MA Contemporary Writing (Online) (Taught)

In December 2024, the University of Bolton was granted permission by the Office for Students (OfS) to change its name to the University of Greater Manchester with immediate effect. While we work to update our systems, you may see both names used in the information we provide.

This MA Contemporary Writing offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of literature, exploring cutting-edge issues, from race and gender to sustainability and posthumanism. Students choose either the Creative or the Critical Pathway, developing a portfolio of scholarly or creative writing (fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, scriptwriting), culminating in a specialist dissertation project. Our flexible delivery model will enable you to study around your existing commitments.

If you are interested in the intersection of literature, society, politics and culture, this MA in Contemporary Writing will allow you to explore these interests under the expert tutelage of award-winning writers and scholars. Our staff and students are committed to better futures, and aim to create work – whether scholarly or creative - that engages with social, political, and ecological change.

You’ll gain a range of writing skills that play a pivotal role in today’s world – whether that’s drafting a play about queer identity, a collection of eco-poetry, or an innovative work of research-informed creative-nonfiction; composing key policy documents or cutting-edge local or national journalism; or embarking on your own scholarly career. This course offers a hands-on education in developing your craft as writers, researchers and thinkers, equipping you with the creative confidence and critical acuity that will allow you to see your ideas through to fruition.

Our asynchronous model is designed to work around your life, work, and commitments. Our modules are constructed through a series of recorded mini-lectures, readings, writing and research exercises and other activities that allow flexible participation for both full-time and part-time students, supported by tutorials from expert staff members. The curriculum includes both key historical texts and essential contemporary writing and research, ensuring you get a through grounding in key areas of cultural thought. Both Creative and Critical strands incorporate group workshops, which will develop your editorial and collaborative skills.

Beyond technical mastery and enhanced subject-area knowledge, the course fosters essential professional skills such as communication, project management, and teamwork, ensuring graduates are ready to advance their careers across multiple sectors.