Creative and Critical Writing

Entry requirements

• You will need at least a 2.2 honours degree or equivalent.
• Applicants will be considered on an individual basis.
• You will be required to submit a portfolio to evidence your writing. The portfolio should be 3,000 words of creative prose (eg a short story or novel extract) or 12 poems or 30 minutes of dramatic writing in standard format.
• EU and international students need IELTS 6.0 overall (with a minimum of 5.5 in each component) or equivalent.

Months of entry

September

Course content

The MA in Creative and Critical Writing has been designed so that students can choose a path through the degree which focuses either on creative or literary critical writing, or a combination of both.

You will work with practising authors, poets, and playwrights, as well as leaders in the field of literary criticism, to develop your own distinctive voice. You will develop as a writer in the world, not only in the classroom, and will be advised on routes to publication. Modules with a more academic focus allow you to engage with literary theory and academic studies of influential writers’ work.

This highly successful MA in Creative and Critical Writing was one of the first in the UK to offer modules dedicated to the theory and practice of teaching creative writing, and the theoretical and practical analysis of the creative process. These options complement the creative and critical strands of the degree and offer you the chance to become a writer prepared for the modern professional arenas in which you may find yourself.

There are opportunities to attend The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival, Ledbury Poetry Festival, the Cheltenham Poetry Festival where our students volunteer as event managers and stewards and there is usually a student showcase event, and Hay Festival of Literature and the Arts. There are monthly public open readings, and there is a vibrant cultural life in Cheltenham and the surrounding county.

Fees and funding

Learn more at the postgraduate fees, loans and finance page.