phd creative writing lancaster

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Creative Writing

Entry requirements.

Masters degree or equivalent in English literature or literature in other languages, usually with an average of at least 65% for UK MAs.

2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in English Literature or related subject, for example literature in other languages

Additional Requirements

As part of your application you also need to provide

• A viable research proposal
• A portfolio of original writing (no more than 15 poems or 30 pages of prose) showing potential for publication

Details of the research areas can be found on the Department’s website . If you are interested in applying for one of our PhD programmes, you may wish to informally contact a potential supervisor for guidance on the proposal prior to submitting your application. Guidance on the structure of the proposal is also available.

Months of entry

Course content.

Why Lancaster?

• Study online or join us on campus to be close to the Lake District, home of the Romantic poets, and inspiration for many writers since
• Benefit from our supervisory strengths in contemporary poetry, fiction, creative-critical writing, creative non-fiction and script writing
• Complete a significant creative writing project, whether you want to craft a novel or create an entire script
• Be inspired by our rich programme of literary events on campus, online, and in the city’s historic Castle Quarter
• Join a vibrant, supportive community of PhD students working across a range of literacy genres and research projects

We have a team of award-winning novelists, poets and playwrights with the expertise and experience to bring your creative project to life. Our staff have a range of impressive accolades including the BBC National Short Story Award, Waterstones’ Children’s Book Prize and Pigott Poetry Prize. Meet some of our team.

Your unique project

Wondering what a PhD in creative writing looks like? It depends what project you decide to work on. Typically, we would expect a critical writing piece around 20,000 words long and a creative writing piece of around 60-80,000 words. Your creative work can be an extract or a complete piece or collection of prose fiction/non-fiction, a collection of poetry, or a completed script for stage, screen or audio. These are examples; we’re happy to discuss other forms and unique projects with you.

Finding the right supervisor is key to your success as they’ll act as a critical friend. We expect you to already have one in mind while completing your application and to contact them before submitting your application. Most students have one or two supervisors, but you might have more depending on the nature of your project.

Online or on campus?

Our pioneering virtual learning and research facilities mean you can study from anywhere in the world. Our campus students enjoy a lively programme of departmental events and both distance and campus students meet in termly Work in Progress sessions.

If you haven’t studied a Master’s in Creative Writing at Lancaster, you’ll need to complete the core Creative Writing module Research Methods and Professional Practice. You can take this module in person or online.

Information for international students

We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously.

We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 7.0, and a minimum of 6.5 in each element of the test. We also consider other English language qualifications.

If your score is below our requirements, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language programmes.

Contact: Admissions Team +44 (0) 1524 592032 or email [email protected]

Fees and funding

Learn more at the fees and funding page.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

• Campus-based learning is available for this qualification

Course contact details

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English Literature and Creative Writing PhD Lancaster University

Course options

Qualification.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

Lancaster University

• TUITION FEES
• ENTRY REQUIREMENT
• UNIVERSITY INFO

Course summary

Why Lancaster?

Read, think, and write alongside tutors who are established authors of literature of all kinds, including creative-critical writing, the lyrical essay, and experimental criticism

Contribute to Errant, our student-led journal of post-criticism, and be inspired by Lune, our tutor-led journal of hybrid writing

Enjoy our rich programme of free literary events on campus, online, and in the city’s historic Castle Quarter

Study online or join us in Lancaster on the doorstep to the Lake District, home of the Romantic poets, and inspiration for many writers since

Make the most of our partnership with The Wordsworth Trust in Grasmere and Lancaster’s LitFest

Our department houses one of the oldest and largest creative writing programmes in the UK. We bring together critical and creative modes of reading and writing in myriad ways – some involving life-writing, some involving philosophy, and others involving visual images or even music. Here you’ll find a supportive, creative team and a place to research and express your ideas.

Critical / Creative This programme provides a rare opportunity to combine, juxtapose, or even fuse critical and creative writing. You will spend your time producing:

either a substantial creative text (such as a novel) alongside a critical text (such as a commentary on and around your novel)

or a single hybrid text (such as a substantial piece of creative-critical writing)

Either way, we’ll guide and support you from beginning to end.

Module Options

Tuition fees.

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£ 21,082 per year

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

University information

University League Table

Campus address.

Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster, Lancashire, LA1 4YW, England

Subject rankings

Subject ranking.

• Creative Writing

10th out of 96 7

6th out of 50

Entry standards

Graduate prospects

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English Literature and Creative Writing PhD Lancaster University

• On campus - h Main Site
• Oct 1, 2024 Part-time - 48 Months
• Oct 1, 2024 Full-time - 36 Months

Key Course Facts

• Admission advice for international students

Course Description

This programme was developed by Lancaster University to meet the needs of students exploring the interface between critical and creative modes of research and writing. It provides a rare opportunity for you to pursue innovative cross-disciplinary research in which the balance of English Literature and Creative Writing is roughly 50/50. It would suit applicants who wish to explore fusions of critical/creative writing or parallel pieces of research.

Our students benefit from the research methodologies training we provide in English Literature and/or Creative Writing and from being a part of the vibrant research culture of the Department.

Entry Requirements / Admissions

Requirements for international students / english requirements.

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

• Graduate Degrees
• Undergraduate Degrees

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Literature or Creative Writing, usually with an average of at least 65% for UK MAs.

2: 1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in English literature or related subject, for example literature in other languages.

As part of your application you also need to provide:

A viable research proposal, which should combine a creative and critical element in equal measure (50/50).

A sample of written work, eg an essay or dissertation chapter of approximately 3000-5000 words.

A portfolio of original writing (no more than 15 poems or 30 pages of prose) showing potential for publication.

Details of the research areas can be found on the Department’s website If you are interested in applying for one of our PhD programmes, you may wish to informally contact a potential supervisor for guidance on the proposal prior to submitting your application. Guidance on the structure of the Creative Writing element of the proposal is also available.

English Language Requirements:

We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously.

We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 7.0, and a minimum of 6.5 in each element of the test. We also consider other English language qualifications.

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 lancaster university in top uk and global rankings., about lancaster university.

Lancaster University was established in 1964 and is located in the rural setting of Lancaster. The campus provides a series of amenities, including banks and a post office. Academically, all of this university’s courses and programmes are accredited and approved by MARP, ensuring that the curriculums delivered here are set at a high standard. In terms of facilities, students have access to a variety of study and recreational spaces intended to improve their wellbeing, such as Meditation and Tai Chi classes, and Woodland walks.

List of 43694 Bachelor and Master Courses from Lancaster University - Course Catalogue

Student composition of Lancaster University

Where is this programme taught.

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Creative Writing PhD

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

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

Lancaster University

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Course info

Entry requirements, tuition fees, latest reviews.

Why Lancaster?

Study online or join us on campus to be close to the Lake District, home of the Romantic poets, and inspiration for many writers since

Benefit from our supervisory strengths in contemporary poetry, fiction, creative-critical writing, creative non-fiction and script writing

Complete a significant creative writing project, whether you want to craft a novel or create an entire script

Be inspired by our rich programme of literary events on campus, online, and in the city’s historic Castle Quarter

Join a vibrant, supportive community of PhD students working across a range of literacy genres and research projects

We have a team of award-winning novelists, poets and playwrights with the expertise and experience to bring your creative project to life. Our staff have a range of impressive accolades including the BBC National Short Story Award, Waterstones’ Children’s Book Prize and Pigott Poetry Prize.

Your unique project

Wondering what a PhD in creative writing looks like? It depends what project you decide to work on. Typically, we would expect a critical writing piece around 20,000 words long and a creative writing piece of around 60-80,000 words. Your creative work can be an extract or a complete piece or collection of prose fiction/non-fiction, a collection of poetry, or a completed script for stage, screen or audio. These are examples; we’re happy to discuss other forms and unique projects with you.

Finding the right supervisor is key to your success as they’ll act as a critical friend. We expect you to already have one in mind while completing your application and to contact them before submitting your application. Most students have one or two supervisors, but you might have more depending on the nature of your project.

Online or on campus?

Our pioneering virtual learning and research facilities mean you can study from anywhere in the world. Our campus students enjoy a lively programme of departmental events and both distance and campus students meet in termly Work in Progress sessions.

If you haven’t studied a Master’s in Creative Writing at Lancaster, you’ll need to complete the core Creative Writing module Research Methods and Professional Practice. You can take this module in person or online.

What students say

The best aspects is my degree, it was the best catered to what I wanted when trying to find a university. The campus itself is also good, the library especially. Being a campus.. Read more

It’s fine. I like the college.. Read more

Module Options

Students need to have: Master's degree or equivalent in English literature or literature in other languages, usually with an average of at least 65% for UK MAs. 2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in English Literature or related subject, for example literature in other languages.

Students living in

£4,786 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)

£21,082 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:.

Bailrigg Lancaster Lancashire LA1 4YW

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• Home »
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• Creative Writing (Distance Learning)

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Lancaster university: creative writing (distance learning).

Distance Learning, 24 months starts Oct 2024

* Why Lancaster?* Study from anywhere in the world, whenever it suits you, with our online tutorials and conferences Sharpen your writing with detailed individual feedback from a published author in your chosen genre Join us for a summer school on campus to spend time with our friendly community, share your work and learn from brilliant writers Learn from published writers who specialise in long prose fiction, memoir, short stories, poetry and work for stage and screen Work towards your ambition of being a published writer – we’ll help you turn your passion into a career path We believe distance learning should be like a book – you should be able to pick it up and put it down when it suits you. By studying with us, you can benefit from invaluable one-to-one support from one of our published writers and work on your writing project without changing your lifestyle.

**A global community** The DLMA Creative Writing at Lancaster has an established track record of success: our list of graduates who have published their work speaks for itself. Studying with us, you’ll become part of our diverse community of students who connect with each other from all corners of the globe, each bringing their unique personal experiences and cultural perspectives to the course.

**Supporting your success** To support your writing project, you’ll learn from detailed online one-to-one tutorials and group conferences. We’ll match you with a published writer in your chosen genre who will be your personal tutor throughout the programme. As well as this one-to-one support, you’ll take part in virtual conferences where you’ll share your work with other students and members of our expert team.

**Unmissable summer school** In the summer term of your first year, we run a week-long summer school on campus. Past students have travelled to Lancaster from locations ranging from the USA to Singapore. While this is an optional part of the programme, previous participants have said this is a highlight of the programme as they have the chance to meet other students in person, join interactive workshops and review their progress face-to-face.

During this exciting week, you’ll also benefit from interacting with professionals such as agents, publishers and writers who join us from across the UK. You’ll also take part in a field trip to the Wordsworth Trust in the beautiful Lake District.

Distance Learning, 24 months started Oct 2023

This part-time creative writing programme links students in the UK and overseas through virtual learning. Students study with us from all parts of the world, working in English but enriching the course with a wide range of personal experience and cultural perspectives.

The course is mediated by online tutorials and conferences. A small cohort of students exchange and critique writing in a range of literary forms. You will be allocated a personal tutor (an expert in your chosen genre or a related field), and our online course site provides research training modules and a cybercafé where you can meet and communicate informally.

At the end of the Summer Term of your first year, you have the option of attending a five day Summer School at the Lancaster University campus. While this is an optional part of the programme, those students who have been able to attend in previous years have found it to be a valuable addition to the programme. It consists of workshops, personal progress reviews, and visits by professionals such as agents, publishers and writers.

Distance Learning, 24 months started Oct 2022

Lancaster University is home to a dynamic postgraduate community and offers a wealth of both taught and research study options across a wide range of subject areas. Studying at Lancaster is all about broadening your horizons, finding new perspectives and discovering new experiences. By living and studying with students and staff from over 130 countries students join a global community and have the opportunity to make international connections.

We are proud to be highly ranked in three major UK league tables. We are also climbing in the world rankings and are currently in the top 125 out of more than …

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Creative Writing (Modular) MA

Lancaster university, 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

Why lancaster.

Study close to the beautiful Lake District, home of the Romantic poets, and inspiration for many writers since

Take part in small-group workshops to develop your novels, stories, poetry, novels, and scripts

Explore the professional dimensions of creative writing, such as reading or performing your work, publishing, and marketing

Get involved with our student-run literary journals

Be inspired by our rich programme of literary events on campus, online, and in the city’s historic Castle Quarter

Lancaster was one of the very first universities to teach creative writing. Today we continue to lead in the discipline with our celebrated novelists, poets and playwrights.

Focused on your growth

We’ve been helping writers reach their potential since 1970. From day one, our focus has always been helping our students hone their own style and sharpen the skills they need for success.

This emphasis continues today so that the focus in all your modules will, ultimately, be your own writing.

With our wide range of optional modules, you can explore traditional forms such as the short story, the novel, poetry, or theatre, as well as digital media, life-writing, place-writing, and writing for young adults.

Support from experts

You’ll work on a core writing project alongside studying the ethical and professional dimensions of publishing and broadcasting your work. This is supplemented by lectures from visiting speakers, as well as one-on-one tutorials, workshops, and lectures with our esteemed visiting professors, currently Paul Muldoon and Mary Talbot.

In the third term, we assign you a genre-specific expert to help develop your final portfolio. This is intended to be suitable for submission to literary journals or agents, setting you on the road to publication.

Your regular small-group workshops will be supplemented by sessions with all the students on the course.

There is plenty of opportunity to meet your tutors face-to-face to discuss your work, and you’ll find they are friendly, interested and encouraging. You’ll also have an academic advisor who will develop an overview of your progress and offer further support.

The course provides many opportunities to develop professionally. You can get involved with our student-run magazines, and will also benefit from our rich programme of guest events featuring leading authors, literary agents, and specialists in the publishing industry.

Each year we encourage our students to bring together and edit their own anthology of student work which is then celebrated in a reading event in the summer term. This event is also a chance to meet summer school students from our distance learning Creative Writing MA.

We hope most of our students go on to publish their own work, and many of the Department’s alumni are now celebrated authors. Recent success stories include Andrew McMillan, Nguyen Phan Que Mai, Martha Sprackland, and Daisy Johnson, the youngest-ever author shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize (2018).

You’ll also develop a host of professional skills, such as researching, drafting, editing, listening, persuading and presenting. From advertising to professional services, your skills will be sought after across many different sectors.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

You need to have 2:1 degree in a related subject is normally required. We will also consider applications on an individual basis where you have a degree in other subjects, have a 2:2 or equivalent result or extensive relevant experience. You should clearly be able to demonstrate how your skills have prepared you for relevant discussions and assessments during postgraduate study.

MA, PG Cert, PG Dip Creative Writing

Anglia ruskin university, creative writing phd, creative writing mphil, ma, pg cert creative writing and publishing (12 months), ma, pg cert creative writing and publishing (15 months).

Courses, apprenticeships, information guides and more

Lancaster University

Degree level: postgraduate, creative writing (research), course options.

There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

We host a thriving international and transcultural community of PhD students working across a range of literary genres and research projects. We have particular supervisory strengths in contemporary poetry, long fiction, short fiction, creative-critical writing and creative non fiction. Many of our PhD students work on projects that explore a sense of place, conflict, cultural tensions and synergies. Our pioneering virtual learning and research facilities means you can study by distance learning from anywhere in the world. Our campus students enjoy a lively and engaging programme of departmental events and both distance and campus students meet in termly Works in Progress sessions conducted virtually and supported by supervision. The core module Research Methods and Professional Practice is compulsory for new first year PhD Creative Writing students who have not taken an MA at Lancaster. This module can be taken in person or by distance learning.

Assessment method

Assessment is by thesis which should be a sustained piece of creative writing of publishable standard and a substantial piece of reflective or critical writing.

Entry requirements

Masters degree or equivalent in English literature or literature in other languages, usually with an average of at least 65% for UK MAs. 2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in English Literature or related subject, for example literature in other languages. Additional Requirements: As part of your application you also need to provide: -A viable research proposal. -A portfolio of original writing (no more than 15 poems or 30 pages of prose) showing potential for publication. We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously. We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 7.0, and a minimum of 6.5 in each element of the test.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees.

No fee information has been provided for this course

Additional fee information

Provider information.

Visit our website

Our COVID-19 information

Lancaster University Bailrigg Lancaster LA1 4YW

Course contact details

Postgraduate enquiries.

[email protected]

01524 510880

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Creative Writing

• Entry year 2024
• Duration Full time 3 - 4 years, Part time 4 - 7 years

Top reasons to study with us

Partners with Wordsworth Grasmere in the English Lake District

World Top 40 QS World Subject Rankings 2024 (English Language & Literature)

Enjoy literary events in Lancaster's Castle Quarter

Why Lancaster?

• Study online or join us on campus to be close to the Lake District, home of the Romantic poets, and inspiration for many writers since
• Benefit from our supervisory strengths in contemporary poetry, fiction, creative-critical writing, creative non-fiction and script writing
• Complete a significant creative writing project, whether you want to craft a novel or create an entire script
• Be inspired by our rich programme of literary events on campus, online, and in the city’s historic Castle Quarter
• Join a vibrant, supportive community of PhD students working across a range of literary genres and research projects

We have a team of award-winning novelists, poets and playwrights with the expertise and experience to bring your creative project to life. Our staff have a range of impressive accolades including the BBC National Short Story Award, Waterstones ’ Children ’s Book Prize and Pigott Poetry Prize. Meet some of our team .

Your unique project

Wondering what a PhD in creative writing looks like? It depends what project you decide to work on. Typically, we would expect a critical writing piece around 20,000 words long and a creative writing piece of around 60-80,000 words. Your creative work can be an extract or a complete piece or collection of prose fiction/non-fiction, a collection of poetry, or a completed script for stage, screen or audio. These are examples; we’re happy to discuss other forms and unique projects with you.

Finding the right supervisor is key to your success as they’ll act as a critical friend. We expect you to already have one in mind while completing your application and to contact them before submitting your application. Most students have one or two supervisors, but you might have more depending on the nature of your project.

Online or on campus?

Our pioneering virtual learning and research facilities mean you can study from anywhere in the world. Our campus students enjoy a lively programme of departmental events and both distance and campus students meet in termly Work in Progress sessions.

If you haven’t studied a Master’s in Creative Writing at Lancaster, you’ll need to complete the core Creative Writing module Research Methods and Professional Practice. You can take this module in person or online.

Meet the team

Our staff have won or been listed for:

• The Betty Trask Award, Portico Prize
• BBC National Short Story Award
• Waterstones’ Children’s Book Prize
• Tir na n-Og Award
• Carnegie Medal
• Somerset Maugham Award
• Whitbread Poetry Prize
• TS Eliot Prize
• Costa Book Award
• Edge Hill Prize
• Papatango Prize
• Eric Gregory Award
• Crashaw Prize
• Bridport Prize
• Pigott Poetry Prize, Desmond Elliott Prize
• Polari First Book Prize

Meet some of our team.

Your department

• English Literature and Creative Writing Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Being so close to the spectacular Lake District, home of the Romantic poets, the Department has world-class strengths in Romanticism. Our partnership with the Wordsworth Trust, at Grasmere, is long-established, and has a number of new benefits for all our students.

The Castle Quarter is both a wonderful place to enjoy, with many excellent places to eat and drink, and a wonderful resource for literary studies here at Lancaster. Our students in the Department of English Literature & Creative Writing have many opportunities to make the most of this resource.

A PhD is a sign of prestige and gives you structured time to work on a specific project. You might complete yours to progress in your academic career or to support your wider creative role in an area like literacy management or publishing. Either way, you’ll be committed to completing a substantial project and dedicating yourself to becoming an expert in your area of writing.

Our PhD students have published a range of work including:

• 'The Mountains Sing' – Nguyen Phan Que Mai (finalist of the 2021 Dayton Literary Peace Prize, winner of the 2020 BookBrowse Best Debut Award, winner of the Blogger's Book Prize 2021, winner of the 2021 International Book Awards, winner of the 2021 PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award, and winner of the 2020 Lannan Literary Award Fellowship)
• 'Alligator and other stories' by Dima Alzayat (James Tait Black Memorial Prize, finalist; PEN/Robert W. Bingham Award, finalist; Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize; Short Story Prize, longlist)
• 'Remembered' by Yvonne Battle-Felton (longlisted for the Women’s Prize for fiction, shortlisted for the Jhalak Prize)
• 'Abundance: Nature in Recovery' by Karen Lloyd
• 'Fruit Knife Autopsy' by Warren Mortimer

Many of our PhD students are interested in teaching the next generation of writers. We’ll let you know about opportunities to gain teaching experience while you study with us.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements.

Master's degree or equivalent in English literature or literature in other languages, usually with an average of at least 65% for UK MAs.

2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in English Literature or related subject, for example literature in other languages

If you have studied outside of the UK, we would advise you to check our list of international qualifications before submitting your application.

Additional Requirements

As part of your application, you also need to provide:

• A viable research proposal
• A portfolio of original writing (no more than 15 poems or 30 pages of prose) showing potential for publication

Details of the research areas can be found on the Department’s website . If you are interested in applying for one of our PhD programmes, you may wish to informally contact a potential supervisor for guidance on the proposal prior to submitting your application. Guidance on the structure of the proposal is also available.

English Language Requirements

We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously.

We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 7.0, and a minimum of 6.5 in each element of the test. We also consider other English language qualifications .

If your score is below our requirements, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language programmes .

Contact: Admissions Team +44 (0) 1524 592032 or email [email protected]

Course structure

You will study a range of modules as part of your course, some examples of which are listed below.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, but changes may be necessary, for example as a result of student feedback, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes, and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

This module prepares you for your dissertation project and supports the development of the research, scholarly and critical skills that it will require. You will be introduced to the idea of ethical practice and any students working on memoirs or verbatim work will be offered specific guidance. You’ll also explore the ideas, concepts and issues around reflective practice and the vital role of research within creative writing.

We’ll study in a cohesive group, bringing students on combined courses and those following different pathways together to create a wider forum; our discussions will focus on professional practice and research issues.

This module aims to enhance your knowledge of library, archival and online research and develop your understanding of the creative process - taking you from first draft to final submission, including problem-solving strategies for creative blocks or obstacles. The module also places your creative work in the context of a professional literary world.

Indicative study themes:

• Understanding the Research Context
• Library, Online and Archival Research
• Scholarly Conventions
• Creative and Professional Presentation
• Research and Reflective Practice
• The Ethical Researcher

Fees and funding

General fees and funding information

There may be extra costs related to your course for items such as books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation, you may need to pay a subscription to a professional body for some chosen careers.

Specific additional costs for studying at Lancaster are listed below.

College fees

Lancaster is proud to be one of only a handful of UK universities to have a collegiate system. Every student belongs to a college, and all students pay a small College Membership Fee  which supports the running of college events and activities. Students on some distance-learning courses are not liable to pay a college fee.

For students starting in 2023 and 2024, the fee is £40 for undergraduates and research students and £15 for students on one-year courses. Fees for students starting in 2025 have not yet been set.

Computer equipment and internet access

To support your studies, you will also require access to a computer, along with reliable internet access. You will be able to access a range of software and services from a Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux device. For certain degree programmes, you may need a specific device, or we may provide you with a laptop and appropriate software - details of which will be available on relevant programme pages. A dedicated  IT support helpdesk  is available in the event of any problems.

The University provides limited financial support to assist students who do not have the required IT equipment or broadband support in place.

For most taught postgraduate applications there is a non-refundable application fee of £40. We cannot consider applications until this fee has been paid, as advised on our online secure payment system. There is no application fee for postgraduate research applications.

For some of our courses you will need to pay a deposit to accept your offer and secure your place. We will let you know in your offer letter if a deposit is required and you will be given a deadline date when this is due to be paid.

The fee that you pay will depend on whether you are considered to be a home or international student. Read more about how we assign your  fee status .

If you are studying on a programme of more than one year’s duration, tuition fees are reviewed annually and are not fixed for the duration of your studies. Read more about  fees in subsequent years .

Scholarships and bursaries

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status and course. You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

If you're considering postgraduate research you should look at our funded PhD opportunities .

We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries .

Similar courses

English literature and creative writing.

• Creative Writing (Distance Learning) MA
• Creative Writing (modular) MA
• Creative Writing with English Literary Studies MA
• English Literary Research MA
• English Literary Studies MA
• English Literary Studies with Creative Writing MA
• English Literature PhD
• English Literature and Creative Writing PhD
• Gender Studies and English MA

Important Information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2024/2025 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information .

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies .

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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

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The On-Campus and Online versions of Purdue OWL assist clients in their development as writers—no matter what their skill level—with on-campus consultations, online participation, and community engagement. The Purdue OWL serves the Purdue West Lafayette and Indianapolis campuses and coordinates with local literacy initiatives. The Purdue OWL offers global support through online reference materials and services.

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Admissions - MFA in Creative Writing

The 2023-2024 Graduate Admissions Application is now OPEN! https://grad.ucdavis.edu/apply  

The deadline to apply to our program is January 5, 2024

Graduate Studies'  Applications Page  covers most campus-level admissions questions, but feel free to contact our graduate program staff for more details and specific guidance. Applications are reviewed once all supporting materials have been received. For more information about your application status, please check online or contact our graduate program staff.

Application Requirements:

• Writing sample
• Statement of Purpose
• Personal History & Diversity Statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• TOEFL or IELTS scores, if applicable
• Copies of transcripts
• Application Fee (2023-2024 cycle): $135 for U.S. and $155 for international applicants
• Admissions Requirements and Eligibility  as set by UC Davis Graduate Studies
• Writing sample in your preferred genre 

Either ten to twelve poems or up to thirty pages (double-spaced) of prose. Hybrid-form work must not exceed thirty pages.

To apply for admission to our Creative Writing MFA program, you are encouraged to include, as a writing sample, your very best creative writing.  Typically, two—or at the most three—genres exist in a graduate Creative Writing program: Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction.  At UCD, we think of genre as a useful thing to consider… but we do not think of the various genres—however many you would like to list—as necessarily unmixable modes.    

For us, the value of a piece of writing is better gauged directly—by what it says to its readers, and by what that saying does to those readers—rather than by its successful or unsuccessful identification with one or another of the historically certified genres.  This is not to say that we don't believe in genre, or in the usefulness of plumbing each purported genre's history; it is to say, rather, or  to notice…  that the border between one genre and another is not so much a Great Wall as a small fence.

• Please highlight your academic preparation and motivation; interests, specialization and career goals; and fit for pursuing graduate study at UC Davis.
• Personal History and Diversity Statement

The University of California Davis, a public institution, is committed to supporting the diversity of the graduate student body and promoting equal opportunity in higher education. This commitment furthers the educational mission to serve the increasingly diverse population and educational needs of California and the nation. Both the Vice Provost of Graduate Education/Dean of Graduate Studies and the University of California affirm that diversity is critical to promoting lively intellectual exchange and the variety of ideas and perspectives essential to advancing higher education and research. Our graduate students contribute to the global pool of future scholars and academic leaders, thus high value is placed on achieving a diverse graduate student body to support the University of California’s academic excellence. We invite you to include in this statement how you may contribute to the diversification of graduate education and the UC Davis community.

The purpose of this essay is to get to know you as an individual and potential graduate student. Please describe how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. You may include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, community service, outreach activities, residency and citizenship, first-generation college status, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how your life experiences contribute to the social, intellectual, or cultural diversity within a campus community and your chosen field; or how you might serve educationally underrepresented and underserved segments of society with your graduate education.  

This essay should complement but not duplicate the content in the Statement of Purpose. Your Personal History and Diversity Statement must be entered directly into a text box in the application, and has a 4,000 character limit including spaces.

• Three letters of recommendations
• Letters should be from professors or other persons situated to speak about your potential for graduate Creative Writing study. You might also think of potential letter-writers in terms of their ability to speak to your participation in a dedicated community.
• Applicants must submit TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo scores unless they have earned or will be earning a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from either a regionally accredited or foreign college/university which provides instruction solely in English. See the  English Language Requirement  section for details. 
• Transcripts
• Transcripts are required from each post-secondary institution you have attended.   Copies or unofficial transcripts are allowed. If admitted, you’ll be required to send official transcripts for every institution listed on your application.
• Application fee
• The application fee is set by the UC Davis Office of Graduate Studies. The application fee for the 2023-2024 cycle is $135 for domestic students and $155 for international students, payable online. Waivers of this fee are only available to participants in  one of several graduate preparatory programs .  The MFA program has no ability to grant application fee waivers. 

Application FAQs :  https://grad.ucdavis.edu/admissions-process-overview

We aim for a class of 10 to 12 writers, hoping for a balance between genres. The writing sample is the most important part of your application; the committee is looking for high quality work in the applicant’s genre of choice.  All students in the MFA program at UC Davis take at least one workshop outside their primary genre, so you need not apply to a second genre in order to have access to it as a student.

The committee makes admissions and financial aid decisions simultaneously.  We offer a limited number of first-year funding packages; all second year students have access to full funding.

For the Fall 2021 cohort, we received 137 applications, admitted 16 (13 initial applicants and 3 waitlisted applicants), and 11 of those students will be joining us in the Fall.

• Funding your MFA

At UC Davis, we offer you the ability to fund your MFA. In fact, all students admitted to the program are guaranteed full funding in the second year of study, when students serve as teachers of Introduction to Creative Writing (English 5) and receive, in exchange, tuition and health insurance remission as well as a monthly stipend (second year students who come to Davis from out of state are expected to establish residency during their first year). We have a more limited amount of resources – teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and out of state tuition wavers – allocated to us for first year students, but in recent years, we’ve had excellent luck funding our accepted first years. We help students who do not receive English department funding help themselves by posting job announcements from other departments during the spring and summer leading up to their arrival. We are proud to say that over the course of the last twenty years, nearly every incoming student has wound up with at least partial funding (including a tuition waiver and health insurance coverage) by the time classes begin in the fall.

We have other resources for students, too – like the Miller Fund, which supports attendance for our writers at any single writer’s workshop or conference. Students have used these funds to attend well-known conferences like AWP, Writing By Writers, and the Tin House Conference. The Davis Humanities Institute offers a fellowship that first year students can apply for to fund their writing projects. Admitted students are also considered for University-wide fellowships

For additional information, please contact:

Sarah Yunus [email protected] Department of English Graduate Program Coordinator for the MFA Program in Creative Writing (530) 752-2281