glasgow university creative writing

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Creative Writing

Entry requirements.

This is a popular and selective programme.

All applications must follow the standard entry requirements for the College of Arts:

• First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree or equivalent qualification (2:1 in the case of UK Research Council supported students)
• A Masters qualification or equivalent

In addition, for both our MFA and DFA we are looking for writers to have a preparatory one-year, postgraduate masters in Creative Writing with either Merit or Distinction (MA, MLitt or MPhil) or three publications in respected literary journals or magazines, in the intended genre of study. Compelling equivalencies will be considered.

We also require a 20-30 page portfolio of your writing. This portfolio must include a one-page proposal for the project you intend to undertake on our courses and a short sample (5-6 pages) of critical work, if you are applying to the DFA.

As with standard entry requirements we require two letters of reference. Your referees should include an academic and a creative referee where possible. Where this is not possible, you can provide referees from other areas who can vouch that you are who you say you are and that your work and achievements are your own. It is particularly helpful if these referees are familiar with your writing and can provide references on that basis.

Months of entry

Course content.

Our Creative Writing Research degrees are unique and intense programmes for practising writers who wish to complete an ambitious creative project.

Our new research Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) build on a long history of offering Masters and Doctoral options in the study and practice of Creative Writing.

Our research degrees incorporate hybrid taught elements (literary and practical seminars; workshops; and practical pedagogy) within a supervised research context that best support your creative and critical work.

Both programmes give you dedicated, supported time to complete a substantial creative work, include opportunities to teach writing to undergraduates and apply to be a graduate teaching assistant for other literature courses, and the DFA additionally allows you to undertake an extended academic research, informed by your work and practice, leading to a significant critical essay or output.

Our students enjoy the guidance of writers including Carolyn Jess-Cooke, Colin Herd, Laura Marney, Elizabeth Reeder, Zoë Strachan and Louise Welsh, and critics such as John Coyle, Jane Goldman, Rob Maslen, Alan Riach, and Helen Stoddart.

Across all our postgraduate provision, both taught and by research, students have access to the best of the new and also develop a sense of the origins and histories.

Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow is based in the Edwin Morgan Writing Room with its book, periodical and audio-visual library. There is an ambitious programme of visiting speakers, masterclasses and public events. The University Library with its modern collections and archives is a crucial resource, including the archive for Edwin Morgan’s Papers. We also collaborate with the Mitchell Library, one of the great civic libraries of Europe. And our popular Creative Conversations bring a carefully curated range of visiting speakers to campus every week during the semester.

We have strong links with literary agents and an impressive history of published graduates.

Information for international students

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

• 7.0 with no sub-test under 7.0.
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

• Campus-based learning is available for this qualification

Course contact details

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Creative Writing MLitt

University of glasgow, different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, university information, similar courses at this uni, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

MLitt - Master of Letters

Subject areas

Creative Writing

Course type

The Creative Writing programme at Glasgow has gained an excellent reputation amongst writers, agents and publishers. It is perfect for talented and aspiring writers who want to develop their craft, take risks in their work, and gain creative and critical skills; all as part of a supportive community of fellow writers.

WHY THIS PROGRAMME

• Our postgraduate taught and research-led writing courses are among the most challenging and popular in Britain, and have helped launch the career of a number of successful writers including Anne Donovan, Louise Welsh and Rodge Glass, to name but a few.
• We invite a range of guest speakers who can offer inspiration and advice to you, including authors, poets, journalists, publishers, editors, literary judges and playwrights. You can find information on previous guest speakers by visiting our creative writing subject page.
• We have strong links with literary agents and publishers, and an impressive number of our graduates are published and acclaimed authors.

CAREER PROSPECTS

Graduates have gone into journalism, publishing and writing.

You can find a list of alumni on our Creative Writing subject pages. Others have been published in magazines and journals, or have had their work produced and broadcast on radio and television.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

Contact University and ask about this fee

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

For this course (per year)

You will normally have a 2.1 Honours degree (or equivalent), though this is not a pre-requisite. The primary basis for admission is the appraisal of a portfolio of your creative work.

The University of Glasgow is one of four ancient universities in Scotland, founded back in 1451. Alumni include seven Nobel Prize winners, Scotland’s First Minister and a Prime Minister, while Albert Einstein gave a seminal lecture on the theory of relativity there in 1933. The university consists of four colleges: College of Arts College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences College of Science and Engineering College of... more

Playwriting and Dramaturgy MLitt

Full time | 1 year | SEP

Creative Writing MLitt (Online)

Online | 12 months | SEP-25

Creative Writing DFA

Full time | 3 years | DEC-24

Creative Writing MFA

Full time | 2 years | DEC-24

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Creative Writing MLitt (Online) University of Glasgow

Course options

Qualification.

MLitt - Master of Letters

University of Glasgow

Distance / Online

• TUITION FEES
• ENTRY REQUIREMENT
• UNIVERSITY INFO

Course summary

If you're a talented and ambitious writer looking to develop your craft and take your writing to the next level, Glasgow's renowned Creative Writing MLitt is ideal. Develop your writing practice wherever you are in the world by gaining creative and critical skills on this exciting and supportive online course.

WHY THIS PROGRAMME

Our MLitt in Creative Writing is delivered within a clear three-part structure, focused on creative, critical and editorial skills.

Our Creative Writing programme has gained an excellent reputation with writers, agents and publishers. The University's writing courses are among the most challenging and popular in the UK.

These courses have helped launch the careers of an impressive list of acclaimed authors including, but not limited to: Anne Donovan, Helen Sedgwick, Kirsty Logan, Jen Hadfield, JL Williams, Louise Welsh, Zoe Strachan, Elizabeth Reeder and many others.

You'll be taught by successful and well-regarded writers who specialise across diverse genres. We are happy to supervise students working in established genres but just as keen to see students mix genres or create new forms. In addition, you'll be able to tap into the University's strong network of literary agents and publishers, as well as an impressive list of published alumni.

This online programme is 1 year full time. If you are already working full time or have family commitments, the course can also be completed on a part-time flexible study basis over 2 years.

CAREER PROSPECTS

Skills gained in the study of our Creative Writing MLitt may lead to career opportunities in literary and cultural fields such as editing, publishing and arts development. Many of our alumni are successful authors. Our graduates have also gone into journalism, publishing, and a range of other professions. Positions held by recent graduates include managing director, freelance writer, author, copywriter and community arts worker.

Application deadline

01 July 2024

Module Options

Tuition fees.

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£ 22,140 per year

Tuition fees shown are for indicative purposes and may vary. Please check with the institution for most up to date details.

University information

University League Table

Campus address.

University of Glasgow, The Fraser Building, 65 Hillhead Street, Glasgow, Glasgow, City Of, G12 8QQ, Scotland

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• Postgraduate study

Postgraduate research opportunities A-Z

• Creative Writing
• Staff research interests search

Postgraduate research  

Creative Writing DFA/MFA

Our Creative Writing Research degrees are unique and intense programmes for practising writers who wish to complete an ambitious creative project.

Our new research Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) build on a long history of offering Masters and Doctoral options in the study and practice of Creative Writing.

Our Degrees

Our postgraduate research degrees are based in an independent supervised research context that best supports your creative and critical work.

Both programmes give you dedicated, supported time to complete a substantial creative work, include opportunities to teach writing to undergraduates and apply to be a graduate teaching assistant for other literature courses, and the DFA additionally allows you to undertake extended academic research, informed by your creative work and practice, leading to a significant critical essay or output.

Our students enjoy the guidance of writers including Sophie Collins, Jane Goldman, Colin Herd, Carolyn Jess-Cooke, Nicholas Melville, Elizabeth Reeder, Zoë Strachan and Louise Welsh, as well as the support and insights from inter-disciplinary supervisors like Naomi Richards (End of Life Studies), Matthew Barr (Computing Science), Alan Riach and Kirsteen McCue (Scottish Literature) and Bryony Randall, Jennifer Smith, Will Tattersdill, Malica White from English Literature and many others from these subjects and throughout the College of Arts and Humanities (and sometimes beyond).

Across all our postgraduate provision, both taught and by research, students have access to the best of the new and also develop a sense of the context from which their work emerges and into which they are researching and writing.

There is an ambitious programme of visiting speakers, masterclasses and public events held by Creative Writing and other subjects throughout the College, including our popular  Creative Conversations that bring a carefully curated range of visiting speakers to campus every week during the semester.

The University Library with its modern collections and archives is a crucial resource, including the archive for Edwin Morgan’s Papers. We also collaborate with the Mitchell Library, one of the great civic libraries of Europe.

We have strong links with literary agents and an impressive history of published graduates and are home to two literary prizes: the  North Literary Agency Prize and the Kayva Prize .

Our Creative Writing staff are involved in multiple research projects that span many subjects and methodologies and these are often of direct benefit to the Creative Writing PGR students via events, opportunities and diverse communities.

Study options

DFA : 3 years full-time; 5 years part-time. Thesis length 70,000-100,000*

MFA : 2 years full-time; 4 years part-time. Thesis length 40,000-60,000*

* or approved equivalencies for poetry or cross-genre work

Both the MFA and DFA run as campus-based or Low Residency options.

Entry requirements

This is a popular and selective programme.

All applications must follow the standard entry requirements for the College of Arts & Humanities:

• First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree or equivalent qualification (2:1 in the case of UK Research Council supported students)
• A Masters qualification or equivalent

In addition, for both our MFA and DFA we are looking for writers to have a preparatory one-year, postgraduate masters in Creative Writing with either Merit or Distinction (MA, MLitt or MPhil) or three publications in respected literary journals or magazines, in the intended genre of study.

Compelling equivalencies will be considered.

We also require a 20-25 page portfolio of your writing. This portfolio must include a one-page proposal for the project you intend to undertake on our courses, a sample of creative work and a short sample (5-6 pages) of critical work if you are applying to the DFA.

As with standard entry requirements, we require two letters of reference. Your referees should include an academic and a creative referee where possible. Where this is not possible, you can provide referees from other areas who can vouch that you are who you say you are and that your work and achievements are your own. It is particularly helpful if these referees are familiar with your writing and can provide references on that basis.

Application deadlines

• 02 December 2024 at noon: to receive a decision on your admissions application by 10 January 2025 (If applying for AHRC funding, this deadline must be met. Please state this on your application.)
• 24 February 2025 to receive a decision on your application by 1 April 2025.
• 2 June 2025: to receive a decision on your application by 1 July 2025.

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training) 7.0 with no subtests under 7.0
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test
• IELTS One Skill Retake accepted.

Common equivalent English language qualifications

Toefl (ibt, my best or athome).

• 94; with Reading 24; Listening 24; Speaking 23; Writing 27
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements , this includes TOEFL mybest.

Pearsons PTE Academic

• 66 with no subtest less than: Listening 66;Reading 68; Speaking 65; Writing 82
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)

• 185 overall, no subtest less than 185

Oxford English Test

• Oxford ELLT 8
• R&L: OIDI level no less than 8 with Reading: 27-28 and Listening: 20
• W&S: OIDI level no less than 8

Trinity College Tests

Integrated Skills in English II & III & IV: ISEII Pass with Pass in all sub-tests.

University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses

Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.

Alternatives to English Language qualification

• students must have studied for a minimum of 2 years at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have complete their degree in that majority-English speaking country  and  within the last 6 years
• students must have completed their final two years study in that majority-English speaking country  and  within the last 6 years

For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) but we do not require a specific UKVI SELT for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.

Fees and funding

• UK: To be confirmed [24/25 fee was £4,786]
• International & EU: £26,580

Prices are based on the annual fee for full-time study. Fees for part-time study are half the full-time fee.

Irish nationals who are living in the Common Travel Area of the UK, EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status, and Internationals with Indefinite Leave to remain status can also qualify for home fee status.

• Fee status and policies

Alumni discount

We offer a 20% discount to our alumni on all Postgraduate Research and full Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes. This includes University of Glasgow graduates and those who have completed Junior Year Abroad, Exchange programme or International Summer School with us. The discount is applied at registration for students who are not in receipt of another discount or scholarship funded by the University. No additional application is required.

Possible additional fees

• Re-submission by a research student £540
• Submission for a higher degree by published work £1,355
• Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed £350
• Submission by staff in receipt of staff scholarship £790

Depending on the nature of the research project, some students will be expected to pay a bench fee (also known as research support costs) to cover additional costs. The exact amount will be provided in the offer letter.

Teaching and research in the Arts and Humanities is supported by the outstanding resources of our  University Library  with its special collections and our on-campus  Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery .

Our close links and partnerships with  Glasgow Life , and the city’s many museums, art galleries, performing arts and music venues, international festivals and creative industry organisations make the University of Glasgow the ideal place for postgraduate study of the arts.

Graduate School

Our  Graduate School creates a productive and interdisciplinary collegiate environment for all of our research students. We offer a range of services, courses and skills development opportunities for research students.

The College of Arts & Humanities is home to a vibrant and diverse community of students enrolled on taught masters and research programmes within a stimulating intellectual and cultural environment. Across every school and subject area the college is home to world-leading and agenda-setting research.

Find out more about what is happening in the community by following us on social media .

You will also be part of the wider Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities , the world's first national graduate school in the Arts & Humanities. Membership includes 16   Scottish universities, four art schools & the national conservatoire, with support from the arts, culture, creative & heritage sectors. 

How to apply

Identify potential supervisors.

All Postgraduate Research Students are allocated a supervisor who will act as the main source of academic support and research mentoring. You may want to identify a potential supervisor and contact them to discuss your research proposal before you apply. Please note, even if you have spoken to an academic staff member about your proposal you still need to submit an online application form.

You can find relevant academic staff members with our staff research interests search .

Gather your documents

Before applying please make sure you gather the following supporting documentation:

• Final or current degree transcripts including grades (and an official translation, if needed) – scanned copy in colour of the original document.
• Degree certificates (and an official translation, if needed): scanned copy in colour of the original document.
• Two references on headed paper and signed by the referee. One must be academic, the other can be academic or professional. References may be uploaded   as part of the application form or you may enter your referees contact details on the application form. We will then email your referee and notify you when we receive the reference.  We can also accept confidential references direct to  [email protected] , from the referee’s university or business email account.
• Research proposal, CV, samples of written work as per requirements for each subject area.
• If you have any questions about your application  before  you apply:  contact The School of Critical Studies ( [email protected] )
• If you have any questions  after  you have submitted your application:  contact our Admissions team
• Any  references  may be submitted by email to:  [email protected]

International Students

• Visa and immigration
• Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

More information

Our research environment.

• Discover how we support and develop postgraduate researchers
• Getting started with PGR development:   how postgraduate researchers are welcomed into our community

Postgraduate researcher blogs

• A community blog, written by and for postgraduate researchers at the University of Glasgow

Related links

• Creative Writing at Glasgow
• School of Critical Studies
• College of Arts
• Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities