Entry requirements

You’ll need a 2:1 degree in English literature or a related subject.

If you are over 21 and feel you would benefit from degree-level studies, we can be more flexible with our entry requirements. We’ll expect you to demonstrate your commitment by means of some recent serious study, such as: 

at least 1 A level pass 
completion of an Open University foundation course 
completion of an appropriate Access course

Recognition of professional experience

If you don't have the exact entry requirements, but you have significant work experience in this sector we’ll assess your relevant professional experience, your subject knowledge and your aptitude for learning.

We'll consider your application on individual merit and may ask you to attend an interview.

Got a question?

If you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course please contact our enquiries team; we're very happy to help.

Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000

Course structure

This is a full-time master’s course. You’ll study for 12 months, from September to the following September.

In the first 9 months (semesters 1 and 2) you’ll study the taught part of your course.

This is made up of modules that everyone on the course takes, including the Creative Skills Workshop which is the main feature of the programme. You’ll also choose from a list of optional modules from other Humanities MA programmes to personalise the course to your interests.

For the last 3 months, over the summer, you’ll work independently on your final Creative Project, with guidance and support from your supervisors.

Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.

Modules

For entry in Academic Year 2020-21

Year 1

Year 2

You must study the following modules in year 1:

Creative Project

Creative Skills Workshop

You must also choose from the following modules in year 1:

Adventures in Literary Research

Approaches to Critical and Creative Concepts

Approaches to Jane Austen

Approaches to the Long Eighteenth Century

Approaches to the Long Nineteenth Century (1789-1914)

Approaches to the Long Twentieth Century (1914-Present)

Communicating the Cultural Industries

Fiction Before Austen

Jane Austen and the Heritage Industry

Jane Austen's Style

Literary Industries and New Media

Narrative Non-Fiction: The Interdisciplinary Art

Remaking Rome

Scriptwriting

Special Project (Text, Context, Intertext)

Special Project (Text, Culture, Theory)

The Art and Craft of Fiction

The Holocaust in American Film

Writing for Children and Young People

Learning and assessment

Learning

You may be surprised by what you find out about yourself during this course. Experience has shown that students often come to us thinking they want to write prose and end up writing poetry, or vice versa, or discover a gift for scriptwriting or children's literature they never thought they had.

We’ll challenge your preconceptions about yourself, so come prepared with an open mind. We don't promise to get you published outside of our own end-of-year anthology, but we do anticipate that by the end of the course you will have learned enough to make informed decisions about the directions your writing career might take next.

We aim to:

develop your skills and confidence as a writer in specific genres of your choice
train you to be articulate in your discussions and coursework
give you an understanding of the theoretical and conceptual issues involved in writing
enable you to work independently and productively on extended pieces of writing
help you explore a range of periods and genres of English literature and culture
introduce you to performance writing and the range of international literatures in English

Throughout the programme, we’ll develop your skills by emphasising:

active participation
independent learning
creativity
personal initiative

We teach in small groups, with one or more writing tutors guiding students through the implications and potentials of their own writing paths.

We’ll expect you to read widely and experiment freely with your writing and composition beyond the parameters of individual modules.

Assessment

Depending on the modules you choose, we’ll assess you through a combination of:

essays
individual and group presentations
a creative portfolio
creative work in fiction
scriptwriting
a short story
critical commentaries reflecting on issues of genre, redrafting, creative influence and your voice
your final Creative Project

Dissertation

For your final Creative Project, you’ll demonstrate your ability to develop an individual vision, realise it in textual form, and manage any problems that emerge along the way.

You’ll write a 15,000-word piece, working one-to-one with a supervisor in your chosen area. The project will be accompanied by a 3,000-4,000-word critical commentary, which will explore a key practice-based or research-led question raised by your creative work.

Your supervisors will be available to provide regular and supportive advice, guidance and feedback on your progress.

Academic Support

You’ll have access to:

a personal academic tutor to give you guidance and support with academic or personal issues
the Creative Skills workshop, which is a weekly forum focused on your own writing
the annual Litmus project, which pairs creative writers with research scientists
a final end-of-year anthology launch
talks from former creative writing graduates

Careers

Our graduates go onto careers in:

writing (from journalism to fiction)
international PhD programmes
teaching
broadcasting
creative industries

More generally, a master’s degree will help you develop the key skills that employers look for, such as:

time, deadline and project management
problem solving
teamwork, relationship-building and working independently
cultural awareness
using your initiative
critical thinking and research analysis

Above all, you will learn to communicate your ideas and enthusiasm to a wide range of audiences.

Careers services at Southampton

We're a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2019). Our Careers and Employability Service will support you throughout your time as a student and for up to 5 years after graduation. This support includes:

work experience schemes
CV/resume and interview skills workshops
networking events
careers fairs attended by top employers
a wealth of volunteering opportunities
study abroad and summer school opportunities

We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture. You'll be able to take advantage of:

our dedicated start-up incubator, Futureworlds
a wide variety of enterprise events run throughout the year
our partnership in the world’s number 1 business incubator, SETsquared

Fees, costs and funding

Tuition fees

Fees for a year's study:

UK/EU students pay £9,250.
International students pay £18,812.

Check fees for other versions of this course.

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fee covers the full cost of tuition and all examinations.

10% alumni discount

If you’re a graduate of the University of Southampton you get a 10% discount on your postgraduate tuition fees.

Postgraduate Master’s Loans (UK and EU nationals only)

This can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate master's course. Find out if you're eligible.

Funding your postgraduate studies

A variety of additional scholarships, grants and bursaries may be available to help you fund your master’s study, both from the University and from other organisations.

How to apply

You can apply directly through our online form by using the apply button on this page.

Application deadlines

You must get your application to us by the end of the day on 1 September 2020. You must supply all supporting documentation at least 2 weeks before starting your course.

We cannot guarantee you'll be able to start your course if you do not meet these deadlines.

Supporting information

When you apply you’ll need to submit a personal statement explaining why you want to take the course.

You’ll need to include information about:

your knowledge of the subject area
why you want to study a postgraduate qualification in this course
how you intend to use your qualification

You'll also need to send 2 academic references.

Please include the required paperwork showing your first degree and your IELTS English language test score (if you are a non-native English speaker) with your application. Without these, your application may be delayed.

You may also be asked to provide: