Course overview
Study MA Creative Writing
Hear from tutor Louise Logan-Smith about the MA Creative Writing which is delivered 100% online, meaning you can expand your horizons wherever you are.
The course is taught by distance learning with no requirement to attend classes at a set time. You can access the course space and complete the coursework in your own time, whatever your work or personal commitments.
Each module enables you to experiment and develop your interests, whether these are in prose fiction, poetry, creative life writing, dramatic writing and screen writing or in using writing to work with people in personal and professional development and healthcare settings. The emphasis is on developing practical writing skills and techniques whilst gaining an understanding of your own work within a critical context and framework.
The flexible design of the course means that it is highly suited to teachers; writers developing their teaching and workshopping skills to work in the community; and those using writing in therapy, healthcare and other professional settings.
If your job has a requirement to work on live briefs and projects with an imaginative or research element, you will also find the transferable skills offered by this MA a natural fit.
The course will help you if you want to develop a career using writing, many students take our MA to extend their skills for their own personal development and fulfilment.
Top reasons to study this course
> Flexibility around your commitments – learn and complete course work at a time that suits you.
> The teaching team are practicing creative writers.
> Career routes are wide and eclectic including publishing, editing and freelance writing, wider creative industries (television, journalism, new media) and professions that require advanced writing skills.
> Unique focus on helping you develop a professional plan that you can go on to implement after the course.
Course details
Course structure
Core modules
Explore and develop key skills and techniques, investigate creative-critical approaches to writing, creative writing processes, reflective practice and core skills for working independently. You develop a writing project proposal outlining your key aims and objectives, approaches and context for your writing project, including a proposed bibliography. You plan and complete this project independently, with some guidance from an assigned supervisor. You develop this into a final portfolio of creative writing in your chosen form and genre, with an accompanying critical-reflective commentary.
Creative-Critical Writing: Your Writing Manifesto
You experiment with form, develop your understanding of the relationship between creative and critical writing, and explore your motivations, inspirations and aspirations as a writer. You explore a range of texts that move between forms and modes, and examine key ideas about texts that have paved the way for your writing, why you write, and the topics that are important to you.
New Perspectives in Creative Writing
You consider the wider context of contemporary creative writing: publishing models, prize culture and reviewing. Through a series of case studies and critical readings, you expand your knowledge of the contemporary publishing landscape and consider the contexts and publication routes for your own creative writing. You gain the knowledge and skills needed to write reviews and essays, and understand routes to publication, including how to pitch to relevant publications.
The Professional Writer in the World
You consider and frame your writing within contemporary contexts, exploring the many ways and contexts in which writers work, such as residencies, commissions and public art. You gain the knowledge and skills needed to market, publish and self-publish your writing across a wide variety of platforms.
You explore the connections between creativity, writing, and the self. You reflect on the idea of the self in the writing process and use key ideas from autoethnography, narrative theory, life writing, autofiction and autobiography to develop work and process. You examine approaches such as writing identity, writing the body, fictionalising from self-experience, objectifying, shaping the stories of our lives on the page and exploring personal metaphor. Concepts such as personal truth, inner dialogue and helpful distance allow you to deepen your writing.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
The course is taught by distance learning. There is no requirement to attend classes at a set time. You can access the course space and complete the coursework at times that work best for you.
Each unit will usually consist of:
- a short introductory video, in which your tutor introduces the week’s key themes
- writing prompts and exercises
- supporting materials, reading questions and suggestions for further reading and research to discuss in the discussion forum
- a dedicated private space to workshop your ideas and writing-in-progress with the tutor and fellow students.
You will also receive help, support and feedback on your work directly from the tutor, both through the online course space and by email.
You don't need to be a technology expert to take this course. All you need is a PC, laptop or tablet to access the course materials and forum and share your writing with the tutors and your peers.
How you are assessed
Each taught 30-credit module is assessed against clear learning outcomes through written assignments, usually consisting of both creative work and some critical or reflective work. In addition to the taught modules, you produce a final project (60 credits) in your chosen form and genre.
Entry requirements
A bachelors degree of 2.2 or above in English, creative writing or a similar discipline. Other relevant experience, such as a post-experience or professional qualification, including international qualifications, are considered on an individual basis. An IELTS score of 6.5 is required.
You must submit a portfolio of your creative writing of up to 2,000 words in any one or two forms or genres, for example poetry, prose fiction or life writing. Please include this in your online application.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements
Employability
Career opportunities
MA Creative Writing graduates go on to a wide choice of professions and careers. Apart from the more obvious routes of publishing, editing and freelance writing, many work in the wider creative industries (television, journalism, new media) or in workplaces that require advanced writing skills.
Learning platform
Our virtual learning environment (VLE) is the platform you use to access your online course
Teesside University online learning courses are delivered through the Brightspace Learning Environment.
Here are some of the benefits.
- You can use it on your smartphone, tablet and computer.
- And you can use it anytime, so that you can plan your learning to fit your own schedule.
- It's easy to use and navigate.
- Modules are set out by topics and themes. You can use the progress bar to understand where you are in your modules, and appreciate your achievements.
- We support you to become familiar with your VLE, helping you to start learning quickly.
- You get feedback, help and guidance from tutors throughout your course through the VLE, and you can ask questions at any time.
- Our tutors use a live activity feed to keep you updated about your course.
- You can create a student profile, collaborate with other students and take part in online discussion forums.
