Nottingham Trent University

What you'll study

This MA centres on sustained creative practice alongside critical study of craft. You will explore genres such as short and long‑form fiction, poetry, scriptwriting (stage, radio and screen) and creative non‑fiction. Teaching typically includes generative workshops, craft seminars, close-reading sessions and individual supervision to support a major creative project.

• Core workshops: genre-specific workshops where you receive peer and tutor feedback on your work.
• Craft and technique modules: focused sessions on narrative structure, characterisation, voice, dialogue, poetic forms, research for creative writing and editing your work.
• Context and critique: modules that situate creative work within contemporary publishing, literary history and critical approaches.
• Professional practice: practical sessions on submitting work, approaching agents and editors, self-publishing, freelancing and creating a writing CV.
• Major project/portfolio: a substantial final portfolio (such as a novella, short story collection, poetry collection, screenplay or long-form non‑fiction) supported by a reflective or critical commentary.

Delivery mixes seminars, workshops and one-to-one tutorial time. The programme can be taken full time or part time where available, and assessments are typically a combination of creative portfolios, reflective statements and occasional critical essays.

Entry requirements

Applicants normally need an undergraduate degree in any subject at a good honours level (equivalent to a UK 2:1 is typical), or significant equivalent professional experience in a relevant creative field. You will usually be asked to submit a sample of recent creative work (portfolio) and a personal statement outlining your aims on the course.

For applicants whose first language is not English, a recognised English language qualification is required; common expectations are equivalent to IELTS overall 6.5 with no component lower than 6.0, though accepted qualifications and scores should be checked with admissions. References and, where appropriate, an interview or writing task may form part of the selection process.

Career prospects

Graduates go on to a wide range of careers within the creative and cultural sectors. Typical destinations include:

• professional author, poet or playwright
• scriptwriter for film, television, radio and theatre
• editing and commissioning roles in publishing and magazines
• copywriting, content creation and communications roles in commercial and public sectors
• teaching creative writing and adult education
• arts administration, literary festival programming and cultural project management
• freelance literary projects, self-publishing and digital content entrepreneurship

The course’s emphasis on a polished portfolio and professional practice sessions helps graduates approach agents, publishers and commissioning editors with work that is closer to market, and many alumni combine creative practice with freelance and freelance-adjacent roles.

Why study at Nottingham Trent University

Nottingham Trent University offers a supportive, practice-focused environment with access to experienced tutors who are active writers and industry practitioners. The university’s faculties promote cross-disciplinary collaboration with other creative courses, and students benefit from workshop culture, regular reading events, guest lectures from publishing and media professionals, and opportunities to have work showcased in student publications and readings.

NTU’s campus and the city of Nottingham provide a lively cultural backdrop with independent publishers, performance venues and festivals nearby, giving students routes to local industry contacts and practical opportunities to develop an audience. The programme’s balance of craft, critical study and professional preparation is designed to help writers consolidate their voice and move towards publication or other creative careers.