Course overview

The University of Portsmouth's Masters in Creative Writing encourages a lively environment where writers can experiment, be imaginative and ambitious, as well as reflect on their practice. You will have the opportunity to write literary novels, historical fiction, crime, science fiction, children's stories, as well as screenwriting or short fiction - we encourage and respect all genres.

We aim to recruit students from a diverse background, but with some prior writing experience, and whose ambition is to complete a major project to a high standard. The course is therefore suitable for writers who wish to build confidence, sensitivity and critical understanding of their own work and the work of others. It will also help you understand where your own creative writing fits in with contemporary creative writing, both in terms of the writing itself and in relation to such issues as the market, writing practice and current debates within differing genres.

Why study at Portsmouth?

Portsmouth has a rich literary history being the birthplace of Charles Dickens, the original home of Sherlock Holmes (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) and HG Wells began his career here. Contemporary authors such as crimewriter Graham Hurley built an entire career based in Portsmouth. Staff on the programme are all practising writers and as such encourage contemporary, historical and literary genres.

The city has a lively, creative atmosphere and has undergone significant regeneration in the last ten years, making it one of the most dynamic places on the south coast with excellent links to London. The University Library has also undergone a major expansion adding 200 more study spaces, six rooms for group study, 200 new IT spaces and space for an extra 60,000 volumes.

How do I apply?

You will need to submit a completed postgraduate application form together with undergraduate transcripts, two references, a personal statement (i.e. why you want to undertake the programme - maximum 1,000 words) and a portfolio of writing samples. Please indicate in the personal statement whether you are considering a work of prose fiction, historical fiction or poetry as your major project.

Course content

Career prospects

Facilities and features

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for MA Creative Writing are shown above, for more detailed information please contact:

Department: School of Creative Arts, Film and Media (SCAFM)
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 4475
Email: create.admissions@port.ac.uk