dfa creative writing glasgow

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Creative Writing DFA

University of glasgow, different course options.

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Tuition fees, entry requirements, university information, similar courses at this uni, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

Doctoral Programme

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Creative Writing

Course type

Our Creative Writing Research degrees are unique and intense programmes for practising writers who wish to complete an ambitious creative project.

Our new research Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) build on a long history of offering Masters and Doctoral options in the study and practice of Creative Writing.

Our research degrees incorporate hybrid taught elements (literary and practical seminars; workshops; and practical pedagogy) within a supervised research context that best support your creative and critical work.

Both programmes give you dedicated, supported time to complete a substantial creative work, include opportunities to teach writing to undergraduates and apply to be a graduate teaching assistant for other literature courses, and the DFA additionally allows you to undertake an extended academic research, informed by your work and practice, leading to a significant critical essay or output.

Our students enjoy the guidance of writers including Carolyn Jess-Cooke, Colin Herd, Laura Marney, Elizabeth Reeder, Zoë Strachan and Louise Welsh, and critics such as John Coyle, Jane Goldman, Rob Maslen, Alan Riach, and Helen Stoddart.

Across all our postgraduate provision, both taught and by research, students have access to the best of the new and also develop a sense of the origins and histories.

Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow is based in the Edwin Morgan Writing Room with its book, periodical and audio-visual library. There is an ambitious programme of visiting speakers, masterclasses and public events. The University Library with its modern collections and archives is a crucial resource, including the archive for Edwin Morgan’s Papers. We also collaborate with the Mitchell Library, one of the great civic libraries of Europe. And our popular Creative Conversations bring a carefully curated range of visiting speakers to campus every week during the semester.

We have strong links with literary agents and an impressive history of published graduates.

Thesis length 70,000-100,000. Both the MFA and DFA run as Low Residency options, where students must attend at least two intense weeks of seminars, visiting speakers, workshop and practical elements (including teaching creative writing in the second year). One week will take place during the first week of the autumn semester in first year; the other will take place in the spring or early in the summer semester of second year.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

All applications must follow the standard entry requirements for the College of Arts: First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree or equivalent qualification (2:1 in the case of UK Research Council supported students); A Masters qualification or equivalent. In addition, for both our MFA and DFA we are looking for writers to have a preparatory one-year, postgraduate masters in Creative Writing with either Merit or Distinction (MA, MLitt or MPhil) or three publications in respected literary journals or magazines, in the intended genre of study. Compelling equivalencies will be considered.

The University of Glasgow is one of four ancient universities in Scotland, founded back in 1451. Alumni include seven Nobel Prize winners, Scotland’s First Minister and a Prime Minister, while Albert Einstein gave a seminal lecture on the theory of relativity there in 1933. The university consists of four colleges: College of Arts College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences College of Science and Engineering College of... more

Creative Writing MLitt

Full time | 1 year | 23-SEP-24

Playwriting and Dramaturgy MLitt

Creative writing mlitt (online).

Online | 12 months | 23-SEP-24

Creative Writing MFA

Full time | 2 years | 23-SEP-24

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Creative Writing DFA University of Glasgow

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Course summary

Our Creative Writing Research degrees are unique and intense programmes for practising writers who wish to complete an ambitious creative project.

Our new research Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) build on a long history of offering Masters and Doctoral options in the study and practice of Creative Writing.

Across all our postgraduate provision, both taught and by research, students have access to the best of the new and also develop a sense of the origins and histories.

We have strong links with literary agents and an impressive history of published graduates.

Tuition fees

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£ 25,290 per year

Tuition fees shown are for indicative purposes and may vary. Please check with the institution for most up to date details.

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University of Glasgow, The Fraser Building, 65 Hillhead Street, Glasgow, Glasgow, City Of, G12 8QQ, Scotland

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Creative Writing DFA

Want to know what it's like to study this course at uni? We've got all the key info, from entry requirements to the modules on offer. If that all sounds good, why not check out reviews from real students or even book onto an upcoming open days ?

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Entry requirements, tuition fees, latest reviews.

Our Creative Writing Research degrees are unique and intense programmes for practising writers who wish to complete an ambitious creative project.

Our new research Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) build on a long history of offering Masters and Doctoral options in the study and practice of Creative Writing.

Across all our postgraduate provision, both taught and by research, students have access to the best of the new and also develop a sense of the origins and histories.

We have strong links with literary agents and an impressive history of published graduates.

What students say

Great west end location. Plenty of places to socialise. Fantastic university for academic.. Read more

The mutual respect established from the very start by both students and staff has made classes incredibly enjoyable. I have found myself pleasantly surprised at the ease with.. Read more

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£4,786 per year

Students from Domestic

Prices are based on the annual fee for full-time study. Additional fees applicable.

£25,290 per year

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Students from International

Latest Creative Writing reviews

Review breakdown, how all students rated:, university of glasgow , glasgow.

The University of Glasgow is one of four ancient universities in Scotland, founded back in 1451....

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The Fraser Building 65 Hillhead Street Glasgow Glasgow, City Of G12 8QQ

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Postgraduate study
Taught degree programmes A‑Z
Creative Writing (MLitt)

Postgraduate taught

Creative Writing MLitt

A student sits on stairs writing in a notebook

We also offer the MLitt in Creative Writing by online distance learning, as well as low-residency options for our research programmes. Please see the Creative Writing subject page for more information.

The Creative Writing programme at Glasgow has gained an excellent reputation amongst writers, agents and publishers. It is perfect for talented and aspiring writers who want to develop their craft, take risks in their work, and gain creative and critical skills; all as part of a supportive community of fellow writers.

Academic contact: Dr Colin Herd [email protected]
Teaching start: September
Glasgow: Gilmorehill campus
MLitt: 12 months full-time; 24 months part‑time

Register your interest for more information

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Why this programme

Our postgraduate taught and research-led writing courses are among the most challenging and popular in Britain, and have helped launch the career of a number of successful writers including Anne Donovan, Louise Welsh and Rodge Glass, to name but a few.
We invite a range of guest speakers who can offer inspiration and advice to you, including authors, poets, journalists, publishers, editors, literary judges and playwrights. You can find information on previous guest speakers by visiting our creative writing subject page .
We have strong links with literary agents and publishers, and an impressive number of our graduates are published and acclaimed authors.
Join our creative community and study at a world-leading university. The University of Glasgow has been named Scottish University of the Year 2024 by the Times and the Sunday Times Good University Guide and ranks 31st in the world for English Language & Literature (QS World Rankings 2023).
Read From Glasgow to Saturn, our literary journal .
Listen to our podcast: Stories from Glasgow – Writing Space with Dr Oliver K. Langmead .

Programme structure

The MLitt in Creative Writing is directed at those who are already engaged in writing. The programme’s clear three-part structure, focused on creative, critical and practical issues, distinguishes it from others offered in the UK.

The programme structure covers:

CREATIVE WRITING: CRAFT AND EXPERIMENTATION 1
CREATIVE WRITING: EDITING AND PUBLICATION 1
CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP
CREATIVE WRITING PORTFOLIO (PGT)
CREATIVE WRITING: EDITING AND PUBLICATION 2
CRIME FICTION
CREATIVE WRITING: OF THE PERSONAL: EMOTIONS AND THE SELF IN CREATIVE NON-FICTION
CREATIVE WRITING: POETRY INTERVENES NOW: DIVERSE QUEER STRATEGIES OF MAKING

These courses have been developed to:

encourage you to experiment with a range of voices, techniques and genres alongside a consideration of major creative and editorial engagements from the modern through the contemporary period
provide a space to undertake extended portfolios of creative and editorial work
familiarise you with the writing context (audience, publishing in all its forms, the legal framework, modes of transmission); help you develop a critical understanding of diverse creative, theoretic and critical texts through consideration of major creative and editorial engagements in modern and contemporary writing
help you develop the discipline of regular writing by providing a stimulating workshop and tutorial environment in which writing skills can be acquired, discussed and honed

Your portfolio, consisting of fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, or script-writing, is at the heart of the summative assessment.

Glasgow is a city known for its culture and our students are involved in festivals, events, radio and literary magazines.

Programme alteration or discontinuation The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a programme. For more information, please see: Student contract .

Career prospects

Graduates have gone into journalism, publishing and writing.

You can find a list of alumni on our Creative Writing subject pages . Others have been published in magazines and journals, or have had their work produced and broadcast on radio and television.

A number of our graduates have won or been shortlisted for major prizes for poetry, short fiction and fiction including the Dundee Book Prize, Booker Prize, Bailey’s Women’s Prize, Orange Prize, Fish Short Story Award, Bridport Prize, McCash Scots Poetry Competition, Macallan and Canongate short story awards, Saltire Awards, Scottish Book of the Year Awards.

Fees & funding

Tuition fees for 2024-25

Full-time fee: £10650
Part-time fee: £1184 per 20 credits

International & EU

Full-time fee: £25290

Part-time UK fees are £1,184 per 20 credits (180 credits in total). The credits are split:

Year 1 : 80 credits (4 x £1,184) for Craft & Experimentation 1 and 2, and Workshops
Year 2 : 100 credits (5 x £1,184) for Editing & Publication 1 and 2, and Portfolio

International and EU applicants are required to pay a deposit of £2000 within four weeks of an offer being made.

Deposits: terms & conditions

This programme requires some students to pay a deposit to secure their place.

If you are an international student, we will only issue a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) once the deposit has been paid.

Your offer letter will state:

how to pay the deposit payment
the deadline for paying the deposit

The following guidelines will apply in determining whether a deposit will be refunded. Where the deposit is refunded, a 25% handling fee will be deducted.

Deposits will be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:

Where the University is unable to offer you a place.
Where the applicant has personal circumstances such as illness, bereavement or other family situations that has prevented them coming to the UK. Medical or other proof may be requested.
Applicant can prove that they have applied for a visa to attend the University of Glasgow, but the VISA has been refused. The applicant must have shown 'real intent' to study at the University of Glasgow but has been unable to obtain their visa.
Applicant does not meet his / her conditions of offer: this may be academic or language test requirements. Satisfactory evidence must be uploaded to the student’s applicant self-service to prove that they have not met the conditions of their offer (note that applicants who do not meet the language condition of their offer must show reasonable attempt to meet this, i.e. they must provide a language test which was taken after the date that the deposit was paid).

Deposits will not be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:

Applicant has decided to defer – in this situation the University will retain the deposit and credit it against the applicant’s account for securing their place for the following year of entry.

Refund requests must be made within 30 days of the programme start date stated on your offer letter.

Requests made after this date will be subject to discretion.

Find out more about Deposits

Additional fees

Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
Registration/exam only fee: £170

Funding opportunities

Alexander and Dixon Scholarship (Bryce Bequest)

The Bryce Bequest was made by the late Professor John Cameron Bryce in memory of Professor Peter Alexander, former Professor of English Literature at the University of Glasgow, and in memory of Professor W. MacNeile Dixon.

Further details can be found here.

University of Glasgow College of Arts and Humanities South Asia Award

The College of Arts and Humanties warmly welcomes applications from highly qualified applicants to our masters programmes. We are offering 4 scholarships for postgraduate taught programmes for Academic Session 2024-25.

College of Arts and Humanities Widening Participation Postgraduate Taught Schol

The College of Arts and Humanities is pleased to be offering Widening Participation Postgraduate Taught scholarships to support with studying a one-year postgraduate taught programme (either full-time across one year, or part-time across two years) in the College. The scholarships include a full fee waiver at the 'Home' tuition fee rate and a stipend (the stipend rate for 2024/25 is £17,039) and are available to candidates who meet the University's Widening Participation criteria.

Beatrix Whistler and James McNeill Whistler Scholarship

The Beatrix Whistler and James McNeill Whistler Scholarships originate with an important collection of works by Whistler gifted by Miss Rosalind Birnie Philip to the University in 1935. Since then, and thanks to further gifts and acquisitions, the Hunterian has come to hold one of the two leading collections of Whistler’s work in the world and History of Art (SCCA) has become an international centre of expertise for the study of Whistler and his 19th century world.

At her death in 1958, Miss Birnie Philip, Whistler’s heir and executrix, bequeathed the remainder of her art collection to the University, together with part of her residual estate for the purpose of establishing a scholarship scheme for students engaged in any branch of learning within the College of Arts & Humanities. In 2019, the Whistler scholarships scheme was revised in acknowledgement of the continuing links between Miss Birnie Philip’s 1958 bequest of artworks and her wish to support student learning at the University.

The Whistler Scholarships are open to students in all disciplines of the College of Arts & Humanities. The award committee is willing to consider both individual applications AND joint applications (from up to THREE students). Innovative interdisciplinary work is particularly encouraged. However, students may only involve themselves in the submission of ONE application (individual OR joint).

The Whistler Scholarships cover travel, accommodation and subsistence expenses ONLY.

Southeast Asia Distinction Award

The University of Glasgow is excited to announce the new Southeast Asia Distinction Award for highly qualified students from this region. This scholarship is available to students starting a postgraduate taught Masters programme on any eligible degree programme for Academic Session 2024-25. The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fee discount.

GREAT Scholarships 2024- Greece, Nigeria, Egypt and Turkey

In partnership with the British Council and the GREAT Britain Campaign, University of Glasgow is offering 4 scholarships to students in Greece, Nigeria, Egypt and Turkey applying for postgraduate courses in any subject (excluding MBA and MSc by Research courses). All eligible courses can be viewed under the 'eligible programmes' tab on this webpage.

The scholarship offers financial support of £10,000 to students pursuing one-year postgraduate study in the UK. This discount cannot be combined with another University scholarship.

The Snowdon Trust Master’s Scholarship

The Snowdon Trust Master’s Scholarship is accelerating exceptional Disabled Students through masters’ programmes into leadership positions to create change.

Do you have ambitions to change the world? Are you pioneering in your field? Are you creating change for Disabled People? Let us open some doors.

We are searching for individuals who choose to use their lived experience of disabling barriers to make a difference. To create change.

Applications open 2pm 15 January 2024.

Please see Snowdon Trust, Investing in Disabled Students website for more details.

Banco de Mexico

The Mexican National Bank (Banco de Mexico) provides special loans for students who wish to undertake a programme of postgraduate study. The University of Glasgow in partnership with Bank of Mexico FIDERH is offering a fee discount to holders of a Bank of Mexico FIDERH loan. See the FIDERH website for further information.

PGT Excellence Scholarship

The University of Glasgow has a total of 20 PGT Excellence Scholarships available to UK students entering any of the University’s Colleges.

Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans

Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans are EU-guaranteed loans with favourable pay-back terms. They’re designed to help prospective students finance their Master’s courses in an Erasmus+ Programme country while leaving as little of a lasting economic footprint as possible.

The scheme is designed to provide postgraduate students with the means to pay their tuition and living expenses – thereby allowing individuals to focus on their degree instead of managing their bank balance. The programme aims to be as inclusive as possible, working under the following guidelines:

No need for collateral from students or parents - ensuring equality of access
Favourable, better-than-market interest rates
Pay-back terms that allow graduates up to two years to find work before beginning repayment.

Please visit the Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans website for more information.

Climate Leadership Scholarships

Cop26 was held in Glasgow from 31 st October – 12 th November 2021 and the University of Glasgow recognises the importance of universities in tackling the climate emergency. Glasgow is part of the newly formed Cop26 Universities Network , a growing group of over 80 universities working together to promote a zero-carbon future. Alongside vital research being carried out by our academics, Glasgow recognises that urgent action is needed on our campuses, and we aim to be carbon neutral by 2030. We believe that the climate emergency can only be addressed by implementing long-term sustainability policies and our Green Glasgow strategy details our action plan for the next decade.

In recognition of the vital need for action to combat the climate emergency the University of Glasgow is excited to launch our Climate Leadership Scholarships. We have 20 scholarships available to UK students entering any of our Colleges on a PGT programme which engages with the climate emergency.

As a world-changing research-led University we are committed to supporting the next generation of researchers working across disciplines to address the climate emergency.

DAAD-University of Glasgow 1-year Master’s grant

The University of Glasgow will offer a full tuition waiver to those students that successfully apply and are nominated by DAAD to the University. DAAD offers a monthly stipend of EUR 1,100 (for the academic year 2024/2025) and travel bursary of EUR 250.00 as well as health, accident, and personal liability insurance coverage in addition to the full tuition fee waiver from the University of Glasgow.

Wichtige Hinweise zu DAAD-Stipendien - DAAD (general info on DAAD tuition fee reimbursement)

Current list of tuition reduction / waiving offers (not including U Glasgow yet) : Stipendien für ein Masterstudium im Ausland - DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst

Chevening Scholarship

Chevening Scholarships are the UK government's global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations. The scholarships are awarded to outstanding scholars with leadership potential. Awards are typically for a one year Master’s degree at universities across the UK. There are over 50,000 Chevening Alumni around the world who together comprise an influential and highly regarded global network.

For further information, please refer to the Chevening website .

Colfuturo Fundacion para el Futuro de Colombia

The University of Glasgow offer discounts to all successful Fundacion para el Futuro de Colombia (Colfuturo) scholars who enrol at the University of Glasgow to complete a postgraduate programme.

Commonwealth Scholarship Commission Schemes

Commonwealth Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development, and are offered to citizens from low and middle income Commonwealth countries. The majority of Scholarships are funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO ), with the aim of contributing to the UK’s international development aims and wider overseas interests, supporting excellence in UK higher education, and sustaining the principles of the Commonwealth.

Vice Chancellor EU Award

The University of Glasgow continues to be committed to ensuring a strong relationship with our existing and future EU students, and supporting EU talent to make their home at the University of Glasgow.

We appreciate the challenging financial implications that have arisen for our European applicants, and are therefore delighted to offer the Vice Chancellor EU Award to highly qualified new incoming EU students starting a postgraduate taught Masters programme in any discipline for Academic Session 2024-25. The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fee discount. This discount cannot be combined with another University scholarship.

Applicants that graduated from the University of Glasgow or completed a Study Abroad year, Exchange programme or International Summer School at the University of Glasgow, are eligible for the Alumni discount and this can be combined with the Vice Chancellor EU Award.

EU Welcome Award

We appreciate the challenging financial implications that have arisen for our European applicants, and are therefore delighted to offer the EU Welcome Award to new incoming EU students starting a postgraduate taught Masters programme for Academic Session 2024-25. The scholarship is awarded as a £5,000 tuition fee discount. This discount cannot be combined with another University scholarship.

University of Glasgow African Excellence Award

The University of Glasgow African Excellence Award aims to support high achieving students from across Africa in their journey to become Future World Changers. We are looking for students who wish to undertake Masters level study, to further develop their knowledge and skills, in order to positively contribute to their community in the future.

The University is offering up to 15 scholarships for International students from Africa, starting a 1 year postgraduate taught Masters programme, in any discipline for academic session 2024/25.  The scholarship is a full tuition fee waiver.

Emerging Asia Award

The University of Glasgow is proud to introduce an exciting new award designed to support students from a selection of underrepresented 'frontier and developing' Asian countries .

The University of Glasgow is offering 8 scholarships for highly qualified international students from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Students must be starting a one-year postgraduate taught masters programme, in any discipline, for the academic session 2024/25. The scholarship is a full tuition fee waiver with stipend for one year that can not be combined with any other scholarships.

University of Glasgow African Partners Award

The University of Glasgow African Partners Awards aims to support high achieving students from across Africa in their journey to become Future World Changers. We are looking for students who wish to undertake Masters level study, to further develop their knowledge and skills, in order to positively contribute to their community in the future. The scholarship is exclusively for students, alumni and staff of the University partners across Africa: African Partners List 2024 .

The University is offering up to 5 scholarships for International students from Africa, starting a 1 year postgraduate taught Masters programme, in any discipline for academic session 2023/24.  The scholarship is a full tuition fee waiver.

Applicants much hold an offer of a place for a postgraduate taught one year Masters programme for September 2024 intake (offer is not needed to apply but applicants will require an offer to be considered for interview, and should take programme application timelines into consideration as detailed on programme webpages)

University of Glasgow Caribbean Partners Award

The University of Glasgow Caribbean Partners Awards aims to support high achieving students from our partner The University of the West Indies in their journey to become Future World Changers. We are looking for students who wish to undertake Masters level study, to further develop their knowledge and skills, in order to positively contribute to their community in the future. The scholarship is exclusively for students, alumni and staff of The University of the West Indies.

The University is offering up to 5 scholarships for students, starting a 1 year postgraduate taught Masters programme, in any discipline for academic session 2024/25.  The scholarship is a full tuition fee waiver.

Those who apply must hold an offer of a place for a postgraduate taught one year Masters programme for September 2024 intake (offer is not needed to apply but applicants will require an offer to be considered for interview, and should take programme application timelines into consideration as detailed on programme webpages);

University of Glasgow International Leadership Scholarship

The University of Glasgow has several International Leadership Scholarships available to International students starting a postgraduate taught Masters programme in any discipline for Academic Session 2024-25. The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fees discount.

University of Glasgow Caribbean Excellence Award

The University of Glasgow Caribbean Excellence Award aims to support high achieving students from across the Caribbean in their journey to become Future World Changers. We are looking for students who wish to undertake Masters level study, to further develop their knowledge and skills, in order to positively contribute to their community in the future.

The University is offering up to 5 scholarships for International students from the Caribbean, starting a 1 year postgraduate taught Masters programme, in any discipline for academic session 2024/25.  The scholarship is a full tuition fee waiver.

India Merit Award

The University of Glasgow is proud to announce a new India Merit award for 2024 entry to acknowledge highly qualified Indian postgraduate taught offer holders. The scholarship is awarded as a £5,000 tuition fee discount. This discount cannot be combined with another University scholarship.

CONICyT (La Comsion Nacional de Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnologica de Chile)

The University of Glasgow offers a 25% discount to all successful CONICyT scholars who enrol at the University of Glasgow to complete a postgraduate programme.

University of Glasgow Chancellor's Award

The University of Glasgow has 40 Chancellors Award Scholarships available to students from low and middle income countries, starting a 1 year postgraduate taught Masters programme in any discipline, in academic session 2024-25. The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fee discount.

University of Glasgow Chancellor's Award (Nigeria)

The University of Glasgow has 10 Chancellors Award Scholarships available to Nigerian students starting a postgraduate taught Masters programme in any discipline in academic session 2024-25. The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fee discount.

CONACyT (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia) / FUNED Agreement

CONACYT offers a non-refundable scholarship, a monthly stipend and medical insurance of an approximate total of $20,000 USD (in the case of the UK, no medical insurance grant is given since students are already covered by the National Health System) The University of Glasgow offer a 30% discount to all successful CONACyT scholars who enrol at the University of Glasgow to complete a postgraduate programme.

Postgraduate Student Loan (Scotland and EU)

Eligible full-time and part-time students, undertaking an eligible postgraduate course, can apply for a tuition fee loan up to a maximum of £7,000 towards their course. Eligible full-time postgraduate students can apply for a living-cost loan of up to £4,500.

This support extends to online Masters or Postgraduate Diplomas, and not to the online Postgraduate Certificate courses.

For more information visit the SAAS website .

Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loans England only (PTFL)

If you’re an English student looking to study a taught Masters programme in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan. Students from England are able to apply for a non-means tested Postgraduate Master’s Loan of up to £11,570 to help with course fees and living costs. You have to repay your Postgraduate Master’s Loan at the same time as any other student loans you have. You’ll be charged interest from the day you get the first payment.

If you’re studying by distance learning, you can also apply.

Postgraduate Loans for Welsh Students

If you are a Welsh student looking to study a postgraduate programme* in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan in exactly the same way as you would for a Welsh University.

* does not apply to Erasmus Mundus programmes

Postgraduate Master's Finance

If you’re starting a full-time or part-time Postgraduate Master’s course (taught or research based) from 1 August 2019, you can apply for Postgraduate Master's Finance and receive up to £17,000 as a combination of grant and loan:

a maximum grant of £6,885 and loan of £10,115 if your household income is £18,370 and below
a grant of £1,000 and loan of £16,000 if your household income is not taken into account or is above £59,200.

For more information visit Student Finance Wales

Postgraduate Doctoral Loan

If you’re starting a full-time or part-time postgraduate Doctoral course (such as a PhD) from 1 August 2019 you can apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan of up to £25,700.

Alumni Discount

In response to the current unprecedented economic climate, the University is offering a 20% discount on all Postgraduate Research and full Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes to its alumni, commencing study in Academic session 2024/25. This includes University of Glasgow graduates and those who have completed a Study Abroad programme, International Summer School programme or the Erasmus Programme at the University of Glasgow. The discount applies to all full-time, part-time and online programmes. This discount can be awarded alongside most University scholarships.

Postgraduate Access Scholarship

The University of Glasgow is pleased to be offering Postgraduate Access Scholarships to support Home students who could face financial difficulties in taking up their place to study at the University. Applications are particularly welcomed from applicants who met any of our widening participation criteria , or equivalent, at undergraduate level. The value of each scholarship is £4,000 and they are for students undertaking a one or two year Taught Masters programme. For two year Taught Masters programmes, the scholarship is available in year one only.

Postgraduate Student Loan (NI)

If you are a Northern Irish student looking to study a taught Masters programme* in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan in exactly the same way as you would for a University in Northern Ireland.

Northern Irish students are able to apply for non-means-tested tuition fee loans of up to £5,500, to help with the costs of funding.

For more information visit www.studentfinanceni.co.uk/types-of-finance/postgraduate .

Sanctuary Scholarships

The University of Glasgow is offering up to 20 Sanctuary Scholarships for applicants to the University, who have been forced to travel to the UK for humanitarian reasons and are facing challenges in progressing onto Higher Education. The scholarship is open to prospective undergraduate and postgraduate taught students at the University of Glasgow applying for entry in September 2024/25. Please note that you must have applied to the University before submitting an application for this scholarship. The scholarship will meet the cost of tuition fees for the duration of your programme, for applicants who are unable to access mainstream funding through Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) or Student Finance . The Sanctuary Scholarship also provides a £5,000 per year stipend, to assist with study costs. In addition, if the eligibility criteria for university accommodation is met, this will also be provided for the duration of your degree, if required. For more information on the accommodation criteria, please see the Accommodation Services section on the website.

Undergraduate students with refugee status (or equivalent) and access to funding, are eligible to apply for the scholarship and would receive the £5,000 stipend towards study costs only, if successful.

Postgraduate Taught Masters students with refugee status (or equivalent) and access to funding, are eligible to apply for the scholarship and would receive the £5,000 stipend towards study costs and a partial tuition fee waiver, to cover any shortfall not met by your Postgraduate Masters tuition fee loan.

The Dima Alhaj Scholarship

The Dima Alhaj Scholarship was set up in 2024 in memory of a University of Glasgow alumna. After graduating, Dima worked in Gaza with the World Health Organization as a patient administrator at the limb reconstruction centre, as part of the trauma and emergency team and was tragically killed in Gaza in November 2023. The Scholarship is open to a Palestinian National who is living in or has been forced to leave the State of Palestine due to humanitarian reasons. The chosen applicant may be domiciled in any country but must be a Palestinian National. The scholarship is open to prospective undergraduate and postgraduate taught applicants to the University of Glasgow applying for entry in September 2024/25.

The Clan Gregor Society Prize

The Clan Gregor Society is offering an award to new entrants to the University of Glasgow who descend from Clan Gregor. Prospective students will be asked to submit an application highlighting areas of consideration such as academic excellence and financial need. The award is open to both Undergraduate and Postgraduate applicants for 2024 entry.

The scholarships above are specific to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database

Entry requirements

You will normally have a 2.1 Honours degree (or equivalent), though this is not a pre-requisite.

The primary basis for admission is the appraisal of a portfolio of your creative work.

You submit a portfolio of original work (poetry, fiction, life-writing or other prose, drama, and in some instances a portfolio of work in or of translation). A maximum of 20 pages (one side only, double spaced throughout) per submission will be considered, and the portfolio can contain prose, verse, script, or a combination of these.

We also require a letter of reference. Your referee should be an academic or a creative referee where possible. Where this is not possible, you can provide a referee who can vouch that you are who you say you are and that your work and achievements are your own. It is particularly helpful if your referee is familiar with your writing and can provide references on that basis.

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

7.0 with no subtests under 7.0
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test
IELTS One Skill Retake accepted.

Common equivalent English language qualifications

Toefl (ibt, my best or athome).

94; with Reading 24; Listening 24; Speaking 23; Writing 27
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements , this includes TOEFL mybest.

Pearsons PTE Academic

66 with no subtest less than: Listening 66;Reading 68; Speaking 65; Writing 82
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)

185 overall, no subtest less than 185

Oxford English Test

Oxford ELLT 8
R&L: OIDI level no less than 8 with Reading: 27-28 and Listening: 20
W&S: OIDI level no less than 8.

Trinity College Tests

Integrated Skills in English II & III & IV: ISEII Pass with Pass in all sub-tests.

University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses

Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.

Alternatives to English Language qualification

students must have studied for a minimum of 2 years at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have complete their degree in that majority-English speaking country and within the last 6 years
students must have completed their final two years study in that majority-English speaking country and within the last 6 years

For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) but we do not require a specific UKVI SELT for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.

For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office using our enquiry form

International students

We are proud of our diverse University community which attracts students and staff from over 140 different countries.

Find out more about entry requirements and other country-specific information
International student support & visas

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. We cannot accept applications any other way.

Please check you meet the Entry requirements for this programme before you begin your application.

As part of your online application, you also need to submit the following supporting documents:

A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s) (if you have already completed your degree)
A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
One reference letter on headed paper
Evidence of your English language ability (if your first language is not English)
Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
A copy of the photo page of your passport (Non-EU students only)

You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process.

You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish to update information, complete sections or upload supporting documents such as your final transcript or your language test.

For more information about submitting documents or other topics related to applying to a postgraduate taught programme, see how to apply for a postgraduate taught degree

Guidance notes for using the online application

These notes are intended to help you complete the online application form accurately; they are also available within the help section of the online application form.

If you experience any difficulties accessing the online application, see Application System Help .

Name and Date of birth: must appear exactly as they do on your passport. Please take time to check the spelling and lay-out.
Contact Details : Correspondence address. All contact relevant to your application will be sent to this address including the offer letter(s). If your address changes, please contact us as soon as possible.
Choice of course : Please select carefully the course you want to study. As your application will be sent to the admissions committee for each course you select it is important to consider at this stage why you are interested in the course and that it is reflected in your application.
Proposed date of entry: Please state your preferred start date including the month and the year. Taught masters degrees tend to begin in September. Research degrees may start in any month.
Education and Qualifications : Please complete this section as fully as possible indicating any relevant Higher Education qualifications starting with the most recent. Complete the name of the Institution (s) as it appears on the degree certificate or transcript.
English Language Proficiency : Please state the date of any English language test taken (or to be taken) and the award date (or expected award date if known).
Employment and Experience : Please complete this section as fully as possible with all employments relevant to your course. Additional details may be attached in your personal statement/proposal where appropriate.

Reference : Please provide one reference. This should typically be an academic reference but in cases where this is not possible then a reference from a current employer may be accepted instead. Certain programmes, such as the MBA programme, may also accept an employer reference. If you already have a copy of a reference on letter headed paper then please upload this to your application. If you do not already have a reference to upload then please enter your referee’s name and contact details on the online application and we will contact your referee directly.

Application deadlines

September 2024, all applicants.

As there is extremely high demand for places on this degree programme, the University has established an application process with application rounds. This process aims to ensure fairness and equity to applicants and should support applications being open for the full admission cycle.

Round 1 application dates

1 October 2023 to 19 November 2023 . You will receive our decision on your application by 3 February 2024 .

Round 2 application dates

20 November 2023 to 18 February . You will receive our decision on your application by 24 March 2024 .

Round 3 application dates

19 February 2024 to 27 May . You will receive our decision on your application by 8 July 2024.

Round 4 application dates

28 May 2024 to 1 July . You will receive our decision on your application by 11 August 2024 .

As we receive a great number of applications, prospective students are only allowed to apply once per year.

More information about this programme

Staff and Contact Information

Related programmes

Creative writing.

Creative Writing (online) [MLitt: Online distance learning]

English Literature

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English Literature: Fantasy [MLitt]

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Creative Writing

Entry requirements.

This is a popular and selective programme.

All applications must follow the standard entry requirements for the College of Arts:

First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree or equivalent qualification (2:1 in the case of UK Research Council supported students)
A Masters qualification or equivalent

In addition, for both our MFA and DFA we are looking for writers to have a preparatory one-year, postgraduate masters in Creative Writing with either Merit or Distinction (MA, MLitt or MPhil) or three publications in respected literary journals or magazines, in the intended genre of study. Compelling equivalencies will be considered.

We also require a 20-30 page portfolio of your writing. This portfolio must include a one-page proposal for the project you intend to undertake on our courses and a short sample (5-6 pages) of critical work, if you are applying to the DFA.

As with standard entry requirements we require two letters of reference. Your referees should include an academic and a creative referee where possible. Where this is not possible, you can provide referees from other areas who can vouch that you are who you say you are and that your work and achievements are your own. It is particularly helpful if these referees are familiar with your writing and can provide references on that basis.

Months of entry

Course content.

Our Creative Writing Research degrees are unique and intense programmes for practising writers who wish to complete an ambitious creative project.

Our new research Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) build on a long history of offering Masters and Doctoral options in the study and practice of Creative Writing.

Across all our postgraduate provision, both taught and by research, students have access to the best of the new and also develop a sense of the origins and histories.

We have strong links with literary agents and an impressive history of published graduates.

Information for international students

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

7.0 with no sub-test under 7.0.
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

Campus-based learning is available for this qualification

Creative Writing DFA/MFA

Program start date	Application deadline
2023-09-01	-
2024-11-01	-
2024-03-01	-
2024-06-01	-

Program Overview

Led by renowned writers and critics, the program offers a supportive environment for students to develop their skills through seminars, workshops, and supervised research. Graduates have a strong track record of publication and success in various writing careers.

Program Outline

Program content:.

This program is designed for practicing writers who wish to complete an ambitious creative project.
The program incorporates hybrid taught elements, including literary and practical seminars, workshops, practical pedagogy, and supervised research.
Students have the option to complete a substantial creative work, including a thesis of 70,000-100,000 words for the DFA and 40,000-60,000 words for the MFA.
The DFA also allows students to undertake extended academic research informed by their work and practice, leading to a significant critical essay or output.

Program Structure:

The program is offered as a 3-year full-time or 5-year part-time DFA, and a 2-year full-time or 4-year part-time MFA.
Both programs run as Low Residency options, requiring students to attend at least two weeks of seminars, workshops, and practical elements.
The first week takes place during the first week of the autumn semester in the first year.

Assessment:

Assessment methods may include a combination of written work, presentations, and participation in seminars and workshops.
The thesis is a significant component of the assessment, contributing to the overall grade.
Students are guided by renowned writers and critics, including Carolyn Jess-Cooke, Colin Herd, Laura Marney, Elizabeth Reeder, Zoë Strachan, Louise Welsh, John Coyle, Jane Goldman, Rob Maslen, Alan Riach, and Helen Stoddart.
The program offers a dedicated and supportive environment for students to develop their creative and critical skills.
The University of Glasgow provides access to a range of resources, including the Edwin Morgan Writing Room, a comprehensive library, and archives.
Graduates of the program have a strong track record of publication and success in various writing careers.
Students can benefit from the University's strong links with literary agents and its impressive history of published graduates.
Please note that tuition fees and application deadlines may vary depending on the year of study.
The program is designed to foster a strong sense of community among students, faculty, and alumni, creating a supportive environment for aspiring writers.

UK: £4,786 International & EU: £25,290

Dfa creative writing glasgow

Dfa glasgow creative writing, creative writing masters glasgow, creative writing for beginners glasgow, creative writing short course glasgow, glasgow creative writing phd, recent comments.

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MFA in Creative Writing

University of Glasgow

At UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW

Qualification

Masters Degree (Research)

Next intake

09 December 2024

Entry Score

About the course

Our Creative Writing Research degrees are unique and intense programmes for practising writers who wish to complete an ambitious creative project. Our new research Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) build on a long history of offering Masters and Doctoral options in the study and practice of Creative Writing. Our research degrees incorporate hybrid taught elements (literary and practical seminars, workshops, and practical pedagogy) within a supervised research context that best support your creative and critical work. Both programmes give you dedicated, supported time to complete a substantial creative work, include opportunities to teach writing to undergraduates and apply to be a graduate teaching assistant for other literature courses, and the DFA additionally allows you to undertake an extended academic research, informed by your work and practice, leading to a significant critical essay or output. Our students enjoy the guidance of writers including Carolyn Jess-Cooke, Colin Herd, Laura Marney, Elizabeth Reeder, Zo Strachan and Louise Welsh, and critics such as John Coyle, Jane Goldman, Rob Maslen, Alan Riach, and Helen Stoddart. Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow is based in the Edwin Morgan Writing Room with its book, periodical and audio-visual library. There is an ambitious programme of visiting speakers, masterclasses and public events. The University Library with its modern collections and archives is a crucial resource, including the archive for Edwin Morgan's Papers. We also collaborate with the Mitchell Library, one of the great civic libraries of Europe. And our popular Creative Conversations bring a carefully curated range of visiting speakers to campus every week during the semester.

Scholarships View all scholarships
Internships

Start dates and prices

Course fees are indicative and should be used as a guide. to get an accurate price.

Duration: 2 Year (s)

Fees: GBP 23520

	Location
Open intake available throughout 2023
Open intake available throughout 2024
Open intake available throughout 2025
Open intake available throughout 2026
Open intake available throughout 2025
Open intake available throughout 2023
Open intake available throughout 2023
Open intake available throughout 2024
Open intake available throughout 2023
Open intake available throughout 2025
Open intake available throughout 2024
Open intake available throughout 2027

How to apply

Entry requirements for university of glasgow, application deadline.

The application deadline isn't available Speak to an IDP counsellor for more detailed information

Further information

If you aren't eligible for the above entry requirements, you might ant to explore pathway options at University of Glasgow . If you want to find out more, speak to our counsellors.

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The world ranking.

87 th / 1250

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Creative Writing DFA

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Course info

Entry requirements, tuition fees, latest reviews.

Our Creative Writing Research degrees are unique and intense programmes for practising writers who wish to complete an ambitious creative project.

Our new research Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) build on a long history of offering Masters and Doctoral options in the study and practice of Creative Writing.

Across all our postgraduate provision, both taught and by research, students have access to the best of the new and also develop a sense of the origins and histories.

We have strong links with literary agents and an impressive history of published graduates.

What students say

Great west end location. Plenty of places to socialise. Fantastic university for academic.. Read more

The mutual respect established from the very start by both students and staff has made classes incredibly enjoyable. I have found myself pleasantly surprised at the ease with.. Read more

Students living in

£4,786 per year

Students from Domestic

Prices are based on the annual fee for full-time study. Additional fees applicable.

£25,290 per year

Students from EU

Students from International

Latest Creative Writing reviews

Review breakdown, how all students rated:, university of glasgow , glasgow.

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The Fraser Building 65 Hillhead Street Glasgow Glasgow, City Of G12 8QQ

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Creative Writing

Entry requirements.

This is a popular and selective programme.

All applications must follow the standard entry requirements for the College of Arts:

First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree or equivalent qualification (2:1 in the case of UK Research Council supported students)
A Masters qualification or equivalent

Months of entry

Course content.

Information for international students

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

7.0 with no sub-test under 7.0.
Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

Campus-based learning is available for this qualification

Course contact details

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What our students say.

Postgraduate taught degrees
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Visiting speakers

Rose Ruane, MLitt

"My time on the Mlitt was exciting, challenging, and enriching. I was very much aware, week on week, of how the components of the course coalesced to improve the craft and rigour of my writing practice, providing me with the questions, critiques and challenges required to develop as a creative practitioner and to produce work which felt better honed and more fully evolved than anything I had produced before.

The course is thoughtfully and sensitively delivered, providing a safe space for risk-taking and experimentation."

Micaela Maftei (Canada), MLitt, PhD

"Intellectually and creatively, the Mlitt is a superb course and had a transformative effect on my prose and my writing career; from a mediocre short story writer (with unleashed potential) I became a novelist, was short-listed for an award and rung up out of the blue by a publisher keen to read my work. The pastoral care is a crucial element in the success of the course and the writing community has had a lasting value, beyond words."

Amy Sibley, MFA – longlisted for the Mslexia Memoir Competition

"The MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow gave me the opportunity to become a better writer, a better reader, and gave me the skills to go out and help others do the same through teaching. Both the staff and my fellow students challenged me throughout the two years and pushed me to elevate my craft and gave me the discipline to go out there on my own and say with confidence, 'Yes, I am a writer.' "

Debbie Andrews, MLitt, PhD

"The Creative Writing Programme at Glasgow Uni provided me with everything I hoped for, and more. Highlights included a range of interesting and supportive peers; guidance and tuition from experts within their field; and fabulous opportunities to extend my skills and knowledge base. The two years that I spent studying part-time for an MLitt, and the four years working towards a PhD, will remain some of the best years of my life - they were fun, broadening, stimulating, challenging, and vibrant. I felt engaged on a passionate adventure, and I loved it. I can't recommend the experience highly enough."

Sam Swinton (Scotland) MFA

"This course will challenge you with the unfamiliar whilst accommodating your own personal interests. It taught me how to read as a writer and provided me with the necessary skills and critical awareness to unlock the literary workings of texts. I am now not only a more informed writer, but a more perceptive reader too."

Em Strang, PhD

Doing a Creative Writing PhD at Glasgow was one of the best things I ever did. Not because it got me a book contract - it didn't - but because I met so many other writers, both amongst staff and students. I felt supported, encouraged and nurtured. I loved the whole experience from beginning to end. And I learnt so much - about writing in general and about the ins and outs of my own creative practice.

JL Williams (USA)

"The course has been a revelation to me. The progress I have made in my two years would simply not have been feasible without the support provided by the department's staff and my fellow students. This mentoring and sense of community have been vital. Opportunities such as editing the online journal From Glasgow to Saturn, and my writers' residency at Cove Park, have been a delight to receive. I urge anyone who wants to be a writer to consider applying for the course."

Roy McGregor (Scotland)

"The Creative Writing MLitt at Glasgow Uni has a fantastic reputation, but it far surpassed my expectations. I particularly valued developing my creative and editorial skills within a dynamic group of peers, under the guidance of esteemed writers and academics. The course gave me a richer understanding of craft, whilst nurturing my experimental streak and own areas of interest. The visiting speakers programme was excellent, as were opportunities to attend additional training programmes and innovative workshops. I enjoyed the MLitt so much I returned to study for a PhD, which is also proving a unique, inspiring, and broadening experience."

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23 September 2024

The Fraser Building,

65 Hillhead Street,

Glasgow, City Of,

G12 8QQ, Scotland

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*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.

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Kaplan International College (KIC) London

About University of Glasgow 26 Reviews

Glasgow is a place where people have been making world changing discoveries for over 500 years and students become innovative global pioneers.

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We have 20 Masters Degrees in Creative Writing, Scotland, United Kingdom

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Masters Degrees in Creative Writing, Scotland, United Kingdom

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Creative Writing - MLitt

University of glasgow college of arts & humanities.

Creative Writing - MLitt (Online)

If you're a talented and ambitious writer looking to develop your craft and take your writing to the next level, Glasgow's renowned Creative Writing MLitt is ideal. Read more

Creative Writing MLitt/PgCert/PgDip

University of strathclyde department of english.

This course is designed across three semesters, with each class intended to develop not just the skills aspiring writers need, but the right skills at the right stage in their development. Read more

Creative Writing MLitt

University of stirling communications, media and culture.

On this Masters course, you’ll learn to produce fine, nuanced writing and a body of work in either poetry, fiction or creative non-fiction. Read more

Creative Writing (MLitt)

University of st andrews school of english.

The MLitt in Creative Writing is a one-year taught programme run by the School of English. The course consists of two semesters with taught components followed by an individual creative writing project taking place over the whole year, but with particular focus during the last three months. Read more

Aberdeen University Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture

It is suggested that everybody has a book within them based on the vast experiences we gain in life. Read more

Creative Writing MSc

University of edinburgh school of literatures, languages and cultures.

Based in the first UNESCO World City of Literature, this one-year, full-time taught Masters programme is tailored towards your practice in either fiction or poetry. Read more

Edinburgh napier university school of arts & creative industries.

"A radical departure in creative writing" - The Times If you want to make a career in writing, this course is for you. You already have talent and ideas, we'll add the expertise you need to approach your chosen market with confidence, originality and skill. Read more

MA Writing Genre Fiction

Our industry-informed teaching and one-to-one mentoring aims to help you establish or enhance a career in commercial genre writing. Read more

MA Screenwriting

Develop skills in writing, script-editing and project development for the film, television and digital fiction industries The MA Screenwriting was launched at Edinburgh Napier University in 2006 and has adapted and developed since then to become one of the strongest screenwriting Masters courses on offer in the UK. Read more

Playwriting and Screenwriting (MLitt)

The MLitt in Playwriting and Screenwriting is a one-year taught programme run by the School of English. In this course, you will develop your skills in writing for radio, theatre and screen with an emphasis on your individual voice and style. Read more

English Literature: Fantasy - MLitt

Are you a fan of fantasy fiction? Or are you simply curious as to why the fantastic can be found all around us in the 21st century, from videogames and films to poetry, songs, television, novel series, and so-called 'mainstream' fiction? This programme allows you to engage with one of the most vibrant literary genres of the last two centuries - and a major cultural phenomenon of our time. Read more

English Language and Literature (MLitt)

Delve into the world of English Language and Literature and uncover a variety of historical and contemporary texts. Read more

Ethnology & Folklore (MLitt)

Unleash your creativity with the MLitt in Ethnology & Folklore at the University of Aberdeen. Delve into the vibrant vernacular culture through stories, music, traditions, and more. Read more

MLitt Comics and Graphic Novels

University of dundee humanities.

Study the history and theory of comics and graphic novels through different genres and cultures, using a variety of critical and creative approaches Comics Studies is a rapidly expanding field that benefits from an interdisciplinary approach. Read more

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DFA in Creative Writing

At UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW

Next intake

09 December 2024

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Duration: 3 Year (s)

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15 Best Creative Writing MFA Programs in 2024

May 15, 2024

Whether you studied at a top creative writing university or are a high school dropout who will one day become a bestselling author , you may be considering an MFA in Creative Writing. But is a writing MFA genuinely worth the time and potential costs? How do you know which program will best nurture your writing? If you’re considering an MFA, this article walks you through the best full-time, low residency, and online Creative Writing MFA programs in the United States.

What are the best Creative Writing MFA programs?

Before we get into the meat and potatoes of this article, let’s start with the basics. What is an MFA, anyway?

A Master of Fine Arts (MFA) is a graduate degree that usually takes from two to three years to complete. Applications typically require a sample portfolio, usually 10-20 pages (and sometimes up to 30-40) of your best writing. Moreover, you can receive an MFA in a particular genre, such as Fiction or Poetry, or more broadly in Creative Writing. However, if you take the latter approach, you often have the opportunity to specialize in a single genre.

Wondering what actually goes on in a creative writing MFA beyond inspiring award-winning books and internet memes ? You enroll in workshops where you get feedback on your creative writing from your peers and a faculty member. You enroll in seminars where you get a foundation of theory and techniques. Then, you finish the degree with a thesis project. Thesis projects are typically a body of polished, publishable-quality creative work in your genre—fiction, nonfiction, or poetry.

Why should I get an MFA in Creative Writing?

You don’t need an MFA to be a writer. Just look at Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison or bestselling novelist Emily St. John Mandel.

Nonetheless, there are plenty of reasons you might still want to get a creative writing MFA. The first is, unfortunately, prestige. An MFA from a top program can help you stand out in a notoriously competitive industry to be published.

The second reason: time. Many MFA programs give you protected writing time, deadlines, and maybe even a (dainty) salary.

Third, an MFA in Creative Writing is a terminal degree. This means that this degree allows you to teach writing at the university level, especially after you publish a book.

Fourth: resources. MFA programs are often staffed by brilliant, award-winning writers; offer lecture series, volunteer opportunities, and teaching positions; and run their own (usually prestigious) literary magazines. Such resources provide you with the knowledge and insight you’ll need to navigate the literary and publishing world on your own post-graduation.

But above all, the biggest reason to pursue an MFA is the community it brings you. You get to meet other writers—and share feedback, advice, and moral support—in relationships that can last for decades.

Types of Creative Writing MFA Programs

Here are the different types of programs to consider, depending on your needs:

Fully-Funded Full-Time Programs

These programs offer full-tuition scholarships and sweeten the deal by actually paying you to attend them.

Pros: You’re paid to write (and teach).
Cons: Uprooting your entire life to move somewhere possibly very cold.

Full-Time MFA Programs

These programs include attending in-person classes and paying tuition (though many offer need-based and merit scholarships).

Pros: Lots of top-notch non-funded programs have more assets to attract world-class faculty and guests.
Cons: It’s an investment that might not pay itself back.

Low-Residency MFA Programs

Low-residency programs usually meet biannually for short sessions. They also offer one-on-one support throughout the year. These MFAs are more independent, preparing you for what the writing life is actually like.

Pros: No major life changes required. Cons: Less time dedicated to writing and less time to build relationships.

Online MFA Programs

Held 100% online. These programs have high acceptance rates and no residency requirement. That means zero travel or moving expenses.

Pros: No major life changes required.
Cons: These MFAs have less name recognition.

The Top 15 Creative Writing MFA Programs Ranked by Category

The following programs are selected for their balance of high funding, impressive return on investment, stellar faculty, major journal publications , and impressive alums.

FULLY FUNDED MFA PROGRAMS

1) johns hopkins university , mfa in fiction/poetry.

This two-year program offers an incredibly generous funding package: $39,000 teaching fellowships each year. Not to mention, it offers that sweet, sweet health insurance, mind-boggling faculty, and the option to apply for a lecture position after graduation. Many grads publish their first book within three years (nice). No nonfiction MFA (boo).

Location: Baltimore, MD
Incoming class size: 8 students (4 per genre)
Admissions rate: 4-8%
Alumni: Chimamanda Adichie, Jeffrey Blitz, Wes Craven, Louise Erdrich, Porochista Khakpour, Phillis Levin, ZZ Packer, Tom Sleigh, Elizabeth Spires, Rosanna Warren

2) University of Texas, James Michener Center

The only MFA that offers full and equal funding for every writer. It’s three years long, offers a generous yearly stipend of $30k, and provides full tuition plus a health insurance stipend. Fiction, poetry, playwriting, and screenwriting concentrations are available. The Michener Center is also unique because you study a primary genre and a secondary genre, and also get $4,000 for the summer.

Location : Austin, TX
Incoming class size : 12 students
Acceptance rate: a bone-chilling less-than-1% in fiction; 2-3% in other genres
Alumni: Fiona McFarlane, Brian McGreevy, Karan Mahajan, Alix Ohlin, Kevin Powers, Lara Prescott, Roger Reeves, Maria Reva, Domenica Ruta, Sam Sax, Joseph Skibell, Dominic Smith

3) University of Iowa

The Iowa Writers’ Workshop is a 2-year program on a residency model for fiction and poetry. This means there are low requirements, and lots of time to write groundbreaking novels or play pool at the local bar. All students receive full funding, including tuition, a living stipend, and subsidized health insurance. The Translation MFA , co-founded by Gayatri Chakravorti Spivak, is also two years long but with more intensive coursework. The Nonfiction Writing Program is a prestigious three-year MFA program and is also intensive.

Incoming class size: 25 each for poetry and fiction; 10-12 for nonfiction and translation.
Acceptance rate: 2.7-3.7%
Fantastic Alumni: Raymond Carver, Flannery O’Connor, Sandra Cisneros, Joy Harjo, Garth Greenwell, Kiley Reid, Brandon Taylor, Eula Biss, Yiyun Li, Jennifer Croft

Best MFA Creative Writing Programs (Continued)

4) university of michigan.

Anne Carson famously lives in Ann Arbor, as do the MFA students in UMichigan’s Helen Zell Writers’ Program. This is a big university town, which is less damaging to your social life. Plus, there’s lots to do when you have a $25,000 stipend, summer funding, and health care.

This is a 2-3-year program in either fiction or poetry, with an impressive reputation. They also have a demonstrated commitment to “ push back against the darkness of intolerance and injustice ” and have outreach programs in the community.

Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Incoming class size: 18 (9 in each genre)
Acceptance rate: 2%
Alumni: Brit Bennett, Vievee Francis, Airea D. Matthews, Celeste Ng, Chigozie Obioma, Jia Tolentino, Jesmyn Ward

5) Brown University

Brown offers an edgy, well-funded program in a place that only occasionally dips into arctic temperatures. All students are fully funded for 2 years, which includes tuition remission and a $32k yearly stipend. Students also get summer funding and—you guessed it—that sweet, sweet health insurance.

In the Brown Literary Arts MFA, students take only one workshop and one elective per semester. It’s also the only program in the country to feature a Digital/Cross Disciplinary Track. Fiction and Poetry Tracks are offered as well.

Location: Providence, RI
Incoming class size: 12-13
Acceptance rate: “highly selective”
Alumni: Edwidge Danticat, Jaimy Gordon, Gayl Jones, Ben Lerner, Joanna Scott, Kevin Young, Ottessa Moshfegh

6) University of Arizona

This 3-year program with fiction, poetry, and nonfiction tracks has many attractive qualities. It’s in “ the lushest desert in the world, ” and was recently ranked #4 in creative writing programs, and #2 in Nonfiction. You can take classes in multiple genres, and in fact, are encouraged to do so. Plus, Arizona’s dry heat is good for arthritis.

This notoriously supportive program is fully funded. Moreover, teaching assistantships that provide a salary, health insurance, and tuition waiver are offered to all students. Tucson is home to a hopping literary scene, so it’s also possible to volunteer at multiple literary organizations and even do supported research at the US-Mexico Border.

Location: Tucson, AZ
Incoming class size: usually 6
Acceptance rate: 1.2% (a refreshingly specific number after Brown’s evasiveness)
Alumni: Francisco Cantú, Jos Charles, Tony Hoagland, Nancy Mairs, Richard Russo, Richard Siken, Aisha Sabatini Sloan, David Foster Wallace

7) Arizona State University

With concentrations in fiction and poetry, Arizona State is a three-year funded program in arthritis-friendly dry heat. It offers small class sizes, individual mentorships, and one of the most impressive faculty rosters in the game. Moreover, it encourages cross-genre study.

Funding-wise, everyone has the option to take on a teaching assistantship position, which provides a tuition waiver, health insurance, and a yearly stipend of $25k. Other opportunities for financial support exist as well.

Location: Tempe, AZ
Incoming class size: 8-10
Acceptance rate: 3% (sigh)
Alumni: Tayari Jones, Venita Blackburn, Dorothy Chan, Adrienne Celt, Dana Diehl, Matthew Gavin Frank, Caitlin Horrocks, Allegra Hyde, Hugh Martin, Bonnie Nadzam

FULL-RESIDENCY MFAS (UNFUNDED)

8) new york university.

This two-year program is in New York City, meaning it comes with close access to literary opportunities and hot dogs. NYU also has one of the most accomplished faculty lists anywhere. Students have large cohorts (more potential friends!) and have a penchant for winning top literary prizes. Concentrations in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction are available.

Location: New York, NY
Incoming class size: ~60; 20-30 students accepted for each genre
Acceptance rate: 6-9%
Alumni: Nick Flynn, Nell Freudenberger, Aracelis Girmay, Mitchell S. Jackson, Tyehimba Jess, John Keene, Raven Leilani, Robin Coste Lewis, Ada Limón, Ocean Vuong

9) Columbia University

Another 2-3 year private MFA program with drool-worthy permanent and visiting faculty. Columbia offers courses in fiction, poetry, translation, and nonfiction. Beyond the Ivy League education, Columbia offers close access to agents, and its students have a high record of bestsellers. Finally, teaching positions and fellowships are available to help offset the high tuition.

Incoming class size: 110
Acceptance rate: not publicized (boo)
Alumni: Alexandra Kleeman, Rachel Kushner, Claudia Rankine, Rick Moody, Sigrid Nunez, Tracy K. Smith, Emma Cline, Adam Wilson, Marie Howe, Mary Jo Bang

10) Sarah Lawrence

Sarah Lawrence offers a concentration in speculative fiction in addition to the average fiction, poetry, and nonfiction choices. Moreover, they encourage cross-genre exploration. With intimate class sizes, this program is unique because it offers biweekly one-on-one conferences with its stunning faculty. It also has a notoriously supportive atmosphere, and many teaching and funding opportunities are available.

Location: Bronxville, NY
Incoming class size: 30-40
Acceptance rate: not publicized
Alumni: Cynthia Cruz, Melissa Febos, T Kira Madden, Alex Dimitrov, Moncho Alvarado

LOW RESIDENCY

11) bennington college.

This two-year program boasts truly stellar faculty, and meets twice a year for ten days in January and June. It’s like a biannual vacation in beautiful Vermont, plus mentorship by a famous writer. The rest of the time, you’ll be spending approximately 25 hours per week on reading and writing assignments. Students have the option to concentrate in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Uniquely, they can also opt for a dual-genre focus.

The tuition is $23,468 per year, with scholarships available. Additionally, Bennington offers full-immersion teaching fellowships to MFA students, which are extremely rare in low-residency programs.

Location: Bennington, VT
Acceptance rate: 53%
Incoming class: 25-35
Alumni: Larissa Pham, Andrew Reiner, Lisa Johnson Mitchell, and others

12) Institute for American Indian Arts

This two-year program emphasizes Native American and First Nations writing. With truly amazing faculty and visiting writers, they offer a wide range of genres, including screenwriting, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. In addition, each student is matched with a faculty mentor who works with them one-on-one throughout the semester.

Students attend two eight-day residencies each year, in January and July, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. At $12,000 in tuition a year, it boasts being “ one of the most affordable MFA programs in the country .”

Location: Santa Fe, NM
Incoming class size : 21
Alumni: Tommy Orange, Dara Yen Elerath, Kathryn Wilder

13) Vermont College of Fine Arts

VCFA is the only graduate school on this list that focuses exclusively on the fine arts. Their MFA in Writing offers concentrations in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction; they also offer an MFA in Literary Translation and one of the few MFAs in Writing for Children and Young Adults . Students meet twice a year for nine days, in January and July, either in-person or online. Here, they receive one-on-one mentorship that continues for the rest of the semester. You can also do many travel residencies in exciting (and warm) places like Cozumel.

VCFA boasts amazing faculty and visiting writers, with individualized study options and plenty of one-on-one time. Tuition for the full two-year program is approximately $54k.

Location : Various; 2024/25 residencies are in Colorado and California
Incoming class size: 18-25
Acceptance rate: 63%
Alumnx: Lauren Markham, Mary-Kim Arnold, Cassie Beasley, Kate Beasley, Julie Berry, Bridget Birdsall, Gwenda Bond, Pablo Cartaya

ONLINE MFAS

14) university of texas at el paso.

UTEP is considered the best online MFA program, and features award-winning faculty from across the globe. Accordingly, this program is geared toward serious writers who want to pursue teaching and/or publishing. Intensive workshops allow submissions in Spanish and/or English, and genres include poetry and fiction.

No residencies are required, but an optional opportunity to connect in person is available every year. This three-year program costs about $25-30k total, depending on whether you are an in-state or out-of-state resident.

Location: El Paso, TX
Acceptance rate: “highly competitive”
Alumni: Watch alumni testimonies here

15) Bay Path University

This 2-year online, no-residency program is dedicated entirely to nonfiction. Featuring a supportive, diverse community, Bay Path offers small class sizes, close mentorship, and an optional yearly field trip to Ireland.

There are many tracks, including publishing, narrative medicine, and teaching creative writing. Moreover, core courses include memoir, narrative journalism, food/travel writing, and the personal essay. Tuition is approximately $31,000 for the entire program, with scholarships available.

Location: Longmeadow, MA
Incoming class size: 20
Alumni: Read alumni testimonies here

Best MFA Creative Writing Programs — Final Thoughts

Whether you’re aiming for a fully funded, low residency, or completely online MFA program, there are plenty of incredible options available—all of which will sharpen your craft while immersing you in the vibrant literary arts community.

Hoping to prepare for your MFA in advance? You might consider checking out the following:

Best English Programs
Best Colleges for Creative Writing
Writing Summer Programs
Best Writing Competitions for High School Students

Inspired to start writing? Get your pencil ready:

100 Creative Writing Prompts
1 00 Tone Words to Express Mood in Your Writing
60 Senior Project Ideas
Common App Essay Prompts

Best MFA Creative Writing Programs – References:

https://www.pw.org/mfa
The Creative Writing MFA Handbook: A Guide for Prospective Graduate Students , by Tom Kealey (A&C Black 2005)
Graduate School Admissions

Julia Conrad

With a Bachelor of Arts in English and Italian from Wesleyan University as well as MFAs in both Nonfiction Writing and Literary Translation from the University of Iowa, Julia is an experienced writer, editor, educator, and a former Fulbright Fellow. Julia’s work has been featured in The Millions , Asymptote , and The Massachusetts Review , among other publications. To read more of her work, visit www.juliaconrad.net

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Awards: MSc

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Programme website: Creative Writing

The community has been one of my favourite parts. The department has very warm and encouraging staff. Some of my classmates are now close friends, and we still workshop stories across time zones, and complain to each other about writing - and not writing! Bhavika Govil, prize-winning fiction writer MSc in Creative Writing, 2020

Discovery Day

Join us online on 21st August to learn more about postgraduate study at Edinburgh.

Find out more and register

Programme description

Based in the first UNESCO World City of Literature, this one-year, full-time taught Masters programme is tailored towards your practice in either fiction or poetry.

There is a strong practical element to the programme, helping you develop your creative skills through:

presenting your work for peer discussion
hearing from guest writers and other professionals on the practicalities of life as a writer

You will also sharpen your critical skills through:

seminars exploring the particulars of your chosen form
option courses in literature, helping you move from theoretical considerations to practical applications

The programme culminates with the publication of ‘From Arthur’s Seat,’ an anthology of student work.

Why Edinburgh

Literature has been taught here for over 250 years, and today Edinburgh thrives on its designation as the first UNESCO World City of Literature. The city is home to the National Library of Scotland and the Scottish Poetry Library, and a number of celebrated publishing outlets, from Canongate and Polygon, to Luath Press, Birlinn and Mariscat. The University hosts the prestigious James Tait Black Awards, established in 1919 and one of the oldest literary prizes in Britain.

There are lots of opportunities to write and share your work, from ‘The Student,’ the UK’s oldest student newspaper (founded in 1887 by Robert Louis Stevenson), to The Selkie, which was founded by Creative Writing students in 2018 to showcase work by people who self-identify as underrepresented.

Around the city, you will find:

library readings and bookshop launches
spoken word gigs
cabaret nights
poetry slams

Edinburgh isn’t just historic – it’s a modern hub for literature. That’s part of what makes the city great for writing.

Austin Crowley, MSc in Creative Writing, 2023

We team teach our programme so that you benefit from the input of a range of tutors, as well as your fellow students and our Writer in Residence, the poet and author Michael Pedersen, who also co-ordinates a range of student writing prizes and our annual industry and networking event.

The academic staff you will be working with are all active researchers or authors, including well-published and prize-winning writers of poetry, prose fiction and drama. They include:

Dr Jane Alexander - Fiction
Dr Lynda Clark
Dr Patrick Errington - Poetry/Fiction
Dr Miriam Gamble - Poetry
Professor Alan Gillis - Poetry
Dr Jane McKie - Poetry
Dr Allyson Stack - Fiction
Kim Sherwood - Fiction
Alice Thompson - Fiction

Programme structure

Over the duration of the programme, you will:

take two core courses, both worth 40 credits
two optional courses chosen from a wide range of subjects, both worth 20 credits

The core activities in Creative Writing are:

tutor-led workshops, in which you will present your work-in-progress and critique the work of your fellow students
regular seminars exploring techniques and issues specific to your practice (either fiction or poetry) and the statements and theories of practitioners

Optional courses

We have a large number of option courses to choose from, including preferred courses for fiction and poetry (which will be offered to Creative Writing students in the first instance), and courses from across the Department of English Literature and the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures.

Throughout the programme, you will be expected to attend readings and talks by visiting speakers. Early on, these will be from published writers and, later, advisors from the writing business: literary agents, magazine editors and publishers.

Dissertation

The final element of the programme is your dissertation, a piece of creative writing (worth 60 credits) written with the advice and support of a designated supervisor.

Fiction dissertations are between 15,000 words and 20,000 words, and poetry dissertations between 25 and 30 pages.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

identify, conceptualise and define formal elements of craft in your chosen field (poetry or fiction) within published works and within works by your peers
remain open to criticism and respond effectively and creatively to feedback on your own creative work
work from initial conception through multiple drafts to the final version of a creative piece within your chosen field (fiction or poetry)
transfer editorial skills and creative abilities from one context to another
analyse creative works within your chosen field (fiction or poetry), work with a focus on craft effectiveness, and articulate strengths and weaknesses in a piece of writing in a constructive manner

Career opportunities

Over the course of this programme, you will complete a body of creative work that has been rigorously peer reviewed.

Our students go on to careers in a wide variety of fields, including:

arts administration
web and audio book editing
script and ghost writing
gaming narrative design

Some decide to extend their studies and take a PhD with us.

Many of our alumni go on to achieve literary success, publishing novels and short story and poetry collections, and winning awards. Our graduates’ recent successes include:

debut novels from:

Amanda Block (The Lost Storyteller, published by Hodder Studio)
Karin Nordin (Where Ravens Roost, published by Harper Collins)
Marielle Thompson (Where Ivy Dares to Grow, published by Kensington Books)
August Thomas (Liar’s Candle, published by Simon and Schuster)
Rosie Walker (Secrets of a Serial Killer, published by One More Chapter)
Mark Wightman (Waking the Tiger, published by Hobeck Books and shortlisted for Scottish Crime Debut of the Year 2021)

debut short story collections from:

Dayle Furlong (Lake Effect, published by Cormorant Books)
Dima Alzayat (Alligator and Other Stories, shortlisted for the James Tait Black Award for Fiction)
a non-fiction debut from Sonali Misra (21 Fantastic Failures, published by Rupa Publications India)

debut poetry collections from:

Rebecca Tamás (WITCH, published by Penned in the Margins)
Naomi Morris (Hyperlove, published by Makina Books)
Aileen Ballantyne (Taking Flight, published by Luath Press)
the 2022 Edwin Morgan Poetry Award, won by Alyson Kissner
the 2021 Brotherton Poetry Prize, won by Lauren Pope
the 2021 Pontas & JJ Bola Emerging Writers Prize, won by Bhavika Govil

Meet our graduates

From Arthur’s Seat – stories from the heart of Edinburgh

Tim Tim Cheng

Bhavika Govil
Dima Alzayat

What's the best type of masters programme for you?

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in any discipline. This will often be in a directly related subject like English Literature/Creative Writing, but we welcome applicants from all academic backgrounds.

Applicants who are entered into selection will be asked to provide a sample of written work to enable their suitability for the programme to be assessed.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

Entry requirements by country
English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
C1 Advanced ( CAE ) / C2 Proficiency ( CPE ): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
Trinity ISE : ISE III with passes in all four components.
PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 62 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS , TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE , in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

Fees and costs

Read our general information on tuition fees and studying costs:

Scholarships and funding

Featured funding.

If you are intending to study full time on this Creative Writing programme, you are eligible for a William Hunter Sharpe Memorial Scholarship which will contribute towards your tuition fees.

You do not need to apply for this scholarship – all eligible candidates who apply for the programme by Monday 6 May 2024 will be considered for them and contacted if successful.

Find out more about the William Hunter Sharpe Memorial Scholarship and other scholarships in literatures, languages and cultures

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

your programme
the duration of your studies
your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

Search for funding

Further information

Phone: +44 (0)131 650 4086
Contact: College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Admissions Office
School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures
50 George Square
Central Campus
Programme: Creative Writing
School: Literatures, Languages & Cultures
College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

This programme is not currently accepting applications. Applications for the next intake usually open in October.

Start date: September

Application deadlines

Due to high demand, the school operates a number of selection deadlines. We will make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis, but hold the majority of applications until the next published selection deadline when we will offer a proportion of the places available to applicants selected through a competitive process.

Please be aware that applications must be submitted and complete, i.e. all required documents uploaded, by the relevant application deadline in order to be considered in that round. Your application will still be considered if you have not yet met the English language requirement for the programme.

Deadlines for applicants applying to study in 2024/25:

Round	Application deadline	Places awarded by
1	06 November 2023	21 December 2023
2	01 February 2024	28 March 2024
3	30 April 2024	25 June 2024
4	03 June 2024	23 July 2024

(Revised 27 March 2024 to extend Round 3 application deadline)

The online application process involves the completion of a web form and the submission of supporting documents.

You should supply a portfolio of writing.

For poetry, this should be six (6) pages of poetry, starting a new page for each new poem of 14 lines or over.
For fiction, this should be a complete story or stories, or an equivalent amount from a longer work (between 2,500 and 3,500 words).

These are firm limits.

If you are undecided about whether to apply for fiction or poetry, you should send a sample of both, i.e. six (6) pages of poetry and 2,500-3,500 words of fiction (if offered a place it will be for one or the other).

Work in other forms (for example journalism, life writing or advertising) will not be considered.

Personal statement

When writing your personal statement, consider the following questions:

What do you most hope to learn/gain from a Creative Writing degree, and why is ours the programme for you?
Tell us about your writing: what are you interested in and why? Are there aspects of your current practice you're particularly proud of? Things you know you need to work on?

What (if any) prior experience do you have of studying Creative Writing?

Guidance on the application process and supporting documents

All supporting documents, including references, must be uploaded to the online application system by the deadline date.

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

MFA Creative Writing Glasgow

BA Journalism and Creative Writing in Glasgow
MRes Creative Writing in Glasgow
MLitt Creative Writing in Glasgow

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MFA Creative Writing

Graduate taught (level 9 nfq, credits 90).

UCD offers two graduate courses in creative writing, an MA and MFA. The MFA programme is a more advanced degree than the MA, and in some instances can follow on from the MA. MFA students will be part of a smaller cohort which offers very close supervision of a work in progress for the duration of an academic year. It is best suited to students who are working to complete a full-manuscript and have already undertaken courses in craft and/or related fields.

Develop your own writing skills under experienced tuition and supervision
Structural and line editing of the work in progress is a core component and class groups in this module are from two to four students
Taught by experienced, published staff of international reputation

Careers & Employability

Many graduates of the MFA in Creative Writing establish successful writing lives, several securing publishing contracts. MFA student Colin Barrett (2015) won the Guardian First Fiction Prize with Young Skins then went on to win both the Frank O'Conner International short story award and the Rooney Prize for Literature. 2015, has also seen the publication of novels by four of our recent graduates; Susan Stairs, The Boy Between ; Paula McGrath, Generation; Andrea Carter, Death at Whitewater Church; Henrietta McKervey, What Becomes Of Us. Henrietta won both the Hennessy First Fiction Award and the UCD Maeve Binchy Travel Award in 2014. The Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Prize 2011 was awarded to graduate, Helena Nolan, while in 2013, graduate Jessica Traynor won the Hennessy Emerging Poet Award and the Hennessy Writer of the Year Award in 2013.

Curricular information is subject to change

Who should apply?

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes

This course is suited to students who have already acquired the skills associated with a course in creative writing and have a work in progress to which they now wish to devote the greater part of an academic year with a a view to offering that work for publication.

Course Description

The lectures, seminars, workshops and supervision meetings aim to provide committed writers with taught classes on theories and practices of writing, presentation and editing techniques, creative reading of selected texts, and supervision of a major writing project. Among the important issues addressed on an ongoing basis are voice and structure. Every effort is made to ensure that a student progresses on these as well as many other fronts.

UCD is associated with some of Ireland’s greatest writers UCD has long been associated with some of Ireland’s greatest writers, including James Joyce, Flann O’Brien, Mary Lavin, Anthony Cronin, Maeve Binchy, John McGahern, Neil Jordan, Conor McPherson, Colm Tóibín, Hugo Hamilton, Joseph O’Connor, Emma Donoghue and many others. The distinguished playwright, Frank McGuinness, is Professor of Creative Writing, and internationally acclaimed novelist, Colm Tóibín is Adjunct Professor.

Vision and Values Statement

A fundamental tenet of the Creative Writing Programme at UCD is a belief in the value of learning from writers who have mastered their craft. Accordingly, the emphasis is on learning to read like writers. Students who embark on this course will already have acquired many of the skills associated with a programme such as the MA in Creative Writing. They will have a full work in progress and will be given close individual supervision in the progress and completion of that work, with a view to offering it for publication at the end of the course. The MFA focuses on fiction in a small cohort so the learning environment is upbeat and in every sense enabling, and is necessarily quite concentrated.

Programme Outcomes

On successful completion of the programme, students will have

an ability to select , negotiate, adapt and implement approaches / techniques appropriate to the work in progress.
an in-depth knowledge of successful works in the field / genre in which they are working.
competence in preparing a manuscript, a synopsis and a biog. for presentation to a literary agent / publisher.
insight into the different sources and methods of research, with particular emphasis on the assimilation of same into the work in progress.
mastery of pacing, narrative coherence and ending.
expertise in close editing and overall structuring a work of fiction.
contributed to an anthology and attended a selection of the literary events and festivals for which the city is renowned.

What modules can I take?

View All Modules Here

Fees, Funding and Scholarships

Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website . Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see International Scholarships .

Entry Requirements

This course is suited to students who have already acquired the skills associated with a full programme in creative writing [MA, M Phil Creative Writing, BFA, BA Creative Writing Major/Joint Major] or equivalent and have a work in progress to which they now wish to devote the greater part of an academic year with a view to offering that work for publication. Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 7.5 (no band less than 7.0 in each element), or equivalent.

Testimonial

Dave Rudden MA 2013 Award-winning Author

The Creative Writing Masters in UCD has been incredibly useful to me as an author. I still use some of the lessons I learned in that year in my creative writing classes, and the expert advice of the lecturers contributed massively to me finding a home for my Knights of the Borrowed Dark trilogy at Puffin. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Related Programmes

MA Creative Writing FT

Facilities and Resources

A visiting writer programme brings all graduate students into contact with some of Ireland’s finest writers as well as literary agents and publishers. Every year a writer in residence provides a workshop and individual direction to students. Both MA and MFA students can also gain experience in the editing and production of the programme’s Creative Writing journal HCE, and participate in the UCD-based Associated Writing Programmes’ (Ireland) annual conference.

How to apply?

The following entry routes are available:

Open Days and Events

See details of any upcoming events and how to register.

Programme Overview:

Ask a question:.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.

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Creative writing

Here in Scotland, storytelling is at the heart of our culture, and in Glasgow particularly, literary culture is varied and rich. Whether you’re interested in poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, or screenwriting, we'll guide you towards telling the best story possible, in a city full of opportunity and inspiration.

Creative Writing has had a strong profile at Strathclyde for many years. Some of our students and staff have won, or been listed for, major international prizes and grants from awarding bodies including Creative Scotland, the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC); the Wyndham-Campbell Literature Prize, Dylan Thomas Prize, Somerset Maugham Prize, Authors’ Club Novel Award and the Desmond Elliot Prize (for the best first novel in the UK).

Former staff and students include:

Zoë Wicomb (South African-Scottish novelist and short story writer, author of You Can’t Get Lost in Cape Town, now Emeritus Professor)
David Kinloch (long-time Professor of Poetry at Strathclyde, David is the author of five collections of poetry published by Carcanet, including Un Tour d’Ecosse and Finger of a Frenchman)
Louise Welsh (author of The Cutting Room and many other successful crime novels)
Margaret Elphinstone (historical fiction writer, author of The Sea Road)
Andrew O'Hagan (ex-student, nominated three times for the Booker Prize, novelist and nonfiction author, also Editor at large at the London Review of Books)
James Kelman (hugely influential winner of the Book Prize for How Late it Was, How Late)
Ali Smith (multi-award-winning novelist, short story writer and essayist, author of How to Be Both and The Season Quartet)

Until recently, we had the privilege of working with novelist and dramatist, Beatrice Colin, who was a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing. Sadly, Beatrice passed away in February 2019. She was an inspirational teacher and is much missed by students and staff. An obituary by Gaynor MacFarlane, may be found here . The Beatrice Colin Prize, for the best Creative Writing Dissertation, has been set up in her name.

We combine the best creative instincts with first-hand experience in the creative industries. The world of storytelling is ever-changing, so we make sure to invite only the most relevant industry speakers from the worlds of broadcasting, publishing and digital media. We also regularly work with Glasgow’s Aye Write! Book Festival on events and creative writing workshops, as well as with other partners in the world of publishing, giving students how the real world of publishing works.

In your time with us, you'll be preparing for making a life in writing. Everyone has a story to tell. The challenge lies in learning how to tell it well.

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Work in this area tackles issues relating to sexual orientation and gender. Discover more about our research.

Screenwriting

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Creative Writing
Overview. Our new research Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) build on a long history of offering Masters and Doctoral options in the study and practice of Cr
Creative Writing DFA at University of Glasgow
Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow is based in the Edwin Morgan Writing Room with its book, periodical and audio-visual library. There is an ambitious programme of visiting speakers, masterclasses and public events. The University Library with its modern collections and archives is a crucial resource, including the archive for Edwin ...
University of Glasgow
Creative Writing at Glasgow. Our postgraduate taught and research-led writing courses are among the most challenging and popular in Britain, and have helped launch the career of a number of successful writers including Anne Donovan, Louise Welsh, Rodge Glass, Jen Hadfield, Zoe Strachan, Luke Brown, Laura Marney, Rachel Seiffert, William Letford ...
University of Glasgow
Postgraduate study in Creative Writing. Drawing talented creative writers from around the world, the Creative Writing Programme provides students a challenging creative and critic
Degree of Doctor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
Degree of Doctor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing RESOLUTION. The Degree of Doctor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing is governed by Resolution No. 664 of the University Court, the
Creative Writing DFA at University of Glasgow
Find course details for Creative Writing DFA at University of Glasgow including subject rankings, tuition fees and key entry requirements. We value your privacy We use cookies to allow this site to work for you, improve your user experience, and to serve you advertising tailored to your interests.
Creative Writing DFA at University of Glasgow
Our Creative Writing Research degrees are unique and intense programmes for practising writers who wish to complete an ambitious creative project.OverviewOur new research Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) build on a long history of offering Masters and Doctoral options in the study and practice of Creative Writing.Our research degrees incorporate hybrid taught elements ...
University of Glasgow
Glasgow's creative writing programmes are among the most prestigious in the UK, having launched the careers of many successful writers. 21st-century graduates of our programme include Louise Welsh, Kirsty Logan, William Letford, Jen Hadfield, Helen Sedgwick, Alan Trotter, Anne Donovan, Shola Von Reinhold and others who are making their mark ...
Creative Writing Dfa/MFA from University of Glasgow
This course is offered by College of Arts department of the university. University of Glasgow offers a 2 years long Creative Writing Dfa/MFA course. The tuition fees to pursue this program is Pound 19350.0. English language proficiency test accepted for admission to University of Glasgow Creative Writing Dfa/MFA is IELTS.
Creative Writing MLitt
Our MLitt in Creative Writing is perfect for talented and aspiring writers who want to develop their craft. Find out more today., The Creative Writing programme at Glasgow has gained an excellent reputation amongst writers, agents and publishers. It is perfect for talented and aspiring writers who want to develop their craft, take risks in their work, and gain creative and critical skills; all ...
Creative Writing, Master
About. The Creative Writing programme at the University of Glasgow is unique and intense programmes for practising writers who wish to complete an ambitious creative project. Visit the Visit programme website for more information. University of Glasgow. Glasgow , Scotland , United Kingdom. Top 0.5% worldwide. Studyportals University Meta Ranking.
Creative Writing, M.Litt.
The International English Language Test System (IELTS) tests your English-language proficiency on a scale of 1 - 9. The score refers to the combined average score of 4 subjects (writing, listening, speaking, and reading). The TOEFL iBT® is given online through the internet at designated testing site. The test measures your English-language ...
Creative Writing
Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow is based in the Edwin Morgan Writing Room with its book, periodical and audio-visual library. There is an ambitious programme of visiting speakers, masterclasses and public events. The University Library with its modern collections and archives is a crucial resource, including the archive for Edwin ...
Creative Writing, Ph. D.
The Creative Writing programme is offered at University of Glasgow. The TOEFL iBT® is given online through the internet at designated testing site. The test measures your English-language abilities in an academic setting. The score refers to the total score of 4 subjects (writing, listening, speaking, and reading), each subject has a range of ...
Study Creative Writing DFA at University of Glasgow in the UK, College
Students: Find out about Creative Writing DFA at University of Glasgow. Creative Writing DFA course details. 56838422 You are currently browsing our site with content tailored to students in your country
Study a DFA in Creative Writing at University of Glasgow in United
Find entry requirements, course fees and intake dates for studying a DFA in Creative Writing at University of Glasgow in United Kingdom. News and articles; Find us. Find nearest IDP offices.
Creative Writing DFA at University of Glasgow, UK: Fees & Entry
Students: Find out about Creative Writing DFA at University of Glasgow. Creative Writing DFA course details. 56838422
Creative Writing DFA/MFA
Our Creative Writing Research degrees are unique and intense programmes for practising writers who wish to complete an ambitious creative project. ... Creative Writing DFA/MFA. University of Glasgow. Glasgow , United Kingdom | Dumfries , United Kingdom. Apply. Tuition Fee. USD 38,627. Per year. Start Date.
Siobhan Mulligan
DFA Creative Writing Researcher · Writer and researcher with 6+ years of experience organising literary events and publications, solving both logistical and creative problems with co-workers, students, and academic colleagues. I've taught courses on creative writing, poetry, and literary theory. Research interests include: urban fantasy, ghost stories, the Southern Gothic, and portrayals ...
Dfa creative writing glasgow
Dfa glasgow creative writing Originally from slavery essays is it through the university of critical environment in the equivalent of. There any complexity and have 7 masters - research degrees are unique and bon vivant. How to support you can be leading university-level institutions for you get to find out of. What she is one the ways power ...
Study a MFA in Creative Writing at University of Glasgow in United
Find entry requirements, course fees and intake dates for studying a MFA in Creative Writing degree at University of Glasgow in United Kingdom. News and articles; Find us. Find nearest IDP offices.
mfa creative writing glasgow
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Creative Writing Research
Creative writing. Here in Scotland, storytelling is at the heart of our culture, and in Glasgow particularly, literary culture is varied and rich. Whether you're interested in poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, or screenwriting, we'll guide you towards telling the best story possible, in a city full of opportunity and inspiration.

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Creative Writing DFA

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