MA Creative Writing

This practice-based taught MA is designed to develop, hone and extend your writing. It will help prepare you for a successful career as a writer or as an arts professional.

The MA Creative Writing has a core programme (the MA Creative Writing) and two pathway awards: Gaming and Publishing. All of the core programme modules are specifically designed to suit their purpose and carefully integrated with each other. The programme takes into account on going research as well as developments, trends and innovations within the discipline and industries which it attends to.

Why study this course?

• This programme offers you a range of opportunities to learn, research and workshop different approaches to creative writing and critically reflect on your practice.
• 100% of students said that they were overall satisfied with this course, according to the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey, 2021.
• The course will develop your creative writing; be that in prose, poetry, life writing, creative non-fiction, script-writing for films, plays or video games or any combination of the above and more! In addition, we offer industry-focused pathways:

1. Creative Writing for Gaming focuses on script and narrative design in a variety of games (such as role playing games and video games)

2. Creative Writing with Publishing enables students to work on book production by taking modules from our MA in Publishing

• The degree has a strong focus on employability. Students get the opportunity to pitch their work to a literary agent. Plus they receive advice from experienced writers including guidance on contracts and tax, the business of publishing and how to run a workshop.
• The course gives all students the opportunity to undertake arranged work experience in the arts or in communication. In 2022/2023, students were given the opportunity to work on the prestigious Writer’s Conference with the organisation Writing East Midlands. Graduates leave this MA with a portfolio of their own writing, prepared for a career as arts professionals or for progression to doctoral level study and teaching.
• In 2019/20, we had talks from twenty guest speakers and students took part in writing retreats, each with a guest lecture on writing and publishing. Our students have learnt from poets and novelists, literary agents and established screenwriters. In recent years we have had guest lectures by Dan Abnett, Meg Clothier, Sarah Dunnakey, Tom James, Momtaza Mehri, Natalie Olah, JT Welsch and James Wills.

Whether you want to step up the career ladder, change paths or pursue your passion for a subject you love, you can transform your world with postgraduate study at the University of Derby.

Located in the heart of England, Derby has great transport links with the rest of the UK. This central position means that the city has a long-standing reputation for innovation and industry. We have strong connections with a range of regional employers to support your studies through applied learning, guest lectures and other opportunities.

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