshops and tutorials you will learn from author-tutors who together can offer specialisms from right across the spectrum of literary genres and forms. At all times the focus will, ultimately, be your own writing and progressing, if you wish, toward publication.
Why Lancaster? - Study close to the beautiful Lake District and home of our partners, the Wordsworth Museum at Grasmere
-
Enjoy a rich programme of literary events on campus, online, and in the city’s historic Castle Quarter
-
Gain experience with our student-run literary journals and our partners, Lancaster’s long-running LitFest
-
Discover quiet corners in the University Library – from cosy study nooks to collaborative workspaces and our bespoke Postgraduate Study Space
-
Learn both to perform and promote your writing
-
Explore how writing can lead to a wide range of career destinations
Quartet This programme is founded on a unique quartet – two series of masterclasses and two series of workshops. The masterclasses will focus on Form, Theme & Genre, and enable you to enhance your work through learning from each tutor’s own writing. The workshops will focus on Voice, Process, Shaping & Editing, and enable you to develop your work through having it discussed by your tutors and peers.
You will acquire a rich overview of all the traditional genres (poetry, prose, short fiction, drama, scriptwriting) as well as newer forms such as song lyric, graphic novel, fantasy, science fiction, memoir, queer fiction, game writing, writing for young adults, and the lyric or personal essay.
Specialise in genre or form Each series of masterclasses and workshops will be overseen by one author-tutor but taught by several – some poets, some novelists, some playwrights. This means that, when submitting work, you will be able to specialise in one particular genre or form. You will get to know those tutors who write your preferred genre or form, and they will be on hand to advise you as you develop your writing, particularly as you move toward creating your final portfolio.
Writing in the world The programme will guide you through writing’s many professional dimensions – from redrafting and working with editors through to publishing and promotion. In addition, we will explore how writing flourishes in fields such as museums, film, journalism, new media, podcasting, gaming and fashion.
Literary life At Lancaster you will be part of a dynamic literary community founded on a series of free literary events, many of which take place in the Castle Quarter, with our October Evening and May Gathering being usually held at Lancaster’s ancient Priory. For many years the students on this programme have together published an anthology which is then launched with a public reading event. Recently, several of the students have also taken part in our annual student in-city showcase as part of Lancaster LitFest, one of the UK’s oldest literary festivals.
In addition, we have a unique partnership with the archive-rich Wordsworth Museum at Grasmere in the nearby Lake District. This includes an annual study retreat day, free entry at any time of the year and the chance to apply for one of four residential internships.
| Study type | Taught |
|---|---|
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
| Entry requirements | 2:2 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in a related subject is normally required. We will also consider applications on an individual basis where you have a degree in other subjects or extensive relevant experience. As part of your application you also need to provide a portfolio of original writing (no more than 12 poems or 20 pages of prose/scriptwriting) showing potential for publication. We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously. We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.5 in reading and writing and 6.0 in listening and speaking. |
Lancaster University is home to a dynamic postgraduate community and offers a wealth of both taught and research study options across a wide range of subject areas. Studying at Lancaster is all about broadening your horizons, finding new perspectives and discovering new experiences. By living and studying with students and staff from over 130 countries students join a global community and have the opportunity to make international connections.
We are proud to be highly ranked in three major UK league tables. We’ve also been awarded 5 Stars for overall performance in the globally renowned QS World Ratings. The …
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