Overview

The Creative Writing programme at the University of Essex encourages you to develop your writing by stepping outside your comfort zone and discovering the different approaches to verbal art that are possible today. This will invigorate your own practice, whether you are writing psychogeography, plays, novels, stories or something else.

Essex has nurtured a long tradition of distinguished authors whose work has shaped literature as we know it today, from past giants such as the American poets Robert Lowell and Ted Berrigan, to contemporary writers such as mythographer and novelist Dame Marina Warner, and Booker Prize winner Ben Okri.

Your future

Many of its students have gone on to successfully publish their work, notable recent alumni including:

Ida Løkås, who won a literary prize in Norway for The Beauty That Flows Past, securing a book deal

Alexia Casale, whose novel Bone Dragon was published by Faber & Faber and subsequently featured on both the Young Adult Books of the Year 2013 list for The Financial Times, and The Independent's Books of the year 2013: Children

Elaine Ewart, graduate from our MA Wild Writing and PhD Creative Writing courses, placed second in the New Welsh Writing Awards 2015

Patricia Borlenghi, the founder of Patrician Press, which has published works by a number of our alumni

Petra McQueen, who has written for The Guardian and runs creative writing courses and is studying PhD Creative Writing in the Department

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Programme Structure

Courses include:

The New Nature Writing

Writing the Novel

Creative Writing Workshop

Dramatic Structure

The Modern City: From Modernism to Postmodernism

Check out the full curriculum

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Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 12 months
Part-time
- 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-10-02 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-07-21 00:00:00 , International
- Apply before 2026-09-08 00:00:00 , National

More details

We recommend that you apply as soon as you are able to as courses may occasionally close early.

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

76

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IELTS

7

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Credits

180 alternative credits

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Colchester, United Kingdom

Disciplines

Creative Writing View 191 other Masters in Creative Writing in United Kingdom

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Academic requirements

GPA

Lower Second Class

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

76

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

7

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

A 2:2 degree in one of the following subjects:

Art History

Creative Writing

History

Journalism

Literature

Media Studies

Music

Performing Arts

Philosophy

Politics

Sociology

Theatre/Drama Studies

They accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications they accept. Remember to tell them about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.

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Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

23875 GBP / year

≈ 23875 GBP / year
Domestic Applies to you

Applies to you

Citizens or residents

11025 GBP / year

≈ 11025 GBP / year

Living costs

Colchester

United Kingdom

660 - 1140 GBP / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

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In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Creative Writing.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Your future

Get more details

Programme Structure

Check out the full curriculum

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

Explore more key information

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Make sure you meet all requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic Applies to you

Living costs

Colchester

Funding

Check for any work restrictions

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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