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Creative Writing, MA

University College Cork (UCC), Ireland

• Study options for Creative Writing
• About Creative Writing

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Other courses at university college cork (ucc), study options for this course, about creative writing, ma - at university college cork (ucc).

Creative Writing allows us to interact with and shape our changing world; to study and influence artistic values and practices; and to cultivate inventive and authentic forms of expression. The UCC MA in Creative Writing encourages students to be curious about literature, to pursue creative excellence and to develop their writing in a university atmosphere. The course as a whole encourages and supports a full exploration of the creative self while also maintaining a strong vocational emphasis.

All of our courses are embedded in Cork's dynamic creative milieu, rooted inexpert practice and taught by highly accomplished professionals. A rich variety of modules are available, including Fiction, Poetry and Life Writing. Creative non-fiction options include innovative courses in Food Writing and Writing for Radio. The School of English in UCC treats writing as a living, evolving practice: students taking the course will read and write in a context in which literature is being performed, transformed and adapted. Some of Ireland's greatest writers have studied or taught at UCC, including Frank O'Connor, Sean O'Faolain, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill and John Montague. Notable poets associated with UCC include Sean Lucy, Tom McCarthy, Sean Dunne, Paul Durcan, Theo Dorgan and Leanne O'Sullivan. The School of English hosts an annual Writer-In-Residence and previous holders of this prestigious post have included Mary Morrissy, Claire Keegan and Matthew Sweeney.

Course Details

This MA gives you the opportunity to write in an empathetic and academically rigorous context, amidst a dynamic cultural milieu. Core modules address key creative techniques and help sustain and refresh your writing. Professional development is mentored and supported via modules in The Business of Writing and in the Creative Industries.

Core Modules (15 credits)

These Core Modules address two of the central aims of the programme: to help students understand the practical constraints and professional opportunities of life as a writer in a variety of potential contexts; and to cultivate an inventive, authentic and self-aware writing style.

EN 6034 The Business of Writing (5 credits) EN 6035 Writing and Experiment (10 credits)

plus 35 credits from a combination of the following elective modules:

Elective Modules

These Elective Modules allow students to experiment with, engage with, and reflect on a diversity of writing practices, and to shape their own creative journey via their chosen modules.

EN6044 Craft and Technique of Fiction (1): The Short Story (5 credits) EN6056 Craft and Technique of Fiction (2): Reading the Novel (5 credits) EN6032 Fiction Workshop (10 credits) EN6033 Writing the Self: Fiction and non-Fiction (10 credits) EN6031 Poetry 1 (10 credits) EN6043 Poetry 2 (5 credits) EN6042 Workshop with Writer-in-Residence (5 credits) EN6037 Food Writing (5 credits) EN6038 Writing for Radio (5 credits) EN6057 Writing for the Media (5 credits)

Core Module

This Core Module represents the culmination of the learning process fostered by this programme. Students produce a substantial portfolio of work and record the processes by which they write and research. EN 6040 Dissertation (40 credits)

Course Code: CKE10 Full-time, CKE58 Part-time

Course Title: Creative Writing

College: Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences

Duration: 1 year Full-time; 2 years Part-time

Teaching Mode: Full-time, Part-Time

The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours and evening hours over 2 years. The part-time option for the MA in Creative Writing is offered biannually. Taking the course part-time takes 24 months. We will be taking a part-time cohort in September 2015, and another in 2017.

Qualifications: MA

NFQ Level: Level 9

Costs: 2017/2018 Irish/EU Fee: EUR 6,500 full-time; EUR 3,250 per year part-time

2016 Entry Requirements: Applications will be considered from graduates of all disciplines. Applicants will normally have an honours primary degree at (2.2 level or above) in any discipline. (See detailed entry requirements)

Closing Date: 1 May 2017

Next Intake: 11 September 2017

Course Practicalities

The MA in Creative Writing is taught on Mondays and Tuesdays during the Autumn and Spring Semesters (September to March). Seminar hours are approximately 6-8 per week and reading hours / writing assignments are likely to take another 8 hours per week. The course involves a mixture of seminars, workshops, placement and writing practice and students will work on self-reflexive essays and projects.

Students are assessed continuously during the course, submitting specified creative work alongside commentaries on their own creative practice

Application Procedure

Application for this programme is on-line at www.pac.ie/ucc. For full details of the application procedure click How to Apply

Please note you will be required to answer specific additional/supplementary questions as part of the online applications process for this programme. A copy of these additional/supplementary questions are available to view here:CKE10AdditionalQuestions (105kB)

Successful applicants will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of EUR 500 on acceptance of their place

Notes about fees for this course

Entry requirements for this course.

Contact University College Cork (UCC) to find course entry requirements.

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Related Information

Find out more about studying in Ireland

The 2025-26 Competition is now open. Applications must be submitted by the national deadline of October 8, 2024 at 5pm ET.

Current U.S. Student

United States citizens who are currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree programs are eligible to apply.If you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a U.S. college or university, you will apply through that institution, even if you are not currently a resident there. Find the Fulbright Program Adviser on your campus.

U.S. Citizen but not a Student

If you are a U.S. citizen, will hold a bachelor’s degree by the award start date, and do not have a Ph.D. degree, then you are eligible to apply. Non-enrolled applicants should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Candidates with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program .

The Getting Started page will provide information on eligibility and next steps.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program welcomes applications in the creative and performing arts. Arts candidates for the U.S. Student Program should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Artists with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program .

Creative & Performing Arts projects fall under the Study/Research grant category and are available in all countries where Study/Research grants are offered.

U.S. Professor/Administrator

If you are a U.S. citizen and a professor or administrator at a U.S. institution and are interested in applying for a Fulbright Scholar Award, you will need to apply through fulbrightscholars.org .

To support your students in applying for a U.S. Student Program award, please connect with the Fulbright Program Adviser at your institution.

Non U.S. Citizens

If you are a non-U.S. citizen interested in applying for a Fulbright Award to the United States, you will need to apply through the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in your home country. Find out more information on the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program or Fulbright Foreign Student Program .

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1 Fulbright/University College Cork Masters in Creative Writing Award

Specialized grant types, fulbright graduate degree grants, award profile.

Grantee may pursue a taught Masters in Creative Writing at  University College Cork  which was established in 1845 as one of three Queen’s Colleges at Cork, Galway and Belfast.  Located on a beautiful, historic campus, University College Cork has grown from 115 students to over 20,000, from one building to dozens, from less than 20 staff to more than 1,600 today. The  MA in Creative Writing at University College Cork  encourages students to be curious about literature, to pursue creative excellence and to develop their writing in a university atmosphere. The course as a whole encourages and supports a full exploration of the creative self while also maintaining a strong vocational emphasis including professional placements. All of University College Cork’s courses are embedded in Cork’s dynamic creative milieu, rooted in expert practice and taught by highly accomplished professionals. A rich variety of modules are available, including Fiction, Poetry and Life Writing.

Grant Length

Grant period.

Commencing in September 2025.

Orientation

Orientation typically takes place in October once the majority of grantees are in-country.

Candidate Profile

The Commission is seeking applicants who:

• Possess excellence (academically, personally, professionally, creatively);
• Demonstrate leadership experience, attributes and, or potential;
• Outline a strong rationale and feasible methodology for pursuing a degree in University College Cork that indicates how a Fulbright to Ireland fits into their longer term goals;
• Demonstrate the benefit of becoming a Fulbrighter; to themselves (personally and professionally), to their discipline, to society, to Ireland, to the Fulbright Program / Commission and to the US when they return;
• Extend themselves beyond their project / studies to become actively involved in Irish society and the work of the Fulbright Commission.  The Commission is keen to support projects that brings awardees into contact with a wide range of stakeholders, particularly outside of academia, to maximize their academic / cultural exchange experience and to raise awareness of the Fulbright Program in Ireland.

University College Cork will consider applications from graduates of all disciplines. Applicants are expected to have a cumulative GPA of 3.2.  Applicants with relevant writing or arts experience (e.g. working in publishing, journalism or arts administration) are also invited to apply. All applicants will be asked to submit a piece of creative writing of 1000 words (any genre).

What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?

Ireland is a friendly, engaging and vibrant country with centuries of U.S. interaction as part of its DNA. As an increasingly diverse society with a highly educated workforce, competitive educational system and millennia of culture, it is a popular choice for U.S. Student applicants.

Higher education in Ireland is provided by 12 universities, 2 Institutes of Technology, and a number of specialist colleges in art, business, law, music, medicine and theology. There are also a significant number of well-funded research centres and cultural institutions that may be considered as host options.

Irish colleges typically operate on a two-semester academic year: September to December and January to May. Further information on higher education in Ireland can be found  here .

Most Higher Education Institutions are supported by the Irish government. For example, universities and Institutes of technology receive more than 90 percent of their income from the state. The Irish government has invested 2.5 billion euro establishing advanced centres of research, and world-class research facilities and programs that are an attractive destination for international exchange visitors.

Fulbright Alumni cite the following advantages associated with coming to Ireland: English-speaking; very welcoming; family-friendly; safe; intellectually challenging; culturally rich and diverse; and accessible. Please see the Commission’s  Coming to Ireland page  for more information and resources. Helpful advice on living and studying in Ireland can also be found on the official website of the Government of Ireland here .

Please contact the Fulbright Commission in Ireland via email at [email protected]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSqPQGZKWc0 – Irish Fulbright Commission

For further information on Fulbright Alumni, please see the Alumni Directory here . A complete list of Fulbright Campus Ambassadors is also available to search and view.

Eligibility

Degree level of applicant, foreign language proficiency, fulbright proposal types, affiliation.

Letter not required at deadline. Applicants will need to apply for admission to the Masters in Creative Writing as per University College Cork’s admissions procedures . Applicants are expected to have proof of acceptance onto the Masters in Creative Writing programme if offered a Fulbright award. The Fulbright Commission can assist with / advise on this process but applicants should make initial enquiries with the Director of Creative Writing, Dr Eibhear Walshe, email:  [email protected] prior to contacting the Commission.

Affiliation Fees/Tuition

Award benefits.

• A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
• International travel benefits
• Accident & sickness health benefits
• 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
• 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government

Stipend Amount This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.

Estimated cost of living consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country..

The estimated monthly cost of living is €1750 to €2000.

Dependents are not permitted to accompany applicants on grant.

Fulbright Program Management Contact

Fulbright commission/u.s. embassy website, fulbright commission/u.s. embassy contact, additional online resources.

Creative Writing at UCC

Be curious about literature, undergraduate creative writing.

Do you enjoy discussing books, films, theatre? By studying English you will develop your knowledge and writing skills, and get more from the books and films you love.

The English BA (Hons) introduces you to the subject in its fullest sense. You will study English across the centuries and can cover areas such as creative writing , film, drama and theatre. If you’re a keen reader and interested in technology, we can help you hone your digital and literary skills with courses on digital media and through technology-enabled learning.

Search for module CK109 on School of English site.

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Know someone who would like to support a Scholarship or a Fellowship at UCC? Please contact Cal Healy, Deputy Director of Business Development and Advancement, Alumni and Development: [email protected]

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MA Creative Writing

Graduate taught (level 9 nfq, credits 90).

UCD offers two graduate courses in creative writing, an MA and MFA. The MA programme includes workshops, seminars and supervision meetings, providing committed students with the support they need to produce a major piece of writing by the end of the course. 

The MA in Creative Writing  builds on the well established commitment of the UCD School of English, Drama and Film to fostering and supporting new writing. The university has long been associated with some of Ireland’s greatest writers, including James Joyce, Flann O’Brien, Mary Lavin, Anthony Cronin, John McGahern, Neil Jordan, Conor McPherson, Marina Carr, Colm Tóibín, Emma Donoghue, Maeve Binchy and many others. The Booker Prize winning novelist Anne Enright is Professor of Creative Writing, and among the teaching staff are novelist Sarah Moss, poet Ian Davidson, poet and novelist Paul Perry, novelist and playwright Declan Hughes, life writer and critic Catherine Morris and novelist Paula McGrath. 

The MA programme :

• Provides opportunities to explore and develop your own creative writing skills supervised by experienced published staff of international reputation.
• Actively fosters the development of students' capacity to edit their own work.
• Ensures that the art of writing is informed by contemporary theory and practice.
• Offers courses incorporating the manuscripts of works of leading writers held in Special Collections and courses which explore material in the National Folklore Collection in UCD, one of the richest archives of oral tradition in the world.

Careers & Employability

Many graduates of the MA in Creative Writing establish successful writing careers. Graduate of the programme Colin Barrett won the Guardian First Fiction Prize with Young Skins  then went on to win both the Frank O'Conner International short story award and the Rooney Prize for Literature. Other graduates go into the publishing industry, while some go on to do an MFA in Creative Writing. 

Curricular information is subject to change

Who should apply?

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes

Course Description

Lectures, seminars, workshops and supervision meetings aim to provide committed writers with taught classes on the theory and practices of writing. These include presentation and editing techniques, creative reading of selected texts as well as the supervision of a major writing project. Among the important issues addressed on an on-going basis are voice and structure. Every effort is made to ensure that a student progresses on these as well as many other fronts.

Vision and Values Statement

A fundamental tenet of the MA in Creative Writing is a belief in the value of learning from writers who have mastered their craft. The writers who contribute to the course will vary from year to year, but recent module conveners have included Anne Enright, Laureate for Irish Fiction, Paula Meehan, Ireland Professor of Poetry, Eilis Ni Dhuibhne, Writer Fellow, Sinéad Gleeson, Writer in Residence,  and Paul Perry, Poetry co-ordinator. 

Towards that end the MA in creative writing offers a selection of modules in the first semester which direct and encourage students to explore several literary forms, the novel, the short story and poetry.  The aim here is to present students with a broad range of possibilities, set them on a course of discovery for a form, or combination of forms, where they will best realise their creative potential. The learning environment is positive, enabling and friendly and the class group, fourteen or less students, are actively encouraged to support each other in their creative endeavours.

The second semester modules provide an opportunity to embark on a more specific path, while at the same time continuing to extend the boundaries of what is possible in fiction. As the semester progresses a student’s individual work is increasingly guided by course conveners and supervisors, both in workshop settings and on a one-to-one basis.  The end goal is the creation of a substantial piece of writing, a solid basis from which a student will continue towards the completion of a full work, whether that be a collection of short stories, a novel or a collection of poetry.

Programme Outcomes

• Have a solid working knowledge of genres and forms.
• Have created a substantial piece of writing, a solid basis from which to continue towards the completion of a full work, whether that be a collection of short stories, a novel or a collection of poetry.
• Have developed a positive sense of themselves as writers, with an active role to play in the literary/artistic culture wherever they should find themselves.
• Have learned to read like writers, to recognise the challenges facing authors at various stages in the creation of a piece of fiction and to critically assess the extent to which these challenge have been met.
• On successful completion of the programme, students will have a thorough understanding of how to meet many of the challenges confronted in the construction of a piece of fiction; character, voice, place etc.
• Participated in a weekly visiting writer’s programme, contributed to an anthology and attended a selection of the literary events and festivals for which the city is renowned.

What modules can I take?

View All Modules Here

Fees, Funding and Scholarships

Tuition fee information is available on the  UCD Fees website . Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see  International Scholarships .

Entry Requirements

The entry requirement for the  MA programme  is a BA Hons English or equivalent (NFQ Level 8), and/or proven commitment to and experience in the field of creative writing; a portfolio (a 3,000 word sample of prose or 6 poems, or a combination of prose and poetry) of recent creative work; a personal statement of reasons for taking the course and references. Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 7.5 (no band less than 7.0 in each element), or equivalent. 

These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes 

Testimonial

Dave Rudden MA 2013 Award-winning author

The Creative Writing Masters in UCD has been incredibly useful to me as an author. I still use some of the lessons I learned in that year in my creative writing classes, and the expert advice of the lecturers contributed massively to me finding a home for my Knights of the Borrowed Dark trilogy at Puffin. I cannot recommend it highly enough.  

Graduate Profile Erika Meyers, USA Although there are many programmes that offer masters in Creative Writing in North America, I decided to attend UCD because it allowed me the opportunity to pursue my interests in poetry and fiction, rather than forcing me to choose one over the other. The creative versatility of the programme not only resulted in the publication of a novel and a poetry collection (both written while under the guidance of James Ryan and Éilís Ní Dhuibhne during my MA), but also provided me with the knowledge and experience necessary to earn a Santander scholarship and pursue my PhD in Irish Literature at the University of Edinburgh.

Related Programmes

• MA Drama & Performance Studies FT

How to apply?

The following entry routes are available:

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised

Open Days and Events

See details of any upcoming events and how to register.

Programme Overview:

Ask a question:.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.

Graduate Research Duration

UCC University College Cork

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UCC Postgraduate courses

Arts Management & Creative Producing

Course outline.

• Course Practicalities

Why Choose This Course

Requirements, fees and costs, how to apply.

10 Oct 2023

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• Taught Courses
• Arts Management and Creative Producing

Our MA in Arts Management & Creative Producing programme is offered by the College of Arts, Celtic Studies & Social Sciences ( CACSSS ) at University College Cork ( UCC ).

This Arts Management & Creative Producing MA will provide you with training in arts leadership and management as well as offering essential practical skills in event organisation across a range of art forms, including amongst others, theatre, music, film, dance, literature, visual, and performance art. Reinforcing UCC’s reputation as a centre of excellence in interdisciplinary art practices, we place emphasis on learning through professional practice.

Our MA is geared towards those who wish to establish themselves as arts managers (managing theatres, arts venues, and cultural organisations) and creative producers (programming, producing, curating performances, arts events, and festivals).

Situated within the Department of Theatre , which is part of our School of Film, Music & Theatre , we work in collaboration with the  Cork Opera House in its role as a ‘learning theatre’. This partnership enables innovative teaching practices and our teaching team reflects the expertise and network of professional contacts within the industry including Dr Marie Kelly (Abbey Theatre’s former Head of Casting) and Eibhlín Gleeson (CEO, Cork Opera House).

Connected Curriculum

Our learning approach reflects our commitment to the Connected Curriculum where we emphasise the connection between students, learning, research and leadership through our vision for a Connected University . Our staff are at the forefront of this integrative approach to learning and will support you in making meaningful connections within and between disciplines such as culture, arts, performance and management.

Programme Details

This Arts Management & Creative Producing MA is a full-time programme running for 12 months or a part-time programme running for 24 months.

The emphasis is on learning through a combination of professional practice in collaboration with the Cork Opera House as well as more traditional learning in a classroom setting. Students take core modules on arts management and creative producing together with an end-of-year arts placement. As a final project, and with mentorship and guidance from the teaching team, students can tailor their own professional programme of work either on an online platform or in live presentation (depending on prevailing conditions) in collaboration with Cork Opera House.

Modules (90 credits total)

Part I (45 credits)

• DR6043  Creative Producing & Curating - Portfolio Development (10 credits)
• DR6045  Artistic Leadership and Strategies in Artistic Leadership (5 credits)
• DR6049  Creative Producing and Curating (Part I) (10 credits)
• DR6051  Dialogues on Culture (5 credits)
• DR6052  Arts Project Management (5 credits)
• MG4036  Strategic Management (5 credits)
• MG4048  Digital Marketing (5 credits)

Part II  (45 credits)

• DR6047  Arts Placement (5 credits)
• DR6048  Final Project: Arts Management & Creative Producing (40 credits)

Part-time option : the part-time option is taken over two years. In Year 1 part-time students must take a minimum of 25 credits of taught modules. In Year 2 part-time students take a minimum of 60 credits. For part-time students, the 40-credit Final Project dissertation module ( DR6048 )   is only available in Year 2.

Academic Programme Catalogue

See the  Academic Programme Catalogue  where you can search for the complete and up-to-date content for this course. Note that the modules for all courses are subject to change from year to year. For complete descriptions of individual modules, see the  Book of Modules .

I undertook this MA to equip myself with the necessary skills to forge a career in the Irish arts sector. Completing this MA has enabled me to do just that...

Glenn Dunlea, Marketing Executive, Cork Opera House

"Having completed my undergraduate degree at UCC, I had personal experience of its first-class facilities and educators. I admire that UCC’s Strategic Plan for Research and Innovation recognises the need to educate its students for a global and interconnected world, and proposes to do so in a manner which promotes critical global citizenship. The MA in Arts Management & Creative Producing enabled me to combine taught module classes - which allowed me to broaden my knowledge base and strengthen my research abilities - with practical elements such as festival programming and a work placement in a respected Arts organisation, affording me invaluable learning and career opportunities. Studying Arts Management & Creative Producing I enjoyed the practical elements of the degree the most. Programming a full arts festival and undertaking a work placement allowed me to apply my academic learning to tangible projects and tasks, providing the opportunity for invaluable reflective practice and real-world learning experiences. I undertook this MA to equip myself with the necessary skills to forge a career in the Irish arts sector. Completing this MA has enabled me to do just that. Since graduating I have secured a full-time position in my chosen sector, working in a role I enjoy in a high-profile arts organisation that allows me to apply the specific skills and knowledge acquired during my studies to my day-to-day duties."

Cork City Council welcomes the development of an MA in Arts Management & Creative Producing at UCC...

Jean Brennan, Arts Officer, Cork City Council

This MA will not only strengthen and consolidate existing links between the University and both mature and younger arts organisations but will provide a valuable pool of trained arts managers and cultural producers for the sector. With culture promoted as a pillar of the city, and with world-class arts organisations and artists in Cork, this initiative is timely and appropriate.

This Arts Management & Creative Producing MA offers a tangible link between the classroom and the professional environment offering: 

• Hands-on training through UCC’s unique partnership with Cork Opera House;
• Access to industry-experienced teachers and active professionals led by Dr Marie Kelly (formerly of the Abbey Theatre, Board member Everyman Theatre, Cork, Vice-President of Irish Society for Theatre Research) and Eibhlín Gleeson, CEO Cork Opera House (formerly Chamber Choir Ireland, EMG Arts Management, John F Kennedy Centre for Performing Arts, Washington DC); Professor Fiona Kearney, Glucksman Gallery.
• Direct engagement with industry, e.g. producing work at the Cork Opera House or mounting artistic outputs on an online platform;
• Learning in a culturally engaged City with several centres of excellence in teaching in the Arts: UCC School of Film, Music & Theatre , MTU Cork School of Music , Crawford Art Gallery ;
• Access to international mentors and lecturers via webinar technology;
• Access to UCC Ignite encouraging entrepreneurship;
• Field trips, visiting lectures, symposia on producing and arts management which encourage networking and understanding of the cultural sector;
• And access to the School of Film, Music and Theatre’s range of research-related activities and events including FUAIM and Perforum.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

An end-of-year internship is a core element of the programme, allowing you to gain experience working in an arts organisation or related environment.

Past students have worked in a variety of organisations, including Sample-Studios, Glucksman Gallery, Crawford Gallery, Everyman Theatre, Cork Midsummer Festival, Cork Opera House, Nano Nagle Place (Cork), Blackwater Artists Group (Cork), Cork International Film Festival, Music Generation, Islander, Cork Circus Factory, Once Off Productions, IT Productions, Cork Craft & Design, Glór Ennis, Cill Rialaig Project, Smashing Times Theatre Company, Kevin Kavanagh Gallery, Galway Dance Project, Trailblazery, and the Draíocht Arts Centre, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia.

Skills and Careers Information

On completion of the programme students can avail themselves of a wide range of opportunities in the cultural sector and across the creative industries, including:

• Performing arts management (managing arts venues and organisations);
• Independent event producing and curating (theatre, performance, dance, and other arts events, festivals, exhibitions, etc.);
• Audience engagement, fundraising, marketing, and PR;
• Working in national/international government funding agencies and other cultural agencies);
• And creative project management in corporate and creative industries.

Applicants will normally have a minimum Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in the humanities or business and demonstrate an interest in working in the arts. 

Examples of demonstrated interest include membership of youth arts groups; previous involvement in art projects either at school, university, or in the community; previous internships/placements, volunteering, or full/part-time work in arts-related organisations. Applicants with significant professional-level experience in the arts will also be considered under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). In addressing the criteria, applicants will be required to answer supplementary questions in addition to the standard questions on the online Postgraduate Studies Application form for Taught masters programmes.

Applicants will be required to attend an interview (in person or online in the case of students living at a distance) with staff from the Department of Theatre (UCC) and Cork Opera House.

For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison  page.

International/Non-EU Applicants

For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.

• In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.
• Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office .

English Language Requirements

Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Visit our PG English Language Requirements  page for more information.

Postgraduate EU and International Fees 2024/2025

See our Postgraduate EU and Non-EU (International) Fee Schedule for the latest information.

Deposits 

If your course requires a deposit, that figure will be deducted from your second-semester fee payment in January.

Fee payment 

Fees are payable in two equal instalments. First payment is at registration and the balance usually by the end of January.

How can I pay? 

See different options on our How Do I Pay My Fees? page.

Any questions? See the 'Contact Us' section on the Fees Office page .

1. Check dates

Check the opening and closing dates for the application process in the fact file boxes at the top of the page.

2. Gather documents

Scanned copies of supporting documents have to be uploaded to the UCC online application portal  and include:

• Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC.
• Any supplementary items requested for your course if required.

3. Apply online

Apply online via the  UCC online application portal . Note the majority of our courses have a non-refundable €50 application fee.

Any questions? Use our web enquiry form to contact us.

Additional requirements (all applicants).

Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following:

• You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. (We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.)
• In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.
• Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.
• Please upload your CV. 
• Please submit a copy of a short analytical/critical/report writing sample or essay (1,000 words approx.).
• Please detail your computing/technical/IT skills.
• After the online application is submitted, applicants will be required to add the name and email address of 1 academic referee and 1 professional/voluntary experience referee and send a reference request via the Application Portal.

The closing date for non-EU applications is Open until all places have been filled or no later than 30 June. Early application is advised.

Contact Details For This Course

• Dr Marie Kelly
• [email protected]
• +353 (0)21 4904360
• https://www.ucc.ie/en/music-theatre/drama/

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UCD School of English Drama Film Scoil an Bhéarla, na Drámaíochta agus na Scannánaíochta UCD

• News and Events

explore this section

• Undergraduate
• PhDs and MLitts
• MA in Creative Writing
• MFA in Creative Writing
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• Module Availability

‌ MA in Creative Writing 

*applications for 2024/25 are open*.

Creative writing in the UCD School of English, Drama and Film draws on the long literary heritage of Dublin as a place that has produced many world-famous authors. It takes full advantage of the range of vibrant and dynamic literary activities in a country and a city where writers and writing are celebrated. The University has played a major role in the development of literary cultures both in Ireland and internationally and has long been associated with some of Ireland's greatest writers, including James Joyce, Flann O' Brien, Mary Lavin, Patrick Kavanagh, Maeve Binchy, Thomas Kinsella, Eilis Ni Dhuibne and Marina Carr. It is committed to supporting writers in all fields, including fiction, poetry and performance writing, as well as a diverse range of creative non-fiction. 

UCD offers three graduate courses in creative writing, an MA, an MFA and a PhD programme.  The MA programme includes lectures, seminars, workshops and supervision meetings, providing committed students with the support they need to produce a major piece of writing by the end of the course.  A weekly visiting writer programme brings all graduate students into contact with some of Ireland’s finest writers as well as literary agents and publishers. Every year a writer in residence, appointed with the Arts Council of Ireland, provides a credit-based workshop and individual direction to students. 

Writers currently involved with the MA and MFA programmes in creative writing include the playwright, novelist and poet Frank McGuiness, poet Ian Davidson, novelist and poet Paul Perry, novelist Anne Enright, short story writer and novelist Katy Hayes, novelist Declan Hughes, novelist Gavin Corbett and Sinéad Gleeson as Arts Council Writer in Residence. Participants in the MA also get the opportunity to attend the very many cultural and literary events that take place in UCD, and recent visitors include Margaret Atwood, Kevin Barry, Eiléan Ní Chuilleanain, Paula Meehan and Paul Muldoon.

The School of English, Drama and Film has always included in its programme of extra-curricular activities a rich array of readings, writing workshops, writers’ groups, and special seminars offered by writers-in-residence. In 2006 a structured programme of courses and supervision, the now well-established MA in Creative Writing, was introduced to enable committed writers to develop their potential within a supportive framework. It is a one-year course of lectures, seminars, workshops and supervision meetings which aims to provide committed writers with taught classes on theories and practices of writing, presentation and editing techniques, reading of selected texts as writers and supervision of a major writing project.

There are first-rate libraries in UCD and the Dublin area. Several have renowned archives as well as expertly resourced electronic collections. Over many years, the School has established a worldwide reputation for excellence in fostering postgraduate research and in teaching. Designated as a UNESCO City of Literature in 2009, Dublin has an immense amount to offer aspiring writers.

Further Information

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As a participant on the MA programme you will be part of a large world class School of English, Drama, Film and Creative Writing and will:

• be taught by experienced published writers with international reputations;
• experience and develop knowledge of the best contemporary writing;
• learn how to produce and develop new ideas for your own writing;
• gain skills in editing and revising;
• take part in workshops, seminars and one to one tutorials;
• explore the archives of some of the world’s leading writers in the Special Collections held in UCD;
• develop a portfolio of work in your own chosen genre. 

 For the academic year 2022/23, the following core and optional modules are offered. 

(Please note that these may be subject to change from year to year.)

Semester one, core modules.

• Craft and Composition [10 Credits]
• Writing Poetry [10 Credits]
• Writing Places [10 Credits]
• Peer Reviewing/Visiting Writers Workshop

Semester Two

• Creative Reading [10 Credits]
• Writing Project Preparation [10 Credits]

 Optional modules

• Chapter 1: Beginning a Novel [10 Credits]

           or

• Sound and Visual Poetry [10 Credits]

Writing Project –c.15,000 words  (30 Credits)

Students are assessed in a variety of ways, which may include writing assignments, editing exercises, creative responses to texts, class presentations, and writing portfolio.

The majority of teaching on MA in Creative Writing is structured around two intense block teaching days and requires students to be on campus on Mondays and Wednesdays. Please bear in mind that on occasion you may be required to attend lectures/seminars/launches outside of these hours.

(Please be aware that timetables can be subject to change due to spacing and resourcing conisderations.) 

Students on the MA and MFA come from diverse backgrounds. Some come straight from their undergraduate studies while others might have spent some years in different jobs before coming to the course to fulfil their ambition to be writers. The student group is international, and students come to UCD from many countries to pursue their writing ambitions including Ireland, the UK, US, New Zealand, India, Austria and Germany.  Most have a good deal of writing experience and wish to pursue professional careers in writing, with specialisations in novel writing/short stories or poetry. Several of our alumni have won prestigious awards.

Please read the following guidelines for the portfolio section of the application.

The portfolio should be approximately 3000 words and may be a mixture of fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction or a novel excerpt. This might be a 3,000 word sample of prose or 6 poems, or a combination of prose and poetry. The work submitted does not have to previously published but do show us your best work. When formatting your portfolio follow the general guidelines for submitting to a literary journal; double-space prose and single-space poetry unless your writing uses alternative formatting.  All genres and styles of writing are welcome.

The  personal   statement should  include a short summary of your writing experience to date and any courses or workshops you have attended.  Perhaps also include a brief introduction of your history as a writer (or poet) and how and why you want to apply for the MA.  What do you hope to achieve and how do you believe that the MA will help develop as a writer?  If you have been previously published or are the recipient of any literary awards, please include details of these, but bear in mind that a publication history is not required to apply.

Many of our alumni from the MA and MFA have gone on to successful careers in writing, publishing and media.

• Disha Bose MA (2015-2016)  Born and raised in India, Disha now lives in Ireland. She attended University College Dublin, where she completed a Masters in Creative Writing (2016).  Disha Bose’s debut novel Dirty Laundry, a domestic noir, is to be published by Viking Books in the UK and Commonwealth (May, '23), and by Ballantine Books in North America.
• Sonya Gildea MA (2019 - 2020) Winner of the John McGahern Literature Award 2021; Poetry Ireland Introductions poet 2021/22 (selected by Seán Hewitt), winner of an Ireland Chair of Poetry Student Award 2020; recipient of a literature Bursary Award 2021 from the Irish Arts Council and winner of the Cúirt International New Writer’s Award (2015). Sonya has published in Crannog; the Stinging Fly; the Irish Times; Tolka journal; the Cormorant Broadsheet; the Night Heron Barks; The Maynard journal of poetry; the commemorative anthology Hold Open the Door (UCD & Chicago Press 2020); the Poetry Ireland Introductions anthology This Is What You Mean To Me (2021); Arlen House Publishing anthology of contemporary Irish poetry (2022); and The Common literary journal (2022).
• Sree Sen MA (2019-2020)  Published in Poetry Ireland Review, The Honest Ulsterman, Local Wonders (poetry anthology by Dedalus Press), bath magg, Crossways, nether Quarterly, Headstuff and others. She’s the winner of the UCD Maeve Binchy Travel Award 2020, recipient of Cill Rialaig Residency 2020 & Agility Award 2021 by the Arts Council of Ireland. 
• Aingeala Flannery MFA (2018-2019) The Amusements debut novel published by Penguin Sandycove June 2022 Arts Council Literature Bursary 2020 and 2021 Winner Harper's Bazaar Short Story Competition 2019

'The MFA in Creative Writing at UCD gave me the encouragement and space I needed to focus on my writing. It was challenging and inspiring, I came away with fresh ideas and a stronger sense of my natural writing style and the themes that excite me.  Our class stayed in touch and it's wonderful to have that ongoing support - for the rejections as well as the celebrations. The MFA in Creative Writing changed my life'

• Aoife Fitzpatrick MFA (2018 - 2019) Debut novel, The Red Bird Sings, from Virago Press, June 2023 “I miss the MFA. Not just the notable experience and insight of its teachers, but their authentic interest and vital engagement. That's what makes this course special; why it can transform both writer and work-in-progress.“
• Liz Houchin MA (2018 - 2019) ‘Anatomy of a Honey girl (poems for tired women)’ published by Southword, 2021. Awarded Literature Bursary from Arts Council of Ireland, 2021. 
• Brendan Casey, MA (2018-2019) She That Lay, Silent-like, Upon Our Shore, was long-listed for the Deborah Rogers Foundation Award and will be published by John Murray Originals in 2023.

'The course allowed me to dedicate myself to writing in a structured nurturing environment in which I had the time and space to develop ideas. Since graduating I have signed with RCW literary agency in London, and the thesis I submitted in UCD went on to form the basis of my novel .' 

• Sarah Gilmartin MFA (2018-2019) Her debut novel Dinner Party (Pushkin, 2021) was shortlisted for best newcomer at the Irish Book Awards and the Kate O’Brien Award 2022. Her stories have been published in The Dublin Review, New Irish Writing and The Tangerine. Her story The Wife won the 2020 Máirtín Crawford Award at Belfast Book Festival.
• Colin Barrett won the Guardian First Fiction Prize with  Young Skins  [Pub. Stinging Fly Press / Jonathan Cape (UK) Grove Black Cat editions (US)] then went on to win both the Frank O'Connor International short story award and the Rooney Prize for Literature.  in 2015, Colin was nominated as one of the five under 35 honourees by the National Book Foundation in the US. His stories have appeared in Five Dials , A Public Space and The New Yorker .
• Dave Rudden is a leading writer of YA fiction and has been short-listed for the Hennessy New Writing Award and the Bath Short Story Prize. He is the author of numerous novels, most recent, The Endless King ,  Doctor Who: Twelve Angels Weeping: Twelve Stories of the Villains from Doctor Who, The Forever Court and Knights of the Borrowed Dark.
• Jessica Traynor won the Hennessy Emerging Poet Award and the Hennessy Writer of the Year Award in 2013 and was the recipient of the Ireland Chair of Poetry Bursary in 2014. She is the author of two collections of poetry, The Quick and  Liffey Swim  runner-up in the 2015 Troubadour International Poetry Prize and Liffey Swim which was nominated for the 2015 Strong/Shine Award for first collections. 
• Julie Morrissy is an Irish poet, critic, and activist. Her first collection Where, the Mile End  is forthcoming in February 2019 with BookThug (Canada) and tall-lighthouse (UK & Ireland). Her debut poetry pamphlet I Am Where (Eyewear 2015)   was shortlisted for Best Poetry Pamphlet in the Saboteur Awards 2016.
• Henrietta McKervey has published three novels,  What Becomes Of Us  [Pub. Hachette Ireland], The Heart of Everything and  Violet Hill .  Henrietta won both the Hennessy First Fiction Award and the UCD Maeve Binchy Travel Award in 2014. 
• Helena Nolan is a poet and short fiction writer and was selected for the 2015 Poetry Ireland Introductions Series and will read as part of the International Literature Festival in May. She won the Patrick Kavanagh Award in 2011, having come second in 2010. 
• Eamon McGuinness is from Dublin. His poetry has appeared in  Poetry Ireland Review ,  Boyne Berries, Abridged, The Honest Ulsterman , and elsewhere. In 2017, he was featured on the Poetry Jukebox in Belfast and shortlisted for the Strokestown International Poetry Prize. His debut collection is forthcoming from Salmon Poetry.

Yes. The HCE Review is an online quarterly journal run by the staff and students on the MA and MFA in Creative Writing.  The journal aims to publish fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, and visual art from both established and emerging writers and artists from around the world.

You can read more about the journal here .

Aingeala Flannery MFA (2018-2019)

'The MFA in Creative Writing at UCD gave me the encouragement and space I needed to  focus on my writing. It was challenging and inspiring, I came away with fresh ideas and a  stronger sense of my natural writing style and the themes that excite me.  Our class stayed  in touch and it's wonderful to have that ongoing support - for the rejections as well as the  celebrations. The MFA in Creative Writing changed my life'

Aoife Fitzpatrick MFA (2018 - 2019)

“I miss the MFA. Not just the notable experience and insight of its teachers, but their authentic interest  and vital engagement. That's what makes this course special; why it can transform both writer and work-in-progress.“ 

Brendan Casey, MA (2018-2019)

She That Lay, Silent-like, Upon Our Shore, was long-listed for the Deborah Rogers Foundation Award and will be published by John Murray Originals in 2023.

'The course allowed me to dedicate myself to writing in a structured nurturing environment  in which I had the time and space to develop ideas. Since graduating I have signed with  RCW literary agency in London, and the thesis I submitted in UCD went on to form the  basis of my novel .' 

Aidan Dolbashian, MA Creative Writing 2016.

Disharee Bose MA Creative Writing 15-16

• Applications for the  MA  must be made online;  http://www.ucd.ie/apply/  
• Applications for 2024-25 academic year opened on 1st October 2023
• The first round of offers will be made at the end of January. Applications thereafter are reviewed on a rolling basis.  We advise submitting your application early. 
• Applications will be closed once all places have been filled by suitably qualified and capable applicants.

Application requirements are:

1. Academic Transcript(s)

2. Sample of recent creative work: 3000-word writing sample of prose, 6 poems or a mix of both.

3. Personal statement

4. Any other supporting documentation that may be relevant to your application.

5. English Language test certificate (IELTS or equivalent at 7.5 with no component less than 7.0)

6. The email addresses of two academic referees.

Scanned copies of relevant academic qualifications and the writing sample and references should be included in the online application.

Referees will receive an email and link to upload the letters of recommendations. References should be on headed paper and signed.

For further details, please see the MA Creative Writing programme UCD webpages.

The entry requirement for the MA programme  is a BA Hons English or equivalent, and/or proven commitment to and experience in the field of creative writing; a portfolio (c.3000 words) of recent creative work; a personal statement of reasons for taking the course and references.

If you have any questions about the programme or the application process, please contact Fiona French, Graduate Administrator at  [email protected] .  

Creative Writing at PENN STATE

Congratulations to 2024 BA/MA Graduates!

On Friday, April 19, 2024, the Penn State creative writing community gathered to listen to excerpts from the final projects by nine BA/MA students who will graduate with their MA in creative writing this spring.

Pictured below are the BA/MA Class of 2024 (L to R): back row– Nikolai Korbich, Ava Wendelken, Emmanuela Eneh, Aliyah Rios, Barbara Kutz, Margaret Dressler; front row–Kiera Sargent, Cynthia Rodi, Eliza Nicewonger.

Congrats to the graduates!

In addition to celebrating the graduating BA/MA class with family, faculty, and friends, we also welcomed the 10 incoming members of the BA/MA class of 2026, said farewell to Alison Jaenicke, who has served as Assistant Director of Creative Writing for the past 11 years, and welcomed the new Assistant Director of CW, Ellen Skirvin.

Article written by Alison Jaenicke

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