PhD, MPhil, MRes Creative Writing

The University of Strathclyde offers a PhD, MPhil, and MRes in Creative Writing. This program allows students to pursue a particular sustained project in creative writing, with the opportunity to work closely with published authors and industry experts.

Research Opportunities

The program offers research opportunities in various genres, including:

• Poetry
• Fiction
• Imaginative non-fiction
• Hybrid writing

Students can study the PhD in Creative Writing full-time over three years or part-time over six years. The length of the project can be negotiated with the supervisor, but it is usually around 80,000 words.

MPhil and MRes

The MPhil and MRes are one-year degree options that offer the opportunity to work closely with two expert researchers in the field and produce a longer piece of work, such as a novel, memoir, or poetry collection.

• The MPhil thesis is 20,000-25,000 words (or equivalent for poetry, hybrid work, screen, or playwriting), with an additional critical commentary of 10,000-15,000 words.
• The MRes thesis is 25,000 words (or equivalent for poetry, hybrid work, screen, or playwriting), with a taught component and a 5,000-word critical commentary.

Fees and Funding

The tuition fees for the program are as follows:

• Scotland: £4,786 (2024/25), £5,006 (2025/26)
• England, Wales, and Northern Ireland: £4,786 (2024/25), £5,006 (2025/26)
• Republic of Ireland: same as England, Wales, and Northern Ireland
• International: £18,050 (2024/25), £21,550 (2025/26)

The university offers various funding opportunities, including doctoral studentships from the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the Scottish Graduate School for the Arts and Humanities, and the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland.

Supervisors

The program has a team of experienced supervisors with expertise in various areas, including:

• Prose fiction (novel, short story)
• Hybridity, experiment, and difficulty
• Literature and gender
• Contemporary novel and short story
• Latin American fiction
• Alasdair Gray studies
• Contemporary Scottish writing
• Poetry and poetics
• Creative nonfiction
• Experimental fictions
• Innovative practice-based and interdisciplinary research

Support and Development

The university provides a range of support and development opportunities, including:

• The Graduate School, a friendly and supportive study environment for research students
• The Postgraduate Certificate in Researcher Professional Development (PgCert RPD) program, which aims to ensure students get the most out of their research activities and prepare for their future careers
• The University Careers Service, which provides help with CV writing, interview preparation, and job searching
• Student support services, including financial advice, IT facilities, and disability and wellbeing services

Entry Requirements

The normal entry requirements for the program are a first-class or upper second-class Honours degree, or an overseas equivalent. Applicants must also provide a draft research proposal, a writing sample, and two references, one of which must be academic.

Application Process

Applications to undertake a PhD in Creative Writing must include:

• Full contact details
• Proof of English language proficiency (if English is not the first language)
• A proposal of between 1,500 and 2,000 words
• A 3-5 page writing sample
• Two references, one of which must be academic
• Transcripts and certificates of all degrees

The proposal should cover the research question, context, methods, preparedness, and environment, and should include an outline of the creative project and a detailed discussion of the critical component of the PhD.

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Other:

• The program offers three years of full-time study or six years of part-time study.
• Students will create a piece of imaginative writing in collaboration with a successful, published author.
• Students can specialize in one of these genres:
• poetry
• fiction
• imaginative non-fiction
• hybrid writing
• The length of the project can be negotiated with the supervisor, but will usually be around 80,000 words.
• All projects are different, and exact word counts will be tailored to particular projects, usually dependent on the form of the work, also the nature of the accompanying critical element that is also submitted as part of a PhD alongside the creative work.
• A good Creative Writing PhD contains these two parts - creative and critical writing - working in conversation with each other.

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Overview:

• Founded in 1796 as Anderson's Institution
• Received its Royal Charter in 1964, becoming the University of Strathclyde
• Consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the UK for engineering and technology
• Home to the Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), a world-leading research center in metal forming
• Notable alumni include Sir James Black (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine), Sir David Murray (former CEO of Rangers Football Club), and Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell (astrophysicist)

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Student Life:

• Over 23,000 students from over 100 countries
• 150+ student clubs and societies, including sports teams, cultural groups, and academic societies
• Student support services include counseling, health, and disability support
• Campus facilities include a sports center, library, and student union

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Academics:

• Offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in engineering, science, business, law, and social sciences
• Faculty includes world-renowned experts in their fields
• Teaching methodologies emphasize hands-on learning and industry engagement
• Academic support services include tutoring, writing centers, and language support
• Unique academic programs include the Strathclyde MBA, which is ranked among the top 100 MBAs in the world

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Top Reasons to Study Here:

• Excellent reputation for teaching and research, particularly in engineering and technology
• Strong industry connections and opportunities for internships and placements
• Specialized facilities such as the AFRC and the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
• Vibrant student life with a diverse and inclusive community
• Located in the heart of Glasgow, a vibrant and cosmopolitan city

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Services:

• Counseling and mental health support
• Health center with a range of medical services
• Accommodation services with a variety of on-campus and off-campus options
• Library resources with over 1 million books and journals
• Technology support including IT services and free Wi-Fi
• Career development services with support for job searching, CV writing, and interview preparation