Masters of Fine Art degree

The School offers two Master of Fine Arts degrees: one in Creative Writing and one in Playwriting & Screenwriting.

Both Masters of Fine Arts degrees are two-year postgraduate degrees, and consist of two distinct phases of study. MFA Year 1 is taught through technical seminars, workshops and individual tuition; MFA Year 2 consists of two semesters of postgraduate supervision, at the end of which students will submit a substantial piece of creative work. In addition, there are two ‘career skills’ modules – in MFA Year 1, ‘Research Skills for Creative Writers’; in MFA Year 2, ‘Practical Pedagogy for Creative Writers’.

The Creative Writing degree has two separate streams: Poetry and Prose, and prospective students should apply for one stream only. For their final submission, students on the prose track will submit a thesis (of ‘publishable quality’) of around 40,000 words; for poetry, a thesis of c. 40 pp. of verse.

Students taking the MFA in Playwriting & Screenwriting will submit a thesis of approximately 90 minutes performance time.

In MFA Year 2 there will be the opportunity to be involved in the practical business of publishing an on-line magazine.

MLitt students will, on the successful completion of an upgrade procedure, have the option to transfer into the MFA programme, where their MLitt year will count as MFA Year 1. Students who already hold a Masters level degree in Creative Writing may apply directly into Year 2 of the MFA. Please mark this clearly on your research proposal document.