Course details
Duration
two years
Delivery
online and part-time
Start dates
January, May and September
Next welcome week
27 May 2024
Next course start date
3 June 2024
Application deadline
17 May 2024
Total course fee
£9,900
Want to learn more about this course?
Join our virtual Q&A: Exploring Environmental Narratives through Creative Writing & Photography. Book your place to attend on 16 April at 17.30 GMT.
Course overview
Develop an array of transferable skills on our MA Creative Writing course. Throughout your studies, we’ll encourage you to reflect on your own practice, explore the fundamental duty of the writer, and guide you in honing your creative identity.
Unlike other courses, we place a special emphasis on the ethical and environmental aspects of creative writing. You’ll develop the unique ability to combine the art of storytelling with a deep commitment to environmental consciousness. As a graduate, you’ll stand out because you can harness your discipline to respond to the climate crisis and drive positive change in the world.
By looking at a vast spectrum of literary genres and theoretical approaches, you’ll cultivate a holistic understanding of your craft. Coupled with a broad range of real-world insights into the contemporary publishing industry, you’ll be set to succeed as a published professional writer.
Our course modules also highlight the importance of collaboration and constructive feedback in bringing creative ideas to life. On top of this, you’ll have unique opportunities to get involved with industry-specific events like the Writing the Earth symposium.
As a graduate of Arts University Bournemouth, you’ll join a vibrant, thriving community with environmental ethics at its core. Armed with industry-ready skills and a global network, the opportunities you’ll have are boundless.
Course modules
Our academics have designed this course to explore every facet of your craft. The breadth of theoretical and practical knowledge you acquire will help you position yourself in today’s literary publishing scene. Through the common thread of a Reflective Journal, you’ll also document your own transformative journey.
In this introductory module, we’ll orient you with foundational knowledge and appropriate research methods. You’ll be challenged to reframe your practice, charting your journey as a writer-researcher and proposing a research paper at a student-led Research Symposium. This starting point will give you a clear focus for the rest of the programme.
Together, we’ll deep-dive into all the practical elements of the writer’s craft – from notebook use and idea generation to drafting and exchanging feedback. You’ll also interrogate the concepts surrounding the lore of the writer – from ‘inspiration’ to ‘writer’s block’. This will encourage you to break down your methodology and reflect on it intensively.
In this module we’ll take a wider view, looking at where the writer fits into the culture and society around them. This will involve considering their ethics, culture, activism, and public image. You’ll then develop a public-facing platform which articulates your emergent identity as a writer.
Together, we’ll explore a range of imaginative genres across the full spectrum, from the grittily realistic to the wildly fantastic (e.g., science fiction, weird, speculative, solarpunk). You’ll explore how these often-subversive stories challenge geopolitical leadership and cultural norms, creating a space for intellectual growth and inclusive representation. With a profound understanding of these stories, you'll develop your own prose narrative sample.
The Anthropocene is the current geological age, where human activity predominantly impacts the climate and environment. In this module, we’ll explore how the climate crisis and the UN’s sustainability goals can be woven into your literary vision. Together with your cohort, you’ll look at both classic and contemporary works to see how they engage with these pressing issues.
Through current trends, emergent forms, and new opportunities, we’ll examine what distinguishes a 21st Century publication from literature that precedes it. With input from a variety of industry professionals – including agents, editors, publishers, book designers, and booksellers – you’ll learn about print and publishing culture from a multi-faceted perspective.
In this module, we’ll explore the power of linguistic nuance, individual word choices, and layout choices. Through the lens of current trends, emergent forms, and both classical and contemporary poets, you’ll develop a deep understanding of the current poetry scene. We’ll also help you cultivate your communication skills in online open mics, sharing your poetry and critical feedback with fellow students.
With a focus on script-writing and emerging technologies, we’ll encourage you to think far beyond traditional literary formats. We’ll consider screenplays, podcasts, audio drama, graphic novels, interactive fiction and role-playing games, to name just a few. You’ll also hear avant-garde perspectives from guest speakers at the forefront of contemporary practice.
We’ll support you in developing a professional proposal for what will be not only your Major Project, but also a real-world industry submission. You’ll research available markets and emergent publishing trends to identify a focus. By the end of this module, you’ll be capable of confidently pitching substantial creative ideas – an essential skill for flourishing in your future career.
This module is the culmination of all the rigorous self-reflection, skills, and knowledge you've acquired throughout the course. You’ll produce a final written piece in a format of your choice (e.g., novel extract, short fiction, poetry, audio drama, stage script), accompanied by a critical reflective essay.
Your Course Leader
Dr Kevan Manwaring's research focuses on the ecological imaginary in fantasy and other creative forms. An academic consultant for BBC 4’s The Secret Life of Books, and a contributor to BBC Radio 3’s Free Thinking, he has much experience as a spoken word performer, panellist, and guest speaker. He blogs as the Bardic Academic.
"Dedicated writing time, quality professional guidance, and a constructively critical, supportive environment are some of the most valuable things a writer can give themselves."
Dr Kevan Manwaring | Course Leader, MA Creative Writing
Entry requirements
We encourage applications from students with a broad range of qualifications and we welcome students from all educational backgrounds. We’ll take into account the knowledge and skills that you have developed outside the classroom, as well as your previous qualifications.
There are two different routes to entry: the standard and non-standard routes. Admissions staff will assess entries to determine which route is appropriate for you when you apply.
Students accepted on the standard route are given offers based on qualifications and supporting documentation alone. If you do not have a qualification at the designated level or in a subject not directly related to the course to which you are applying, you’ll be contacted to request a portfolio, and/or given an interview date.
You'll usually have BA (Hons) Degree graded at 2.2 or above, or an equivalent UK or international qualification in creative writing or the following related subjects: english literature, english language, screenwriting, journalism, writing for games, business writing, or any humanities subject.
You'll usually have BA (Hons) Degree graded at 2.2 or above, or an equivalent UK or international qualification in creative writing or the following related subjects: english literature, english language, screenwriting, journalism, writing for games, business writing, or any humanities subject.
As an overseas applicant, you’ll need to validate your proficiency in English. We accept a range of English language qualifications:
- Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) grade C
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) grade C
- Certificate of Attainment in English (London Board) level 5 or 6
- IELTS score of 6.0 or above with at least 5.5 in each band
- TOEFL iBT score of 80 or above with 19 in speaking, and 18 in listening, reading and writing
- Pearson PTE score of 64 and over, with a score of 59 in each component
IELTS, Pearson, and TOEFL scores must be less than two years old at the time the course commences to be valid.
If you don’t have the standard academic qualifications, you could still be considered for entry if there’s sufficient evidence to indicate that you can fulfil the objectives of the course of study and achieve the standard of the final award. An example of this would be to showcase a portfolio of work as requested by the admissions team.
We also welcome applications from anyone with other qualifications or work experience that demonstrates appropriate knowledge and skills to study at postgraduate level.
Meet your Industry Patron
Michelle Zeitlin
MA Creative Writing Industry Patron
We’re delighted to welcome Michelle as the patron of our course and have her help our students reach their full potential. Michelle's role involves:
- Being actively involved in ensuring that the programme is grounded in industry practice and sets students up for success
- Acting as a vital connection between the industry itself and the course
- Holding exclusive talks for students
- Helping students put their work on the map and contextualising projects
Careers and opportunities in Creative Writing
The versatile, distinctive skillset you acquire on this course will open up a wide variety of options for your future – in terms of both employment and further academic study. Projects such as the anthology submission will be viable for industry publishing, and through your final project, you’ll already have first-hand experience delivering an outstanding pitch.
You’ll also benefit from guidance as part of the AUB Course Industry Patron scheme: a formal connection with a creative writing practitioner who offers unique collaborative opportunities and close relations within the industry.
The project management, collaboration, market analysis and critical thinking skills you develop will increase your chances of employability as a writing professional – whether your goal is to be a freelance writer, in-house author, or publisher. On top of this, you’ll develop core soft skills surrounding resilience and flexibility that are highly sought-after in today’s fast-changing global economy.
Here are just a few of the options you could pursue as an MA Creative Writing graduate:
You could also pursue opportunities in research, lecturing, lexicography, and communications.
Join us in May 2024
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