Creative Writing (MFA)

Birkbeck, University of London

Postgraduate

In London

£ 8,820 VAT inc.

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Description

  • Type

    Postgraduate

  • Location

    London

  • Duration

    1 Year

Our MFA (Master of Fine Art) in Creative Writing offers you the opportunity to write a full-length work of fiction or non-fiction to a standard where it may be offered to literary agents.

The course is initially taught through small, dynamic workshops and seminars. But the core of the MFA is a one-to-one mentoring relationship with a regularly published and produced award-winning writer. Together, these will help you strengthen and professionalise your identity as an author. A session of feedback from a London-based literary agent will also be offered.

As part of a small, supportive group of writers, you will regularly present work for critique by your peers, and develop a critical and cultural awareness of other writers' work. You will then develop your awareness of the contemporary writing scene through a series of seminars and lectures.

In addition, novelists, editors and agents will be invited in to speak. In the past we have welcomed: Sophie Mackintosh, Polly Samson, Rachel Cusk, Deborah Levy and Louise Doughty; Jamie Byng of Canongate, Francesca Main of Picador, Hannah Griffiths of Faber, Richard Beswick of Little, Brown; and agents from Aitken Alexander, AP Watt, Curtis Brown and Janklow and Nesbit.

Facilities

Location

Start date

London
See map
Malet Street, WC1E 7HX

Start date

On request

About this course

Many of our MA Creative Writing students have had notable publishing success after graduation, including:

Niki Aguirre
Sarah Alexander
Laura Allsop
Iphgenia Baal
Amy Bird
Phoebe Blatton
Nicole Burstein
Tray Butler
Melissa De Villiers
Liz Fremantle
AJ Grainger
Jules Grant
Julia Gray
Emma Henderson
Sally Hinchcliffe
Anna Hope
Heidi James
Olya Knezevic
Nik Korpon
Louise Lee
Matthew Loukes
Suzanne O'Sullivan
Nii Parkes
Helen Pike
Nadim Safdar
Karin Salvalaggio
David Savill
Stefanie Seddon.
The MFA is a more advanced degree and it is anticipated that graduates may secure a publishing contract. Others may go on to careers in editing, teaching and writing professionally. Possible professions include creative writer, magazine or newspaper journalist, or editorial assistant. This degree can also be useful in becoming an academic librarian, English as a second language (ESOL) teacher, or information officer.

We usually require an MA in Creative Writing from any accredited university. However, in individual cases this requirement can be waived.
Interviews are granted on the basis of the following writing portfolio:

5000 words of your original fiction or creative non-fiction, together with your application form, including a personal statement.
300 words giving a description of the writing project you intend to work on, should you gain a place on the MFA.

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Subjects

  • Creative Writing
  • Writing
  • Full Time
  • Writing craft
  • Advanced Writing Workshop
  • Writing Workshop
  • Contemporary
  • Reading
  • MFA
  • Creative Thinking

Course programme

COURSE STRUCTURE

The programme includes workshops on advanced writing, lectures by visiting writers on writing craft, and seminars on contemporary literature.

You take two core modules, write a 40,000-word dissertation and attend the Summer Lecture series with other Birkbeck Creative Writing students.

CORE MODULES
  • Advanced Writing Workshop
  • Reading and Writing the Contemporary
MFA CREATIVE WRITING DISSERTATION
  • MFA Creative Writing Dissertation
  • To find out more, read our programme handbook.
Birkbeck makes all reasonable efforts to deliver educational services, modules and programmes of study as described on our website. In the event that there are material changes to our offering (for example, due to matters beyond our control), we will update applicant and student facing information as quickly as possible and offer alternatives to applicants, offer-holders and current students.

Additional information

FEES

Part-time home students: £4410 pa
Full-time home students: £8820 pa
Part-time international students: £8010 pa
Full-time international students: £16020 pa

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Creative Writing (MFA)

£ 8,820 VAT inc.

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