ma in creative writing ucc

MA Creative Writing

Course options

Key Details

Course Overview

UEA pioneered the teaching of Creative Writing more than 50 years ago and is globally regarded as a leader of the subject. UEA has mentored countless award-winning authors, including Booker Prize winners Ian McEwan, Anne Enright, and Nobel Laureate Sir Kazuo Ishiguro. 

But today Creative Writing is changing, and so are we. Stories are now adapted from novels to streaming platforms to games and so much more. Digital technologies and AI are reshaping writing's possibilities and practical applications. Exciting fusion genres from authors across the globe are dominating bestseller lists and streaming platforms. Career opportunities in the creative industries across the world are increasingly vibrant and ever more dynamic. 

This course will equip you to engage with this world and its vast audiences, now and in the future.  You'll have the unique opportunity to work across forms of writing to help you discover and enhance your talent. You'll explore prose fiction and non-fiction, script and poetry, and hybrid, multimodal, and cross-genre writing. You'll also have the opportunity to develop all kinds of industry-oriented genre writing, from speculative fiction to young adult, fantasy to historical. You'll learn how AI and digital technology are transforming our ideas of writing and writers. You'll also find opportunities to experiment with writing for multiple digital realities and platforms, which are widely accessible and easily integrated. Most of all, you’ll develop skills to get noticed, published and build an audience in this digital world.  

At the same time, you'll benefit from UEA's established teaching excellence, creative writing workshops, and unrivalled connections with the fast-changing publishing industry in the UK and beyond. You'll become part of the university’s vibrant creative writing ecosystem, with events such as UEA Live , research and internship opportunities in the British Archive for Contemporary Writing , and a host of more informal occasions to share and celebrate your work and hear from prize-winning alumni. You’ll study in the historic city of Norwich, one of UNESCO’s Cities of Literature . You'll benefit from UEA's exceptional expertise in the world-wide breadth and history of literature, building your confidence and authority as a writer. 

You'll graduate a respected and versatile writer, steeped in practical and professional knowledge. You might translate that experience into a career in the creative industries, such as publishing and editing, writing for advertising, marketing, arts, culture, heritage and GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) sector organisations, VR and XR experiences, digital gaming, streaming TV, and more. You may be embarking on a new writing career or you may be an established professional looking to upskill in a changing environment. Perhaps you want to understand more about writing and feel the thrill of seeing your work come together on page or screen. Whatever your ambitions, this course will inspire and enable you to discover your own voice and make the most of it in the next stage in your writer’s journey. 

Study and Modules

This is a year-long course. You'll take two taught modules each semester, and then over the summer you'll complete your dissertation (submitted early September) with the support of your supervisor.   

In the autumn semester, you'll take a Creative Writing workshop in which you'll explore and experiment with a range of forms of writing, from genre fiction to screenwriting and poetry, establishing a competency and confidence across genres.  

At the same time and in dialogue with this module, you'll also be studying the ways digital technology is reshaping writing. This may in turn inspire your creative workshop, leading you to work with multimodal forms or interactive narratives. By the end of the semester, you'll have a firm sense of the exciting potential of writing for new technologies and have begun to incorporate that potential into your writer’s toolkit.  

In the second semester, you'll take a second Creative Writing workshop where you'll continue to establish your craft, confidence and professionalism as a writer across forms. By the end of the semester, you might decide to specialise in a single form or continue to commit to the path of versatility and hybrid experimentation.  

Alongside this second semester module, you'll choose from a rich range of optional modules across the School and Faculty. These draw especially on the wealth of knowledge and experience of the School's literary critics, and currently include modules on writing and play (which encourages your own playful experiments in writing), contemporary fiction, or how writing is inspired by place. These modules will help put your own writing into context and provide you with touchstones for your own creations. 

Over the summer, you'll plunge into the thrilling culmination of your MA – your creative writing dissertation. You'll be supported by a member of our Creative Writing team as you write your project, which will become your calling-card as a writer and help to launch the next phase of your career.    

Compulsory Modules

Workshop: introduction to forms, workshop: finding your forms, creative writing in a digital world, creative writing dissertation, creative writing research methodology conference, optional a modules, theory and practice of fiction, creative encounters, adaptation and interpretation, process and product in translation, creative-critical writing, ludic literature, environmental humanities: human cultures and the natural world, digital storytelling, japanese literature, the non fiction novel, the poetics of place, critically queer: sex, gender and sexuality.

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.

Teaching and Learning

Throughout the course, you'll benefit from UEA's unrivalled Creative Writing tuition and literary critical expertise. Expert creative writers will both lead your workshops and supervise your dissertation, helping to mentor you as you find your voice as a writer. You'll encounter leading practitioners of many of the forms you'll explore – novelists, scriptwriters, poets – who will help you to hone your craft and give their tips and insights into success in each genre. 

Literature tutors will introduce you to traditions of writing from across the globe, helping you to interpret them and put them into context. But they'll also support you in your own creative experimentation. UEA has many years of experience pioneering forms of 'creative-critical' pedagogy, where you are invited to demonstrate your critical thinking and understanding through writing creatively. In this exciting environment, creative and critical thinking are often fused together.  

Finally, your encounters with contemporary creative digital technology will be facilitated by our cutting-edge BLOC resources . These include our Music and Media Suite, which offers facilities for podcasting, digital design and publishing, audio production, and access to a host of creative software. These facilities are also supported by a superb team of professional technicians who will support you as you discover new creative abilities.  

Over the course of the MA, you’ll build and develop your portfolio of writing. At the end of each of the workshops you'll submit work which demonstrates your growing versatility, craft, and experience as a writer. In your module focused on digital writing, you’ll also be assessed on the underlying writing you produce for a digital form – this could be writing for a podcast, game, XR experience, or even a combination of forms. Your optional module may invite you to write a literary critical essay, further creative work, or an experimental creative-critical piece. Finally, your dissertation will bring your whole creative journey together, where you’ll produce an original piece of 12-15,000 words in length (or equivalent weight, in your chosen form(s)). This piece will be a reflection of the writer you have become. It may demonstrate your growing mastery of a single form – a substantial extract from a work of genre fiction, for instance – or it may show off your dexterity in moving across forms. You may also choose to focus on the digital side of your degree, producing writing for multimodal platforms, such as digital gaming or immersive VR experience. 

Entry Requirements

UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.

Degree classification

Bachelors degree - 2.2

Degree Subject

Any subject

Candidates are required to submit a portfolio of writing for assessment with their application  of 2500-3000 words in length. This could be part of a novel, non-fiction prose, script, poetry, a combination of short pieces from multiple forms, or a hybrid piece which combines forms together.

Our  Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.

UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent 

Any subject 

Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):   

IELTS:  6.5 overall (minimum 6 in all areas) 

We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.  

Test dates should be within two years of the course start date. 

 If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.

Fees and Funding

Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2025/26 are: 

UK Students: £10,675

International Students: £22,700

We estimate living expenses at £1,023 per month. 

Further Information on tuition fees can be found  here .

Course Related Costs

Please see Additional Course Fees for details of course-related costs. 

How to Apply

How to apply.

Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University. 

To apply please use our  online application form . 

Further information

If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us: 

Postgraduate Admissions Office 

Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515  Email:  [email protected]  

International candidates are also encouraged to access the  International Students  section of our website. 

Employability

After the course.

You'll graduate as a confident creative writer, with an understanding of genre, audience, and the craft needed to shape writing. You'll also have a strong awareness of the contemporary writer's world and the digital dexterity needed to navigate it. This may lead to a career as a successful novelist or scriptwriter. You'll also be ready for careers across the creative industries: in publishing and journalism; marketing; roles in the arts, culture, heritage and GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives and museums) sectors; writing for digital gaming and the creative computing sectors. The creative confidence our courses give graduates have also underpinned successful business entrepreneurship. Graduates from our Creative Writing MA courses go on to careers in teaching or undertake PhDs (including UEA's own creative-critical PhDs). Many also undertake our courses for the profound pleasure and sense of achievement given by writing itself.  

Examples of careers that you could enter include: 

• Novelist/Scriptwriter 
• Publishing or Journalism 
• Marketing 
• Arts/GLAM-sector roles 
• Writing for digital gaming or creative computing sectors 
• Teaching or Academic careers 

Discover more on our Careers pages .  

Related Courses

Ma creative writing scriptwriting.

Develop your writing craft, industry knowledge, and dramaturgical understanding as you learn with renowned writers for theatre, screen, and radio along with visiting specialists on this world-leading ...

MA Creative Writing Prose Fiction

Transform yourself as a writer by studying the craft of prose fiction with an internationally excellent cohort of other writers. This course, taught by distinguished and committed faculty, will challe...

MA Creative Writing Poetry

Immerse yourself in the craft and study of poetry, discovering more about the variety and nuances of the artform, and about yourself as a poet. Learning from practising and highly-regarded poets, you’...

Creative Writing starting September 2025 for 1 years

We use cookies to help give you the best experience on our website. By continuing without changing your cookie settings, we assume you agree to this. Please read our cookie policy to find out more.

Login     Make a Gift

• Open Site Search

Celebrating a Decade of Creative Writing

Know someone who would like to support a Scholarship or a Fellowship at UCC? Please contact Cal Healy, Deputy Director of Business Development and Advancement, Alumni and Development: [email protected]

Creative Writing at UCC

Be curious about literature, tag archives: ma in creative writing ucc, soap stars.

Mark Kelleher, one of our MA students, has been commissioned to write a 12-episode online soap opera which will appear in the Evening Echo  http://www.eveningecho.ie/ this summer.  The project is part of a new association between Examiner publications and the newly established Writing for Media module (EN6057) on the MA in Creative Writing.

Eight students pitched soap ideas and wrote three pilot episodes as part of their final portfolio for the module.  Features editor of the Echo , John Dolan, and his deputy, Elaine Duggan, made the final decision on which idea they would commission on the strength of these submissions.

After much deliberation, John said they went for Mark’s entry, entitled “Scattered” whose hero is a Cork street cleaner.

“We loved the strong Cork city setting for the story, and the excellent descriptive style throughout. The story gripped us from the start with its fine blend of dark topics and light moods and after introducing us to Timmy Riordan, the plot swiftly took us on unexpected turns. The subject matter of male suicide is very topical and very serious and if the story can touch local people who have had, or will have, an experience of this, directly or indirectly, it may well do some good.”

John said he was “overwhelmed” by what he called “the amazing standard” of all the submissions. It was such a difficult task choosing an overall winner, he said, that he decided to nominate a runner-up – PhD creative writing candidate Fiona Whyte.

Her soap, “Legacy”,  will appear as a short story in the annual Holly Bough , which John also edits. As you might guess from the title, there’s money and a will involved in this one!

Watch out for “Scattered” which will be appearing some time in mid-summer and congrats to Mark and Fiona, and indeed all the students who came up with such a diverse range of ideas for the project. We’re really grateful to John Dolan and Elaine Duggan, who advised on the project, and to Evening Echo editor Maurice Gubbins who started the ball rolling on this late last year.

We’re hoping that it’s the beginning of a long and beautiful friendship!

Privacy Overview

• FindAMasters
• Masters Courses
• Search Masters Degrees

  Creative Writing MA

University college cork     college of arts, celtic studies and social sciences, findamasters summary.

Unleash your creative potential with the Creative Writing MA programme at UCC. This programme is your gateway to crafting the book you've always dreamed of writing, whether it's poetry, fiction, or memoir. Through engaging with published authors and industry professionals, you'll not only refine your writing skills but also gain insight into the publishing world. The programme offers a diverse range of modules covering fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, and more, ensuring a well-rounded learning experience. Taught by accomplished professionals, including Dr Eibhear Walshe, the course provides a supportive environment to nurture your craft and explore your creative self. With a strong vocational emphasis, you'll be prepared for various career paths in writing and publishing. Applicants from all disciplines are welcome, with a focus on relevant experience and a short creative writing submission. Join a community of writers at UCC and embark on a journey towards fulfilling your writing aspirations.

About the course

Only you can write the book that you would like to write, be it a collection of poetry, or essays, or a novel, or a memoir… nobody else can write that book. The purpose of the MA in Creative Writing at UCC is to give you the tools to write the book waiting to be written, and many more after it. As well as honing the techniques and craft of creative writing, our MA is also designed to introduce you to the publishing industry, and prepare you for a variety of career options, including publishing and the creative arts.

Entry Requirements

Applications will be considered from graduates of all disciplines. Applicants will normally have a Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) or above, in any discipline. For North American students a cumulative GPA of 3.2 is normally expected. Applicants with relevant writing or arts experience (eg. working in publishing, journalism or arts administration) are also invited to apply. All applicants will be asked to submit a short piece of creative writing (of 1000 words (any genre). See the programme website for full details

EU Fee (Full-time): €8,060 EU Fee (Part-time): €4,115 Non EU Fee (Full-time): €17,000

  Course Content

Register your interest for this course

The university will respond to you directly. You will have a FindAMasters account to view your sent enquiries and receive email alerts with new Masters opportunities and guidance to help you choose the right course.

It looks like you alredy have a FindAMasters Account

Log in to save time sending your enquiry and view previously sent enquiries

What would you like more information about? Optional

Which subjects are you interested in studying, which age group are you optional.

The information you submit to University College Cork will only be used by them or their data partners to deal with your enquiry, according to their privacy notice . For more information on how we use and store your data, please read our privacy statement .

Please correct the errors indicated below to send your enquiry

Where will i study.

University College Cork

University College Cork (UCC) is an award-winning institution which dates back to 1845. We are a comprehensive, research-based, globally oriented university with over 24,000 students, 3,200 staff and over 200,000 alumni worldwide. Our student body includes over 4,000 international students from 138 countries. UCC draws its identity from a diverse spread of community, education, health service, industry, arts and heritage relationships. We have developed an extensive range of partnerships worldwide which continue to inform our curriculum and our research, and we have over 200 taught postgrad programmes to choose from. When you begin your postgrad journey at UCC you will belong to a vibrant and diverse community of learning and research, and you will become part of a global family which is united by shared experiences, shared values and shared ambition. UCC is more the sum of its many parts and, together, we are many things: we are active, agile, creative, connected, global, socially responsible and sustainable; and, above all, we are community.

Where is University College Cork

All Available Videos:

Scholarships

All scholarships.

At UCC, we understand there is more than one way to achieve your goals which is why we are committed to making quality university education accessible to everyone. UCC specialises in preparing both domestic and international students for successful university study by offering a number of scholarships to enable suitably qualified students to undertake full-time study towards a university degree. Selection is based on academic merit, previous experience as well as research potential.

Value of Scholarship(s)

Eligibility.

A long list of opportunities for both domestic and international applications, as well as travel funding for current students, can be found on this site. As students may be eligible for more than one scholarship or bursary, we encourage them to explore the website and submit multiple applications if applicable.

Application Procedure

Please see individual scholarships for more information.

Find out more

Based on your current searches we recommend the following search filters

Check out our other Masters Courses in Cork , Ireland

Check out our other Masters Courses in Creative Arts & Design

Start a new search with our database of over 23,000 Masters Courses

Based on your current search criteria we thought you might be interested in these

Creative Writing MA University of Huddersfield

Creative Writing Edge Hill University

Creative Writing for Marketing MSc Brunel University London

FindAMasters. Copyright 2005-2024 All rights reserved.

Unknown    ( change )

Have you got time to answer some quick questions about Masters study?

Select your nearest city

• Aberystwyth
• Beaconsfield
• Bishop Burton
• Bournemouth
• Bridlington
• Chatham Maritime
• Cirencester
• East Malling
• Hemel Hempstead
• High Wycombe
• Huddersfield
• Isle of Man
• Jordanstown
• London Central
• London East
• London South
• London West
• Londonderry
• Loughborough
• Middlesbrough
• Milton Keynes
• Musselburgh
• Northampton
• Potters Bar
• Saffron Waldon
• Scarborough
• Southampton
• St Leonards on Sea
• Stoke on Trent
• Wolverhampton

You haven’t completed your profile yet. To get the most out of FindAMasters, finish your profile and receive these benefits:

• Monthly chance to win one of ten £10 Amazon vouchers ; winners will be notified every month.*
• Access to our £6,000 scholarship competition
• Weekly newsletter with funding opportunities, application tips and much more
• Early access to our physical and virtual postgraduate study fairs

Or begin browsing FindAMasters.com

or begin browsing FindAMasters.com

*Offer only available for the duration of your active subscription, and subject to change. You MUST claim your prize within 72 hours, if not we will redraw.

Do you want hassle-free information and advice?

Create your FindAMasters account and sign up to our newsletter:

• Find out about funding opportunities and application tips
• Receive weekly advice, student stories and the latest Masters news
• Hear about our upcoming study fairs
• Save your favourite courses, track enquiries and get personalised subject updates

Create your account

Looking to list your Masters courses? Log in here .

Let us help you find a Masters

Never miss a course

Enter our ambassador competition

Get funding news, tips and advice

Hear about upcoming events

Sign up to our newsletter today

We've been helping students find the right postgraduate course for over a decade.

Login to your account

Enter your username below to login to your account.

• See all Countries
• United Kingdom
• Netherlands
• Switzerland
• Online Learning

Creative Writing, MA, University College Cork (UCC)

• Study options for Creative Writing
• About Creative Writing

Courses you may be interested in at other institutions

Other courses at university college cork (ucc), study options for this course.

About Creative Writing, MA - at University College Cork (UCC)

Creative Writing allows us to interact with and shape our changing world; to study and influence artistic values and practices; and to cultivate inventive and authentic forms of expression. The UCC MA in Creative Writing encourages students to be curious about literature, to pursue creative excellence and to develop their writing in a university atmosphere. The course as a whole encourages and supports a full exploration of the creative self while also maintaining a strong vocational emphasis.

All of our courses are embedded in Cork's dynamic creative milieu, rooted inexpert practice and taught by highly accomplished professionals. A rich variety of modules are available, including Fiction, Poetry and Life Writing. Creative non-fiction options include innovative courses in Food Writing and Writing for Radio. The School of English in UCC treats writing as a living, evolving practice: students taking the course will read and write in a context in which literature is being performed, transformed and adapted. Some of Ireland's greatest writers have studied or taught at UCC, including Frank O'Connor, Sean O'Faolain, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill and John Montague. Notable poets associated with UCC include Sean Lucy, Tom McCarthy, Sean Dunne, Paul Durcan, Theo Dorgan and Leanne O'Sullivan. The School of English hosts an annual Writer-In-Residence and previous holders of this prestigious post have included Mary Morrissy, Claire Keegan and Matthew Sweeney.

Course Details

This MA gives you the opportunity to write in an empathetic and academically rigorous context, amidst a dynamic cultural milieu. Core modules address key creative techniques and help sustain and refresh your writing. Professional development is mentored and supported via modules in The Business of Writing and in the Creative Industries.

Core Modules (15 credits)

These Core Modules address two of the central aims of the programme: to help students understand the practical constraints and professional opportunities of life as a writer in a variety of potential contexts; and to cultivate an inventive, authentic and self-aware writing style.

EN 6034 The Business of Writing (5 credits) EN 6035 Writing and Experiment (10 credits)

plus 35 credits from a combination of the following elective modules:

Elective Modules

These Elective Modules allow students to experiment with, engage with, and reflect on a diversity of writing practices, and to shape their own creative journey via their chosen modules.

EN6044 Craft and Technique of Fiction (1): The Short Story (5 credits) EN6056 Craft and Technique of Fiction (2): Reading the Novel (5 credits) EN6032 Fiction Workshop (10 credits) EN6033 Writing the Self: Fiction and non-Fiction (10 credits) EN6031 Poetry 1 (10 credits) EN6043 Poetry 2 (5 credits) EN6042 Workshop with Writer-in-Residence (5 credits) EN6037 Food Writing (5 credits) EN6038 Writing for Radio (5 credits) EN6057 Writing for the Media (5 credits)

Core Module

This Core Module represents the culmination of the learning process fostered by this programme. Students produce a substantial portfolio of work and record the processes by which they write and research. EN 6040 Dissertation (40 credits)

Course Code: CKE10 Full-time, CKE58 Part-time

Course Title: Creative Writing

College: Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences

Duration: 1 year Full-time; 2 years Part-time

Teaching Mode: Full-time, Part-Time

The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours and evening hours over 2 years. The part-time option for the MA in Creative Writing is offered biannually. Taking the course part-time takes 24 months. We will be taking a part-time cohort in September 2015, and another in 2017.

Qualifications: MA

NFQ Level: Level 9

Costs: 2017/2018 Irish/EU Fee: EUR 6,500 full-time; EUR 3,250 per year part-time

2016 Entry Requirements: Applications will be considered from graduates of all disciplines. Applicants will normally have an honours primary degree at (2.2 level or above) in any discipline. (See detailed entry requirements)

Closing Date: 1 May 2017

Next Intake: 11 September 2017

Course Practicalities

The MA in Creative Writing is taught on Mondays and Tuesdays during the Autumn and Spring Semesters (September to March). Seminar hours are approximately 6-8 per week and reading hours / writing assignments are likely to take another 8 hours per week. The course involves a mixture of seminars, workshops, placement and writing practice and students will work on self-reflexive essays and projects.

Students are assessed continuously during the course, submitting specified creative work alongside commentaries on their own creative practice

Application Procedure

Application for this programme is on-line at www.pac.ie/ucc. For full details of the application procedure click How to Apply

Please note you will be required to answer specific additional/supplementary questions as part of the online applications process for this programme. A copy of these additional/supplementary questions are available to view here:CKE10AdditionalQuestions (105kB)

Successful applicants will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of EUR 500 on acceptance of their place

Notes about fees for this course

Entry requirements for this course.

Contact University College Cork (UCC) to find course entry requirements.

Below are some suggested courses at other providers that you may also be interested in:

Senior Leader Executive Program MSc

Cranfield School of Management

Medicine and Surgery MD

Humanitas University, Medicine and Surgery

Psychology with Emphasis in Counseling Psychology MA

Webster Leiden Campus

International Tourism Management BA

Tio Business School

Sports Industry Management MSc

emlyon business school

Fashion Events and PR Summer School

IED – Istituto Europeo di Design

Business Bridging Program Foundation

EU Business School, Geneva

Development Studies MPhil, PhD

Swansea University

Postgraduate pathways and pre-masters at other institutions

If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course then consider one of these postgraduate preparation courses from another institution:

Graduate Diploma of Engineering (Safety, Risk and Reliability)

Engineering Institute of Technology

Graduate Diploma in Spiritual Direction

Australian Catholic University (ACU)

Pre-master Embedded Systems

University of Twente

Graduate Diploma of Public Health and Tropical Medicine

James Cook University (JCU)

Finance and Economics

Queen Mary, University of London (QMUL)

Graduate Diploma in English

University of Waikato

There are 338 other courses listed from University College Cork (UCC). A selection of these are displayed below:

Accounting BSc (Hons)

University College Cork (UCC)

Accounting MACC

Actuarial Science MSc

Advanced Nurse Practitioner MSc

Applied Coastal and Marine Management MSc

Applied Mathematics - Arts BA (Hons)

Applied Mathematics and Physics BSc (Hons)

Applied Plant Biology BSc (Hons)

Related Information

Find out more about studying in Ireland

Creative Writing

The purpose of the MA in Creative Writing at UCC is to give you the tools to write the book waiting to be written, and many more after it. As well as honing the techniques and craft of creative writing, our MA is also designed to introduce you to the publishing industry, and prepare you for a variety of career options, including publishing and the creative arts.

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time.

Entry Requirements

Applications will be considered from graduates of all disciplines. Applicants will normally have a Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) or above, in any discipline. For North American students a cumulative GPA of 3.2 is normally expected. Applicants with relevant writing or arts experience (eg. working in publishing, journalism or arts administration) are also invited to apply. All applicants will be asked to submit a short piece of creative writing (of 1000 words (any genre). This piece of creative writing will be used by the teaching team to evaluate each applicant's suitability. Further examples of the applicant's work may be requested.

Careers / Further progression

Skills and Careers Information This MA will provide an excellent foundation for a variety of writing and publishing careers, including authorship across a range of forms and styles, journalism, teaching, publishing, and arts administration. The design of the MA fosters contacts with agents, publishers, and the professional world of the creative industries; it also produces well-crafted writing in one (or more) of the forms of creative writing. Students experiment with, engage with, and reflect on a diversity of writing practices and establish an awareness of the role of technique and craft in their own work. They also learn how to interact with peers on an editorial level, and to understand the importance of editing and revision in the process of writing. Developing appropriate research methods and recording processes of self-reflection are also key components of the MA, encouraging students to reflect upon and discuss the conceptual challenges of the creative process, key contexts, and practical concerns. Finally, the MA fosters in its students an understanding of the practical constraints and professional opportunities of life as a writer, and a lifelong relationship with the written word.

Course Web Page

Further information, enrolment and start dates comment enrolment and start dates comment.

Start Date: 9th September 2024.

Application Weblink Application Weblink

How To Apply

Link to Course Fee Link to Course Fee

Fees & Costs

Application Date Application Date

Closing Date: Rolling Deadline. Open until all places are filled or no later than 1 May. Early application advised.

Course Content Course Content

Course Outline Only you can write the book that you would like to write, be it a collection of poetry, or essays, or a novel, or a memoir… nobody else can write that book. The purpose of the MA in Creative Writing at UCC is to give you the tools to write the book waiting to be written, and many more after it. As well as honing the techniques and craft of creative writing, our MA is also designed to introduce you to the publishing industry, and prepare you for a variety of career options, including publishing and the creative arts. Engaging on a weekly basis with published authors and publishing professionals, we will provide access to the community of writers that exists, both in the wider world and in Cork, with its thriving literary scene. This programme affords you time to write; it will introduce you to other emerging writers, and like-minded individuals on the same pathway as yourself. Ultimately we aim to empower you to connect with your most creative and productive self. This MA Creative Writing programme is offered by the Department of English which is part of the College of Arts, Celtic Studies & Social Sciences (CACSSS) at UCC. Our Department of English treats writing as a living, evolving practice: students taking the course will read and write in a context in which literature is being performed, transformed and adapted, and in doing so offer you a safe space to learn, to practice, and to develop your craft towards inventive and authentic forms of expression. The course as a whole encourages and supports a full exploration of the creative self while also maintaining a strong vocational emphasis. Directed by IMPAC longlistee Dr Eibhear Walshe, all of our courses are embedded in Cork’s thriving artistic scene, rooted in expert practice and taught by highly accomplished professionals. A rich variety of modules are available covering fiction, poetry, life writing, creative non-fiction, and reading creatively. Additionally, the Business of Writing module is dedicated to the professional life of the creative writer, including work placements, and a series of visiting speakers (writers, agents & publishers) such as Mike McCormack, Nidhi Zak/Aria Eipe, Nicole Flattery, Lisa McInerney, Tramp Press, The Stinging Fly, John Connolly, Will Keohane, Eimear Ryan, Róisín Kiberd, New Island Press and many more. Writing and reading are intertwined as acts — opposite ends of an attempt to understand what it’s like to be in the world. Never has that been more important. Never has the world needed more writers, and more readers, and an over-arching guide to the UCC MA in Creative Writing’s approach is to foster such readers and writers in achieving their potential.

Subjects Taught Subjects Taught

Modules Part I (50 credits) EN6036 The Business of Writing (10 credits) Plus choose 40 credits from the following: EN6031 Poetry I (10 credits) EN6032 Fiction Workshop: Serving the Idea (10 credits) EN6033 Writing the Self: Fiction & non-Fiction (10 credits) EN6042 Creative Writing Workshop (5 credits) EN6056 Reading the Novel Creatively (5 credits) EN6057 Writing for Other Media (5 credits) EN6060 Poetry II: Mythology & Contemporary Poetry (10 credits) EN6061 Poetry Workshop (5 credits) In order to ensure coherence and a good workload balance over the course of the programme, you will select modules in consultation with the programme coordinator and other members of the Board of Studies as appropriate. Part II EN6040 Dissertation in Creative Writing (40 credits)

Further Enquiries Further Enquiries

Dr Eibhear Walshe [email protected] +353 (0)21 490 2584 http://creativewritingucc.com/ Mr Danny Denton [email protected] +353 (0)21 490 3292

International Students International Students

Share with family and friends.

• Share via Twitter
• Share via Facebook
• Share via LinkedIn
• Share via Email
• Share via Whatsapp

Related courses

English - modernities - literature theory & culture from the romantics to the present.

Get the Reddit app

Cork, the place in Ireland.

UCC Creative Writing MA

Hey, I'm interested in applying for the Creative Writing MA in UCC, as you may have guessed from the title. Has anyone done this course? I'd love to talk to someone who has! Cheers x

By continuing, you agree to our User Agreement and acknowledge that you understand the Privacy Policy .

Enter the 6-digit code from your authenticator app

You’ve set up two-factor authentication for this account.

Enter a 6-digit backup code

Create your username and password.

Reddit is anonymous, so your username is what you’ll go by here. Choose wisely—because once you get a name, you can’t change it.

Reset your password

Enter your email address or username and we’ll send you a link to reset your password

Check your inbox

An email with a link to reset your password was sent to the email address associated with your account

Choose a Reddit account to continue

The 2025-26 Competition is now open. Applications must be submitted by the national deadline of October 8, 2024 at 5pm ET.

Current U.S. Student

United States citizens who are currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree programs are eligible to apply.If you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a U.S. college or university, you will apply through that institution, even if you are not currently a resident there. Find the Fulbright Program Adviser on your campus.

U.S. Citizen but not a Student

If you are a U.S. citizen, will hold a bachelor’s degree by the award start date, and do not have a Ph.D. degree, then you are eligible to apply. Non-enrolled applicants should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Candidates with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program .

The Getting Started page will provide information on eligibility and next steps.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program welcomes applications in the creative and performing arts. Arts candidates for the U.S. Student Program should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Artists with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program .

Creative & Performing Arts projects fall under the Study/Research grant category and are available in all countries where Study/Research grants are offered.

U.S. Professor/Administrator

If you are a U.S. citizen and a professor or administrator at a U.S. institution and are interested in applying for a Fulbright Scholar Award, you will need to apply through fulbrightscholars.org .

To support your students in applying for a U.S. Student Program award, please connect with the Fulbright Program Adviser at your institution.

Non U.S. Citizens

If you are a non-U.S. citizen interested in applying for a Fulbright Award to the United States, you will need to apply through the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in your home country. Find out more information on the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program or Fulbright Foreign Student Program .

• East Asia-Pacific
• Europe & Eurasia
• Middle East & North Africa
• South and Central Asia
• Sub-Saharan Africa
• Western Hemisphere

1 Fulbright/University College Cork Masters in Creative Writing Award

Specialized Grant Types

Fulbright graduate degree grants, award profile.

Grantee may pursue a taught Masters in Creative Writing at  University College Cork  which was established in 1845 as one of three Queen’s Colleges at Cork, Galway and Belfast.  Located on a beautiful, historic campus, University College Cork has grown from 115 students to over 20,000, from one building to dozens, from less than 20 staff to more than 1,600 today. The  MA in Creative Writing at University College Cork  encourages students to be curious about literature, to pursue creative excellence and to develop their writing in a university atmosphere. The course as a whole encourages and supports a full exploration of the creative self while also maintaining a strong vocational emphasis including professional placements. All of University College Cork’s courses are embedded in Cork’s dynamic creative milieu, rooted in expert practice and taught by highly accomplished professionals. A rich variety of modules are available, including Fiction, Poetry and Life Writing.

Grant Length

Grant period.

Commencing in September 2025.

Orientation

Orientation typically takes place in October once the majority of grantees are in-country.

Candidate Profile

The Commission is seeking applicants who:

• Possess excellence (academically, personally, professionally, creatively);
• Demonstrate leadership experience, attributes and, or potential;
• Outline a strong rationale and feasible methodology for pursuing a degree in University College Cork that indicates how a Fulbright to Ireland fits into their longer term goals;
• Demonstrate the benefit of becoming a Fulbrighter; to themselves (personally and professionally), to their discipline, to society, to Ireland, to the Fulbright Program / Commission and to the US when they return;
• Extend themselves beyond their project / studies to become actively involved in Irish society and the work of the Fulbright Commission.  The Commission is keen to support projects that brings awardees into contact with a wide range of stakeholders, particularly outside of academia, to maximize their academic / cultural exchange experience and to raise awareness of the Fulbright Program in Ireland.

University College Cork will consider applications from graduates of all disciplines. Applicants are expected to have a cumulative GPA of 3.2.  Applicants with relevant writing or arts experience (e.g. working in publishing, journalism or arts administration) are also invited to apply. All applicants will be asked to submit a piece of creative writing of 1000 words (any genre).

What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?

Ireland is a friendly, engaging and vibrant country with centuries of U.S. interaction as part of its DNA. As an increasingly diverse society with a highly educated workforce, competitive educational system and millennia of culture, it is a popular choice for U.S. Student applicants.

Higher education in Ireland is provided by 12 universities, 2 Institutes of Technology, and a number of specialist colleges in art, business, law, music, medicine and theology. There are also a significant number of well-funded research centres and cultural institutions that may be considered as host options.

Irish colleges typically operate on a two-semester academic year: September to December and January to May. Further information on higher education in Ireland can be found  here .

Most Higher Education Institutions are supported by the Irish government. For example, universities and Institutes of technology receive more than 90 percent of their income from the state. The Irish government has invested 2.5 billion euro establishing advanced centres of research, and world-class research facilities and programs that are an attractive destination for international exchange visitors.

Fulbright Alumni cite the following advantages associated with coming to Ireland: English-speaking; very welcoming; family-friendly; safe; intellectually challenging; culturally rich and diverse; and accessible. Please see the Commission’s  Coming to Ireland page  for more information and resources. Helpful advice on living and studying in Ireland can also be found on the official website of the Government of Ireland here .

Please contact the Fulbright Commission in Ireland via email at [email protected]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSqPQGZKWc0 – Irish Fulbright Commission

For further information on Fulbright Alumni, please see the Alumni Directory here . A complete list of Fulbright Campus Ambassadors is also available to search and view.

Eligibility

Degree level of applicant, foreign language proficiency, fulbright proposal types, affiliation.

Letter not required at deadline. Applicants will need to apply for admission to the Masters in Creative Writing as per University College Cork’s admissions procedures . Applicants are expected to have proof of acceptance onto the Masters in Creative Writing programme if offered a Fulbright award. The Fulbright Commission can assist with / advise on this process but applicants should make initial enquiries with the Director of Creative Writing, Dr Eibhear Walshe, email:  [email protected] prior to contacting the Commission.

Affiliation Fees/Tuition

Award benefits.

• A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
• International travel benefits
• Accident & sickness health benefits
• 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
• 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government

Stipend Amount This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.

Estimated cost of living consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country..

The estimated monthly cost of living is €1750 to €2000.

Dependents are not permitted to accompany applicants on grant.

Fulbright Program Management Contact

Fulbright commission/u.s. embassy website, fulbright commission/u.s. embassy contact, additional online resources.

UCC University College Cork

English department roinn an bhéarla.

• Visited Pages
• Current Students
• Registration
• Job Vacancies
• Examinations
• Programme and Course Descriptions
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• International Office
• Adult Continuing Education
• Online Courses
• Continuing Professional Development
• Micro-credentials
• Scholarships and Prizes
• Transition-In Programme
• Graduate Attributes
• Incoming First Year Students
• Apply to UCC
• Upcoming Events in UCC
• Parents and Guardians Information
• Apprenticeships
• UCC Innovation
• UCC Futures
• UCC in the world university rankings
• News and Views
• Leadership and Strategy
• Campus Life
• World's First Green Campus
• Cork City and Region
• UCC Arboretum
• Culture Night 2024
• Academic Schools and Departments
• Support and Service Departments
• Access Talent
• Skills for Work
• Advance Research
• Accelerate Innovation
• Support UCC
• Become a Partner
• Meet People
• Make an Impact
• Discover our Alumni
• Explore Benefits
• Register for UCC Alumni Online
• Make a Gift

You should be seeing some content in this space that is currently blocked due to cookie settings. Open the Cookie Management Tool to change your settings.

• About the Department
• Undergraduate Study
• MA Programmes
• Higher Diploma
• International
• Student Perspectives
• Conferences, Seminars and Workshops
• Research Projects
• Staff Publications
• School of English Research Seminar
• World-Tree Project
• Digital Edgeworth Network
• School Welcome Event 2016
• Edmund Spenser in Cork - School of English UCC
• Frank O'Connor: A man of many voices
• Mary Breen: Pride and Prejudice
• MA in Irish Writing and Film
• Ann Coughlan: The Irish Influence on America's Greatest Abolitionist
• MA in Modernities: Romanticism, Modernism, Postmodernism
• MA in American Literature and Film
• MA in English Texts and Contexts: Medieval to Renaissance
• PhD in English
• Prof. Claire Connolly
• Tonio Colona - PhD in the School of English, UCC
• Prof Patricia Coughlan
• Mike Waldron - PhD in the School of English
• Ken Rooney and Heather Laird Book Launch
• School Welcome Event September 2014
• Contemporary American Trauma Narratives Book Launch
• Staged Transgressions in Shakespeare's England
• Seamus Heaney Memorial Event September 2013
• Creative Writing
• Career Advice for Current Students
• Student Achievements
• What is DH?
• Study DH at UCC
• Staff & Fellows
• Department Projects
• Staff Book Publications
• English & Digital Humanities

11 Sep 2019

Save to Favourites

On this page

Graduate of ucc’s inaugural ma in creative writing class wins prestigious award.

Madeleine D’Arcy awarded the £1,000 Readers’ Choice award in this year’s Edge Hill Short Story Prize

Madeleine D’Arcy, graduate of UCC’s inaugural MA in Creative Writing class (2013/14) has been awarded the £1,000 Readers’ Choice award in this year’s Edge Hill Short Story Prize for her debut collection of stories, Waiting for the Bullet (Doire Press).

Now in its ninth year, the Edge Hill Prize is the only UK award that recognises excellence for a published collection of short stories. The 2015 judging panel included the Guardian’s Chris Power, the 2014 Readers’ Choice winner Rachel Trezise and Edge Hill University’s Dr Ailsa Cox.

Kirsty Gunn won the overall prize for her collection, Infidelities (Faber & Faber). The winners were announced at London’s Free Word Centre on July 2nd.

Speaking at the ceremony, Edge Hill Prize co-ordinator Dr Ailsa Cox, Reader in Creative Writing and English at Edge Hill University, praised the entire shortlist as showing “the huge range and diversity of short story writing today, and how many risks writers are taking with the form, with stories based on, amongst other things, twitter fiction, autobiographical memories, oral history and role-playing games. All of these collections are winners”.

English Department

Roinn an bhéarla.

O'Rahilly Building, University College Cork, Cork. Ireland

• [email protected]
• +353 (0)21 490 2664/2241/3677
• /en/english/