Creative Writing MA

Year of entry: 2025

Course length: 12 Months Full-Time | 24 Months Part-Time

About the course

Study on our MA Creative Writing master's course and you'll be part of the prestigious Centre for New Writing, where we bring together world-famous writers to teach people how to produce novels, short stories, creative non-fiction, poems and screenplays.

It's a place where talented writers and critics can meet to exchange ideas and opinions. The Centre is founded on the simple but important principle that good writing and good reading go together.

There are no mandatory units as part of this course. Students are required to choose a combination of workshops and seminars based on their individual focus in poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction. Workshops and seminars cover topics to support your writing and contextual knowledge, such as:

Contemporary Fiction
Workshop in Fiction
Reading Poems
Creative Non-Fiction Workshop

These are example course units based on 2023/24 options and are subject to change each year.

Learn More >

The University of Manchester is ranked in the top 10 for English Language and Literature programmes in the UK

(QS World Rankings 2023)

Learn from novelists and essayists Jeanette Winterson CBE, Ellah Wakatama, OBE, Ian McGuire, Beth Underdown, and poets John McAuliffe, Frances Leviston, and Michael Schmidt OBE.

Our graduates are among the most targeted by top UK employers

(High Fliers 2024)

Where will your degree take you?

Some students pursue their literary careers and go on to become published writers, while others follow their passion through publishing, journalism and careers in the arts sector. Other graduates undertake PhD study or follow careers in law, librarianship and teaching.

Our alumni include Rebecca Perry, Sophie Hannah, Chris Killen, Alys Conran, Emma Jane Unsworth, Beth Underdown, Alex Allison, Jenn Ashworth, Evan Jones, and Marli Roode.

Upon successful completion of their course, many postgraduates go on or return to jobs as teachers or librarians, continue their research, or go on to academic jobs. Career paths are extremely varied, and other fields include law, publishing and retail.

Marli Roode

MA Creative Writing

‘’Since I finished the MA, I finished a book, I got an agent and I had the book published. My relationship with the staff at the Centre for New Writing was a big part of how much I enjoyed the course and how successful I was to go on to be. Those who continue to work and really take as much from the course as they can, are in such a good position to achieve the success that they're after.’’

Lily Beck

MA Creative Writing | Deputy Head of Department (English and Humanities), Independent Secondary School

‘’The course really cemented my love of English Literature and made me want to take this knowledge further and pass it on to others. The amazing tutors and teachers within the English department were also a source of inspiration. It really helped deepen and extend my knowledge of my subject area. I also took part in various spoken-word nights around the city of Manchester, which really helped to give me more confidence with public speaking, which has become a vital part of my job."