Master of Creative Writing (MCW)
Dunedin, New Zealand
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
01 Dec 2024
EARLIEST START DATE
Mar 2025
TUITION FEES
Request tuition fees
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Introduction
From 2025, the English and Linguistics programme at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, the University of Otago, is offering a new Master of Creative Writing (MCW). The year-long, full-time course enables candidates to engage in a significant piece of original creative writing in the form of fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction or another agreed genre or mix of genres. Studying by distance is also possible.
The course will be taught through a combination of group writing workshops and one-on-one supervision by an established writer. It will be supplemented by special events featuring guest writers and public readings.
Places in the course are limited. Admission to the MCW will be by portfolio selection, and students will normally be required to have either of the following:
- An honours degree or equivalent with a B or higher GPA
- A relevant undergraduate degree AND a publication record as a creative writer
Students with no undergraduate degree but extensive writing experience and a strong publication record may be considered.
Admissions
Program delivery
Structure of the Programme
- The programme of study shall consist of the preparation and presentation of a high-quality and original manuscript of creative writing (in a genre, or a mix of genres, as agreed upon with the Course Convener).
- The manuscript shall be limited to 40,000 words of text, exclusive of appendices, footnotes, bibliography or equivalent. If the manuscript comprises a collection of poetry, it shall be limited to 50 pages.
- A candidate shall, before commencing the programme, secure the approval of the Course Convener for the supervisor(s) and for the selection of written works to be created.
- A candidate may not present work that has previously been accepted for another degree or that has been previously published (online or in print; online publications include blogs and social media posts).
- The Senate shall approve the proposed area of study on the recommendation of the Course Convener and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities).