Overview

The Creative Writing programme at University College Dublin offers a dedicated environment for writers to refine their craft under the guidance of internationally recognised authors. This Master of Arts degree provides a structured framework of workshops and seminars designed to help students complete a significant literary project. By engaging with contemporary theory and practice, participants develop the critical skills necessary to edit and enhance their own creative work.

Why Creative Writing at University College Dublin?

University College Dublin has a prestigious literary history, with former associations including James Joyce and Maeve Binchy. Students benefit from a teaching staff of acclaimed novelists and poets, including Booker Prize winners and industry experts. The university provides unique access to the National Folklore Collection and Special Collections, offering rich archival material for research. Additionally, the programme includes a weekly visiting writer series and opportunities to contribute to a published anthology.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: EUR 22600 per year
European fee: EUR 10350 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum is designed to cover various genres and forms, culminating in a substantial final project. Modules may include:

Craft and Composition
Writing Poetry
Life Writing
Growing the Seed of Story
Research for Writers
Writing Project
Craft of Contemporary Poetry
Creative Reading

Careers with Creative Writing

Graduates of the programme have successfully established themselves within the global literary and artistic culture. Many alumni have secured publishing deals with major houses, such as Puffin, and have produced award-winning trilogies, novels, and poetry collections. The course prepares students for professional life as authors, while also providing a foundation for further academic pursuits, including doctoral research in literature. The skills gained in critical assessment and narrative construction are highly valued across the creative industries.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

The seminars, workshops and supervision meetings aim to provide committed writers with taught classes on theories and practices of writing, presentation and editing techniques, creative reading of selected texts, and supervision of a major writing project.

Among the important issues addressed on an ongoing basis are voice and structure.

Every effort is made to ensure that a student progresses on these as well as many other fronts.

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 12 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-09-07 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-07-01 00:00:00 , International

More details

UCD operates a rolling admissions policy for Graduate Taught Courses, with decisions being taken as soon as possible after receipt of completed applications.

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

130

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TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

65

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

7.5

Prepare for Your English Test

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

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98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Credits

90 ECTS

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Dublin, Ireland

Disciplines

Creative Writing View 19 other Masters in Creative Writing in Ireland

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

130

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

65

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

7.5

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

The entry requirement for the MA programme is a BA Hons English or equivalent, and/or proven commitment to and experience in the field of creative writing; a portfolio (c.25 pages) of recent creative work; a personal statement of reasons for taking the course and references.

Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 7.5 (no band less than 7.0 in each element), or equivalent

Student Insurance via Studyportals Partner

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Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at University College Dublin and/or in Ireland, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

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

22600 EUR / year

≈ 22600 EUR / year
EU/EEA Applies to you

Applies to you

EU/EEA Nationals

10350 EUR / year

≈ 10350 EUR / year

Additional Details

The displayed fees are for 2024. Fees for 2025 will be updated soon.

Living costs

Dublin

Ireland

1100 - 1800 EUR / 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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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

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Student Insurance via Studyportals Partner

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

EU/EEA Applies to you

Additional Details

Living costs

Dublin

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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