university of exeter creative writing ma

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MA Creative Writing

University of exeter, different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, similar courses at different universities, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

MA - Master of Arts

Subject areas

Creative Writing

Course type

At the University of Exeter, we don’t just teach you how to write to get published. Our team of

• internationally acclaimed authors

Our modules are designed to enable you to write for better futures, to: promote social justice, protect our planet, support child wellbeing, comfort and entertain, and inspire others to action

Experiment in new literary genres, and study and respond to diverse contemporary writers

Excellent links with the worlds of publishing, literary journalism and broadcasting, book festivals and prizes providing insights into the workings of the literary marketplace

Establish the contacts necessary for successful publication

Whether you like writing poetry, prose fiction, short stories, film scripts, game narratives, children’s books or young adult (YA) novels, we invite you to join us on our mission to write to make a difference

Course content

The MA in Creative Writing is designed for students to develop a longer piece of work during the MA, or find out what their strengths are in the different forms. It is for people, of any age, whether recent graduates or older, who wish to grow their talent quickly by acquiring knowledge and practice in the art of fiction, poetry, life-writing, nature writing or the writing of screenplays.

Whether your ambition is to become a full-time writer, a teacher of writing, or to develop a creative career which includes writing in one of its many forms, we have a strong track record of supporting our students through to publication and doctoral level work.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

We will consider applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree with 53% or above in their first degree in a relevant subject area. While we normally only consider applicants who meet this criteria, if you are coming from a different academic background which is equivalent to degree level, or have relevant work experience, we would welcome your application.

MA Creative Writing Prose Fiction

University of east anglia uea, ma creative writing poetry, ma creative writing scriptwriting, phd postgraduate research in creative writing, ma creative writing (non-fiction).

MA Creative Writing

Want to know what it's like to study this course at uni? We've got all the key info, from entry requirements to the modules on offer. If that all sounds good, why not check out reviews from real students or even book onto an upcoming open days ?

Different course options

MA - Master of Arts

Streatham Campus

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Course info

Entry requirements, tuition fees, latest reviews.

At the University of Exeter, we don’t just teach you how to write to get published. Our team of

• internationally acclaimed authors

Our modules are designed to enable you to write for better futures, to: promote social justice, protect our planet, support child wellbeing, comfort and entertain, and inspire others to action

Experiment in new literary genres, and study and respond to diverse contemporary writers

Excellent links with the worlds of publishing, literary journalism and broadcasting, book festivals and prizes providing insights into the workings of the literary marketplace

Establish the contacts necessary for successful publication

Whether you like writing poetry, prose fiction, short stories, film scripts, game narratives, children’s books or young adult (YA) novels, we invite you to join us on our mission to write to make a difference

Course content

The MA in Creative Writing is designed for students to develop a longer piece of work during the MA, or find out what their strengths are in the different forms. It is for people, of any age, whether recent graduates or older, who wish to grow their talent quickly by acquiring knowledge and practice in the art of fiction, poetry, life-writing, nature writing or the writing of screenplays.

Whether your ambition is to become a full-time writer, a teacher of writing, or to develop a creative career which includes writing in one of its many forms, we have a strong track record of supporting our students through to publication and doctoral level work.

What students say

The Creative Writing department is amazing. The extra opportunities and activities available are brilliant. However, the uni feels dominated by students from very privileged.. Read more

The campus is wonderful and the facilities provided are excellent as well. But often it's hard for newer and specifically the postgraduate students to fit into the student life as.. Read more

Modules (Year 1)

We will consider applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree with 53% or above in their first degree in a relevant subject area. While we normally only consider applicants who meet this criteria, if you are coming from a different academic background which is equivalent to degree level, or have relevant work experience, we would welcome your application.

Students living in

£12,000 per year

Students from Domestic

This is the fee you pay if the University is in the same country that you live in (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)

£24,300 per year

Students from EU

The amount you'll pay if you come to study here from somewhere in the EU.

Students from International

The amount you'll pay if you come to study here from a country outside the EU.

Latest Creative Writing reviews

Review breakdown, how all students rated:.

Northcote House Queen's Drive Exeter Devon EX4 4QJ

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Postgraduate Study - PhD and Research Degrees

Doctor of Philosophy - Creative Writing

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Research topics and degrees

• Creative Writing

• Long-established and growing   Creative Writing   postgraduate programme
• Supervision by established writers and scholars in fiction, poetry and non-fiction
• Part of a top Russell Group English Department
• Interdisciplinary connections across the University
• Located in a UNESCO City of Literature
• Links with the publishing industry
• Publishing opportunities
• Dynamic and diverse speaker events
• Supportive postgraduate creative community
• Award-winning alumni

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88% of our English research is internationally excellent

Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, submitted to UoA27 English Language and Literature

Top 50 in the world for English Language and Literature

QS World University Subject Rankings 2024

A thriving and supportive writing community - our team of prize-winning and best-selling authors will help you develop your creative writing skills

£1.2m external research funding awarded over the past 4 years

Our programme

This programme allows creative writers to develop a substantial piece of creative work alongside a critical thesis, supervised by top writers working in a range of forms and genres. Exeter’s Creative Writing programme offers expertise across all forms and genres, including poetry, fiction, life writing, creative non-fiction, travel writing, children’s/YA, nature writing, screenplay, and more interdisciplinary and experimental projects. We have close links with the publishing industry, and our students have opportunities to connect with the  UNESCO City of Literature programme ,  Literature Works , and  The Lit Platform . Many of our creative writing students have gone on to be published, and awarded by major literary prizes such as the Costa Prize, the Ondaatje Prize and the Spread the Word prizes.

Application should be by   a full proposal . This involves setting out your aims, objectives, research questions, methods of research, a narrative description of the field of study, the original contribution to knowledge, and an initial bibliography (up to 2,000 words), accompanied by a substantial sample of creative work that is relevant to the proposal. We welcome applications from students with Distinctions at MA level, and/or with existing publications. Potential applicants can approach faculty members to discuss their proposals prior to application and, if we consider the proposal to be viable, we will be happy to review a draft to help students to make the best possible application.

English language requirements

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile E: view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country .

Fees and funding

Tuition fees per year 2024/25

• Home : £4,900 full-time;   £pro-rata part-time
• International : £22,600 full-time

For those studying for more than one year, our fees are expected to increase modestly in line with Consumer Price Inflation measured in December each year. More information can be found on our   Student Finance webpages .

Tuition fees per year 2023/24

• Home : £4,712 full-time; £pro-rata part-time
• International : £20,500 full-time

For those studying for more than one year, our fees are expected to increase modestly in line with Consumer Price Inflation measured in December each year. More information can be found on our Student Finance webpages .

The Creative Writing PhD requires students to produce either a 75,000-word piece of prose (fiction or creative non-fiction), 90 pages of poetry, or 120 pages or minutes of screenplay, accompanied by a 30,000-word of critical essay, and a short 1,000-word ‘bridging chapter’ linking your creative and critical work.

Unlike some other Creative Writing PhD programmes, the critical element of the PhD at Exeter is not wholly self-reflexive; we require an original critical thesis on a subject that in some way connects with and informs your creative work, but that also makes an original contribution to research knowledge in its own right.

Students begin the programme by being enrolled on an MPhil. By end of year 1, they submit work for an upgrade viva, pending which they will proceed to the PhD programme for the remaining two years.

Supervision

You can expect:

• High-quality research supervision to develop and nurture your potential
• A tailored supervision approach to help best suit your requirements
• Accessible supervisors who are enthusiastic about working directly with postgraduate research students
• Regular timetabled meetings with your supervisor
• 'Open door' policy to all postgraduate students - instant access to world-leading researchers who will share their expertise and ideas with you
• Regular meetings with your supervisory team, other members of your research group, and mentors

Find a supervisor

Each student has two supervisors, usually one supervisor for the creative element, and one for the critical element – the latter may be from the English department or from other departments (such as medical humanities, politics, history or geography), depending on the content of the critical thesis. We encourage students to peruse all staff profiles carefully before enquiring with potential supervisors, and to explore the content on the   Creative Writing and Literary Culture website .

Why Exeter?

We have a welcoming and supportive postgraduate community, including informal reading/writing groups of PhD students, a rich research culture of presentations, talks, workshops and training sessions, and occasional access to publishing professionals.

Notable Previous Exeter PhDs with major publication success in fiction and poetry include: Ruth Gilligan, Cherie Jones, Jane Feaver, Helena Drysdale, Ben Smith, Luke Kennard, Isabel Galleymore, Eleanor Rees, and many others. All their theses are available in the library and/or electronically online.

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The majority of students are based at our Streatham Campus in Exeter. The campus is one of the most beautiful in the country and offers a unique environment in which to study, with lakes, parkland, woodland and gardens as well as modern and historical buildings.

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MA Creative Writing University of Exeter

Course options

Qualification.

MA - Master of Arts

Streatham Campus

• TUITION FEES
• ENTRY REQUIREMENT
• UNIVERSITY INFO

Course summary

At the University of Exeter, we don’t just teach you how to write to get published. Our team of

• internationally acclaimed authors

Our modules are designed to enable you to write for better futures, to: promote social justice, protect our planet, support child wellbeing, comfort and entertain, and inspire others to action

Experiment in new literary genres, and study and respond to diverse contemporary writers

Excellent links with the worlds of publishing, literary journalism and broadcasting, book festivals and prizes providing insights into the workings of the literary marketplace

Establish the contacts necessary for successful publication

Whether you like writing poetry, prose fiction, short stories, film scripts, game narratives, children’s books or young adult (YA) novels, we invite you to join us on our mission to write to make a difference

Course content

The MA in Creative Writing is designed for students to develop a longer piece of work during the MA, or find out what their strengths are in the different forms. It is for people, of any age, whether recent graduates or older, who wish to grow their talent quickly by acquiring knowledge and practice in the art of fiction, poetry, life-writing, nature writing or the writing of screenplays.

Whether your ambition is to become a full-time writer, a teacher of writing, or to develop a creative career which includes writing in one of its many forms, we have a strong track record of supporting our students through to publication and doctoral level work.

Modules (Year 1)

Tuition fees.

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£ 24,300 per year

Tuition fees shown are for indicative purposes and may vary. Please check with the institution for most up to date details.

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University of Exeter, Northcote House, The Queen's Drive, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4QJ, England

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University of exeter: creative writing.

Doctor of Philosophy - PhD

Distance learning, 6 years starts sep 2024.

MPhil/PhD students work alongside researchers within the following research centres:

- Centre of Victorian Studies (CVS)

- 18 Century Narrative Consortium

- Exeter Centre for Literatures of Identity, Place and Sustainability (ECLIPSE)

- Centre for Literature and Archives

- Centre for Intermediate and Creative Technology

We have Creative Writing colleagues working in Poetry, Screenwriting, Fiction in all forms, Life Writing, Childrens'/Young Adult Writing, and Creative Non-Fiction.

To learn more about modules, assessment methods, facilities and our staff research expertise please visit our course page.

Full-Time, 3 years starts Sep 2024

Part-Time, 6 years starts Sep 2024

Full-Time, 1 years starts Sep 2024

- Teaching delivered by a strong and diverse group of internationally recognised writers

- Experiment in new literary genres, and study and respond to diverse contemporary writers

- Excellent links with the worlds of publishing, literary journalism and broadcasting, book festivals and prizes providing insights into the workings of the literary marketplace

- Establish the contacts necessary for successful publication

To learn more about modules, assessment methods, facilities and our staff research expertise please visit our course page

Part-Time, 2 years starts Sep 2024

Full-time, 1 years started sep 2023.

- To learn more about modules, assessment methods, facilities and our staff research expertise please visit our course page

Part-Time, 2 years started Sep 2023

Master of philosophy - mphil, distance learning, 4 years starts sep 2024.

Full-Time, 2 years starts Sep 2024

Part-Time, 4 years starts Sep 2024

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• English and Creative Writing

Dr Mark Steven

Senior lecturer in 20th and 21st century literature (e&r).

[email protected]

01392 724066

Supervision

Publications.

I'm interested in the poetics of social transformation.

My thinking is especially alive to questions of how literature and cinema might help us envisage or even engineer a better world than the dumpster fire we now inhabit. Within this frame, I tend to write about how different forms respond to the vicissitudes of modern capitalism, to the practicalities of revolution, and to the possibility of communism. I make no bones about the fact that this research is fuelled by political commitment. 

My most recent book,  Class War: A Literary History , was published by Verso in May 2023. This book weaves together literature and politics to chart the making and unmaking of social class through revolutionary combat in a narrative that spans the globe and more than two centuries of history. You can read an excerpt from its postscript  here . I've done a good deal of press for this book, but I think  this interview  does a reasonable job of presenting the book as relative to some of what I teach here at Exeter and to my experience as a working-class bookworm. 

I have also published extensively in the field of modernism and I maintain personal and professional investments in the political dimensions of narrative and poetic form, in the aesthetics of horror, and in critical theory as a grounds for solidarity.

I am the author of two other books:  Red Modernism  and  Splatter Capital .

I am editor of  Understanding Marx, Understanding Modernism  and am co-editor of  The Cinema of Theo Angelopoulos  and  Styles of Extinction: Cormac McCarthy's The Road .

My academic writing has appeared in  Modernism/modernity ,  Textual Practice ,  SubStance ,  Screen ,  Film-Philosophy ,  Screening the Past ,  Postmodern Culture ,  Affirmations ,  James Joyce Quarterly , and elsewhere. Non-academic writing is in  Commune ,  Jacobin ,  Counterpunch , and elsewhere. Sometimes I write  poems .

Office Hours : Mondays 12.30-1.30; Tuesdays 11.30-12.30. Email for bookings. 

I have a very wide range of research interests and would be happy to speak with potential research candidates in any of the fields or about any of the figures mentioned on this profile page.

I am especially keen to supervise candidates interested in: 

• Literature and cinema in relation to political economy 
• Literature and cinema in relation to revolutionary commitment 
• Modernism in literature and cinema 
• Marxism, Marxist literary studies, Marxist film studies 
• Communism, socialism, and other anti-capitalist imaginaries   

I am committed to supporting BME, LGBTIQ, and working-class students, and will happily respond to general inquiries. 

Copyright Notice: Any articles made available for download are for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the copyright holder.

| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 |

• Steven M. (2023) I Would They Were Barbarians: Shakespeare, Brecht, and the Global Riot, Writing the Global Riot: Literature in a Time of Crisis , Oxford University Press.
• Steven M. (2023) Class War: A Literary History , Verso.
• Steven M. (2022) The Politics and Poetics of Revolution, The Cambridge Companion to American Poetry and Politics Since 1900 , Cambridge University Press.
• Steven M. (2021) Hideous Hobgoblins: Monstrous Form in Darwin, Marx, and Joyce , James Joyce Quarterly , volume 58, pages 61-80, article no. 1-2, DOI:10.1353/jjq.2020.0032.
• Steven M. (2021) Leviathan Gore: The Horrors of American Capitalism, The Cambridge Companion to American Horror , Cambridge University Press.
• Steven M. (2021) Review of Margaret Ronda, Remainders: American Poetry at Nature's End, Journal of American Studies .
• Steven MA. (2021) Understanding Marx, Understanding Modernism , Bloomsbury.
• Steven M. (2020) Screening Insurrection: Marx, Cinema, Revolution, After Marx , Cambridge University Press.
• Steven MA. (2020) Cinematic Masculinity in the Age of Finance, Postmodern Culture , volume 30.1.
• Steven MA. (2019) Weaponizing Criticism, Affirmations: of the modern , volume 6.1, pages 73-96.
• Steven MA. (2019) Freeze This Frame: Cormac McCarthy on Page and Screen, MLA Options for Teaching Cormac McCarthy , MLA.
• Steven MA. (2018) Review of Maximum Feasible Participation: American Literature and the War on Poverty, by Stephen Schryer, American Literary History , volume ALH Online Review Series 18.
• Steven MA. (2018) Ezra Pound and Mr Marx, Karl, A Companion to Ezra Pound’s Economy , Verlag Traugott Bautz.
• Steven MA. (2018) Review of Cormac McCarthy and the Signs of Sacrament: Literature, Theology, and the Moral of Stories by Matthew L. Potts, MFS: Modern Fiction Studies , pages 195-198.
• Steven MA. (2018) Love in the Time of Capital, SubStance: A Review of Theory and Literary Criticism , volume 47.3, no. 147, pages 147-166.
• Steven MA. (2018) The Lost City of Cecil B. DeMille: Political Antiquity in Classical Hollywood, Screening the Past , volume 43.
• Steven MA. (2018) Community and Apostrophe in E. L. Doctorow, Studies in American Fiction , volume 45.1, pages 119-140.
• Steven MA. (2018) Shipwrecks and Mountaintops: Notes on Canto CII, Glossator : Practice and Theory of the Commentary , volume 10, pages 185-214.
• Steven MA. (2018) E. L. Doctorow, Dictionary of Literary Biography: Twenty-First Century American Novelists , Gale.
• Steven MA. (2017) Review of Nicholas Monk, True and Living Prophet of Destruction: Cormac McCarthy and Modernity, The Cormac McCarthy Journal , volume 15.2, pages 207-212.
• Steven MA. (2017) Review of Stuart Jeffries, Grand Hotel Abyss: The Lives of the Frankfurt School, Sydney Review of Books .
• Steven MA. (2017) Review of Enzo Traverso, Left-Wing Melancholia: Marxism, History, and Memory, Affirmations: of the modern , volume 5.1, pages 181-189.
• Steven M. (2017) Nietzsche on Film , Film-Philosophy , volume 21.1, no. 1, pages 95-113, DOI:10.3366/film.2017.0033.
• Steven M. (2017) The ragged claws of crisis: Reading ‘Prufrock’ in Detroit , Textual Practice , pages 1-21, DOI:10.1080/0950236X.2017.1371219.
• Steven M. (2017) Reading Capital, Writing History: Pound's Marx , Modernism/modernity , volume 24.4, pages 771-771, DOI:10.1353/mod.2017.0063.
• Steven M. (2017) Communist Laughter, from Lenin to Lubitsch , Screen , volume 58.4, pages 387-411, DOI:10.1093/screen/hjx042.
• Steven M. (2017) Splatter Capital , Repeater Books.
• Steven M. (2017) Red Modernism American Poetry and the Spirit of Communism , Johns Hopkins University Press, DOI:10.1353/book.56797.
• Steven M. (2016) Modernism’s Rubber Sole: Review of David Trotter, Literature in the First Media Age: Britain between the Wars , Cultural Studies Review , volume 22, no. 1, pages 327-327, DOI:10.5130/csr.v22i1.4924.
• Steven M. (2016) High Road to Hell: Milton, Blake, McCarthy , The Cormac McCarthy Journal , volume 14, no. 2, pages 149-167, DOI:10.5325/cormmccaj.14.2.0149.
• Steven M. (2016) Visions of the Sun: Modernist Mexico's Transnational Horizons, Affirmations: of the modern , volume 4.1, pages 143-168.
• Steven MA. (2015) Review of Hal Foster's Bad New Days, Affirmations: of the modern , volume 3.1, pages 149-155.
• Steven MA. (2015) Review of P. Adams Sitney, The Cinema of Poetry, Make it New , volume 2.2, pages 43-47.
• Steven MA. (2015) William Faulkner's Mediated Time: Capitalism, Cinema, Syntax, Faulkner in the Media Ecology , Louisiana State University Press, 195-215.
• Steven M. (2015) Tracks in the Eurozone: Late Style meets Late Capitalism, The Cinema of Theo Angelopoulos , Edinburgh University Press, 141-155.
• Steven M, Koutsourakis A. (2015) The Cinema of Theo Angelopoulos , University of Edinburgh Press.
• Steven MA. (2014) Review of John Frow, Character and Person & The Value of Culture, Affirmations: of the modern , volume 2.1, pages 176-183.
• Steven MA. (2014) Great Southern Wounds: The Trauma of Australian Cinema, Eco-Trauma Cinema , Routledge, 72-87.
• Steven MA. (2013) The Flame's Lover: The Modernist Mind of William Carlos Williams, Mindful Aesthetics: Literature and the Science of Mind , Bloomsbury, 123-138.
• Steven MA. (2013) Fritz Lang, Directory of World Cinema: Germany , Intellect Press, 12-17.
• Steven MA. (2012) Holocaust Scribblebooks: From Paul Celan to Alain Badiou, Literature and Politics: Pushing the World in Certain Directions , Cambridge Scholars Press, 95-108.
• Steven MA. (2012) The Late World of Cormac McCarthy, Styles of Extinction: Cormac McCarthy's The Road , Bloomsbury, 63-87.
• Steven MA. (2012) Flann O'Brien's Aestho-Autogamy, Flann O'Brien and Modernism , Bloomsbury, 195-212.
• Steven M. (2012) Movements in the Hollow Coffin: On 'The Fall of the House of Usher' , Poe Studies , volume 44, no. 1, pages 5-15, DOI:10.1111/j.1754-6095.2011.00033.x.
• Steven M, Murphet J. (2012) Styles of Extinction: Cormac McCarthy's The Road , Bloomsbury.

External impact and engagement

I have written journalism and have been featured in interviews and articles for national and international media. My words have appeared in the following places (with links, where available): 

• Counterpunch (republished in Morning Star )
• City Road Podcast
• Deep Dive Podcast
• Protean (poems: 1 and 2 ; interview ) 
• Jacobin (on  Marxism and horror  translated into  Spanish ,  Portuguese , and  Turkish ; on  Ulysses and socialism ; and on  class war in the United States ) 
• The Big Issue 
• Sight and Sound
• The Conversation
• History News Network
• New Matilda
• Cosmopolitan
• Sydney Review of Books ( Politics Without Gasoline and Capital is Not Dead ) 
• Bloomsbury Blog
• Oxford University Press Blog
• Johns Hopkins University Press Blog
• Southerly (series:  1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4 ).
• Discourse Collective 
• Période
• Times Higher Education

Contribution to discipline

I peer-review critical work for numerous journals and presses (including Cambridge, Edinburgh, and Illinois). Journal and press editors: if you would like me to review an article or manuscript please email.

Modules taught

• AHV3007 - Global Modernisms
• EAF1504 - Introduction to Film History
• EAS1032 - Approaches to Criticism
• EAS1037 - The Novel
• EAS1038 - The Poem
• EAS2103 - Modernism and Modernity: Literature 1900-1960
• EAS3003 - Dissertation
• EAS3167 - James Joyce's Ulysses
• EASM100 - The Cultures of American Modernism

I joined the University of Exeter in January 2018.

My former life was in Australia, where I was the first member of my family to finish school let alone go to university.

I started teaching in Gender and Cultural Studies at the University of Sydney. I was then employed as a Lecturer in Film Studies at the University of New South Wales, specializing in modernist and world cinemas. 

I left Australia when my ARC-approved research project, "Red Hollywood: Communist Style Before the Blacklist" (335,788AUD), was personally vetoed by the conservative minister for education.

While this might have been a targetted attempt at ending an academic career for purely ideological reasons, there remains some joy in pointing out the irony that my project was to have retold the story of how numerous filmmakers were denied work because of real and alleged political commitments.

More information

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Creative Writing Subject Guide: Home

Welcome to the Creative Writing Subject Guide

Use this guide to help you make the most of the library and information resources and services.

Introduction to the library

• MA Creative Writing - introduction to the library

Chat in Microsoft Teams

Drop-ins & Training

• Browzine This link opens in a new window Browseable access to digital journal issues, organised by subject

Connect to the platform with your Exeter IT login, and create a free account to save and organise journals and articles.

Find out more

Use LibKey to help you get access to full text articles. 

Click the LibKey icon above to add the extension to your web browser. Select 'University of Exeter' as your institution and login using your Exeter IT login when prompted. 

• LibKey Nomad Quick User Guide

Reading for leisure

More information can be found on the Libby guide .

Library Essentials @ Exeter

Email:  [email protected]

• Book study space
• Library website - Exeter
• Library Accessibility
• Recommend a book for Library purchase
• Library Induction
• Events & Training
• Referencing Guide

Where to start your search

Library search.

For more in depth research in databases and archives, use the  A-Z Databases List .

Key resources

• Journal and magazine articles
• Short story collections
• Dramatic writing
• Writing fiction
• Books on creative writing
• Research databases
• News sources
• Archives/primary sources
• Reference resources
• Audio-visual
• Availability of materials

Most of our journal articles are available in digital format.

For targeted searching, select a research database and explore the published literature in your field. Key databases are flagged in the Research Databases tab above.

On the app (or via your browser) you can save your favourites to your bookshelf, get notified about new issues, sort your articles into collections and connect to Library Search.

• Granta Literary magazine for new writing
• Mslexia Magazine for women writers, containing articles and resources on writers, writing, and publishing
• New Yorker A national weekly magazine that offers a signature mix of reporting and commentary on politics, foreign affairs, business, technology, popular culture and the arts, along with humor, fiction, poetry and cartoons.
• Paris Review The Paris Review is a literary magazine featuring original writing, art, and in-depth interviews with famous writers.
• Wasafiri Magazine for international contemporary writing. One of its inaugural aims was to provide much needed literary and critical coverage of writers from African, Caribbean, Asian and Black British backgrounds who often struggled to get adequate attention in the mainstream press.

These are just a few examples of the titles available to you. Look on Library Search or your module's reading list for more.

• How to search Proquest One Literature
• How to search JSTOR
• How to search Gale Literature

Some useful resources for creative writing modules may include literary reviews. You can find these in the sources below: 

• London review of books a journal of literary essays
• New York Review of Books literary essays and reviews
• Times Literary Supplement a weekly literary review

You can narrow your search results to book reviews when searching JSTOR: 

• Go to advanced search
• Under Item Type, select Reviews 

You can narrow your search results to book reviews when searching ProQuest One Literature: 

• Click on Advanced Search
• Select Criticism from the options on the left

Select 'review' from document type:

• News sources can be invaluable research resources.
• They provide contemporaneous accounts of events as they emerge and unfold, affording a snapshot of developments at a point in time.
• You can engage in historical research by tracing commentary on issues over time, to identify and track changing political, economic and social trends. 
• The availability of news resources online allows for very effective and comprehensive searching, in a way that was impossible with print or microfilm / microfiche editions of the newspapers
• Poetry Foundation Poems, readings, poetry news and the entire 100-year archive of Poetry magazine.
• Paris Review interviews In depth interviews with famous writers.

Online and print access to the interviews and articles in Paris Review is available via Library Search

Literary awards and award-winning titles that we have in the library collection

The University has access to an extensive range of online primary source materials. These contain digitised copies of documents, letters, books, photographs and other primary sources. 

The  Primary Sources Libguide   will help you identify the best databases for your research. 

We have literary manuscripts, reviews and literary magazines, collections of novels, short stories and poems. See the Art and Literature section on the Primary Sources guide for some more resources.

These are just some of the online collections you can access - there are many more!

We have a small collection of audiobooks, available for you to borrow from our Overdrive platform and the Libby app .

Where available, links to Overdrive e-books and/or audiobooks will appear on your reading list.

You can also see our collection here:  https://exeteruk.overdrive.com/

How do I use Overdrive?

To search for books and borrow items you need to sign in to Overdrive using your University email address and password. 

• Check out up to 3 titles at a time
• Borrow titles for up to 14 days 
• Place up to 3 holds on titles that are currently checked out

N.B. This is separate to your borrowing allowances on your University library account.

Click on your account or the bookshelf icon to view your loans, holds, and borrowing history.

Alternatively, you can do this in the Libby app - there are more instructions here .

A reference resource, such as an encyclopedia, dictionary, guide, or volume of literary criticism, provides general background information on a topic. High quality reference works produced by scholars are an excellent place to start your research, and can give you give a useful overview of a subject.

Includes the Historical Thesaurus, where you can explore synonyms of a word over time, arranged chronologically. Use the OED video guides for more information.

A wide range of sound, video and audio resources are available to help bring drama, poetry and prose to life. 

Find out more on the English: which resources do I use? guide

In some cases, material you want to consult may not be available to you at Exeter. 

This service can be used  to request books/journal articles from other libraries. 

Students can make book suggestions to the Library. Submit requests online and they will be reviewed by the library. If the book is unlikely to be used by others after your dissertation work, then you may be directed to the Document Delivery scheme instead, for short term access to material.

Use this service to search across the book and journal collections of the UK research and specialist libraries.

You can search to see if copies of books/journals are available in other libraries that you could visit whilst at home over the vacation, or by a special trip.  Always check the access requirements before you travel, if you wish to visit another library.  Find out more about  visiting other libraries.  

• Find poetry via the library
• Literary magazines
• Books on writing poetry
• Books on reading and studying poetry
• Contemporary poetry collections
• Award winning poetry
• Poetry audio recordings

Use Library Search to look for particular works of poetry.

You can also try searching some of our databases, such as:

• American Poetry Review The American Poetry Review is dedicated to reaching a worldwide audience with a diverse array of the best contemporary poetry and literary prose. The American Poetry Review has been in continuous publication since 1972 and has presented the work of over 8,000 writers.
• PN Review Launched as Poetry Nation, each issue includes an editorial, letters, news and notes, articles, interviews, features, poems, translations, and a substantial book review section.

Keep up to date with the work of the most recent award-winning poets, and look back on previous winners of these prizes.

• Forward Prize Forward Prizes for Poetry honour excellence in contemporary poetry published in UK and Ireland.
• T.S. Eliot Prize Award for the best new poetry collection published in the UK or Ireland
• Books in the Guardian Includes poetry roundup - the best recent collections of poetry
• Poetry Archive
• National Poetry Library
• Scottish Poetry Library
• Poetry on vinyl
• The poet speaks (vinyl)

We have a selection of recordings of poets reading their own works , on vinyl. 

This collection is reference only and can't be borrowed, but we have a listening booth and record player available for you to use at the Old Library on the Streatham campus.

Just let us know if you'd like to arrange to listen to any of the recordings; email  [email protected] or use Library chat to get in touch.

Click here to listen to some radio programmes discussing form in poetry . Click on  Sign in  and then search for  University of Exeter

In this series, free verse poet Andrew McMillan meets a diverse group of contemporary British poets who are re-framing traditional techniques to write about the modern world, exploring why form is fashionable again.

2016 BBC Radio 3 programme The Verb: On Form

Ian McMillan looks at form with guests Claudia Rankine, Don Paterson and AL Kennedy.

Writing for children and young adults

• Primary sources
• Author biographies

You have access to hundreds of online books that cover creative writing and wider topics.

Use Library Search to search by topic to discover relevant content.  

Some of the titles highlighted below may be of interest to you.

The best way to find articles is to search by keyword using Library Search or a database. This method will searches across a large number of journals at one time, helping to ensure that you don't miss a useful piece of research/

However, you may want to view and keep up to date with a particular journal if it is key to your subject area.

The following journals relevant to Children's literature are available via Library Search.

• Children's literature association quarterly
• Children's literature
• Children's literature in education
• Bookbird: a journal of international children's literature

We have access to many collections of online primary sources, covering a wide range of topic areas, historical periods and encompassing a variety of different types of digitised material.

You can see the full range on the Primary Sources guide .

The following collections of online primary sources would be of interest to those studying the history of children's literature.

• Children's Literature and Culture This link opens in a new window Rare books, games, ephemera, and artwork from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the golden age of childrens literature. From mass-produced chapbooks to richly illustrated book-beautifuls, this resource examines the way in which new concepts were introduced to young readers, encouraging an engagement with the imagination which went on to fundamentally shape established notions of childhood.
• Gale Literature This link opens in a new window 'Something about the author' includes biographies of children and young adult authors and illustrators
• Last Updated: Jul 1, 2024 8:37 AM
• URL: https://libguides.exeter.ac.uk/creativewriting

• FindAMasters
• Masters Programmes
• Creative Writing

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Creative Writing MA

University of exeter english and creative writing.

Teaching delivered by a strong and diverse group of internationally recognised writers Experiment in new literary genres, and study and respond to… Read more

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Creative Writing MA University of Exeter

• On campus - h University of Exeter - Streatham Campus
• Sep 1, 2024 Full-time - 1 years
• Sep 1, 2024 Part-time - 2 years

Key Course Facts

• Admission advice for international students

Course Description

• Teaching delivered by a strong and diverse group of internationally recognised writers
• Experiment in new literary genres, and study and respond to diverse contemporary writers
• Excellent links with the worlds of publishing, literary journalism and broadcasting, book festivals and prizes providing insights into the workings of the literary marketplace
• Establish the contacts necessary for successful publication
• To learn more about modules, assessment methods, facilities and our staff research expertise please visit our course page

Assessment Methods

Entry requirements / admissions, requirements for international students / english requirements.

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

• All Degrees

UCAS International Information

Ucas sponsorship information.

We are looking for graduates with a 2: 1 or above in their first degree in a relevant subject area. While we normally only accept applicants who meet this criteria, if you have a high 2:2 or equivalent, are coming from a different academic background which is equivalent to degree level, or have relevant work experience, we would welcome your application.

Applicants will be asked to submit as sample of creative writing which can be roughly 2,000 words of prose or 3-4 poems.

For full details, including English language requirements and international equivalencies, please visit our course page.

Average student cost of living in the UK

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 university of exeter in top uk and global rankings., about university of exeter.

The University of Exeter is a government funded research university based in Exeter, Devon, in the South-West region of England. The university has two campuses in Exeter, which are known as Streatham and St Luke’s, while another two are situated in the coastal town of Cornwall, known as Truro and Penryn. Something for prospective students to be aware of is that the University Exeter works in collaboration with Falmouth University under the Combined Universities in Cornwall initiative.

List of 469 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Exeter - Course Catalogue

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Undergraduate Study

BA English and Creative Writing - 2024 entry

• Undergraduate home
• Courses - 2024 entry
• English and Creative Writing BA

With Study Abroad

With Employment Experience

With Employment Experience Abroad

• This degree offers an exciting opportunity to study both English Literature and Creative Writing at undergraduate level.
• In English Literature, you’ll develop your knowledge in subjects ranging from medieval to contemporary literatures. We offer diverse optional modules so you can build a programme reflective of your literary interests.
• In   Creative Writing , our team of prize-winning and best-selling authors will help you develop your writing skills, in response to the new work of a diverse range of cutting-edge contemporary writers.
• Whether you are interested in fiction, non-fiction, prose, poetry, drama, life-writing or screen writing, Exeter offers you a thriving and supportive writing community.
• Excellent facilities on campus include our Special Collections relating to world-renowned writers, The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum which is a unique film and popular culture resource and our Digital Humanities Lab. Exeter has also recently been awarded   UNESCO City of Literature   status.
• Participate in events involving internationally acclaimed authors, actors and filmmakers.

View 2025 Entry

Request a prospectus

Open Days and visiting us

How to apply

Web: Enquire online

Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72

Top 10 in the UK for English

9th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024

Top 100 in the world for English Language and Literature

61 st in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2023

A thriving and supportive writing community - our team of prize-winning and best-selling authors will help you develop your creative writing skills.

Opportunities for Study Abroad and Employment Experience in the UK or abroad

Entry requirements (typical offer)

NB General Studies is not included in any offer.

Grades advertised on each programme webpage are the typical level at which our offers are made and provide information on any specific subjects an applicant will need to have studied in order to be considered for a place on the programme. However, if we receive a large number of applications for the programme we may not be able to make an offer to all those who are predicted to achieve/have achieved grades which are in line with our typical offer. For more information on how applications are assessed and when decisions are released, please see: After you apply

Whilst my studies here at the University of Exeter have been incredible (I cannot speak highly enough of my English course), my time at Exeter has been defined by what I do away from the books.

I have taken managerial roles within societies, broadening my circle of peers and allowing me to develop my leadership skills. Not only have I been involved in voluntary positions, the University’s broad internship programme has allowed me to take paid work in the Digital Humanities Labs, assisting academics on world leading research and pioneering and fostering new relationships between the University and the rest of the world.

This internship has let me interact with texts like the first edition of William Golding’s ‘Lord of the Flies’ (with the rarely seen first chapter) and even taken me to Canada, all of which is incredible experience, and will stand me in good stead for further study. I chose the study abroad option at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, as I believe that having international experience is key to success as work between countries continues to become more globally significant and the world is becoming smaller through communication and travel,’ 

Read more from Connor

BA English with Study Abroad (Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia)

Course content

You will explore the work of some of the giants of English literature as well as discovering more unusual works from the past and engaging literary and cultural works from the contemporary moment.

At Streatham, our team’s vast expertise offers plenty of choice so you can develop an understanding of many different genres and forms of writing. As well as covering the full breadth of the English literary landscape from the Middle Ages to the 21st century, our degree programmes give you the opportunity to learn about the history of cinema, study creative writing (poetry, prose and screenplays), and you’ll also encounter global literatures and digital media.

Indeed, the range of media we cover on our modules is vast: as well as plays, novels, poetry, and short stories, we engage with film, television, video games, graphic novels and the creative industries.

The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

90 credits of compulsory modules, 30 credits of optional modules

Compulsory modules

a – You may pick one of these modules

Optional modules

60 credits of optional English modules and 60 credits of optional Creative Writing modules

Subject to choosing 120 credits for the stage overall, you must:

a select 60 credits from this list of optional Creative Writing modules. You must choose one of EAS2031 or EAS2032 (you may choose both modules).

b select 0-30 credits of optional modules from this group (subject to choosing 60 credits in total from groups 1, 2 and 3 of English options).

c You may select 0-30 credits of optional modules from this group (subject to choosing 60 credits in total from groups 1, 2 and 3 of English options).

d You may select 0-30 credits of optional modules from this group (subject to choosing 60 credits in total from groups 1, 2 and 3 of English options).

NB EAF2510 Adaptation: Text, Image Culture can be taken as either Creative Writing or English credits.

Placement year (if taken)

Typically, any  placement year  will take place in Year 3. If you are not taking a placement year please see the Final Year modules for year 3.

30 credits of compulsory dissertation modules, 90 credits of optional modules ensuring you take 60 credits of Creative Writing module and 60 credits of English modules.

e select either EAS3003 or EAS3122 or EAS3510 (you can only select one of these modules). If you select EAS3003 or EAS3510 you must take 60 credits from this list of optional Creative Writing modules. If you select EAS3122, you must take 60 credits from this list of optional English modules.

f select 30-60 credits from this list of optional Creative Writing modules (if you select EAS3003 you must take 60 credits from this list of optional Creative Writing modules; if you select EAS3122, you must take 30 credits from this list of optional Creative Writing modules).

g select 30-60 credits from this list of optional English modules (if you select EAS3122 you must take 60 credits from this list of optional English modules; if you select EAS3003, you must take 30 credits from this list of optional English modules).

Course variants

Ba english and creative writing with study abroad.

UCAS code:  Q318

Our four-year ‘with Study Abroad’ degree, offers you the possibility of spending your third year abroad, studying with one of our many partner universities.

Why Study Abroad?

Living and studying in a different country is an exciting experience that broadens your academic and cultural horizons, as well as giving you the opportunity to widen your circle of friends. Students who have studied abroad demonstrate initiative, independence, motivation and, depending on where they stay, may also have gained a working knowledge of another language – all key qualities that employers are looking for in today’s competitive employment environment.

Where can I Study Abroad?

We have partnership arrangements with many prestigious institutions across the globe. Exactly where you can apply to study will depend on the subjects you are studying at Exeter. For a full list please visit the  Study Abroad website .

Does it count towards my degree?

Credit for academic work during your year abroad is arranged by agreement between the University of Exeter and the host institution. These marks are then translated back into your degree at Exeter. If you are Studying Abroad for a semester or full year, your time abroad will count toward your final degree. Please refer to your   Study Abroad co-ordinator   for further details.

How does it affect my tuition fee and funding?

For the year that you spend studying abroad you will pay a significantly reduced tuition fee to Exeter, but nothing to your host university – for more information visit our  fees pages . If you were previously eligible, you will continue to receive a maintenance loan whilst on your Study Abroad year.

BA English and Creative Writing with Employment Experience

UCAS code:  Q319

Our four-year ‘with Employment Experience’ degree, offers you the possibility of spending your third year carrying out a graduate-level work placement or placements within the UK as part of your degree.

Why choose to include Employment Experience?

Undertaking graduate-level work during your degree unlocks a world of experience that allows you to develop essential employability and interpersonal skills that relate to your degree and future career. A work placement will dramatically boost your confidence, enhance your CV and develop graduate level skills and competencies that employers are looking for.

Where will I do my work placement?

The sector you choose to work within is very much your choice as you will be responsible for finding and organising your placement. We will provide plenty of guidance and support during your first and second years which will prepare you to research and apply for placements. Ultimately, the university will give final approval to your placement to make sure you have a valuable experience.

How does it affect my tuition fees and funding?

For your ‘Year In Industry’ you will pay a significantly reduced tuition fee to Exeter – for more information visit our  fees pages . If you were previously eligible, you will continue to receive a maintenance loan whilst on your year of work placement/s.

Find out more

Visit our website to learn more about   employment experience   opportunities. 

BA English with Employment Experience Abroad

UCAS code:  Q320

Our four-year ‘with Employment Experience Abroad’ degree, offers you the possibility of spending your third year abroad, carrying out a graduate-level work placement or placements as part of your degree.

Why choose to include Employment Experience Abroad?

Spending up to a year living and working in a different country is an exciting experience that broadens your academic and cultural horizons, as well as giving you the opportunity to widen your circle of friends. By carrying out a graduate-level work placement or placements abroad you can demonstrate to employers your adaptability, cultural awareness, independence and resourcefulness and, depending on where you stay, may also have gained a working knowledge of another language.

The sector and country you choose to work within is very much your choice as you will be responsible for finding and organising your placement. We will provide plenty of guidance and support during your first and second years which will prepare you to research and apply for placements. Ultimately, the university will give final approval to your placement to make sure you have a valuable experience.

How does it affect my tuition fee?

Is the placement paid.

You will be paid in accordance with the rules of the country you work in and there may be visa restrictions or requirements which you need to consider when applying.

Tuition fees for 2024 entry

UK students: £9,250 per year International students: £23,700 per year

* Please note that the fees for students starting in 2023 have yet to be set. The fees provided above are the fees for students starting in 2022 and are for guidance only. We will post the fees for 2023 entry shortly.

Scholarships

The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students, such as our Global Excellence Scholarships *. Financial support is also available for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, lower income households and other under-represented groups to help them access, succeed and progress through higher education.

* Terms and conditions apply. See online for details .

Find out more about tuition fees and scholarships

Learning and teaching

How will i learn.

The nature of learning at university involves considerable self-guided study and research. You will be taught through a combination of lectures and discussion-based seminars. We also support the development of team-based learning by organising students into study groups, and we make full use of both traditional learning resources and our virtual learning environment. Lecturers and tutors are all available to provide further support in one-to-one consultations.

Most of your work will be done in group and self-directed study: reading or viewing module material, writing essays or preparing for your seminars. Active participation in seminars develops important transferable skills such as good verbal and visual communication and effective interaction with other people. You will also develop a range of professional abilities, such as time management and team working, plus valuable critical, analytical and communication skills.

We are actively engaged in introducing new methods of learning and teaching, including the increasing use of interactive computer-based approaches to learning. Through our virtual learning environment, you can access detailed information about modules, and interact through activities such as discussion forums. You will also have access to online subscription databases and websites, such as Early English Books Online (EEBO), Eighteenth Century Collections Online (ECCO), MLA FirstSearch and JSTOR.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed in a variety of ways but primarily through exams and coursework. Coursework includes essays, a dissertation and presentation work. The ratio of formal exam to coursework is on average 40:60. Your first year doesn’t count towards your final degree classification, but you do have to pass it in order to progress.

Other/extra-curricular opportunities

We provide an exciting range of special lectures and seminars by visiting academics and renowned writers, actors and film directors. In addition to your academic work, the student-run English Society organises book and poetry readings, film screenings and social events, providing an opportunity to meet students who share a love of literature, culture and the arts. Students from the English department are always active on the University student newspapers, radio and TV station and in the University’s drama groups.

Optional modules outside of this course

Each year, if you have optional modules available, you can take up to 30 credits in a subject outside of your course. This can increase your employability and widen your intellectual horizons.

Proficiency in a second subject

If you complete 60 credits of modules in one of the subjects below, you may have the words 'with proficiency in [e.g. Social Data Science]' added to your degree title when you graduate.

• A Foreign Language
• Data Science
• Entrepreneurship
• Social Data Science

Find out more about proficiency options

Expand text

Your future

Employer-valued skills this course develops

An English degree puts you in a great position to succeed in a range of careers. Oral and written communication is at the heart of our programme and you will learn to present your ideas in a variety of formats. You will also develop strong research and analytical skills and the ability to problem solve and make informed decisions. Through a balance of independent study and teamwork you will learn to manage your time and workload effectively.

Professional experience

With practical modules on offer and opportunity to undertake professional placements, a degree in English will give you plenty of opportunity to develop your professional portfolio which will give you the skills and experience needed to be successful in your chosen career.

Career paths

Our students have progressed to a broad range of work sectors including education, arts management, publishing, journalism, marketing, finance and events management, working for companies such as:

Recent Graduates are now working as*:

• Assistant Brand Manager
• Assistant Director
• Data Analyst
• Policy Adviser
• Product Manager
• Radio Producer
• Youth Worker

Recent Graduates are now working for*:

• European Parliament
• Rolls Royce
• Oxford University Press
• Estee Lauder

Other recent graduates have progressed to postgraduate courses in:

• MA Cultural Heritage Management
• MA English Literary Studies
• PGCE English primary
• MA Magazine Journalism
• Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling Skills

* This information has been taken from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) Surveys 14/15, 15/16, 16/17  and 17/18 . Please note that, due to data protection, the job titles and organisations are listed independently and do not necessarily correspond.

Related courses

English with study in north america ba.

Streatham Campus

English and Drama BA

English and film & television studies ba, flexible combined honours ba/bsc (exeter), flexible combined honours ba/bsc (cornwall).

Penryn Campus

View all English courses

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The majority of students are based at our Streatham Campus in Exeter. The campus is one of the most beautiful in the country and offers a unique environment in which to study, with lakes, parkland, woodland and gardens as well as modern and historical buildings.

Find out more about Streatham Campus.

St Luke's Campus in Exeter

Located on the eastern edge of the city centre, St Luke's is home to Sport and Health Sciences, the Medical School, the Academy of Nursing, the Department of Allied Health Professions, and PGCE students.

Find out more about St Luke's Campus.

Penryn Campus near Falmouth, Cornwall

Our Penryn Campus is located near Falmouth in Cornwall. It is consistently ranked highly for satisfaction: students report having a highly personal experience that is intellectually stretching but great fun, providing plenty of opportunities to quickly get to know everyone.

Find out more about Penryn Campus.

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Postgraduate Taught

MA Creativity: Innovation and Business Strategy

• Postgraduate Taught home
• Creative Industries
• Creativity: Innovation and Business Strategy MA

Masters applications for 2023 entry are now closed.

Applications for September 2024 will open on Monday 25 September. Applications are now open for programmes with a January 2024 start. View our programmes »

• This pioneering MA takes an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to creative production
• Apply what you learn through competitive annual internship opportunities with our partner organisations, such as creative agency   BBD Perfect Storm
• Access to industry specialist guest tutors, professional placements, and expert lecturers
• Immerse yourself in creative practices such as storytelling, filmmaking, improvisation, gaming, branding, art installation and creative writing plus to curate events in the city and region
• Hear from industry experts such as Rob Alderson (Director of Community and Engagement at Vimeo), Ben James (Curator at Berlin Film Festival and Founder of Jotta creative agency), James Woollam (MD at David & Charles Publishing, Exeter), Sophie Rochester (CEO at Yodomo, London), Shuvashish Roy (Head of Business at the Daily Star)

Apply online

View 2024 Entry

Fast Track (current Exeter students)

Open days and visiting us

Get a prospectus

Programme Director:  Anna Kiernan 

Web: Enquire online

Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72

Discover MA Creativity: Innovation and Business Strategy at the University of Exeter.

Develop transferable skills, specialist knowledge and professional experience through interdisciplinary teaching

Focus on professional practice and the cultural management aspects of Creative Industries and Humanities

Industry placement options

Opportunities for study in the field

Entry requirements

We will consider applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree with 53% or above, or international equivalent, in a subject that includes some coverage of Film Studies, Drama, Business Studies, Media and Communication or other creative disciplines.

Entry requirements for international students

English language requirements.

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2 . Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.

MA Creativity is a course that lets you learn from doing activities. The nature of engaging students with real-life challenges and coming up with innovative solutions through creative processes makes students market-ready in the creative world.

Moreover, the university has excellent facilities like an Innovation Centre for students, one-to-one mentoring sessions and in-course placement opportunities. You face real-life business challenges with expected creative solutions as part of the assessments.

Studying at the University of Exeter is a journey of innovation, engagement, and impact, which will be the base of career development for the rest of your life.

Read more from Shuvashish

Course content

Curriculum highlights.

• Workshops and intensives with industry experts.
• Course membership of the Creative Industries Federation, the national organisation for all the UK's creative industries, cultural education and arts.
• Work with organisations such as MAKETANK (a creative studio space in the heart of Exeter), The Literary Platform (a digital publishing agency), and The Literary Platform, a digital publishing agency.
• Cultural field trips to creative industries hubs.
• Strengthen business strategy and entrepreneurial insights through optional Business School modules.
• Work with senior industry mentors on your dissertation.

The programme is divided into units of study called modules which are assigned a number of 'credits'. The credit rating of a module is proportional to the total workload, with 1 credit being nominally equivalent to 10 hours of work.

The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

2024/25 entry

Uk fees per year:.

£15,700 full-time; £7,850 part-time

International fees per year:

£25,500 full-time; £12,750 part-time

Scholarships

For more information on scholarships, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.

*Selected programmes only. Please see the Terms and Conditions for each scheme for further details.

Find out more about tuition fees and funding »

Teaching and research

You will be taught by expert staff who will support you in reaching your potential and challenge you to extend beyond it. Through a mixture of lectures, collaborative team assignments, case study analyses, professional practice, performance-based skills coaching, you will develop your communication skills and confidence to take ideas from ideation through to fruition.

During the first term you will discover how ideas are created, where they originate from and how best to inspire them. From blue-sky thinking and conceptual development to understanding best practice for business incubators and managed workspaces, you’ll learn how successful businesses have turned abstract ideas into tangible products and services. You will acquire skills such as business planning, creative project management, pitching, presenting and value chain modelling. You’ll also develop the ability to apply theory to practice to better understand and communicate ideas in compelling ways.

Second term

In your second term you’ll take the core Creative Management module and two option modules from the Business School. You’ll explore the characteristics and attributes that make for a thriving creative business, such as adaptability, mental agility, cultural competence, empathy and unwavering curiosity. During the Creative Management module, you will be supported by the placements team to undertake an internship or some form of professional practice that links to your assessment. The MA Creativity is able to offer financial support for expenses incurred during internships (within an agreed budgetary framework).

Dissertation

In term three you have the option of undertaking a written dissertation (15,000 words) or a project dissertation, which allows you to produce practice-based work accompanied by a 5,000 word critical context. You will be assigned an industry mentor who will nurture you as you develop your ideas and an academic supervisor who will help you bring those ideas to fruition. Both dissertation pathways offer you flexibility to focus on an area you are passionate about for example: business planning/modelling, creative project development, intellectual property or a growing area of business such as app development or augmented reality.

This course will enhance your interpersonal skills to develop in areas most useful for entrepreneurial pursuits and/or attractive to potential employers. With the guidance of expert staff and industry mentors you will learn the art of persuasion, influencing, decision-making, problem solving, to find the best course of action, in challenging situations.

Beyond the curriculum 

• Rich opportunities for accessing business support, one-to-one guidance, workshops such as the university’s Innovation Centre (the  Deck ).
• Access to a range of focused networking opportunities and events.
• One-to-one support on your writing from Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellows, who are professional writers who offer individual appointments where students can discuss all aspects of their writing, such as structuring an argument, making the essay clearer and improving style.

Anna Kiernan

Co-director.

Olya Petrakova Brown

Drama lecturer.

Professor Lisa Harris

Associate professor, director of digital learning.

Professor Ruth Sealy

Associate professor of organisation studies, director of impact.

Raphael Dennett

Senior lecturer in entrepreneurship.

Professor Erno Tornikoski

Professor of entrepreneurship.

Anna is a creative strategist, writer and publisher with over twenty years’ experience of working in the creative and cultural industries. Previously, Anna was the creative and editorial director at Stranger Collective, a creative content studio, a national advisor for Arts Council Wales and a Trustee for the Cornwall Film Festival. Anna delivers training and consultancy for clients including Lush cosmetics, The Guardian, Arsenal FC, the NSPCC, The National Trust and the Department for Transport.

Profile page

Olya specialises in transforming disused urban and rural spaces into animated pop-up venues. She is passionate about cross-disciplinary working and community engagement and has a track record in producing, curating, and organising festivals and conferences. Olya is co-Artistic Director of ARTEL (American Russian Theatre Ensemble Laboratory), a visual theatre company, and founder/Co-Artistic Director of Maketank, a creative hub for contemporary performance making in Exeter.

Lisa joined the University of Exeter in October 2017 as Director of Digital Learning. She is also an Education Incubator Fellow. Lisa has led the development and implementation of innovative degree programmes in three UK Universities, utilising cross-faculty expertise supported by industry projects and online learning pedagogies.

Ruth’s research areas include women in leadership; board composition; role models; and various aspects of corporate governance. Ruth was the lead researcher of the annual Female FTSE Report, monitoring women on listed boards and executive committees, from 2007-2016, including co-creating the “100 Women to Watch” list at Cranfield in 2009. She has co-authored similar reports in Hong Kong and India and presented report findings to academic and practitioner audiences, globally.

Raphael has experienced almost every aspect of entrepreneurship and enterprise during his years of starting and growing businesses across the globe. He held the position of Entrepreneur in Residence at Plymouth University for six years and in this role, mentored and helped develop and grow hundreds of start-ups in almost every sector imaginable. Raphael has also held executive positions in a number of global businesses which has given him a strong interest in developing economies and entrepreneurial international development.

Erno’s research interests involve the application of psychological and sociological theories, and both qualitative and quantitative methods to entrepreneurship to investigate how enterprising individuals transform entrepreneurial ideas into value creating new activities. Erno has a particular interest in gestation activities, decision-making logics, the construct of control, and qualitative process studies. In addition, he is exploring new research ideas connecting entrepreneurship and the following topics: sustainable value creation, community-based resilience, and frugal innovations.

The MA Creativity: Innovation and Business Strategy has been designed to prepare you for a range of careers within the creative industry and enable you to pursue entrepreneurial ventures of your own. Not only will you graduate with a diverse mix of skills that are appealing to many employers in the industry, but you will also have built a network of key contacts throughout your studies that may lead to employment post-study. Whether your goal is to create an innovative start-up company, design a ground-breaking application or reach management level in a large corporation, the University of Exeter can help you make this a reality.

Creative sectors

This programme can lead to a career in a number of different creative sectors including; film, television, radio, entertainment and events, advertising, media and design, visual and performing arts, social media, publishing and fashion.

I couldn’t recommend the course more. I have been able to apply the modules in my degree to real-world working environments, and vice versa.

For example, part of the module I recently completed involved writing a business plan for implementation by the company that I work for, which was commended for being “market ready”.

The course has also provided us with so many great networking opportunities, and as a result I have been working freelance since December, designing and executing multi-channel exhibition and event marketing campaigns. The course itself has opened my eyes in so many ways to how integral creativity is to business, and business acumen to the success of creative practice.

Read more from Amy

Related courses

Theatre practice ma.

Streatham Campus

International Film Business MA

Curation: contemporary art and cultural management ma, film and screen studies ma, publishing ma, ma media and communications.

View all Creative Industries courses

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Streatham Campus in Exeter

The majority of students are based at our Streatham Campus in Exeter. The campus is one of the most beautiful in the country and offers a unique environment in which to study, with lakes, parkland, woodland and gardens as well as modern and historical buildings.

Find out more about Streatham Campus.

St Luke's Campus in Exeter

Located on the eastern edge of the city centre, St Luke's is home to Sport and Health Sciences, the Medical School, the Academy of Nursing, the Department of Allied Health Professions, and PGCE students.

Find out more about St Luke's Campus.

Penryn Campus near Falmouth, Cornwall

Our Penryn Campus is located near Falmouth in Cornwall. It is consistently ranked highly for satisfaction: students report having a highly personal experience that is intellectually stretching but great fun, providing plenty of opportunities to quickly get to know everyone.

Find out more about Penryn Campus.

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Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

Program overview.

Named one of the “Five Innovative/Unique Programs” creative writing programs by The Atlantic , the master of fine arts in creative writing is one of two programs offered by UNLV’s Creative Writing International Program with genre concentrations in fiction, literary nonfiction, and poetry. By providing an innovative curriculum and fostering an educational environment where students can perfect their art, our graduates become globally-engaged writers that demonstrate socially-engaged and active writing practices.

Program Outcomes

Students receive a strong theoretical foundation in their selected genre concentration, as well as an appreciation for the art and theory across various genres, thereby expanding their creative abilities. Moreover, they develop a nuanced understanding of canonical contexts and the historical evolution of literature, which provides valuable insights into new writing. Through exposure to international writing and literary translation, students cultivate a practical appreciation for diverse linguistic traditions beyond English, enriching their creative perspectives. 

A high percentage of our graduates have widely published fiction, literary nonfiction, journalism, and poetry with mainstream presses, indie presses, and nationally esteemed venues such as:

• W. W. Norton & Company
• Grove Press
• The Best American Poetry
• McSweeney’s
• The New York Times
• The Los Angeles Times

Program Structure

Our students follow a three-year course of study that includes writing workshops, genre forms courses, literature classes, a residency abroad, completion of a literary translation, and completion of a book-length manuscript that meets the standard of publishable works. Students also have the opportunity for teacher training and practical experience in literary publishing.

Additionally, our department, in partnership with the Black Mountain Institute, offers the Doctorate of Philosophy in English with a Creative Dissertation, supported by a graduate assistantship combined with the Black Mountain Institute fellowship.

Program Funding

All MFA students are fully funded by UNLV and the Black Mountain Institute (BMI) for three years of study towards their degrees. 

• Graduate Assistantships of $21,000/year 
• Opportunities for additional funding from BMI
• In-state tuition 
• Student health insurance.

Duties for the Graduate Assistantship are 20 hours per week, usually fulfilled through a combination of teaching, tutoring in the Writing Center, and working for English Department or Black Mountain Institute publications.

Our Faculty

Maile chapman, ph.d..

Wendy Chen, Ph.D.

Claudia Keelan

Roberto Lovato

David Morris, MFA

Douglas A. Unger

The MFA Student Experience

The UNLV creative writing program offers a supportive and immersive experience to its students. From day one, students become part of a vibrant community of writers where creativity thrives and collaboration flourishes. Whether students aspire to publish their writing, pursue further study, or embark on diverse career paths within the literary world, UNLV provides the resources, support, and community they need to thrive and succeed.

Activities and Events With the Black Mountain Institute

The UNLV Department of English has a longstanding relationship with the Beverly Rogers, Carol C. Harter Black Mountain Institute (BMI). This allows our students to receive opportunities to engage in creative and literary activities with visiting BMI fellows in socially meaningful literary events for the city of Las Vegas and its greater community. Recent BMI fellows and national and international award-winning visitors include:

• Percival Everett
• Melissa Febos
• Layli Long Soldier
• Jaquira Díaz
• Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

See the Black Mountain Institute's website for more information.

Academic and Literary Journals

The creative writing concentration helps students develop their writing craft and critical thinking skills through a workshop setting and literature courses. It equips them with professional skills for various industries and prepares them for graduate studies in English and creative writing.

Founded by M.F.A. alumna Kat Kruse in 2010, Neon Lit is a completely student-run reading series featuring writing of students currently in the Creative Writing programs at UNLV. Events are held on the last Friday of each month usually at the Writer’s Block, an independent bookstore and community center in downtown Las Vegas. See Neon Lit’s website and YouTube Channel for more information.

Writing Series

Breakout writers series.

The “Breakout Writers Series” or Emerging Writers Series features writers just emerging on the literary scene. Writers who visit and read for this series are chosen entirely by the students in the M.F.A. and Ph.D. programs.

Alumni Reading Series

The yearly Alumni Reading Series celebrates the literary successes of graduates of the program. Recent alumni readers include Marianne Chan, Jean Chen Ho, Clancy McGilligan, Alissa Nutting, Juan Martínez, Sasha Steensen, and Mani Rao.

Admission Requirements

• Fiction: 20-30 pages
• Literary nonfiction: 20-30 pages
• Poetry: 10-15 pages
• A letter of application to the Graduate Committee detailing a statement of purpose and reasons for choosing UNLV
• Official transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities 
• Two letters of recommendation

Applicants must choose the International Focus subplan, unless they have already been accepted to the Peace Corps Master's International Partnership program.

International Applicants

Each year, our program admits several international writers with high competency in writing in English that immensely contribute to our literary community. Our diverse student body fosters a rich exchange of ideas and perspectives, creating a dynamic learning environment that prepares graduates for success in the global literary landscape. Furthermore, UNLV's creative writing program values inclusivity and encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds and life experiences to contribute to the vibrant tapestry of voices within our community.