Creative Writing

At the heart of the Manchester Writing School are our masters programmes in Creative Writing, available to study on campus in Manchester and also from anywhere in the world via online distance learning.

Studying MA Creative Writing, you will explore and practice techniques and styles of modern and contemporary writing and apply these through the development of your own creative work. You will undertake a taught element blending writing workshops with reading modules and option modules, and then complete your studies through submission of an extended piece of writing from a proposed full-length book or script.

You will specialise in one of the following routes: Novel Writing (including Short Fiction), Poetry, Writing for Children & Young Adults, Scriptwriting (for stage, screen or radio) or Creative Non-Fiction.

The MA is available to complete in one year full-time or two years part-time. The novel, poetry and scriptwriting routes are available to study on campus (full-time or part-time) or online (part-time only). The writing for children and creative non-fiction routes are online (part-time) only. The scriptwriting route is available to study on campus only. We have intakes to the programme in September and January each year.

You can also choose to pursue our MFA Creative Writing.

Features and Benefits

One of the most successful programmes of its kind in the UK today - with more than 100 students and graduates publishing first books and having work produced, with many more achieving publication in journals and magazines, winning writing awards and prizes, setting up small presses and anthologies, and finding roles in the publishing industry.

Flexible learning - classes for core Workshop and Reading modules take place in the evenings (6-8pm UK time) during the autumn and spring semesters. Full-time students usually have classes two evenings per week, and part-time students one evening per week.

Option modules - all students take a 30 credit option module and can choose from a range of creative writing modules, or modules from our MA English Studies and MA Publishing courses.

Extended piece of writing - all MA students will complete an extended piece of writing from a proposed full-length book or script, supported by one-to-one supervision.

Gain an MFA - students can continue their studies with an additional year, completing a further 120 credits (which includes writing a full-length book or script) and gaining an MFA.

Live online teaching - the course can be completed entirely online, with core Workshop and Reading module teaching for distance learning students via weekly online classes in Microsoft Teams, and some option modules also available online (availability varies each year).

Academic expertise - taught by high-profile writers and critics, under the direction of Professor Carol Ann Duffy DBE.

Home to Manchester Poetry Library - Manchester Poetry Library is the North West's first public poetry library and holds over 12,000 books and recordings that can be explored through the online catalogue, in person and through the annual programme of events.

Manchester City of Literature - Manchester has been designated an international UNESCO City of Literature in recognition of its thriving live literature scene, with a diverse range of regular author events, writers' forums, networking opportunities and open mic nights.

Research power - English at Manchester Met was ranked 8th out of 92 universities for the power of our research and students can access world-leading expertise and an exciting collection of community-facing projects, events and activities through our research groups, with strengths in poetry, place writing, games studies and more.