Creative Writing (F71) | Open University

Course summary

This qualification is an opportunity to develop your skills as a writer in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction and scriptwriting for film, radio and the stage. You'll be able to write in a genre of your choice and experiment with at least one other through practical and inspiring activities. You'll also hone your practice through sharing, reading and critiquing the writing of your peers in online forums. You’ll work towards producing a substantial piece of your own creative writing to a professional standard.

Key features of the course

Develop writing skills and awareness of approaches to writing
Progress and hone sophisticated writing skills in at least one genre
Gain a sound knowledge of, and ability in, a secondary genre
Engage in sharing, critiquing and reviewing a variety of writing by your peers

Modules

To gain this qualification, you need 180 credits. You'll study one compulsory 60-credit module and one compulsory 120-credit module. You must pass part 1 before progressing to part 2.

MA Creative Writing part 1 (60 credits)
This module is an exciting opportunity to develop your skills in fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction and scriptwriting, using practical writing, reading and research activities.

MA Creative Writing part 2 (120 credits)
Specialising in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction or script writing, you will work towards a substantial piece of creative writing produced to a professional standard.

Entry requirements

You must hold a UK honours degree (or equivalent), preferably with at least a 2:1 classification. Although your degree does not need to be in creative writing or a closely related subject, you will need some knowledge of creative writing to successfully complete this qualification, as the MA in Creative Writing assumes all candidates have the knowledge and skills usually acquired by pursuing this subject at undergraduate level. Please note that this is not a qualification for those who are just starting to write creatively.

If your degree is not in creative writing or a closely related subject, we strongly recommend that you read the preparatory work indicated in MA Creative Writing part 1. Alternatively, you could undertake our free online creative writing short courses ‘Writing what you know’, ‘Start writing fiction’ and ‘Creative writing and critical reading’ on OpenLearn to ensure that your skills – writing, reading, editorial, reflective, analytical – are at an appropriate standard.

If you don’t have a Creative Writing degree, when you apply, please make sure to provide evidence of any writing experience, such as through short courses, workshops, publications or any preparatory work you've undertaken.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

As fees for individual modules can vary, the total cost you pay for your qualification depends on the modules you choose to study. For further information about fees, please refer to the course description on The Open University website.