Creative Writing MA
Birmingham City University

Key Course Facts
Course Description
Our MA Creative Writing helps you to develop your potential as a novelist, poet, scriptwriter or non-fiction author. It is taught by distinguished writers, with the support of a superb range of guest seminars and masterclasses by visiting authors, editors and agents, through our Institute of Creative and Critical Writing.
What's covered in the course? This postgraduate course is aimed at emerging writers, providing you with the skills and disciplines you need to advance. It’s founded upon the philosophy that writers can benefit from the same kind of training enjoyed by actors, musicians, and visual artists.
Admission to the course is based on talent, commitment and potential. Applicants submit a portfolio of writing, published or unpublished, and are then interviewed by members of the MA teaching team. Applications are considered throughout the year for entry in September of any academic year.
You’ll have the opportunity to develop your writing in the forms of your choice – be it fiction, creative non-fiction, screenwriting, writing for theatre, or poetry – and extend your range in genres that may be new to you.
You’ll attend our course of guest speakers and public events devoted to cultivating the creative imagination, the life of ideas and the literary arts, all organised by the Institute of Creative and Critical Writing based within the School of English.
As well as receiving specialist tuition from established writers, you’ll have exclusive access to six Masterclasses each year run by a Fellow of the Institute, a member of the MA team or a guest author. These Masterclasses are based on the Conservatoire model of music tuition and involve an expert public close-reading of a volunteered student text.
You’ll study at our new £63 million development, the Curzon Building, which opened in September 2015 and boasts a richly stocked University Library, a wealth of digital learning resources, a new Students’ Union and a dedicated student support hub.
Entry Requirements / Admissions
Requirements for international students / English requirements
IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)
-
- 6.5
- Business Graduate Degrees/ Master Degrees
-
- 6.0
- General Requirements
-
- 7.0
- LLM
-
- 6.0
- MBA & MSc
Costs
Average student cost of living in the UK
Rent | £518 |
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) | £50 |
Supermarket shopping | £81 |
Clothing | £35 |
Eating out | £33 |
Alcohol | £27 |
Takeaways / food deliveries | £30 |
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) | £24 |
Holidays and weekend trips | £78 |
Transport within city | £17 |
Self-care / sports | £20 |
Stationary / books | £13 |
Mobile phone / internet | £13 |
Cable TV / streaming | £7 |
Insurance | £51 |
Other | £95 |
Average student cost of living | £1092 |
London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.
University Rankings
of Birmingham City University
among 379 universities in England UK
based on 18 different rankings
Positions of Birmingham City University in top UK and global rankings.
See all 18 university rankings of Birmingham City University
About Birmingham City University
List of 271 Bachelor and Master Courses from Birmingham City University - Course Catalogue
Student composition of Birmingham City University
-
Total number of students enrolled at Birmingham City University by level Academic year 2021/22 - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
- undergraduates:
- 20675
- postgraduates:
- 5010
- Total:
- 25685
-
Number of students enrolled in courses of subject “Creative Writing”: 275 Academic year - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
Where is this programme taught



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FAQ about Creative Writing MA Birmingham City University
- Creative Writing MA is taught on campus and cannot be taken online at Birmingham City University.