- Benefit from the Department’s strong contacts with agents, editors and publishers across the field of writing.
- Our in-house Fincham Press provides opportunities for you to see your writing published.
- One of the very few universities in the UK to offer modules in the areas of formally innovative poetry.
- You can choose your preferred route through the programme, either practising different forms of writing or specialising in one.
Summary
The MA in Creative Writing degree is designed for ambitious, committed writers who want to hone and develop their writing practice and develop their creative, critical and professional writing skills in preparation for careers in the creative industries. Roehampton was one of the first universities in London to offer an MA in Creative Writing when it was launched in 2005 and it remains dedicated to providing an innovative, unique curriculum, taught by world-leading academic staff and internationally renowned writers.
You will be able to explore three main forms of writing on this MA Creative Writing: Fiction, Poetry and Fiction for Young Readers. You will tailor your degree by selecting modules that align with your interests, with options that include the short story, the novel, lyric and alternative poetry, visual narratives and fiction for young adults.
Whether you have previously studied creative writing or have an entirely different background, if you are returning to education after a break or continuing straight from an undergraduate degree, you will be supported to develop your personal writing style. On this programme you will discover how to make your writing more effective, break bad habits and learn how to assess your work professionally. You will graduate with the skills required for professional practice in the creative writing industries and with an understanding of the necessary marketing skills.
We will prepare you for your career after you graduate, whether it is as a published writer, working in the professional arts sector, or continuing in academia. We regularly invite writers, who have previously included Emma Donoghue and Kazuo Ishiguru, as well as speakers from different sectors of the creative industries, to give guest lectures and workshops. You will be encouraged to make the most of Roehampton’s connections with the literary world and make professional contacts with publishers and agents. You will also have opportunities to give readings of your work at soirees, and participate in local literary festivals such as Wimbledon Bookfest and Barnes Children’s Literature Festival.
Content
No matter which modules you select, you will engage with a range of social, cultural and political positions, including writing by BME and LGBTQ+ authors, drawing upon the strengths of our diverse teaching staff. The combination of tradition and innovation in the programme will provide you with ample opportunity to consolidate as well as broaden your writing practices.
As well as creative writing modules, you will also take the Archives module, which will give you practical, hands-on research experience allowing you to explore fully the university library’s collections. You will also have options to take modules from other master’s programmes in the Department such as the Creative Arts in the Community module, which is partly taught at Battersea Arts Centre, and a module from our Publishing MA programme. As part of your degree you will be able attend literary readings and events, and participate in field trips to enrich your experience. You will also be invited to attend sessions where you will learn about making a living as a writer, develop your marketing skills, and consider the financial, legal and regulatory aspects of writing.
Modules
Compulsory modules
Creative Contexts
MA Dissertation
Archives
Optional modules
Fiction: Short Stories
Fiction: Novel
Fiction for Young Readers: Visual Narratives
Fiction for Young Readers: Young Adult Narratives
Poetry: Lyric
Poetry: Alternative Practice
Creative Arts in the Community
Publishing Contexts
Compulsory and Required modules
Compulsory and/or required modules may change when we review and update programmes. Above is a list of modules offered this academic year.
Optional modules
Optional modules, when offered as part of a programme, may vary from year to year and are subject to viability.
Career options
Careers such as journalism, copywriting and arts management are possible on completion of this course.
‘My lecturers really care about all of us succeeding in our chosen careers. They encourage me to push myself and experiment with my writing, which is also helping prepare me for a career in publishing’.
Samantha Jo Gale, MA Creative Writing
Life at Roehampton
At Roehampton, we can offer all new students the opportunity to live in accommodation on our beautiful parkland campus, including affordable and high-end options.
We offer scholarships, provide hardship funding and help you find advice on managing your finances while you study.
We provide plenty of opportunities for you to get involved, through volunteering, playing sport or music, or joining one of our many active student societies.