Creative Writing with English Literary Studies MA

Lancaster University

The MA Creative Writing with English Literary Studies provides the opportunity to combine creative and critical writing at Master's level. It’s your chance to learn from prize-winning, practising authors such as Jenn Ashworth, Zoe Lambert and Eoghan Walls who lead our long-established Creative Writing scheme and to engage with a vibrant literary culture.

During your studies, you will have the opportunity to develop strategies for initiating new work, explore verbal textures and narrative structures, and enhance your knowledge of literary forms and conventions. You will be encouraged to hone your critical and creative skills, employ reflective practice, and learn the art of redrafting, revision and close editing. The nature of research within creative writing practice will also be considered as you evolve your own creative and critical portfolio.

‘Research Training and Professional Practice’ is a core module, during which you will examine the professional and ethical issues around creative writing and develop your reflective practice skills. Four elective modules are then split between Creative Writing and English Literary Studies - those on offer explore a wide range of literary fields and genres, and include Psychogeographies, Short Fiction, Poetry, Landscape Writing, the Personal Essay, Radio Drama, Modern, Contemporary, Romantic, Victorian and Early Modern Literature. (Please note: we offer a wide range of modules however not all modules are available every year).

You will also complete a Creative Writing portfolio, which is a 12,000 creative project (or the equivalent for Poetry or Script Writing) and a 3000 critically reflective essay. All students have the opportunity to perform their creative work at our annual MA Showcase - previous events have been held in partnership with Lancaster LitFest and the Dukes theatre, Lancaster.

This degree will be useful if you are considering a career or wish to advance your career in journalism, publishing, reading development, community arts or public relations, and it is a good preparation for PhD research. You will have the opportunity to develop critical, analytical, close reading and editing skills that will also enhance your employability.

Part-time and full-time study options are available