Canterbury Christ Church University
Creative Writing MA
Canterbury Christ Church University

Course modalities offered

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews for 15 graduates of Creative Writing MA at Canterbury Christ Church University for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in ophthalmics.

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Salary

Salary of all UK Graduates of

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £19509 £30380 £30601
25-75 percentile range £17920 - £24369 £20878 - £37050 £19887 - £39184

Course Description

The Creative Writing MA at Canterbury Christ Church offers a stimulating course with a commercial edge, taught by experienced tutors who are successful writers themselves. We believe that all writers need a core toolkit of skills, but we also understand that our students often want to specialise in an area of writing about which they’re passionate. That’s why we offer pathways that allow you to explore subgenres within Fiction, Writing for Children and Creative Non-Fiction, supported by subject specialists.

Our courses are designed with busy lives in mind, and are taught through a combination of intensive weekends, distance learning and tutorials. We also offer a strong focus on developing professional practice in writers, looking at skills such as self-presentation, pitching and understanding the publishing industry.

Fiction:

Students selecting this pathway will explore literary and more commercial forms of creative writing. You may wish to focus on a particular subgenre such as fantasy, horror or science-fiction, where you can work on building a larger imaginative world. Perhaps you want to try your hand at historical fiction, or a page-turning thriller, where research is key to the authenticity of your fiction. Or maybe you would like to try new forms for fiction through experimental writing. Whatever your focus, we can help you to explore how to write within, and push the boundaries of, your chosen genre.

Creative Non-Fiction:

This pathway allows students to explore the creative aspects of non-fiction writing, including memoir and writing from life, features journalism, travel and nature writing. Students will consider the creative tension between fact and fiction and how this can be explored in contemporary creative non-fiction.

Writing for Children:

An ideal choice for those who want to develop a career in writing novels, picture books or children’s non-fiction, this pathway will develop the specific writing skills needed for writing for under-12s.

Steeped in literary history, Canterbury is an excellent setting for the next chapter of your Creative Writing story. Canterbury Christ Church University is a young, dynamic university and the degree is run by a team of writers who have live experience of the publishing market.

We pride ourselves in taking innovative approaches to the way our students learn, offering flexible options that help you to fit an MA into your life. We also have strong links to publishers, agents and literary festivals, and work hard to create opportunities for our students to develop their writing practice and career.

The MA Creative Writing includes core modules in The Craft of Writing, Professional Practice, Critical Reading and Research skills, which develop a toolkit for great writing across all genres. In other modules students specialise in their chosen pathway, developing a critical understanding (and warm appreciation) of their specialised area of writing. Finally, every student submits a 15,000 word piece of extended writing, working closely with an established writer from their chosen area of specialism.

Grading & Study Time

This course is assessed solely through coursework, including creative writing portfolios, critical essays and a reading of the student’s own work. There are no examinations. Students are encouraged to develop their own assignment titles as far as possible, developing their own practice in a focused way. The final Creative Writing Portfolio allows students to dive deep into their chosen genre, presenting the opening chapters of a full-length book (fiction or non-fiction) or a collection of shorter pieces.

Entry Requirements / Admissions

Requirements for international students / English requirements

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

    • 5.0
    • International Foundation
    • 6.5
    • Graduate Degrees
    • 6.0
    • Undergraduate Degrees
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Creative Writing, MA, if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Applicants are assessed on a 2,000 word creative writing portfolio. A first degree is preferred, but applicants are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants should state their preferred pathway (Commercial Fiction/Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Horror/Creative Non-Fiction/ Writing for Children) on application.

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

Positions of Canterbury Christ Church University in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of Canterbury Christ Church University in related subject specific rankings.

Arts Visual & Performing

    • #29 
    • #33 
    Creative Writing
    CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
    [Published 08 June, 2023]

Languages & Literature

    • #47 
    • #57 
    English
    CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
    [Published 08 June, 2023]

See all 14 university rankings of Canterbury Christ Church University

About Canterbury Christ Church University

Founded in 1962, Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) has two campuses for Undergraduates, with one being located in the urban setting of the town of Canterbury, Kent and the other in Medway. Students come from afar to take this university’s STEM courses in the subjects of Medicine and Engineering, as well as their more than 200 Undergraduate courses on a wide variety of subjects.

List of 365 Bachelor and Master Courses from Canterbury Christ Church University - Course Catalogue

Student composition of Canterbury Christ Church University

undergraduates:
16485
postgraduates:
1720
Total:
18205
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Where is this programme taught

Canterbury Campus
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