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Creative Writing MA

Course code

W890PCREAWRI

Start date

September

Subject area

Creative Writing

Mode of study

1 year full-time

2 years part-time

Fees

2024/25

UK £11,550

International £21,260

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Overview

Our Creative Writing MA degree is designed to equip you with a broad range of advanced creative writing skills and academic accreditation for your creative work.

Teaching is delivered by some of the most talented and original writers working today. Between them they have published over 100 books, produced countless scripts for TV, radio and film, and won umpteen awards. The team includes Bernardine Evaristo, 2019 winner of the world’s most prestigious prize for the novel, the Booker Prize, for her Sunday Times No. 1 bestselling novel, Girl, Woman, Other and renowned performance poet, writer and broadcaster Benjamin Zephaniah. As well as the stand-alone ‘general’ programme, there is the more specialised Novel writing pathway.

  • General: Build an advanced knowledge on the current theory and practice of writing in the community and develop an understanding of the role of the writer in arts initiatives and creative industries.
  • The Novel: Gain a deeper insight into the structure of a novel and develop the techniques to critically assess a variety of novel forms and genres at a professional industry level.

You have the advantage of Brunel’s close location to London, the literary capital of the UK. You’ll benefit from trips to the British Library, Shakespeare’s Globe and West End theatres. You'll also get to hear from guest lectures covering different aspects of creative writing. Industry expert speakers include book publishers, screenwriters, poets and broadcasters.

Your writing talent can also be showcased at a variety of performances hosted by Brunel including poetry, plays, comedy and film screenings, literary debates, and the popular Brunel Writers’ Series.

Our MA in creative writing can be studied full-time over one year or part-time over two years.

You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour.

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Course content

You will study two compulsory pathway-specific modules and two optional modules, plus the dissertation. Your dissertation project involves the production of a substantial and original piece of extended writing.

This course can be studied 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, starting in September.

Year 1

Please note that all modules are subject to change.

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Careers and your future

A creative writing degree from Brunel will prepare you for a professional creative writing career. Our graduates are working in journalism, publishing, advertising, television, radio and the internet.

Many have gone on to have their novels and poetry collections published including: Alarum by Wayne Holloway Smith; Sky Pirates by Liesel Shwartz; Dream on Amber by Emma Shevah; The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri and Careless by Kirsty Capes.

Our academics are well established in the industry, have won many awards and honours and written for major national newspapers and magazines across the country. Their experience, contacts and knowledge of the literary industry can go a long way to putting you on the right track to success as a graduate.

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UK entry requirements

  • A 2.2 (or above) UK honours degree in English Literature (including where English Literature is a major in the degree) and Creative writing, or equivalent internationally recognised qualification.

Or

  • A 2.2 (or above) UK honours degree in any other subject (or equivalent internationally recognised qualification) or  other qualification / relevant professional or practical experience. In addition to this,  applicants who do not hold a 2.2 degree in English Literature or Creative Writing must also submit a sample of their creative writing. This should be a 2000 to 3000 sample of one of: short stories; a novel-in-progress; poems; film scripts; or articles for newspapers. The writing sample should be relevant to the pathway you are applying for. For example, if you are applying to the Poetry pathway you should submit a college of poems. These should demonstrate appropriate ability and commitment to creative writing and should be submitted with your application.
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EU and International entry requirements

If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list. This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.5 (min 6 in all areas)
  • Pearson: 59 (59 in all subscores)
  • BrunELT: 63% (min 58% in all areas)
  • TOEFL: 90 (min 20 in all) 

You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page.

Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.

Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.

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Fees and funding

2024/25 entry

UK

£11,550 full-time

£5,775 part-time

International

£21,260 full-time

£10,630 part-time

More information on any additional course-related costs.

Fees quoted are per year and are subject to an annual increase. 

See our fees and funding page for full details of postgraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.

Scholarships and bursaries

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Teaching and Learning

How the course will be delivered

Required equipment

How you'll learn on your course

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Assessment and feedback

Your progress will be assessed via writing and research assignments, essays, coursework portfolios, journals, group practical exercises, individual and group presentations, and your dissertation.

Read our guide on how to avoid plagiarism in your assessments at Brunel.

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