Introduction to the Creative Writing and the Writing Industries MA

The Creative Writing and the Writing Industries MA at Loughborough University is designed to help students develop their writing skills in a range of different genres and give them the practical knowledge needed to build a successful career in the industry. This programme is ideal for students who aspire to gain the skills and knowledge that unlock careers in a wide range of sectors, including roles in the writing industries, arts and heritage, events management, fundraising, publishing, and teaching.

Qualification(s) Available: MA

• The MA Creative Writing and the Writing Industries allows graduates to refine and apply their writing skills in a range of genres, and gain a comprehensive knowledge of the writing industries, including publishing pathways, professional practices, and cultural communications.
• The programme includes core creative writing modules alongside professional development, enabling students to learn how these things relate to each other in the case of each individual; their writing, skills, and aspirations.

Fees

• The fee stated is for a full-time student undertaking a master’s programme of 180 credits. Part-time students should divide the published fee by 180 credits and then multiply by the number of credits they are taking to calculate their tuition fees.
• Fees for the academic year apply to courses starting in October 2025 or January 2026. Fees for the academic year apply to courses starting in October 2026.
• The fee for the academic year is:
  • UK fee: £12,500 Full-time degree per annum
  • International fee: £25,500 Full-time degree per annum
• Fees are reviewed annually and are likely to increase to take into account inflationary pressures.

Scholarships and Bursaries

• There are scholarships and bursaries available to help with funding your study.
• 10% off tuition fees: Loughborough University Alumni Bursary
• 20% off tuition fees: Excellence Scholarship
• Master's degree funding is also available.

Entry Requirements

• Second-class degree (2:2 / 55%) or above in a relevant subject (applicants with other equivalent experience who have a track record of writing, but a lower class or less relevant degree are encouraged to apply).
• Personal statement of not more than 300 words, and a portfolio of creative writing in any form or genre, of not more than 3,000 words.
• Country/region equivalent:
  • Afghanistan: Masters, 95%
  • Albania: Diplomë e Nivelit të Pare, 9.5
  • Algeria: Licence, 16
  • Argentina: Licenciatura, 8.5
  • Armenia: Bakalavri Kochum, 90% or 3.9
  • Australia: Honours degree, First Class, 80%
  • Austria: Degree/Diplomstudium, A (or 1.5) mit Auszeichnungbestanden
  • Azerbaijan: Bakalavr Diplomu, 4.5 or 90%
  • Bahamas: Degree from University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
  • Bahrain: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
  • Bangladesh: 4 Year Bachelor of Science in Engineering, 1st (70%) / 3.5
  • Barbados: University of the West Indies, Honours degree, 1st (GPA 3.6)
  • Belarus: Specialist Diploma, 9
  • Belgium: Bachelor degree, 80% or 17
  • Belize: Degree from University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
  • Benin: Maitrise, 18
  • Bermuda: Degree from University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
  • Bolivia: Licenciado, 85/78
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina: Diplom Visokog Obrazovanja, 10
  • Botswana: Master's degree, A or 80%
  • Brazil: Bacharel or Licenciado, 8.5
  • Brunei: First
  • Bulgaria: Diploma za Zavarsheno Visshe Obrazovanie, 6
  • Burundi: Diplome d'Etude Approfondies, 18
  • Cambodia: Master's, 80% or B+ or 3.5
  • Cameroon: Bachelor degree, 1st / 3.6 or 15/Tres Bien
  • Canada: GPA 4.0/Percentage, 3.7/85%
  • Chile: Grado de Licenciado, 6
  • China: Bachelor degree, 83% (Top 250 Shanghai rank)
  • Colombia: Licenciado, 4.5
  • Costa Rica: Licenciado, 9
  • Croatia: Baccalaureus, 4.5
  • Cuba: Titulo de Licenciado, 5
  • Cyprus: Bachelor degree, 8.5
  • Czech Republic: Bakalár, 1
  • Denmark: Candidatus/Candidata Magisterii, 12
  • Dominican Republic: Licenciado, 3.8
  • Ecuador: Título de Licenciado, 8.5
  • Egypt: Bachelor degree, 3.5
  • El Salvador: Licenciado, 8.5
  • Estonia: Bakalaureusekraad, 5
  • Ethiopia: Master's, A or 80%
  • Finland: Kandidaattii, 3
  • France: Licence, 14
  • Georgia: 4-year degree, 5 (95%)
  • Germany: German Bachelor, 1.5
  • Ghana: Bachelor degree, First
  • Greece: Ptychio, 8.5
  • Grenada: Degree from University of West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
  • Guatemala: Licenciado, 90% (public university) / 95% (private university)
  • Guyana: Master's, GPA 4
  • Honduras: Título de Licenciado, GPA 5 or 90%
  • Hong Kong: Bachelor degree, 1st or 3.5/4
  • Hungary: Alapfokozt, 4.5
  • Iceland: Baccalaurreatus degree, 8.5
  • India: Institutions listed on the National Institutional Ranking Framework, 65% (First)
  • Indonesia: Sarjana I, 3.3
  • Iran: Bachelor degree, 17
  • Iraq: Bachelor degree, 80%
  • Ireland: Bachelor degree, First (70%)
  • Israel: Bachelor degree, 90%
  • Italy: Diploma di Laurea, 109/110
  • Ivory Coast: Diplome d'Etude Approfondies, 16
  • Jamaica: Degree from University of West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
  • Japan: Gakushi, 85% or A or 3.5
  • Jordan: Bachelor degree, 3.5
  • Kazakhstan: GPA 5.0/percentage scale, 4.5 or 90%
  • Kenya: Bachelor degree, First or 70%
  • Kosovo: Bachelor degree, 10
  • Kuwait: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
  • Latvia: Bachelor degree, 9
  • Lebanon: American, 90% (3.5)
  • Liberia: Master's, 4.0 or 90%
  • Libya: BSc Engineering, 85 (3.6)
  • Lithuania: Bachelor degree, 9
  • Luxembourg: Bachelor degree, 18 (excellent)
  • Macau: Bachelor degree, 1st or GPA 3.7
  • Macedonia: Magistar, 10
  • Malawi: Master's, MSc 75%
  • Malaysia: Bachelor degree, First Class
  • Malta: Bachelor degree, 1st (80%)
  • Mauritius: Bachelor degree, 1st or 70%
  • Mexico: Licenciado, 8.5
  • Moldova: Diploma de Licenţă, 9
  • Mongolia: Диплом Специалиста, 90% or 3.5
  • Montenegro: Diploma of Completed Undergraduate Studies, 10 (or 5.0)
  • Morocco: Diplôme d'Ingénieur d'État, 16
  • Mozambique: Mestrado, 16
  • Myanmar (Burma): Master's, 5 or 85%
  • Namibia: Bachelor (Honours), 80% or A
  • Nepal: 4-year professional degree, 80% or 3.7 GPA
  • Netherlands: Bachelor degree, 8
  • New Zealand: 4 Year Honours degree, First (7.0)
  • Nicaragua: Licenciado, 90%
  • Nigeria: 7 point Scale, 6
  • Norway: Kandidatexamen, A / 1.8
  • Oman: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
  • Pakistan: 4 Year degree, A- or GPA 3.7
  • Palestine: Bachelor (4-years), (85%) 3.5
  • Panama: Licenciado, 91 (A)
  • Papua New Guinea: Bachelor (Honours) Degree, 1st
  • Paraguay: Título de Licenciado, 4.5 (85%)
  • Peru: Título de Licenciado, 14
  • Philippines: Degree from prestigious state universities, Summa Cum Laude 4.0 / 96% / 1.0
  • Poland: Bachelor Degree, 5
  • Portugal: Diplomado, 18
  • Qatar: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
  • Romania: Diploma de Licenta, 9
  • Russia: Bakalavr, 4.5
  • Rwanda: 4-year bachelor (Hons) degree, 1st, 16/20 (80%)
  • Saudi Arabia: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
  • Senegal: Maitrise, 16/20 or Tres Bien
  • Serbia: Diplomirani, 9
  • Sierra Leone: Honours degree, 1st (70%)
  • Singapore: Bachelor (Hons), First
  • Slovakia: Bakalár, 1.5
  • Slovenia: Univerzitetni diplom, 9
  • South Africa: Bachelor (Honours), 1st or 75%
  • South Korea: GPA out of 4.5, 3.8 / B+
  • Spain: Licenciado, 8.5
  • Sri Lanka: 4-year Professional degree, 90%, GPA 3.70
  • Sudan: 4-year degree, 1st, 70%, B+
  • Sweden: Kandidatexamen, Overall grade of VG with a minimum of 120 credits at VG
  • Switzerland: Bachelor Degree, 10 / 5.5 / 1
  • Syria: State universities, 80%
  • Taiwan: Category 1 (4 year degree), 80%
  • Tajikistan: Диплом специалиста, 5
  • Tanzania: Bachelor (Hons) degree, 1st
  • Thailand: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
  • Trinidad and Tobago: Degree from University of West Indies, 1st or GPA 3.6
  • Tunisia: Licence, 16 (tres bien)
  • Turkey: Lisans Diplomasi, 3.5
  • Turkmenistan: 4 Yr Bakalavr, 5
  • Uganda: Master's, A or 4.0 or 80%
  • Ukraine: Dyplom Magistra, 4.5
  • United Arab Emirates: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
  • United States of America: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
  • Uruguay: Licenciado, 9
  • Uzbekistan: Majistr Diplomi, 90% or GPA 4.5
  • Venezuela: Licenciado, 18/20 or 8/9
  • Vietnam: 10-point scale, 8.0
  • Zambia: Master's, A or 4.0 or 80%
  • Zimbabwe: 3/4 year degree, 1st or 75%

English Language Requirements

Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website.

What You'll Study

The MA Creative Writing and the Writing Industries programme includes core creative writing modules alongside professional development. You will learn how these things relate to each other in the case of each individual; their writing, skills, and aspirations. There are workshops on a range of genres in fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry, as well as sessions on how to plan, structure, and edit completed work in your chosen form. You will also learn about the role of writers in a variety of settings, including the Heritage Sector, community arts, and events.

Semester 1

• Compulsory modules:
  • Resources for Advanced Research (15 credits)
  • Writing for Publication (30 credits)
  • Preserving the Past: Contemporary Literature and Culture (15 credits)

Semester 2

• Compulsory modules:
  • The Writer and the Writing Industries (30 credits)
  • Literary Festival Management: Planning, Delivering, Evaluating (15 credits)
  • Twenty-First Century U.S. Literature and Culture (15 credits)
• Optional modules (choose one):
  • Dissertation (60 credits)
  • The Writing Industries Project (60 credits)

Summer

• Optional modules:
  • Dissertation (60 credits)
  • The Writing Industries Project (60 credits)

How You'll Be Assessed

You’ll be assessed on your creative writing, and how it develops, as well as how you develop your profile and skill-set as a writer. This will include presentations and readings as well as evidence of research and how you make use of it.

How You'll Study

Each module will be taught through workshops and seminars. There will also be field trips to heritage sites, group feedback sessions, and one-to-one tutorials to help you develop your work.

• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Field trips
• Independent study
• Group work
• Workshops

Your Development

Our School of Social Sciences and Humanities is committed to helping you develop the skills and attributes you need to progress successfully in your chosen career. On successful completion of our Creative Writing and the Writing Industries programme, you should be able to:

• Write to a professional standard in your chosen forms and genres.
• Be aware of the publishing landscape and routes to publication specifically in relation to your own creative work.
• Have the skills to work freelance, with a portfolio career, or in a range of organisations, including those in the Heritage sector.
• Undertake sophisticated research and deploy it effectively in creative work, including the ability to develop ideas and research into doctoral proposals.
• Plan, organise, and deliver events in the writing industries.
• Work effectively and confidently both as an individual and as part of a small team within constrained timeframes.
• Work independently in a way that stimulates continued professional development by using the regional and national organisations strategically and effectively.

Our Academics

• Dr Paul Jenner, Lecturer in English
• Dr Barbara Cooke, Senior Lecturer in English
• Dr Kerry Featherstone, Programme Leader and Lecturer in English
• Dr Sara Read, Senior Lecturer in English and Creative Writing

Your Future Career

The programme is designed for students who want to develop their creative work as a writer, as well as exploring a range of professional possibilities in the writing industries, heritage, community arts, and publishing, education, and freelancing. This is a relatively new programme, but several of our graduates have already had work accepted for publication. We have graduates working as researchers, in creative community work, in education, and event management. The programme supports writers with the ambition to complete and publish their own work in poetry and fiction, in a wide range of forms and genres. It also develops professional skills and knowledge in working as a freelance writer, including roles in the literature sector, education, and heritage.

Related Master's Degrees

• Applied Storytelling MA
• Contemporary Literature and Culture MA

Loughborough University

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Overview:

Loughborough University is a public research university located in Loughborough, Leicestershire, England. It is renowned for its strong academic programs, particularly in sports science, engineering, and business. The university boasts a vibrant campus life and a strong focus on research and innovation.

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Student Life and Campus Experience:

Loughborough University offers a diverse and engaging campus experience. Students can participate in a wide range of extracurricular activities, including sports, societies, and volunteering opportunities. The university has a strong sporting heritage and is home to world-class facilities. Students can also enjoy a vibrant social scene with numerous bars, restaurants, and events happening on campus.

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Key Reasons to Study There:

World-class facilities:

Loughborough University boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including a dedicated sports village, a modern library, and cutting-edge research labs.

Strong academic reputation:

The university is consistently ranked among the top universities in the UK for its academic excellence.

Vibrant campus life:

Students can enjoy a lively and diverse campus community with numerous opportunities for social interaction and personal development.

Focus on research and innovation:

Loughborough University is a leading research institution, with a strong focus on tackling real-world challenges.

Excellent career prospects:

Graduates from Loughborough University are highly sought after by employers, with strong career prospects in various fields.

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Academic Programs:

Loughborough University offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines, including:

Engineering:

Aerospace, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, and more.

Business and Economics:

Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing, and more.

Sport Science:

Exercise Science, Sports Coaching, Sports Management, and more.

Humanities and Social Sciences:

Psychology, Sociology, History, and more.

Science and Technology:

Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, and more.

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Other:

Loughborough University has a strong commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. The university is actively working towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions and promoting inclusivity and diversity within its community.