Creative Writing
Entry requirements
Application is by submission of an online form including a personal statement, and a sample of your own creative work. Your application should be tailored to one of our specialist routes: Novel, Poetry, Writing for Children & YA, Scriptwriting or Creative Non-Fiction.
Please indicate at the top of your personal statement which specialist route you are applying for. You should use the rest of the statement to tell us a bit about yourself, give a good overview of your reading and writing interests, and a sense of what has led you to apply for our course and any ideas you have for what you’d like to write with us. Personal statements should be up to 500 words long.
For the creative sample, applicants to the Novel, Children's & YA and Creative Non-Fiction routes should submit up to 2,000 words of prose; poetry applicants should submit up to 15 poems; and scriptwriting applicants should submit up to 15 minutes running time of script. The work submitted can be a complete piece, or an extract or a number of extracts from a longer work.
We have intakes into the programme in September and January each year.
In each application assessed we will be looking for evidence of:
- A very high standard of written English
- Control of form, style and technique
- Substantial reading of contemporary work within the relevant field with reference to specific texts and/or writers
- Commitment to the craft of writing and willingness to engage with the editorial process of receiving feedback and redrafting work-in-progress
- Experience of the development of writing skills through workshops, supervision, mentoring or previous study
Applicants whose first language is not English are required to produce evidence of English Language proficiency. Overseas applicants will require IELTS with an overall score of 6.5, with no sub-component below 5.5, or an equivalent accepted English qualification. Accepted English qualifications can be viewed here.
Find out about English language requirements.
If you are an international student, you will usually need to get a student visa before you can study in the UK.
Months of entry
January, September
Course content
Join a vibrant community of award-winning writers at the Manchester Writing School, home to over 100 published students and graduates. Our MA Creative Writing programme invites you to develop your voice, on campus in a UNESCO City of Literature, or as part of our global online community from anywhere in the world.
Specialise in Novel, Poetry, Scriptwriting, Writing for Children and Young Adults, or Creative Non-Fiction, and work alongside internationally renowned writers, poets and scriptwriters. You'll refine your craft through immersive workshops and critical reading, culminating in a substantial piece of creative work from a proposed longer work in progress.
Whether full-time or part-time, on campus or online, our course offers the flexibility to suit your life, and the inspiration to transform your writing. With regular events, publishing opportunities, and a global network of peers, you’ll be supported at every stage of your creative journey.
Explore staff profiles, student successes, and scholarship opportunities on the Manchester Writing School website.
You can also choose to pursue our MFA Creative Writing masters, in which you’ll work on and submit a full-length manuscript.
Features and benefits:
- Ongoing alumni success - More than 100 students and graduates have published first books, had work produced, achieved publication in journals and magazines, won writing awards and prizes, set up small presses and anthologies, and found roles in the publishing industry.
- Academic expertise - The course is taught by high-profile writers and critics, including Professor Andrew McMillan, Professor Simon Stephens, and Professor Monique Roffey, under the direction of Professor Carol Ann Duffy DBE.
- Home to Manchester Poetry Library - Manchester Poetry Library is the North West’s first public poetry library and holds over 12,000 books and recordings that can be explored through the online catalogue, in person, and through the annual programme of events.
- Research power - English at Manchester Met was ranked 8th out of 92 UK universities for the power of our research. Students can access world-leading expertise and an exciting collection of community-facing projects, events and activities through our research groups.
- Manchester, City of Literature - Manchester has been designated an international UNESCO City of Literature in recognition of its thriving live literature scene, with a diverse range of regular author events, writers’ forums, networking opportunities and open mic nights.
- Extended piece of writing - All MA students will complete an extended piece of writing from a proposed full-length book or script, supported by one-to-one supervision.
Information for international students
Please visit the international page.
Fees and funding
For further information please see the fees and funding page.
Qualification, course duration and attendance options
- MA
- part time24 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- Online learningis available for this qualification
- full time12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
Course contact details
- Name
- Course Enquiries Team
- courses@mmu.ac.uk
- Phone
- +44 (0)161 247 6969