This Masters is for those talented and aspiring writers looking to develop the skills and creative habits required to have a career in writing and related fields such as editorial, bookselling and publishing.

Programme overview

• MLitt: 12 months full-time; 24 months part-time
  MLitt (distance learning): 12 months full-time

This programme is directed at those who are already engaged in writing.

The aims of the programme are:

• to allow you to experiment with a range of voices, techniques and genres alongside a consideration of major creative and editorial engagements from the modern through the contemporary period
• to develop a critical understanding of diverse creative, theoretic and critical texts
• to provide a space in which an extended portfolio of creative and editorial work may be undertaken
• to familiarise you with the writing context (audience, publishing in all its forms, the legal framework, modes of transmission)
• and, most importantly, to subject you to the discipline of regular writing by providing a stimulating workshop and tutorial environment in which writing skills can be acquired, discussed and honed.

The distance learning programme is the same as the campus version, but with tutorials and workshops conducted online (or by telephone and email in the case of tutorials). You will have the opportunity to participate in sessions with campus-based students.

Your portfolio: consisting of poetry, fiction, life-writing or script-writing; is at the heart of the summative assessment.

Career prospects

Graduates of the MLitt Creative Writing have gone into writing, journalism, publishing, teaching and many other professions.

Academic entry requirements

You will normally have a 2.1 Honours degree (or equivalent), though this is not a pre-requisite.

The primary basis for admission is the appraisal of a portfolio of your creative work.

You submit a portfolio of original work (poetry, fiction, life-writing or other prose, drama, and in some instances a portfolio of work in or of translation). Letters of reference and other documentation are also considered. Your referees should include an academic and a creative referee where possible. Where this is not possible, you can provide referees from other areas who can vouch that you are who you say you are and that your work and achievements are your own. It is particularly helpful if these referees are familiar with your writing and can provide references on that basis.

A maximum of 30 pages (one side only, double spaced throughout) per submission will be considered, and the portfolio can contain prose, verse, script, or a combination of these.

International students with academic qualifications below those required should contact our partner institution, Glasgow International College, who offer a range of foundation courses.

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training):

• overall score 7.0
• no sub-test less than 7.0
• or equivalent scores in another recognised qualification (see below)
   

Common equivalent English language qualifications:

• ibTOEFL: 100; no sub-test less than 24
• CAE (Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English): A minimum
• CPE (Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English): B minimum
• PTE Academic (Person Test of English, Academic test): 68; minimum 60 in writing

Pre-sessional courses
The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the Language Centre Pre-sessional courses. We also consider other BALEAP accredited pre-sessional courses:

• Language Centre, University of Glasgow
• BALEAP guide to accredited courses 

FAQs

Visa requirements and proof of English language level

It is a visa requirement to provide information on your level of English based on an internationally recognised and secure English language test. All test reports must be no more than 2 years old. A list of these can be found on the UK Border Agency website. If you have never taken one of these tests before, you can get an initial idea of your level by using the Common European Framework self-assessment grid which gives you a level for each skill (e.g. listening B1/writing B2 etc.) However, please note that this is not a secure English language test and it is not sufficient evidence of your level of English for visa requirements.

If you require a Tier 4 student visa, your qualification must be one of the secure English language tests accepted by UK Border Agency:

• UK Border Agency Tier 4 English Language requirements
• UKBA list of approved English language tests [pdf]

For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office: pgadmissions@glasgow.ac.uk

Standard application deadlines

• International applications (non-EU) 25 July 2014
• UK and EU applications 29 August 2014

Classes start September 2014 for most courses and you may be expected to attend induction sessions the week before. 

Apply now [help with your application]

For 2013-14

MLitt