Creative Writing (Online)

Entry requirements

To apply, you should have a 2:2 honours degree or higher in a relevant subject area, such as English Literature, American Studies, Creative Writing, Film Studies, Television and Media, Drama, History, Classics and Ancient History, Cultural Studies and Postcolonial Literatures.

We will also welcome your application if you have a different academic background, but have other relevant experience. If so, we may request a short writing sample of 2-3,000 words of academic or creative prose or three to four poems.

Months of entry

January, May, September

Course content

• Study at your own pace with our fully online programme, designed to fit around your schedule and commitments.
• Join Exeter’s world-class creative writing team and become part of a thriving, supportive community.
• Share your work in supportive online workshops and receive expert feedback from published writers.
• Gain practical knowledge in pitching, promoting, and navigating the publishing industry from experienced professionals.
• Develop your voice as a writer committed to better futures, creating work that engages with social, political, and ecological change.

The Online Creative Writing MA is a flexible, fully online programme delivered by Exeter’s world-renowned English and Creative Writing department. Study at your own pace, from anywhere, while developing your writing, editing, and publishing skills.

You’ll be taught through a mix of online lectures, peer workshops, inspiring writing exercises, and personal tutoring from published writers. You’ll explore what makes great books work, how your own writing connects with wider literary traditions, and how to engage readers on the issues that matter.

The MA Creative Writing course offers practical training in publishing, from pitching and promotion to navigating the industry, with advice from experienced professionals. Whether you write poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction, you’ll follow a structured curriculum that builds strong writing habits and culminates in a substantial final manuscript, ready to submit.

This MA is ideal for writers seeking expert mentorship, the support of a vibrant community, and clear steps towards publication.

To complete the full MA, you need to take all the modules in the list below. The modules are all standalone and can be taken in any order, as they are all online. The Manuscript module is offered every term after the first full cycle of taught modules.

Information for international students

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course.

The required test scores for this course fall under Profile E.

Fees and funding

To make it easier to budget, you don’t need to pay the total fee upfront. Instead, you can pay for each module as you are about to start studying it. You can pay for the whole year if you prefer, but the minimum payment is at least the cost of the module(s) you are taking that term. Please note that if your payment has not reached us by the end of week one of a module, you will have to wait until the next term to start.

If you are struggling to afford your chosen programme of study, some help may be available from either the government or the university. This includes:

• Postgraduate student loans. If you live in the UK, you may be able to access a loan to help pay for your online degree fees and living costs while you study. To be eligible, you must not already have a Masters degree (or above). For information on how to apply and your student finance entitlement, please visit the following links depending on whether you live in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
  
  If you are awaiting the approval of a postgraduate loan to pay for the course and evidence is provided through the Admissions application gateway, access to learning material will be provided prior to receipt of payment.
  
• Disabled Student Allowance (DSA).
  Most UK students with a physical disability or mental health difficulty, long term health condition or specific learning difficulty will be able to apply for Disabled Students’ Allowance which can help towards the cost of specialist equipment, one-to-one support and other costs associated with your condition. If you feel this applies to you, you are encouraged to apply as early as possible as the whole process can take up to 12 weeks. If you complete an application and are not eligible for DSA, please make an appointment with the AccessAbility Team to discuss alternative funding and support.
  
  
• Success for All fund. Some financial support may be possible through our Success for All fund as assessed on a case-by-case basis providing eligibility criteria are met. Fully online students are not automatically eligible for an IT bursary, but exceptions may be made in some circumstances. However, please note the University would expect students to have made reasonable provision to support themselves during their studies prior to enrolling on a module.
  
• Employer sponsorship. Your employer or another organisation you are associated with may be happy to pay all or part of your fee. If you are getting financial support in this way, we can invoice them directly for the value that they have agreed to support before you start your studies. You will have to pay any balance so that the module you are studying is paid in full before you start.
  
• Student discounts. Our online students are fully registered students of the university, and therefore can ask for an Exeter Unicard, which can be used to access a wide range of student discounts on everyday items including food and clothing. You can also apply for student discounts on products and services through the UniDays card.