Creative Writing (Taught)

At the heart of the Manchester Writing School are our masters programmes in Creative Writing, available to study on campus in Manchester and also from anywhere in the world via online distance learning.

On our MFA Creative Writing programme, you will explore and practice techniques and styles of modern and contemporary writing and apply these through the development of your own full-length book or script.

MFA students undertake all of the elements of our MA Creative Writing programme (a taught element blending writing workshops with reading modules, option modules, and a dissertation), then take an addition module about the publishing, literary and arts industries and submit a full-length manuscript: a completed novel or short story collection, poetry collection, book for children or young adults, script for stage, screen or radio, or book of creative non-fiction.

You will specialise in one of the following routes: Novel (including Short Fiction), Poetry, Writing for Children & Young Adults, Scriptwriting (for stage, screen or radio) or Creative Non-Fiction.

The MFA is available to complete in two years full-time or three years part-time. The novel and poetry routes are available to study on campus (full-time or part-time) or online (part-time only). The writing for children and creative non-fiction routes are online (part-time) only. The scriptwriting route is available to study on campus only. We have intakes to the programme in September and January each year.

• One of the most successful programmes of its kind in the UK today – with more than 100 students and graduates publishing first books and having work produced, and many more achieving publication in journals and magazines, winning writing awards and prizes, setting up small presses and anthologies, and finding roles in the publishing industry.

• Flexible learning - classes for core Workshop and Reading modules take place in the evenings (6-8pm UK time) during the autumn or spring semesters. Full-time students usually have classes two evenings per week, and part-time students one evening per week.

• Live online teaching - the course can be completed entirely online, with core Workshop and Reading module teaching for distance learning students via weekly online classes in Microsoft Teams, and some option modules also available online (availability varies each year).

• Option modules - all students take a 30 credit option module and can choose from a range of creative writing modules, or modules from our MA English Studies and MA Publishing courses.

• Full-length manuscript - MFA students submit a full-length manuscript: a completed novel or short story collection, poetry collection, book for children or young adults, feature-length script or book of creative non-fiction, completed over a full year with one-to-one editorial input from a dedicated Manuscript Mentor. Manuscript students also attend The Industry - a semester of weekly seminars with guests from the publishing, literary and cultural industries introducing career opportunities for creative writers.

• Academic expertise - taught by high-profile writers and critics under the direction of Professor Carol Ann Duffy DBE.

• Home to Manchester Poetry Library - Manchester Poetry Library is the North West's first public poetry library and holds over 12,000 books and recordings that can be explored through the online catalogue, in person and through the annual programme of events.

• Manchester City of Literature - Manchester has been designated an international UNESCO City of Literature in recognition of its thriving live literature scene.

• Research power - English at Manchester Met was ranked 8th out of 92 UK universities for the power of our research and students can access world-leading expertise and an exciting collection of community-facing projects, events and activities through our research groups, with strengths in poetry, place writing, game studies and more.