Course Overview

Join our international community of writers at the University of Lincoln and produce a work of literary excellence with one of our dedicated expert mentors. Our low-residency MFA in Creative Writing and Publishing is an innovative and exciting programme that provides opportunities to work closely with professionals from the publishing and creative industries. As a fine arts rather than an English programme, it is designed to encourage you to improve your craft as a writer, develop your philosophy of composition, explore contemporary forms of literature, learn about the publishing world as well as the creative industries, and - most importantly - write the book you've always wanted to write.

Creative Writing at Lincoln is considered a centre of excellence, with a strong tradition of student-focused, innovative, and emancipatory pedagogies. As a result, our Creative Writing alumni have published work in international journals and anthologies, secured publishing and agency contracts, won literary prizes and writing grants, and have gone on to work in publishing, academia, journalism, broadcasting, marketing, project management, and television.

How You Study

This programme is primarily delivered online following a low-residency model, and concentrations include Poetry, Fiction (YA, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Historical Fiction), Creative Non-Fiction, Scriptwriting, Literary Translation, Conceptual and Experimental Literature, and many hybrid forms. The MFA at Lincoln also has a strong focus on employability and aims to prepare you for a professional writing and/or publishing career. You will gain hands-on editorial experience working on The Lincoln Review, our international literary journal, and enjoy the opportunity to apply for competitive internships with our industry partners.

Our distinctive Master of Fine Arts programme allows you to benefit from the following key features:

Bespoke Mentorship: Develop the skills required to become a professional writer through our bespoke mentorship model. Under expert supervision, devise and complete a full-length, publishable output.

Lincoln Masterclasses: Benefit from our Lincoln Masterclasses - readings, workshops, and discussions led by visiting writers, editors, publishers, and other experts from the publishing world and creative industries.

Summer Residency: Enjoy yearly residencies in the beautiful historic city of Lincoln, where we will gather for workshops, lectures, readings, and social events. There may also be optional literary trips to London or Paris depending on demand.

Professional Internship: Gain hands-on editorial experience working as an editor for The Lincoln Review, our international literary journal. TLR showcases new poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, translations, art, and photography from both established as well as emerging and underrepresented voices from around the world. Past contributors have included Carol Ann Duffy, Gèzim Hajdari, Jee Leong Koh, Tom Pickard, Robert Shearman, Virgil Suärez, Helen Tookey, Joan Ure, Maria Luise Weissmann, Jennifer Wong, Franz Wright, and Nurit Zarchi.

Flexibility: Live the writing life without leaving home. There's no need to quit your job and pack your suitcases, as our low-residency model allows you to create your own schedule and complete work when it suits you.