Details
The programme brings together students who are working in different genres so that you can engage collaboratively across genres before specialising in screenwriting, playwriting, fiction or poetry for your dissertation.
You take four core modules and two optional modules, in addition to completing a dissertation. Your dissertation will be 75 per cent creative portfolio and 25 per cent critical essay. You will write a 20,000-25,000 word portfolio of creative work in as a screenplay, novella, excerpt of a novel, a collection of short fiction or a collection of poetry. This will be accompanied by a 5,000-word essay placing your work in a critical and creative context, with reference to your development as a writer over the course of the MA. You will receive feedback on work in progress during one-to-one tutorials and in work-sharing seminars with peers (groups divided along the lines of genre/form).
The programme is also assessed by creative portfolios and assignments throughout the taught modules.
Why study this course
You’ll be joining a lively writing community. The undergraduate Creative Writing programme and Creative Writing Societies provide an energetic and talented scene in which to write. There are regular events, readings, poetry slams and student publications, and Creative Writing Societies provide an energetic and talented scene in which to write. There are regular events, readings, poetry slams and student publications.
We have links to the award winning local press Tindal Street and the boutique poetry pamphlet publishers Nine Arches Press, including visiting lectures from writers, publishers and editors.
Modules
You will study four core modules:
Creative Writing: Research Skills I: Theories and Practice
This module offers you the chance to generate new material, experiment with form and technique and share your work in writing workshops with the supervision of your tutor.
Creative Writing Research Skills II: Theories, Models, Self
This module asks – what advantages are gained from placing your writing in a critical context? How do you see yourself as a writer? Through the study of historical and contemporary ideas of authorship and the role of the writer, socially and artistically, you will be encouraged to develop a deeper understanding of your own work and motivations for writing.
Poem as Story - Story as Poem
This module allows for a simultaneous focus on poetry and fiction, allowing you to work in both forms rather than choosing to be a “poet” or “prose writer” at this stage in your development as a writer. There will be weekly writing exercises and the opportunity to critique one anothers’ work as well as a weekly set text exploring contemporary poetry and fiction.
Intertextuality: Story, Genre, Craft
How does a story change when its form changes? Are the characters in the screen adaptation the same characters as in the source novel? Are we freer in our approach to adaptation than we used to be? There will be weekly set texts to explore the themes. You will be assessed through a critical paper focusing on two different genres (e.g. a book adapted for the stage or screen, a poetry collection adapted for radio, etc.) as well as an extended piece in the genre of your choice.
You will take two optional modules – one in each semester – and your choice includes:
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Narrative Analysis of Fiction and Film
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Film, Theory, and Politics
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Media Documentary Writing
Fees and funding
We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2013/14 are as follows:
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Home/EU: £5,130 full-time
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Overseas: £13,200 full-time
Part-time programme fees are one half of the full-time programme fees.
Learn more about fees and funding
Scholarships and studentships
Scholarships to cover fees and/or maintenance costs may be available.
For further information, visit the College of Arts and Law scholarships page or email financialsupport@bham.ac.uk
International students can often gain funding through overseas research scholarships, Commonwealth scholarships or their home government.
Entry requirements
Learn more about entry requirements
International students
Academic requirements
We accept a range of qualifications, our country pages show you what qualifications we accept from your country.
English language requirements
You can satisfy our English language requirements in two ways:
How to apply
When clicking on the Apply Now button you will be directed to an application specifically designed for the programme you wish to apply for where you will create an account with the University application system and submit your application and supporting documents online. Further information regarding how to apply online can be found on the How to apply pages
Apply now