ma creative writing university of manchester

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This one-year postgraduate course offers access to specialist teaching from leading writers and poets.

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MA Creative Writing / Entry requirements

Year of entry: 2024

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Academic entry qualification overview

We normally expect students to have a First or Upper Second class honours degree or its overseas equivalent in a humanities-based subject area.

English language

An overall grade of IELTS 7.0 with 7.0 in writing and no skill below 6.5 is required or 100+ in the TOEFL iBT with a minimum writing score of 25 and no skill below 22.

If you have obtained a different qualification, please check our  English language requirements  to ensure that it is accepted and equivalent to the above requirements.

English language test validity

Other international entry requirements.

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MA Creative Writing

University of manchester, different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, similar courses at different universities, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

MA - Master of Arts

Subject areas

Creative Writing

Course type

Course description

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.

The course will see you study literary technique through reading and discussing the work of other contemporary writers in seminars, and you will have the opportunity to develop your own work via regular workshops and individual tutorials. Writers may choose to work on writing a novel and/or short stories and/or creative non-fiction and/or poems.

You'll benefit from seminars with Jeanette Winterson, workshops in fiction and poetry writing led by published, award-winning writers, and intensive, one-to-one instruction from writers-in-residence.

You will also have access to Literature Live, a fortnightly reading series bringing the best contemporary novelists and poets to Manchester, skills-related sessions delivered by professionals in the publishing industry, and regular visits from literary agents and editors.

We work with talented, committed students - whatever their style or genre - and we pride ourselves on giving students detailed, individual feedback both in writing and face-to-face.

Teaching and learning

You will learn through a variety of teaching methods depending on the units you choose, including seminars, lectures and independent study.

Please note that both the full and part-time options are taught between 9am to 5pm. We do not offer evening classes.

Coursework and assessment

All writing workshops meet for two to three hours per week, and are worth 30 credits. You will also be offered three individual half-hour tutorials per semester to discuss the progress of your writing. Each workshop is assessed by a portfolio of poetry or fiction.

Seminars meet for three hours per week and are also worth 30 credits. They will usually be assessed by one 6,000-word essay or the equivalent.

Over the summer, you will complete a 'dissertation' of 12,000 to 15,000 words of fiction or 15-20 poems. This is worth 60 credits.

Career opportunities

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, Katherine Horrex, Rory Gleeson, Joey Connolly 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.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

We normally expect students to have a First or Upper Second class honours degree or its overseas equivalent in a humanities-based subject area.

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Birkbeck, university of london, screenwriting (ma), creative writing ma, creative writing and contemporary studies ma, northumbria university, newcastle.

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MA Creative Writing University of Manchester

Course options

Qualification.

MA - Master of Arts

The University of Manchester

• TUITION FEES
• ENTRY REQUIREMENT
• UNIVERSITY INFO

Course summary

Course description

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.

The course will see you study literary technique through reading and discussing the work of other contemporary writers in seminars, and you will have the opportunity to develop your own work via regular workshops and individual tutorials. Writers may choose to work on writing a novel and/or short stories and/or creative non-fiction and/or poems.

You'll benefit from seminars with Jeanette Winterson, workshops in fiction and poetry writing led by published, award-winning writers, and intensive, one-to-one instruction from writers-in-residence.

You will also have access to Literature Live, a fortnightly reading series bringing the best contemporary novelists and poets to Manchester, skills-related sessions delivered by professionals in the publishing industry, and regular visits from literary agents and editors.

We work with talented, committed students - whatever their style or genre - and we pride ourselves on giving students detailed, individual feedback both in writing and face-to-face.

Teaching and learning

You will learn through a variety of teaching methods depending on the units you choose, including seminars, lectures and independent study.

Please note that both the full and part-time options are taught between 9am to 5pm. We do not offer evening classes.

Coursework and assessment

All writing workshops meet for two to three hours per week, and are worth 30 credits. You will also be offered three individual half-hour tutorials per semester to discuss the progress of your writing. Each workshop is assessed by a portfolio of poetry or fiction.

Seminars meet for three hours per week and are also worth 30 credits. They will usually be assessed by one 6,000-word essay or the equivalent.

Over the summer, you will complete a 'dissertation' of 12,000 to 15,000 words of fiction or 15-20 poems. This is worth 60 credits.

Career opportunities

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, Katherine Horrex, Rory Gleeson, Joey Connolly 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.

Modules (Year 1)

Tuition fees.

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£ 26,000 per year

Tuition fees shown are for indicative purposes and may vary. Please check with the institution for most up to date details.

University information

University of manchester, university league table, campus address.

The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, England

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MA Creative Writing: Innovation and Experiment

University of Salford

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MA Creative Writing

Leeds Trinity University

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Creative Writing

Creative Writing at Winchester offers you the opportunity to evaluate and improve your creative writing in a dynamic, supportive environment. The programme is taught by professional writers and highly experienced practitioner-academics in Creative Writing, with a particular focus on fiction and literary non-fiction. There are opportunities to meet editors and published writers and, as your knowledge of the publishing industry expands, find out where your work fits within the market.

Course overview

You study a diverse range of fiction and narrative non-fiction by acclaimed contemporary writers, which allows you to explore different styles and genres including fantasy, crime, historical fiction and literary fiction and gain a critical foundation for your own writing while increasing your knowledge of the publishing world. Throughout the course, you create new work and discuss it in a supportive group of peers alongside your tutor as you redraft and refine. The structure of the programme enables you to experiment from week to week, hone your craft and develop complete short stories as well as engage with the demands of longer-form prose.

In the first semester you will take modules in contemporary fiction and literary non-fiction, and also develop a project that addresses ways in which writers engage with community audiences. The second semester focuses on genre fiction and preparation for your Independent Study project, which is a substantial creative submission of 20-25,000 words written over the summer months. This could be the first part of a novel, a collection of short fiction, the opening to a work of literary non-fiction or a hybrid submission, completed with tutor support.

What you need to know

Course start date.

On campus, Winchester

Course length

• 1 year full-time
• 2 years part-time (evenings)

Apply online

Typical offer

A first or second-class honours degree

From £9,550 pa

Course features

Refine your writing across a range of styles and genres

Understand where your work fits in the current publishing world

Be inspired and encouraged by guest writers and editors

Course details

Suitable for applicants from:.

UK, EU, World

Learning and teaching

Teaching takes place:  Evenings

Start date:  September

The academic staff are professional novelists, scriptwriters, poets and writers of creative non-fiction, as well as cultural critics and playwrights. They are supported by guest writers, editors and literary agents. This course has long enjoyed a vibrant programme of visiting speakers. 

Students have the opportunity to develop their creative work, give and receive feedback in weekly workshops, and work with lecturers who are all practitioners. 

Location 

Taught elements of the course take place on campus in Winchester.

Our validated courses may adopt a range of means of assessing your learning. An indicative, and not necessarily comprehensive, list of assessment types you might encounter includes essays, portfolios, supervised independent work, presentations, written exams, or practical performances.

Each module typically comes with a creative writing assignment, or an assignment plus rationale (reflective piece) of approximately 4,000 words in total.

Students undertake a Dissertation between 20,000-25,000 words as part of their independent study with full tutorial support.

We ensure all students have an equal opportunity to achieve module learning outcomes. As such, where appropriate and necessary, students with recognised disabilities may have alternative assignments set that continue to test how successfully they have met the module's learning outcomes. Further details on assessment types used on the course you are interested in can be found on the course page, by attending an Open Day or Open Evening, or contacting our teaching staff.

We are committed to providing timely and appropriate feedback to you on your academic progress and achievement in order to enable you to reflect on your progress and plan your academic and skills development effectively. You are also encouraged to seek additional feedback from your course tutors.

Please note the modules listed are correct at the time of publishing. The University cannot guarantee the availability of all modules listed and modules may be subject to change. The University will notify applicants of any changes made to the core modules listed. For further information please refer to winchester.ac.uk/termsandconditions

This module allows students to explore a range of different non-fiction genres, including memoir, Travel Writing, and reportage. In each case they will contemplate the ethical dilemmas of so doing, and the psychological dimensions of writing about their own lives and the lives of others. They will consider issues such as perspective, narrative, politics, audience, and editing. The module will focus upon how to use language to achieve certain effects. Much of the work will occur in practical workshops, working towards the submission for assessment of a specific piece prose non-fiction and an essay exploring the world of non-fiction writing (including the media) in relation to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

This module aims to help students develop their own practice as writers of fiction, through a consideration of the form and techniques used by published writers. It will consider plotting and the structuring of texts, as well as the subtleties of characterisation, dialogue and place in short and longer fiction. The module will analyse a selection of works, paying particular attention to more recent work and considering texts that range from Booker and Pulitzer prize winners to mass-market fictions; experimental odysseys to more sentimental journeys. Students will be encouraged to consider how these fictions work as texts, how they develop character, plot story, position the reader etc., and how they relate to audiences.

Students will work individually and in groups to create/develop stories and structures, characters and scenes for or from their own fictions. This module will be the beginning of their journey towards their Independent Study.

This module is designed to enable students to become a successful writer within a community, whether that is through residencies or works celebrating or contributing to a particular neighbourhood, community or group. This may involve responding creatively with site-specific works within an urban or rural environment; working with an online community, or the temporary ‘community’ of a festival; involvement in a collaborative community-based art project; participation in or production of an anthology or collection for publication. Whatever the platform or opportunity – whether it is an existing one that is applied for, or created in a pro-active way – the emphasis here is on community engagement, widening participation, and positive impact.  

This module allows the students to explore a variety of fictional genres, including but not limited to: Horror, Sci Fi/Fantasy, Crime, and Historical Fiction. By looking at texts from leading authors in each field, students will learn about genre conventions in relation to plot, character, and setting, and will use these skills to write a creative piece of their own in a chosen genre. Alongside the creative elements of the module, students will also critically examine genre fiction, with particular attention being paid to the roles of gender and race.

This module is designed to prepare students for the rigour of writing a longer-form creative piece. Issues of structure, sub-plotting, narrative drive, character development and ‘voice’ are considered within the context of the student’s own ideas for their Independent Study and similarly targeted works of contemporary fiction or the specific genre they have chosen. The relationship between experimentation/originality and commercial imperatives/’what has gone before’ will be considered to enable students to locate their own work more fully within current socio-cultural contexts, while workshops and group discussion deepen each student’s interrogation of their own processes and challenge habitual modes of working.

The Independent Study is the culmination of the MA Creative Writing. Students will write, re-write and edit an extended creative piece, 20,000 to 25,000 words of a novel, or a script or poetry collection or work of creative non-fiction to be agreed by the Programme Leader and supervising tutor. They will realise ideas first developed in the Independent Study Preparation module and work under the expert guidance of a supervisor but with an emphasis on self-directed research and writing. The overall outcome will be a demonstration of the student’s creative integrity, confidence and accomplishment in authorship.

Entry requirements

Normally a first or second-class Honours degree or professional experience in the area of study. Applicants are required to submit a sample of their creative writing. 

Continuing students who have achieved a first or upper second-class degree in BA Creative Writing or BA Creative & Professional Writing at the University of Winchester are not required to submit a sample of their creative writing.

If English is not your first language: IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 7.0 in writing or equivalent. 

Applications need to be submitted before the published deadline on our website. Late applications can be accepted throughout the remainder of the application year, for more information see our How to apply (Postgraduate) section.

If you are living outside of the UK or Europe, you can find out more about how to join this course by emailing our International Recruitment Team at  [email protected] .

2024/2025 Course Tuition Fees 

Additional tuition fee information

If you are a UK student starting your degree in January / September 2024, the first year will cost you £9,550**.

If finance is a worry for you, we are here to help. Take a look at the range of support we have on offer. This is a great investment you are making in your future, so make sure you know what is on offer to support you.

**The University of Winchester will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year.

Additional costs

As one of our students all of your teaching and assessments are included in your tuition fees, including, lectures/guest lectures and tutorials, seminars, laboratory sessions and specialist teaching facilities. You will also have access to a wide range of student support and IT services.

SCHOLARSHIPS, BURSARIES AND AWARDS

We have a variety of scholarship and bursaries available to support you financially with the cost of your course. To see if you’re eligible, please see our Scholarships and Awards .

CAREER PROSPECTS

Many graduates of the course have obtained publishing contracts, while others work in other aspects of publishing, or in teaching, media, the arts and business.

“The MSc programmes at Winchester provide you with an excellent foundation from which to pursue your career.” Steve - MSc Graduate UWin Student Blog

How to Apply for this course

We want your application process to be as simple as possible. Find out everything you need to know about the application process, how to apply, your offer and how to secure your place.

Dr Judith Heneghan

Dr Judith Heneghan is Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing, a novelist and the former Director of the Winchester Writers' Festival.

View our Related Courses in English, Creative Writing and Journalism

Take a look at all our courses within the subject areas of English, Creative Writing and Journalism

Information for International Students

Our International students come from all over the world and we understand that some things are a little different when applying and then arriving at the University. We have therefore provided a list of some of the countries we work in with specific information included on Entry Requirements, Funding Opportunities, Visas and other useful information.

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• Postgraduate

Novel Writing MA (Online Distance Learning)

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Writing a novel is on most bucket lists, but very few people make their dream a reality. Our fully flexible online MA enables you to develop your novel at your own pace, at times to suit your lifestyle, from anywhere in the world

Register your interest

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Viewing course details for 2025 year of entry

• Course overview

About your course

• Teaching and learning

Facilities and support

Entry requirements.

• Fees and funding
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Why study the Novel Writing Online Distance Learning MA at Middlesex University?

You’ll be supported throughout by acclaimed novelists, who are experienced creative writing lecturers with valuable industry links.

Our practical and contemporary approach to novel writing ensures you are able to hone your writing skills and develop your book while also identifying gaps in the market and how to approach agents and publishers.

Through our online campus you can access the support of our experts, while interacting with others on the course, at a time to suit you, and you complete the course in one year (full-time). From idea generation, to developing character and plot, to pitching your novel to publishers, this MA equips you to master your novel.

Course highlights

• Our teaching team are all experienced creative writing lecturers as well as being novelists – they include novelist, critic and TV director/producer Dr Adam Lively and fantasy novelist/critic Dr Adam Dalton
• You’ll be learning with state-of-the-art distance learning tools and 24-hour web support through our innovative online platform
• Creative writing at Middlesex has strong links with the publishing industry, including hosting the annual   North London Story Festival , which has included appearances by writers such as former poet laureate Carol-Anne Duffy, novelist David Nicholls and Booker Prize shortlisted author Stephen Kelman
• Get free access to the resources, learning materials and software

This course is subject to review.

What will you study on the Novel Writing MA?

This course is divided into five modules taken over three terms (if studied full time) which take you through the full process of writing a novel. While exploring in depth such key techniques of fiction as plotting, narrative voice, characterisation and background research, each module is also designed to be flexible and to allow you to bring your own writing interests and projects to the assignments, extending the boundaries of your current practice through self-reflection, research, analysis, and creative exploration.

Here is a brief overview of what you will study each year

Writing as a Novelist (30 Credits)​ - Compulsory

This module explores key writing techniques such as narrative, setting and characterisation, with reference to literary examples and the different methods used by writers in the creative process. This is an opportunity for you to explore the scenes and characters of your planned novel or develop a variety of ideas and approaches if you have not decided on the content of your story.

Reading as a Novelist (30 Credits)​​ - Compulsory

Building on the 'Reading as a Writer' concept (most famously explored in Francine Prose's book), this module explores how published writers handle the technical and ethical problems which are likely to present themselves in your writing. Through a combination of weekly 'practical criticism' exercises and an online 'book group' you will develop the analytical skills to improve your own writing and the problem-solving techniques to overcome any obstacles in your approach.

Research: Writing, Markets, Audiences (30 Credits)​​ - Compulsory​

This module explores the methods fiction-writers employ to research elements of their stories, as well as investigating the reasons why research is necessary – to provide authenticity, to avoid error, to create verisimilitude, and even to get inspiration. You will also learn about researching the possible markets, audiences and publishing outlets for your creative work.

Developing and Publishing the Novel (30 Credits)​​ - Compulsory​

This module moves on from the 'portfolio' focus of earlier modules to deal with the challenges of working on a specific novel. Through a series of writing exercises you will begin to evolve characters, explore themes and refine settings for your planned novel. This is an opportunity for you to begin the sustained prose narrative that is expected in the following dissertation.

Major Project (60 Credits)​​ - Compulsory​

Your final dissertation is an opportunity for you to take all the knowledge and skills you have acquired in the preceding modules and apply them to 20,000 words of an original novel with a synopsis for sending to an agent or publisher and an accompanying critical commentary.

To find out more, please download the Novel Writing MA (Online Distance Learning) course specification (PDF) .

Sign up now to receive more information about studying at Middlesex University London.

You'll be taught by an experienced teaching team with a wide range of expertise and professional experience.

How we'll teach you

Coursework and assessments.

How is the MA Novel Writing taught?

This course is an online distance learning programme, so all teaching and learning is done online.

You will meet, work and study with your fellow course participants and tutors in a virtual space which provides you with the flexibility to learn at your own pace, in your own time. Our Virtual Learning Environment encourages you to share your writing, interact, question, and participate with others on your course, ensuring you never feel as if you are studying in isolation.

You will learn through

• Carefully structured modules that take students through key aspects of novel-writing
• Tailored writing exercises, with accompanying feedback from tutors and fellow students
• Guided reading and interactive discussion and analysis
• One-to-one online tutorials on individual projects
• Extensive online support materials – e-books, videos.

Where will I study?

This course will be taught online.

Assessment is on the basis of creative work, including a 15,000-word final submission, along with reflection on the writing process in the form of discussion posts, on-line learning journals and critical commentaries.

Our Sheppard Library provides a wide range of resources and support to help you to succeed in your studies.

Over 1,000 study spaces including rooms for group study and over 500 computers available.

We have one of London's biggest and best university campuses with everything you need in one place.

Student support.

We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health, and disability support.

Additional needs

We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team .

Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.

Work while you study

Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above. Visit the Middlesex Unitemps page.

North London campus

Our north London campus is 23 minutes away by underground train, travelling from London Kings Cross.

• International
• How to apply

Qualifications

We normally require a second class honours degree 2:2 or above, or equivalent qualification (a writer has to have something to write about!). We will also accept individuals with a minimum of three years' work experience,

Those without formal qualifications will need to demonstrate relevant writing experience and the ability to study at postgraduate level.

2,000 word submission

To be accepted to study on the Novel Writing MA, we are particularly looking for writing promise, ambition and dedication. All applicants are required to submit 2,000 words of recently written work as part of their application. This should be as a Word document. It is likely to be creative writing in prose form, e.g. an excerpt from a short story or novel, or it could be an essay or piece of creative non-fiction, for example. 

We accept the equivalent recognised overseas qualifications for a 2:2 degree or above, or equivalent qualification (a writer has to have something to write about!). We will also accept individuals with a minimum of three years' work experience. Those without formal qualifications will need to demonstrate relevant writing experience and the ability to study at postgraduate level.

To find out more about the qualifications we accept,  visit the your country support page . If you are unsure about the suitability of your qualifications or would like help with your application, please contact your nearest regional office for support.

We are particularly looking for writing promise, ambition and dedication. All applicants are required to submit 2,000 words of recently written work as part of their application. This should be as a Word document. It is likely to be creative writing in prose form, e.g. an excerpt from a short story or novel, or it could be an essay or piece of creative non-fiction, for example. 

English language 

You must have competence in English language to study with us. IELTS must have minimum 6.5 overall with 6.5 in Reading, Listening and Speaking and a minimum 7.0 in Written component for 202410. We also normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification.

If you don't meet our minimum English language requirements, we offer an intensive Pre-sessional English course .

Applications for postgraduate study should be made directly to the university. Please visit our postgraduate application page for further information and to apply.

The fees below are for the 2025/26 academic year.

UK 1 / International students 2

Full-time students: £8,600

As an undergraduate alumnus continuing postgraduate studies at Middlesex, you are eligible for an alumni award worth 20% off your fees.

Fees disclaimers

1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase postgraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.

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We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.

Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.

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At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.

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School of Arts, Languages and Cultures

Meet the people that make up our English Literature and Creative Writing department.

Head of English, American Studies and Creative Writing

• Prof. Ian Scott - Professor of American Film and History

Head of English Literature

• Prof. David Matthews  - Professor of Medieval and Medievalism Studies

Staff 

• Dr Lubaaba Al-Azami, Lecturer in Shakespeare and Early Modern Literature.
• Prof. David Alderson  - Professor in English Literature
• Dr Jason Allen-Paisant  - Senior Lecturer in Critical Theory and Creative Writing
• Dr Naomi Baker - Senior Lecturer in Renaissance Literature
• Dr Anke Bernau - Senior Lecturer in Medieval Literature and Culture
• Dr Howard Booth - Senior Lecturer in English Literature
• Dr Luke Brown - Lecturer in Creative Writing
• Prof. Daniela Caselli - Professor of Modern Literature
• Dr Maria Christou - Senior Lecturer in Modern and Contemporary Literature
• Mr Horatio Clare  - Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing
• Dr Clara Dawson  - Senior Lecturer in Victorian Literature
• Prof. Jerome De Groot - Professor of English Literature and Culture
• Dr Noelle Dückmann Gallagher - Senior Lecturer in 18th Century Literature and Culture
• Dr Gareth Gavin  - Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing
• Ms Vona Groarke - Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing
• Dr Ingrid Hanson - Lecturer in English Literature
• Prof. Ben Harker - Professor in 20th Century Literature
• Prof. Liam Harte - Professor of Irish Literature
• Mr Jonathan Hourigan - Lecturer in Screenwriting
• Ms Frances Leviston - Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing
• Prof. John McAuliffe - Professor of Modern Literature and Creative Writing and Director of Creative Manchester
• Prof. Ian McGuire - Professor in Creative Writing
• Dr James Metcalf -  Lecturer in Eighteenth-Century English Literature
• Dr Kaye Mitchell - Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Literature and co-director of the Centre for New Writing
• Dr Ben Nichols - Lecturer in Gender And Sexuality Studies
• Dr James Paz - Senior Lecturer in Early Medieval Literature
• Mr Tim Price - Senior Lecturer in Screenwriting
• Dr Alan Rawes - Senior Lecturer in Romanticism
• Dr Gillian Redfern, Lecturer in Medieval English
• Dr John Roache - Lecturer in Modern and Contemporary Literatures in English
• Prof. Michael Sanders - Professor in 19th Century Writing
• Prof. Michael Schmidt - Professor of Creative Writing
• Dr Fred Schurink  - Senior Lecturer in Early Modern Literature
• Prof. Kamila Shamsie - Professor of Creative Writing
• Dr Robert Spencer  - Senior Lecturer in Postcolonial Literature and Culture
• Prof. Jacqueline Stacey - Professor of Media and Cultural Studies
• Dr Joanna Taylor - Senior Lecturer in Nineteenth-Century Literature and Digital Humanities
• Ms Beth Underdown - Lecturer in Creative Writing
• Dr Anastasia Valassopoulos - Senior Lecturer in World Literatures
• Dr Chris Vardy, Lecturer in English Literature
• Dr Sundhya Walther - Senior Lecturer in World Literatures in English
• Prof. Jeanette Winterson - Professor of Creative Writing

Honorary and Associate staff

• Dr Burcu Alkan - Honorary Research Fellow
• Dr Letizia Alterno - Honorary Research Fellow
• Dr Iain Bailey - Honorary Research Fellow
• Dr William Hutchings - Honorary Research Fellow
• Maxine Peake - Honorary Professor of Literature and Performance
• Dr Alexander Rumble - Honorary Research Fellow

Emeritus staff

• Prof. Laura Doan  - Professor of Cultural History and Sexuality Studies
• Prof. Patricia Duncker - Emeritus Professor of Contemporary Writing
• Prof. Hal Gladfelder  - Professor of English and Comparative Literature
• Prof. Gale Owen-Crocker - Emeritus Professor of Anglo-Saxon Culture
• Prof. Jacqueline Pearson - Emeritus Professor of English Literature
• Prof. Janet Wolff - Emeritus Professor of Cultural Sociology

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English, Publishing and Creative Writing

Continue a journey filled with creative possibilities – from writing your own full-length book to exploring the world of the Gothic or understanding the eco-systems of the publishing industry.

Course listing

Introduction.

The Department of English is home to several exciting and vibrant MA programmes. The department has close links to Manchester Poetry Library, the North West’s first public poetry library, is a key collaborator in Manchester’s UESCO City of Literature status, and hosts a varied programme of events that you can get involved in.

MA/MFA Creative Writing is based in the hugely successful Manchester Writing School and is taught by award-winning writers and critics with direct experience of the creative, editorial and publishing processes. You’ll have the opportunity to specialise in a route that interests you with the support of our internationally-renowned academics.

The programme for MA English Studies draws upon the wide-ranging expertise of the staff and various research centres, including the Manchester Centre for Gothic Studies, Centre for Migration and Postcolonial Studies, and Manchester Centre for Nineteenth-Century Studies. We are ranked 8th out of 92 UK universities for our Research Power in English Language and Literature (REF 2021).

Our MA Publishing will enable you to develop specialist skills in print and digital publishing, and pursue a variety of careers in the book and magazine industries. You’ll also benefit from our extensive industry connections with the many publishing houses in Manchester, giving you the chance to enhance your employability with a placement.

Find out more from our staff and students

• Dr Sarah Ilott
• Dr Paul Wake and Dr Chloe Germaine
• Professor Andrew McMillan
• Professor Simon Stephens
• Dr Rachel Lichtenstein
• Professor Monique Roffey

My research directly supports teaching on the MA English Studies unit ‘Narrating the Nation’, which focuses on twenty-first century Britain in the context of encroaching nationalisms.

Students are encouraged to take part in live research projects, such as working with us to develop the ecogame ludography, and are also invited to take part in our annual symposium and game jam – Multiplatform.

We’re really hoping you will expand your own ideas of what your work could do.

Over the last few years I’ve been encouraging quite exciting collaborations between our writers and our actors.

Creative non-fiction is a broad term that basically covers all writing where we’re telling compelling true stories.

The Manchester Writing School is a place for students to pollinate and cross pollinate their ideas.

From formulating my own ideas and defining my own thesis, to research skills and time management, the course has provided me with the necessary skills to be successful as a fully autonomous scholar.

It feels a privilege to know that we are working with leading researchers and champions of the gothic genre, from Walpole to today and beyond.

Courses (5)

Creative writing, english studies, secondary english with qts*.

Our open days and webinars can help with your study decision.

Alternatively, use our A–Z index

New anthology highlights talented graduates from the Centre for New Writing

A new anthology is set to be published in September, celebrating the wealth of literary talent produced by The University of Manchester’s Centre for New Writing. The Manchester Anthology, Volume Fourteen highlights the work of twenty-one writers who have recently completed their Creative Writing MA, offering them a platform to share their voices and kickstart their careers. It will include short stories, poetry, non-fiction and novel extracts. Each year, the MA students are given a budget and have creative control over everything from editing submissions to the design of the cover, gaining valuable insight into the particulars of book production. This year’s cohort collaborated with artist Georgia Harmey and designer David Webb to develop a distinctive look and feel for the anthology. Each element of Georgia’s cover art draws on themes and characters from across the twenty-one pieces, while David took a classic approach with his design. The anthology will be launched on the evening of October 21st at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation, a centre devoted to the legacy of the renowned Manchester-born writer. The event will feature live readings from the contributors and presentation of the PFD Prize, as well as opportunities to connect with peers, editors and literary agents. Students who contributed to previous volumes have gone on to become successful writers. Beth Underdown’s debut novel, The Witchfinder’s Sister , was a Richard and Judy bestseller; Alys Conran was shortlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize for her debut novel, Pigeon ; Nat Ogle, author of In The Seeing Hands of Others , was shortlisted for  The White Review  Poet's Prize; Joe Carrick-Varty’s collection,  More Sky, was shortlisted for the T.S. Eliot Prize; Thomas D. Lee’s novel, Perilous Times, was a Sunday Times bestseller; and Jessica Moor was named one of the ten best debut novelists of 2020 by Observer New Review, and was shortlisted for the Desmond Elliot Prize.

The MA in Creative Writing at Manchester has always been home to an array of writers whose imagination is both local to their own stories but with aspirations for larger, twenty-first century resonances, and this 2024 graduating class is no exception: from a university drama rehearsal space and a school run to a ruined Kyankyer village, corporate India's creative industries, West Ryedale Council chamber and other even more fantastical worlds: these writers situate crisis, recognition and discovery, finding a way to make sense of what poet Taira Deshpande calls life, and death, this 'great big swirling confusing thing.

Everyone who attends the launch event will have the opportunity to buy a physical copy of the anthology, which will also be made available in Blackwell’s Manchester bookshop and online as a PDF.

To learn more, visit www.mancanthology.co.uk .

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