lancaster university creative writing masters

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Lancaster university: creative writing (distance learning).

Distance Learning, 24 months starts Oct 2024

* Why Lancaster?* Study from anywhere in the world, whenever it suits you, with our online tutorials and conferences Sharpen your writing with detailed individual feedback from a published author in your chosen genre Join us for a summer school on campus to spend time with our friendly community, share your work and learn from brilliant writers Learn from published writers who specialise in long prose fiction, memoir, short stories, poetry and work for stage and screen Work towards your ambition of being a published writer – we’ll help you turn your passion into a career path We believe distance learning should be like a book – you should be able to pick it up and put it down when it suits you. By studying with us, you can benefit from invaluable one-to-one support from one of our published writers and work on your writing project without changing your lifestyle.

**A global community** The DLMA Creative Writing at Lancaster has an established track record of success: our list of graduates who have published their work speaks for itself. Studying with us, you’ll become part of our diverse community of students who connect with each other from all corners of the globe, each bringing their unique personal experiences and cultural perspectives to the course.

**Supporting your success** To support your writing project, you’ll learn from detailed online one-to-one tutorials and group conferences. We’ll match you with a published writer in your chosen genre who will be your personal tutor throughout the programme. As well as this one-to-one support, you’ll take part in virtual conferences where you’ll share your work with other students and members of our expert team.

**Unmissable summer school** In the summer term of your first year, we run a week-long summer school on campus. Past students have travelled to Lancaster from locations ranging from the USA to Singapore. While this is an optional part of the programme, previous participants have said this is a highlight of the programme as they have the chance to meet other students in person, join interactive workshops and review their progress face-to-face.

During this exciting week, you’ll also benefit from interacting with professionals such as agents, publishers and writers who join us from across the UK. You’ll also take part in a field trip to the Wordsworth Trust in the beautiful Lake District.

Distance Learning, 24 months started Oct 2023

This part-time creative writing programme links students in the UK and overseas through virtual learning. Students study with us from all parts of the world, working in English but enriching the course with a wide range of personal experience and cultural perspectives.

The course is mediated by online tutorials and conferences. A small cohort of students exchange and critique writing in a range of literary forms. You will be allocated a personal tutor (an expert in your chosen genre or a related field), and our online course site provides research training modules and a cybercafé where you can meet and communicate informally.

At the end of the Summer Term of your first year, you have the option of attending a five day Summer School at the Lancaster University campus. While this is an optional part of the programme, those students who have been able to attend in previous years have found it to be a valuable addition to the programme. It consists of workshops, personal progress reviews, and visits by professionals such as agents, publishers and writers.

Distance Learning, 24 months started Oct 2022

Lancaster University is home to a dynamic postgraduate community and offers a wealth of both taught and research study options across a wide range of subject areas. Studying at Lancaster is all about broadening your horizons, finding new perspectives and discovering new experiences. By living and studying with students and staff from over 130 countries students join a global community and have the opportunity to make international connections.

We are proud to be highly ranked in three major UK league tables. We are also climbing in the world rankings and are currently in the top 125 out of more than …

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  Creative Writing with English Literary Studies - MA

Lancaster university     department of english literature and creative writing.

FindAMasters summary

Immerse yourself in the world of literature with the MA in Creative Writing with English Literary Studies. This programme offers a unique blend of creative and critical writing at Master's level, guided by renowned authors like Jenn Ashworth and Zoe Lambert. Delve into verbal textures, narrative structures, and literary forms across a variety of genres including Psychogeography, Short Fiction, Poetry, and more. Develop your critical and creative skills through reflective practice, redrafting, and close editing, culminating in a Creative Writing portfolio and a critically reflective essay. The 'Research Training and Professional Practice' module equips you with ethical insights into the world of creative writing. With a 2:1 Hons degree in English literature or related subjects, you can join this programme and explore a vibrant literary culture while preparing for careers in journalism, publishing, or further academic research. Don't miss the chance to showcase your work at the annual MA Showcase and elevate your writing prowess.

About the course

The MA in Creative Writing with English Literary Studies provides the opportunity to combine creative and critical writing at Master's level. It’s your chance to learn from prize-winning, practising authors such as Jenn Ashworth, Zoe Lambert and Eoghan Walls who lead our long-established Creative Writing scheme and to engage with a vibrant literary culture.

Entry Requirements

2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in English literature or related subject, for example literature in other languages. We may also consider non-standard applicants, please contact us for information. If you have studied outside of the UK, we would advise you to check our list of international qualifications before submitting your application. As part of your application you also need to provide: A sample of your academic writing about literature A portfolio of original writing (no more than 12 poems or 20 pages of prose/scriptwriting) showing potential for publication

Please see the university website for further information on fees for this course.

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Qualification, university name, postgraduate creative writing courses at lancaster university.

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Creative Writing (Distance Learning) MA

Lancaster university.

Why Lancaster Study from anywhere in the world, whenever it suits you, with our online tutorials and conferences Sharpen your writing Read more...

• 2 years Distance without attendance degree: £5,625 per year (UK)

Creative Writing (Modular) MA

Why Lancaster Study close to the beautiful Lake District, home of the Romantic poets, and inspiration for many writers since Take part in Read more...

• 1 year Full time degree: £11,500 per year (UK)
• 2 years Part time degree: £5,750 per year (UK)

Creative Writing PhD

Why Lancaster Study online or join us on campus to be close to the Lake District, home of the Romantic poets, and inspiration for many Read more...

• 36 months Full time degree: £4,786 per year (UK)
• 48 months Part time degree: £2,393 per year (UK)

English Literary Studies with Creative Writing MA

The MA English Literary Studies with Creative Writing provides a rare opportunity to combine creative and critical writing at Master's Read more...

English Literature and Creative Writing PhD

Why Lancaster Read, think, and write alongside tutors who are established authors of literature of all kinds, including creative-critical Read more...

Creative Writing with English Literary Studies MA

The MA Creative Writing with English Literary Studies provides the opportunity to combine creative and critical writing at Master's level. Read more...

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• Distance learning

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Courses, apprenticeships, information guides and more

Lancaster University

Degree level: postgraduate, creative writing (research), course options.

There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

Why Lancaster? Study online or join us on campus to be close to the Lake District, home of the Romantic poets, and inspiration for many writers since Benefit from our supervisory strengths in contemporary poetry, fiction, creative-critical writing, creative non-fiction and script writing Complete a significant creative writing project, whether you want to craft a novel or create an entire script Be inspired by our rich programme of literary events on campus, online, and in the city’s historic Castle Quarter Join a vibrant, supportive community of PhD students working across a range of literacy genres and research projects We have a team of award-winning novelists, poets and playwrights with the expertise and experience to bring your creative project to life. Our staff have a range of impressive accolades including the BBC National Short Story Award, Waterstones’ Children’s Book Prize and Pigott Poetry Prize. Meet some of our team. Your unique project Wondering what a PhD in creative writing looks like? It depends what project you decide to work on. Typically, we would expect a critical writing piece around 20,000 words long and a creative writing piece of around 60-80,000 words. Your creative work can be an extract or a complete piece or collection of prose fiction/non-fiction, a collection of poetry, or a completed script for stage, screen or audio. These are examples; we’re happy to discuss other forms and unique projects with you. Finding the right supervisor is key to your success as they’ll act as a critical friend. We expect you to already have one in mind while completing your application and to contact them before submitting your application. Most students have one or two supervisors, but you might have more depending on the nature of your project. Online or on campus? Our pioneering virtual learning and research facilities mean you can study from anywhere in the world. Our campus students enjoy a lively programme of departmental events and both distance and campus students meet in termly Work in Progress sessions. If you haven’t studied a Master’s in Creative Writing at Lancaster, you’ll need to complete the core Creative Writing module Research Methods and Professional Practice. You can take this module in person or online.

Assessment method

Assessment is by thesis which should be a sustained piece of creative writing of publishable standard and a substantial piece of reflective or critical writing.

Entry requirements

Masters degree or equivalent in English literature or literature in other languages, usually with an average of at least 65% for UK MAs. 2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in English Literature or related subject, for example literature in other languages. Additional Requirements: As part of your application you also need to provide: -A viable research proposal. -A portfolio of original writing (no more than 15 poems or 30 pages of prose) showing potential for publication. We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously. We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 7.0, and a minimum of 6.5 in each element of the test.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees.

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

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English Literature and Creative Writing

Start your story with Lancaster University

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for English 

The Guardian University Guide (2024)

for Creative Writing  

38th in the world

QS World Subject Rankings (2024)

Welcome, or welcome back, to the Department

Professor Mark Knight- Head of Department.

Outstanding

Our research, as showcased by our publications, 96% of which is rated world-leading or internationally excellent (REF2021), is shaped by a juxtaposition of the critical and the creative, the city of Lancaster, with its Medieval Castle and Priory, and the Lake District where we partner with Wordsworth Grasmere. We also partner with The Duke’s Theatre, Lancaster LitFest, and The Storey, Lancaster’s Victorian-build arts venue, where our students enjoy the Postgraduate Study Space.

Our Creative Writing programme has a long and distinguished history which dates back to 1970, meaning that, in the UK, we were there at the very beginning of the discipline. And we remain at the fore with celebrated authors as tutors and students who go on to publish their work both while with us and after.

Scholarships, Bursaries and Prizes

Both the University and the Department are always looking to support, encourage, and celebrate our students. Please below for details.

Literary Lancaster

The Department is not only home to many eminent authors and critics but also hosts a whole series of free literary events featuring world-leading guest writers and scholars. Some are held on campus, but many are held in Lancaster’s historic city centre – our favourite venues are the Castle, the Priory, and the Storey. For a calendar of our upcoming events, just scroll down.

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Images from Lancaster University Library Special Collections.

Miguel Vatter to come to Lancaster University as Visiting Professor

One of the world’s leading experts on religion and politics will join the Department of English Literature and Creative Writing as a Leverhulme Visiting Professor.

Lancaster Playwriting Prize 2024 - winners announced

The winners of the 2024 Lancaster Playwriting Prize, run in partnership with the Department of English Literature and Creative Writing at Lancaster University and The Dukes Theatre in Lancaster, have been announced.

Pupils learn the ancient art of iconography with Canadian experts

The Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery provided a special backdrop for pupils to learn about Christianity’s most ancient sacred artform in an initiative funded by Lancaster University.

Shire Hall provides ‘a kingdom for a stage’ for Henry V

An innovative production of Shakespeare brings together Lancaster University, professional theatre practitioners from the North West and volunteers from Lancaster and Morecambe, at Lancaster Castle next month.

A brave new world aboard the Calypso puts lecturer in the spotlight

Research into contemporary human space flight, which also included interviews with astronauts, has resulted in a new novel, already receiving national media attention, for a Lancaster University lecturer.

Green MP will give Lancaster Environment Lecture

Leading environmental campaigner and Britain’s first and only Green MP Caroline Lucas is all set to deliver the 2024 Lancaster Environment Lecture at Lancaster University.  

King Lear's Mute -- a spoken-word performance

Thursday 17 October 2024, 7:30pm to 8:30pm

King Lear on Mute -- a one man spoken word event on and around Shakespeare's King Lear, written and performed by Rupert Smith.

Annual Priory Literature & Religion Lecture - a "welcome" event

Wednesday 23 October 2024, 7:30pm to 8:30pm

Abdul-Rehman Malik (Yale) gives the Department's 8th Annual Literature and Religion Lecture --his topic: "A Malignant and Turban’d Turk: Interrogating Muslim Manhood in a Time of Mass Death" Lecture followed drinks reception

Castle Open Theology Seminar

Saturday 2 November 2024, 2:00pm to 4:30pm

This annual seminar explores theology as a field of thinking, believing, and imagining that is open to every possibility, even the possibllity of literature. Dr Jo Carruthers (Lancaster) and Dr Karl Karl Möller will both speak, and there will be time for Q and A

Wordsworth, Romanticism, and The Lakes - A Day in Grasmere

Thursday 14 November 2024, 9:00am to 5:00pm

A visit to Wordsworth Grasmere - exclusive to students from the Department. Free -- including coach there and back .

Ezra Pound’s Malatesta Cantos and the Renaissance Recovery of Paganism -- Miguel Vatter (New South Wales)

Wednesday 11 December 2024, 5:00pm to 6:00pm

The Renaissance Recovery of Paganism and Pound’s Malatesta Cantos

More Events

Athena Swan Action Plan 2019.