Creative Writing MA
Keele University
Student rating
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( 4.1) View reviews

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Qualification

MA - Master of Arts

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Location

Keele University

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Full Time

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Start date

SEP-25

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Duration

1 Year

Course info

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Qualification

MA - Master of Arts

Location

Keele University

Study mode

Full Time

Start date

SEP-25

Duration

1 Year

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Qualification

MA - Master of Arts

Location

Keele University

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Part Time

Start date

SEP-25

Duration

2 Years

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Creative Writing
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Course info

Study creative writing at Keele and youll join a thriving, close-knit and passionate community of academics, published writers, students and researchers. We share the same goals: to develop our creative and professional skills as a writer, build connections, support and inspire each other. Many of our graduates – ‘Keelites – have gone on to become successful novelists, authors, biographers and poets, including Stokes first poet laureate and winner of the Roy Fisher Prize. Theyve helped set up ...Read more

Study creative writing at Keele and youll join a thriving, close-knit and passionate community of academics, published writers, students and researchers. We share the same goals: to develop our creative and professional skills as a writer, build connections, support and inspire each other. Many of our graduates – ‘Keelites – have gone on to become successful novelists, authors, biographers and poets, including Stokes first poet laureate and winner of the Roy Fisher Prize. Theyve helped set up community-based literary festivals, artist in residence initiatives and even brought poetry to the masses via a car boot sale and a travelling ambulance.

Course summary

In our modern, uncertain and ever-changing world, words – written or spoken – are needed perhaps now more than ever to help us share experiences, process thoughts and feelings, and fuel our imagination.

The MA Creative Writing course at Keele brings together a strong community of published and aspiring writers in fiction, nonfiction, poetry and storytelling who, like you, appreciate the potential power of words and have embarked on a journey of self-expression.

Youll be taught and mentored by published writers, prize-winning poets and novelists, both from here within the University and from the active participation of invited guests, for example, at the fortnightly Keele Creative Writing Anthology. Last year, this included acclaimed writer Okechukwu Nzelu, whose first book won a Betty Trask Award and was shortlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize and the Polari First Book Prize.

Youll also have the option to participate directly in a wide range of on campus, online and local events, publications, workshops and short courses. This provides experience in event management, curation, reading, presenting and even teaching, as well as the reviewing and editing that is often a writers secondary source of income.

Your career

Many of our graduates have gone on to become successful poets and novelists some are dedicated to spreading the positive vibes that creative writing can bring.

Take Gabriella Gay, for example, who chose to set up a writers residency at Hanley car boot sale while studying, or the ‘Emergency Poet Deborah Alma. As well as sharing poetry from the back of a vintage ambulance at festivals, conferences, hospitals and care settings, libraries and schools, Deborah has transformed a disused Edwardian shop in Shropshire into a walk-in pharmacy dispensing poetry.

Throughout your studies, you will be encouraged to reflect on the academic, creative and general skills you are developing and, more importantly, how you can articulate these skills in applications and interviews.

Taking your studies to postgraduate level develops a range of personal and professional skills, including clear and critical thinking, originality, problem-solving, innovative questioning and, of course, excellent communication. Much sought-after by employers, these skills can open doors to a wide range of careers from teaching to management consulting.

Our graduates typically go on to work in fields such as agenting, bookselling, culture and heritage, education, marketing, communications, public relations, publishing, copywriting, and information management. Some, like Stephen Seabridge, also go on to complete PhDs here at Keele or elsewhere. Stephen was named as the Potteries first poet laureate 2018-2021 shortly after embarking on his PhD studies in creative writing and currently contributes to teaching on the MA.

Key stats

WUSCA ranking:
WUSCA student ranking
These are the 2024 rankings, based on ratings given by past and current students.
93/101
CUG Subject Ranking
CUG Subject Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
12th
CUG Ranking
CUG Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
61st
What students say
K
Katherine
26 Oct 23

The nature walks and the student support makes it a very welcoming place to study. I prefer SU nights in the ballroom rather than in K2..Read more

K
Katy
09 Nov 22

I love the main buildings and the library, with it all being kept clean and organised. The classrooms are all kept well, and are comfortable to learn in. I am happy with the Co-op..Read more

Modules

Modules (Year 1)
IDP Connect

Entry requirements

2:2 degree in any subject or demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience and a portfolio of 10 to 15 poems and/or around 5,000 words of prose.

Tuition fees

Students living in

Domestic

£10,100 per year

This information is updated by IDP Connect, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: The fees might vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Domestic

This is the fee you pay if the University is in the same country that you live in (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)

Accommodation- Standard Shared Halls £117.46

£16,600 per year

This information is updated by IDP Connect, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: The fees might vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from EU

The amount you'll pay if you come to study here from somewhere in the EU.

Accommodation- Standard Shared Halls £117.46

£16,600 per year

This information is updated by IDP Connect, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: The fees might vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from International

The amount you'll pay if you come to study here from a country outside the EU.

Accommodation- Standard Shared Halls £117.46

IDP Connect

Latest reviews

Latest Creative Writing reviews

Creative Writing
Creative Writing
K
Katherine
26 Oct 23
English and Creative Writing BA (Hons)
The nature walks and the student support makes it a very welcoming place to study. I prefer SU nights in the ballroom rather than in K2...
Read more
K
Katy
09 Nov 22
English and Creative Writing BA (Hons)
I love the main buildings and the library, with it all being kept clean and organised. The classrooms are all kept well, and are comfortable to learn in. I am happy with the Co-op...
Read more
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How Creative Writing students rated:

Student rating
( 4.0) 12 reviews
5 star
9%
4 stars
83%
3 stars
8%
2 stars
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Student rating
( 4.1) 1,466 reviews
5 star
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4 stars
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16%
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Uni info

Keele University
Staffordshire Keele Staffordshire ST5 5BG United Kingdom
Nearest train station: Stoke-on-Trent  4.6 miles away

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