MA in Creative Writing

Find postgraduate programs in CREATIVE WRITING

An MA in creative writing is a very different sort of masters degree to most. Unlike many degrees, where the focus is on learning about the subject and undertaking research, a creative writing masters focuses on honing your writing skills. This doesn’t mean there’s no studying or learning involved and that you just write – just that it is a very different style of degree. You’ll have to be prepared to work hard, to suffer writer’s block and work past it, and take constructive criticism on the things you’ve written. For some people, this might be incredibly difficult but for others it may sound like just the thing they’ve been looking for. If you’re the latter, then an MA in creative writing may just be perfect for you.

But before we get on to the specifics of the course, let’s look at some of the more general information. Firstly, how long is a creative writing MA? Done full time, the course will take one year. And, by a year, we mean around 50 weeks rather than the average undergraduate year of around 36–40 weeks, something it’s very important you remember, especially when organising your accommodation plans! Part time, it’ll take two years, and if done by distance learning, it may well be longer. The exact length of the course and how the terms are split will vary from university to university, but they’ll be fairly similar in that you will be expected to study over the summer, something to remember when organising your financial plans.

Creative writing masters degree

Creative writing MA

So, what sort of work will you be expected to do on your creative writing MA? It’s not quite as simple as choosing between research or taught. It’s unlikely that you’ll be taught just how to be creative, but rather, the focus will be on technical skills. It’s not just aimed at those who want to write fiction – thanks to the scope of skills a masters in creative writing will teach, it’s well suited to prospective journalists or other such careers.

Generally, there are workshops held on a regular basis working on a variety of different styles and genres. Don’t expect to be able to coast by on the areas you’re comfortable writing in – the whole point of studying a creative writing MA is to get you out of your comfort zone and into strange new worlds of writing, working on things that will teach you the most. In addition to workshops, there’ll also be a mix of one-to-one supervision, working on portfolios and extended writing projects. There will be a variety of modules available, for example, you may focus on writing for young adults and learn the technical skills required to be successful in that area. Or it’s possible you might move away from prose and into working on poetry, screenwriting, creative non-fiction or digital storytelling.

Best UK universities for creative writing

Here are the top UK universities for creative writing according to the Complete University Guide 2026.

Rank	Institution
1	University of Warwick
2	University of Leeds
3	Royal Holloway, University of London
4	University of Birmingham
5	University of East Anglia UEA

Source: Creative Writing Rankings 2026

Creative writing masters degree programs

Here is a selection of just a few creative writing masters degrees that you might want to consider.

The University of East Anglia UEA is ranked 5th for creative writing by The Complete University Guide 2026. Its MA Creative Writing Prose Fiction course is the oldest creative writing course in the UK and can be completed over a year (full time) or two years (part time).

The University of Manchester’s MA in Creative Writing offers students access to an esteemed network of published novelists, poets and writers, including Jeanette Winterson CBE, John McAuliffe and Horatio Clare.

The University of Glasgow is ranked 34th in the world for English language and literature in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject. Its MLitt in Creative Writing allows aspiring writers to hone their craft. It can be completed on campus and via distance learning over one year full time or two years part time.

The MSt in Creative Writing at the University of Cambridge offers the opportunity for established writers to further their creative skills. It offers four pathways: fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction and multi-disciplinary. It is a part-time, two-year course with three teaching residentials each year.

Qualifications needed for a masters in creative writing

So, what qualifications are required to do a masters degree course in creative writing? You might be concerned that you need proof of your written work, for instance, evidence of having been published. Luckily, that’s not the case. You’ll usually be required to have an upper second class degree (2:1) or above, as well as presenting a portfolio of work available for evaluation.

If English is not your first language, most universities will require evidence of competency via IELTS or equivalent.

Funding a masters in creative writing

How can you fund a creative writing MA? Well, as always there’s the standard ways – from loans through to charity grants. But what is there specifically available for a creative writing masters course? It’s likely you’ll be able to find a few charity grants specifically aimed at creative writing students. It’s the same with bursaries as some universities will have bursaries or other funding opportunities available for certain courses, for example the University of Glasgow has The Baird Educational Trust Studentship offering students on its MLitt in Creative Writing a £2,000 scholarship. Universities also offer scholarships or help with funding based on portfolio quality or financial need – check individual course pages for details.

Plus, there are some more unconventional alternatives available for you. It can often be difficult to hold down a job with a regular schedule as a postgraduate student, but if you’re doing a creative writing MA why not put those skills to good use? From picking up freelance writing work, to entering writing competitions, there are all sorts of alternative methods to gain money for your degree.

Career options for creative writing graduates

What exactly can you do with a creative writing MA? Well, there’s the obvious career course of becoming a novelist. But this is a difficult area to break into, and you don’t want to pin all your hopes on it. Not to worry, there are a bunch of other jobs that can use this sort of degree. Firstly, ghost-writing – this can be a fairly lucrative career, and if you don’t mind not having your name attached to the work, it’s a great way to start. Then there are fields such as journalism or publishing – both fulfilling and exciting career choices.

Looking beyond the more obvious career options, where else could doing an MA creative writing land you? Employers in areas such as marketing and advertising love people who can spin words, and other areas such as writing grant proposals or patents find a knack for writing useful. Think outside the box, and you’ll find there are plenty of places it could go!

Creative writing graduates also pursue roles in: