Creative Writing

The masters degree is designed for students to develop advanced skills in carrying out independent and sustained research in creative writing. It will be undertaken as 50 per cent research and 50 per cent creative writing and will normally take the form of a 15000 word creative piece and a 15000 word critical piece. The thesis should demonstrate a critical application of specialist knowledge in its dissertation and originality in its creative work. It should make an independent contribution to existing scholarship in the area of research. The creative work and research work must be presented as a coherent whole. Candidates may advance to the Doctor of Philosophy degree after successful completion of the masters or may apply to convert to the PhD at an earlier stage.

Students who complete the Master of Arts (Thesis only) in this area of specialisation should:

• have developed writing practices to a professional level;
• have developed and communicated a critical and theoretical understanding of what is involved in their own creative writing;
• have presented their work in a professional manner;
• have demonstrated advanced learning in research skills, with an informed understanding of the relationship between creative and critical writing.

Duration: 1.5 years full-time / 3 years part-time

The Master of Arts (Thesis only) in this area of specialisation requires:

• Thesis 30,000 words

Please note: the research thesis will take the form of two closely related parts:

• a creative writing component (approximately 15000 words);
• and a dissertation (approximately 15000 words).

Please note: the creative work and dissertation must be presented as a coherent whole. Students will work closely with their supervisor(s) to develop a coherent research project that fits these guidelines.