Start date
September 2026
View semester dates
View semester dates
Length
1 year full-time,
2 years part-time
2 years part-time
MA Creative Writing
Advance your creative and critical writing practices in an inspiring environment with an MA offered by the Department of English and Related Literature and the School of Arts and Creative Technologies.
Year of entry: 2026 (September)
Why study creative writing at York?
Develop your creative writing skills whilst analysing the critical histories that influence them. From poetry to prose fiction, or screenwriting to playwriting, you can write your own creative journey. You'll join a vibrant creative community, filled with experts in literature and the creative industries. We'll enhance your critical skills and support you to become a confident, creative professional.
Make use of truly special facilities. You'll have full use of industry-standard rehearsal and production facilities for creative investigation of plays and performance texts, and to develop your own work. You can also explore the history of print in the Thin Ice Press, our very own print studio.
Dedicated careers and employability support. You'll draw on the expertise of multiple subject leaders to think about how the skills you gain will help your career. You'll also be supported to navigate the many resources and opportunities available. We regularly advertise careers events by industry experts.
Explore your passion for writing beyond your course. English's Writers at York series brings contemporary writers to the department for readings and workshops. The School of Arts and Creative Technologies also regularly bring in industry speakers. You can also get involved in a wide range of societies, including PrintSoc, the University's Print and Press Society.
You'll join a diverse literary community, home to acclaimed authors and screenwriters. Some of their notable work includes:
Our work
- Sometimes Real Love Comes Quick & Easy, Janine Bradbury.
- Castles from Cobwebs, J.A. Mensah.
- Polkadot Wounds, Anthony Vahni Capildeo.
- The Poetry of Suicide: Lessons in Grief from the Lives and Deaths of Poets, J.T. Welsch.
The creative freedom I had in terms of deciding my own essay titles and subjects meant that the assessments felt like projects that were entirely mine. After consulting with my personal supervisor and lecturers – whose doors are always open for any questions during office hours – I created essays that felt personal to me.
Course content
This course gives you the freedom to tailor your studies to suit your own interests. Option modules make up the majority of the degree. You can choose to focus solely on different forms of creative practice, through our creative writing modules. Or, you can combine them with wider literature and arts and creative technologies modules.
You'll study a core module that will give you the foundation needed to succeed at Masters-level study. You'll also learn to write and present research, as well as think about how the skills you gain throughout your degree will prepare you for a career.
In the creative writing option modules, you'll explore different forms of writing in practical, workshop settings. Peer discussion is at the forefront of your learning. This will be central to your development as a writer.
Modules
On this course, you'll study two core modules and four option modules. At least two of the option modules must be creative writing modules. You can also choose up to two option modules from the Department of English and Related Literature, and School of Arts and Creative Technologies.
Core modules
You'll study two core modules:
- Postgraduate Life in Practice
- Creative Writing Extended Project
Option modules
Creative writing option modules
You'll choose at least two creative writing modules from the list below:
- Playwriting and Text
- Screenwriting
- Writing Poetry
- Grasping the Nettle: A Prose Fiction Workshop
General option modules
You can also choose up to two general option modules from the Department of English and Related Literature, and School of Arts and Creative Technologies. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
- Collaborative Theatre-Making
- Thinking Through Theatre-Making
- The Future of Story: Storytelling in the Digital Age
- Digital Culture: Key Concepts
- Literature and Activism
- Modern Theatre and the Political Imagination
- Letterpress Printing
- Writing Worlds: Power, Publishing and Resistance
- Queer Studies Across Disciplines
- Critical Approaches to the Creative Industries
- Exploring Cultural Consumption
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
Final project
- Creative Writing Extended Project
Your extended project offers you the chance to undertake an independent piece in a writing specialism of your choosing. For example, a work of prose, poetry, scriptwriting or a collection of short pieces.
You'll use the skills you've gained throughout the course to devise your own writing strategies and carry them out in your work. This includes considering character and dialogue, plot and action, narrative and structure, voice and image, and how they are created and developed. You'll then critically analyse your work with insight and self-awareness.
The creative piece will be either 14,000-16,000-words of prose or script, 16-20 pages of poetry, or another agreed equivalent. This will accompany a 3,000 word critical essay that explores the development of the piece.
Recent topics have included:
- A poetry collection inspired by local walks and environmental research
- A short story collection reimagining Ovid's Metamorphoses from a transgender perspective
- A screenplay for a film about the body's material response to grief
- A scripted podcast series exploring the role of colour in medieval representations of sexuality
- A monologue play script evoking a central character's experience of childhood illness, memory and recovery
- A play script about Oscar Wilde's incarceration in Reading Gaol
- A verse play script critiquing the dominant whiteness of Gothic stories in literature and theatre
- A radio drama about catcalling in contemporary culture
Learning outcomes
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
Learning outcomes for this course
- Practise, at an advanced and independent level, the craft of creative writing, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of relevant techniques and forms for different audiences.
- Analyse creative texts closely and critically, interpreting them with reference to the creative, cultural, and historical contexts in which they were produced, reproduced, and received.
- Initiate, conduct, and take responsibility for independent research, applying research skills to the development of compelling ideas and arguments in creative and critical work.
- Collaborate effectively to develop innovative and ambitious practical work, engaging with discussions of texts and practices, and communicating ideas with clarity and focus.
- Engage constructively with verbal and written feedback in different settings, confidently discussing and applying ideas arising from feedback to the improvement of creative and critical work.
- Complete complex projects of their own devising, demonstrating skills and resourcefulness in self-managing various stages of development and production of new creative work.
- Direct their own development, applying new knowledge and skills to the continuing advancement of their creative and critical practices and the enhancement of future work.
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees for 2026/27
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £12,000 | £26,900 |
| Part-time (2 years) | £6,000 | £13,450 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study.
- UK (home) fees may increase in subsequent years (up to a maximum of 2%).
- International fees may increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).
Fees information
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
Funding information
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2026/27 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
Funding opportunities
Chevening Scholarships
We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.
Teaching and assessment
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
Teaching format
You'll study your creative writing option modules in workshops. These will help cultivate discussions with your peers, which is key to strengthening your development as a writer. The rest of your modules will be taught in small-group seminars. These are a supportive environment where collaboration is also at the forefront of the sessions.
Following your own academic path is at the heart of this course. You'll choose from a range of modules, both practical and more critical. Some modules may involve performance work of various kinds.
Facilities
You'll have access to a range of specialist facilities to support your studies.
Thin Ice Press is English's in-house printing studio, whose iron presses chart the evolution of print from 1838-1926. You'll gain opportunities to experience the relationship between writing and printing practices through publication, practice-led research, teaching, and workshops.
Facilities in The School of Arts and Creative Technologies include:
- Black Box: a large double-height space for shoots, events and performances
- 200-seat theatre: well-equipped theatre, with superb lighting and sound facilities
- Rehearsal rooms: large or small rooms suitable for many purposes
Teaching location
You will be based in the Department of English and Related Literature, on Campus West.
Depending on the modules you choose, your contact hours will be split between Campus East, in the School of Arts and Creative Technologies, and Campus West.
About our campus
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
Assessment and feedback
Your workshop module assessments include a portfolio of original writing for the page, performance or production. You may also write essays. These will hone your skills as both a researcher and creative practitioner.
Careers and skills
This course will equip you with the skills needed to work as a professional writer. It will also give you the transferrable skills to succeed into further academic study, or other writing-intensive roles across the creative industries.
You'll have access to two dedicated careers support staff. These can help you with your CV, job applications and help you navigate the many internship and placement opportunities available to you.
Career opportunities
- Writing
- Theatre-making
- Journalism and publishing
- Advertising and marketing
- Teaching
- Film, radio and television production
Transferable skills
- Communication
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Fluently writing and speaking for a variety of audiences
- Critical and analytical skills
- Independent research
- Editing and proofreading
Turn ambition into achievement with our expert guidance and connections. From your first day here to life after graduation, we'll help you find your career advantage.
Entry requirements
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
English language
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Qualification | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 6 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 136, minimum 126 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 478-509, with 444-477 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, minimum 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87, minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all requirements |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
If you haven't met our English language requirements
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
Next steps
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Postgraduate Admissions
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