emma watson ma creative writing

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Emma Watson to go back to Oxford University for Master’s degree

Watson has enrolled in ma in creative writing course, article bookmarked.

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Emma Watson is returning to Oxford University this September, 10 years after she completed her first degree .

Previously, Watson attended Oxford during the 2011 to 2012 academic year as part of the Visiting Student Programme.

She took part in the programme while she deferred her degree at Brown University to focus on filming for the Harry Potter franchise, in which she starred as Hermione Granger.

The 33-year-old has now enrolled in MA in Creative Writing course starting in September 2023.

Her decision was revealed during an interview with the Financial Times , as she and her brother, Alex, announced the launch of their new organic, carbon-neutral gin.

• Emma Watson’s Harry Potter body double says star wasn’t actually in major scene
• Emma Watson partners with brother Alex to launch ‘carbon-neutral’ gin brand
• Emma Watson explains four-year acting absence

Watson has reportedly remained closely affiliated with Oxford University through the years.

In 2016, the Beauty and the Beast star became a Visiting Fellow at Oxford’s Lady Margaret Hall. The role involved her being invited to attend debates and speak at the college.

Watson was a Visiting Fellow for three years, after which she was made an Associate Fellow in 2019.

In the FT interview, Watson explained her decision to step back from the world of acting.

“I wasn’t very happy, if I’m being honest,” she said. “I think I felt a bit caged.

“The thing I found really hard was that I had to go out and sell something that I really didn’t have very much control over. To stand in front of a film and have every journalist be able to say, ‘How does this align with your viewpoint?’

“It was very difficult to have to be the face and the spokesperson for things where I didn’t get to be involved in the process.”

Watson went on to lament that she didn’t “have a voice”, when being interviewed.

“I was held accountable in a way that I began to find really frustrating, because I didn’t have a voice, I didn’t have a say,” she said.

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Harry Potter actress Emma Watson to return to study at Oxford University 10 years after first degree

• Oxford University
• Emma Watson
• Tuesday 2 May 2023 at 12:55pm

Actress Emma Watson will be returning to Oxford University to study this coming September.

According to the university's student newspaper, The Oxford Student, the actress, most famous for playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film franchise, will be studying an MA in Creative Writing at the start of the next academic year.

It won't be the first time Watson has studied at Oxford.

The 33-year-old spent the majority of her childhood in Oxford, moving to the city with her mother when her parents divorced when she was just five.

Watson attended the Dragon School, as well as Headington School where she studied for her GCSEs and A levels.

She was then a student at the Oxford branch of Stagecoach Theatre Arts where she learnt to sing, dance and act.

Though she enrolled at Brown University in Rhode Island to study for a BA in English Literature, she deferred as she was filming Harry Potter.

She attended Worcester College, Oxford, during the 2011–12 academic year as part of the Visiting Student Programme before returning to graduate from Brown.

Last year the actress was unveiled as the face of a new perfume for Prada, in which she made her debut as a director with a short film to mark the launch.

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Emma Watson set to return to Oxford University for master's degree in creative writing

Emma watson is set to return to oxford university to complete her master's degree in creative writing..

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Emma Watson, known for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchise, is returning to Oxford University to complete her master's degree in creative writing. This decision comes 10 years after she completed her first degree at Brown University.

Watson has enrolled for the MA in Creative Writing course, which will commence in September 2023. In an interview with the Financial Times, she revealed her decision to return to academia and step back from the world of acting.

This is not going to be her first time at the premier varsity. From 2011 to 2012, Watson attended Oxford University as part of the Visiting Student Programme.

She was able to do so while deferring her degree at Brown University, as she was focusing on her role in the Harry Potter franchise. Throughout the years, Watson has remained affiliated with Oxford University.

Emma Watson Reveals What She’s Doing Now—and Why She Stepped Back From Acting

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Watson is now enrolled in a creative writing MA program, and working to make a career pivot to roles behind the camera, too. She has already done some directing with Prada and written a play. But it was realizing that she wanted to center herself again that led her to step away from acting.

Entering her 30s led to an overall major shift in her life, she revealed: “Going into my 30s, I was in this moment of real change and [thinking] ‘What is going on?’” she said. “And it was someone else who said to me, ‘Oh, this is normal. You’re going through your Saturn return.’ [I was] like, ‘What is that and why has no one warned me?!’ I’ve spoken to so many women and so many of my friends who said, ‘Oh, yeah, between 28 and, like, 30, 31, 32, that kind of age, everything shifted.’ ”

Going back to school was a big move too. “Because I’m in a career that moves very quickly, the decision to take time to do these things felt like a very big decision,” she noted. “[Choosing] to go back and write and study and get behind the camera was terrifying for me because I’d never done it before. I had always been in front of the camera; I’d always been an actor.”

Watson shared that characters she played felt “much realer” than she did at times. And that was a sign something needed to change: “I’m just so glad that I did [step away from acting] because I have this feeling of having my own voice and creative space and sovereignty in some way that I don’t think I did before–more autonomy,” she said. “I’m so glad that I allowed things to be messy for a minute and to really allow myself to not know [what’s next], because the knowing that I’ve come to, I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”

Watson reflected on her “inner” and “outer” scorecards of how she feels about herself versus how the world sees her. “I get a front row seat [with] some of the most successful, beautiful, incredible people in the world,” she said of being in Hollywood. “And when you have that seat it becomes very, very clear that there is just absolutely no level of success that will make you in any way happy or content if you do not like who you are or enjoy what you’re doing when no one’s watching.”

She also kept her personal life private in the interview, but she did explain her famous “self-partnered” comment from her last big interview with British Vogue in 2019 . It wasn’t “necessarily about me celebrating being single,” she said. “Getting to the point when I was 30, I was realizing, ‘Oh, maybe I’ve figured out some things about how to care for myself better–maybe quite well, actually.’ And taking pride in that.”

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Emma Watson 'enrols in Oxford University to study creative writing'

Emma Watson has swapped Hogwarts for Oxford after reportedly enrolling in a part-time degree course at the city's University to study creative writing. 

The actress, 33, who found fame as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series, last appeared on screen in 2019's Little Women which was directed by Barbie's Greta Gerwig.

The Masters course will only require Emma to attend a handful of lectures on site, with the rest of her work being carried out online.

A source told The Sun : 'The course is for older adults and can be done on a part-time basis, which is perfect for Emma's schedule.

'She only has to be on site for four or five days a year because she can do the rest of the course online from home.

'Because she's a famous actress, she'll have a security team looking after her whenever she has classes to go to.

The publication also reported that staff at the university have been warned that the actress would attend classes with a small security team for her own safety. 

According to their website the college characters £20K for the two-year-course which also features two guided retreats and one research placement.

MailOnline have contacted Emma's reps for comment.  

The stunner has been making very stylish appearances as she attended numerous shows at Milan Fashion Week.

Emma, who has been seen with bodyguards outside her hotel in recent days, was allegedly  targeted by Drew Barrymore's suspected stalker  recently.

During New York Fashion Week, Chad Michael Busto allegedly attempted to bust into Emma's dressing room and was later arrested.

Authorities claimed Chad made his way into a dressing room at the venue, where a show was going on, and yelled at nearby make-up artists and models. 

'I want to marry Emma Watson,' he allegedly yelled, according to court documents. 'Let me speak to Emma Watson. Let me take a photo with Emma Watson.'

It was not immediately clear if the actress was present or nearby in the alleged incident, according to the outlet.

It was then reported that Chad was later released from prison as a prosecutor said the alleged offense was not eligible to have bail set.

The move comes less than a month after Chad was freed by a Southampton judge after he was arrested and charged with fourth-degree after stalking actress Drew. 

He allegedly turned up at the star's Hamptons home on August 23, two days after confronting her at a live event at the 92nd Street Y.

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Emma Watson To Return to Oxford University in September To Complete Her Master's Degree

Updated May 4, 2023, 12:06 IST

Emma Watson all set to return to Oxford University to complete her Master's degree (Images: Emma Watson Instagram, iStock)

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Emma Watson

Sunday roast: oxmas carols, the failings of the doomsday clock, emma watson to study at oxford next academic year, malala yousafzai meets offer to study at oxford, “sneaky picture” of emma watson at lmh causes controversy, theatrical oxonians: emma watson, sunday roast: chaos, sunday roast: royalty, living up to the feminist ideal, review: beauty and the beast, janney scores once again, hair today, gone tomorrow.

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Emma Watson's Creative Journey: Writing, Directing, and Beyond

Emma Watson clarifies her stance on acting and reveals her creative aspirations in writing and directing.

• Emma's Artistic Evolution
• A New Chapter: Writing and Directing
• Empowering Initiatives and Personal Reflections

Emma's Artistic Evolution

Emma Watson , best known for her iconic role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series, has been making headlines with her creative aspirations and artistic evolution. While she has not appeared on the big screen since her role in 2019's Little Women, the talented actress has clarified that she has not retired from acting , but rather hopes to explore new avenues in the entertainment industry.

Emma Watson as Meg March in 'Little Women' 2019

In a candid interview with British Vogue, Watson expressed her desire to expand her creative horizons by delving into writing , directing , and producing. She emphasized that her hiatus from acting is a deliberate choice to explore her passion for storytelling and filmmaking. This revelation has sparked curiosity and excitement among her fans and the entertainment industry as a whole.

Watson's artistic journey has led her to embrace the roles of a writer and director, which she describes as 'really amazing.' The actress revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic became a catalyst for her exploration of these professions, leading her to discover her love for the creative process. Her dedication to honing her skills is evident as she has taken the initiative to study and develop her craft further.

The highlight of Emma Watson 's artistic evolution came in 2022 when she made her directorial debut with a short film for the Prada Paradoxe fragrance campaign. This milestone marked the beginning of her venture into the realm of directing, showcasing her talent and vision behind the camera.

Watson's enthusiasm for writing and directing is palpable as she expressed her ambition to star in a project of her own creation. Her eagerness to helm a film that she has written reflects her dedication to storytelling and her desire to bring her creative vision to life on the silver screen.

Despite her passion for acting, Watson acknowledged that the process of creating a film from inception to completion is a time-consuming endeavor. She emphasized the importance of patience and perseverance in the journey of filmmaking , shedding light on the intricate and nuanced nature of the industry.

In addition to her creative pursuits, Emma Watson has channeled her energy into meaningful initiatives , including the launch of a gin brand, Renais, in collaboration with her brother Alex Watson. Her dedication to entrepreneurship and sustainability aligns with her advocacy for gender equality and environmental causes, showcasing her commitment to effecting positive change in the world.

Reflecting on her decision to step back from acting, Watson candidly shared her feelings of being 'a bit caged' during her hiatus. She expressed the challenges of being the face and spokesperson for projects that she did not have creative control over, highlighting the internal struggle she faced in maintaining authenticity and autonomy in her work.

Furthermore, Watson's involvement in the Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts special provided a nostalgic reunion with her castmates and offered insights into her enduring bond with fellow actors. Her foreword in Tom Felton's memoir, Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard, showcased the depth of her connection with her co-stars and the profound impact of their shared experiences.

In conclusion, Emma Watson 's creative journey encompasses a compelling narrative of artistic growth, personal reflection, and a steadfast commitment to making a difference. Her evolution as a multifaceted artist and advocate serves as an inspiration to aspiring creatives and individuals striving to leave a meaningful impact on the world.

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MSt in Creative Writing

• Entry requirements
• Funding and Costs

College preference

• How to Apply

About the course

The MSt in Creative Writing is a two-year, part-time master's degree course offering a unique combination of high contact hours, genre specialisation, and critical and creative breadth.

The emphasis of the course is cross-cultural and cross-genre, pointing up the needs and challenges of the contemporary writer who produces their creative work in the context of a global writerly and critical community.

The MSt offers a clustered learning format of five residences, two guided retreats and one research placement over two years. The research placement, a distinguishing feature of the course, provides between one and two weeks' in-house experience of writing in the real world.

The first year concentrates equally on prose fiction, poetry, dramatic writing and narrative non-fiction. There is a significant critical reading and analysis component, which is linked to the writerly considerations explored in each of the genres. In your second year you will specialise in one of the following:

• short fiction
• radio drama
• screenwriting
• stage drama
• narrative non-fiction.

The residences in particular offer an intensive workshop- and seminar-based forum for ideas exchange and for the opening up of creative and critical frameworks within which to develop writerly and analytical skills. There is a strong element of one-to-one tutorial teaching. Tutorials take place within residences and retreats, and relate to the on-going work produced for the course.

You will be assigned a supervisor who will work closely with you throughout the development of the year two final project and extended essay. All assessed work throughout the two years of the course is subject to one-to-one feedback and discussion with a tutor. This intensive, one-to-one input, combined with the highly interactive workshop and seminar sessions, is a distinguishing feature of the course.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Department for Continuing Education and this role will usually be performed by the Course Director.

You will be allocated a supervisor to guide and advise you on your creative and critical work throughout the second year.

It is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Department for Continuing Education.

The MSt is assessed by coursework. In the first year, four assignments (two creative, two critical), one creative writing portfolio and one critical essay are submitted. Work is set during each residence and handed in for assessment before the next meeting. Feedback on work submitted is given during tutorials within the residence or retreat. In the second year, submissions comprise one research placement report, one extended critical essay, and a final project – a substantial body of creative work in the genre of choice. 

You will be set specific creative and critical work to be completed between residences and handed in to set deadlines. Creative submissions in the first year must be in more than one genre. In the second year, submitted work focuses around the genre of your choice.

Graduate destinations

Graduate destinations have included publishing creative work in a chosen field, careers in arts/media, and doctoral programmes in creative writing.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made in circumstances of a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.

Entry requirements for entry in 2024-25

Proven and potential academic excellence.

The requirements described below are specific to this course and apply only in the year of entry that is shown. You can use our interactive tool to help you  evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

Please be aware that any studentships that are linked to this course may have different or additional requirements and you should read any studentship information carefully before applying. 

Degree-level qualifications

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:

• a first-class or upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours  in a related field.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA normally sought is 3.6 out of 4.0.

If your degree is not from the UK or another country specified above, visit our International Qualifications page for guidance on the qualifications and grades that would usually be considered to meet the University’s minimum entry requirements.

GRE General Test scores

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience 

• Assessors are looking for writers with a proven record of commitment to their craft, whose work demonstrates significant creative promise. You should be a keen reader, and bring an open-minded, questioning approach to both reading and writing. You will not necessarily have yet achieved publication, but you will have written regularly and read widely over a sustained period. You will be keen to dedicate time and energy and staying-power to harnessing your talent, enlarging your skills, and aiming your writerly production at consistently professional standards. It is likely you will have a first degree, or equivalent, although in some cases other evidence of suitability may be acceptable.
• Applicants do not need to be previously published, but the MSt is unlikely to be suitable for those who are just starting out on their writerly and critical development.

English language proficiency

This course requires proficiency in English at the University's  higher level . If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement. The minimum scores required to meet the University's higher level are detailed in the table below.

*Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English or Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) † Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)

Your test must have been taken no more than two years before the start date of your course. Our Application Guide provides  further information about the English language test requirement .

Declaring extenuating circumstances

If your ability to meet the entry requirements has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (eg you were awarded an unclassified/ungraded degree) or any other exceptional personal circumstance (eg other illness or bereavement), please refer to the guidance on extenuating circumstances in the Application Guide for information about how to declare this so that your application can be considered appropriately.

You will need to register three referees who can give an informed view of your academic ability and suitability for the course. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the types of reference that are required in support of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Supporting documents

You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the supporting documents that are required as part of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Performance at interview

Interviews are normally held as part of the admissions process.  

For those applying by the January deadline, interviews are generally held in February and March. For March applicants, interviews are generally held in March and April.

The decision to call an applicant for interview is based on the University Admission Board's assessment of your portfolio, statement of purpose, academic and professional track record and references. Interviews will be conducted in person or by telephone. All applicants whose paper submissions indicate they are qualified for entry will generally be interviewed, either in person or by telephone/Skype. There are always two interviewers. Interviews usually last up to approximately 30 minutes and provide an opportunity for the candidate to discuss his/her application and to explore the course in more detail.

The interview is designed to ascertain, through a range of questions, the shape and emphasis of the candidate's writing and reading, and general suitability for the demands of the MSt. 

How your application is assessed

Your application will be assessed purely on your proven and potential academic excellence and other entry requirements described under that heading.

References  and  supporting documents  submitted as part of your application, and your performance at interview (if interviews are held) will be considered as part of the assessment process. Whether or not you have secured funding will not be taken into consideration when your application is assessed.

An overview of the shortlisting and selection process is provided below. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide  more information about how applications are assessed . 

Shortlisting and selection

Students are considered for shortlisting and selected for admission without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief (including lack of belief), sex, sexual orientation, as well as other relevant circumstances including parental or caring responsibilities or social background. However, please note the following:

• socio-economic information may be taken into account in the selection of applicants and award of scholarships for courses that are part of  the University’s pilot selection procedure  and for  scholarships aimed at under-represented groups ;
• country of ordinary residence may be taken into account in the awarding of certain scholarships; and
• protected characteristics may be taken into account during shortlisting for interview or the award of scholarships where the University has approved a positive action case under the Equality Act 2010.

Processing your data for shortlisting and selection

Information about  processing special category data for the purposes of positive action  and  using your data to assess your eligibility for funding , can be found in our Postgraduate Applicant Privacy Policy.

Admissions panels and assessors

All recommendations to admit a student involve the judgement of at least two members of the academic staff with relevant experience and expertise, and must also be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies or Admissions Committee (or equivalent within the department).

Admissions panels or committees will always include at least one member of academic staff who has undertaken appropriate training.

Other factors governing whether places can be offered

The following factors will also govern whether candidates can be offered places:

• the ability of the University to provide the appropriate supervision for your studies, as outlined under the 'Supervision' heading in the  About  section of this page;
• the ability of the University to provide appropriate support for your studies (eg through the provision of facilities, resources, teaching and/or research opportunities); and
• minimum and maximum limits to the numbers of students who may be admitted to the University's taught and research programmes.

Offer conditions for successful applications

If you receive an offer of a place at Oxford, your offer will outline any conditions that you need to satisfy and any actions you need to take, together with any associated deadlines. These may include academic conditions, such as achieving a specific final grade in your current degree course. These conditions will usually depend on your individual academic circumstances and may vary between applicants. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide more information about offers and conditions . 

In addition to any academic conditions which are set, you will also be required to meet the following requirements:

Financial Declaration

If you are offered a place, you will be required to complete a  Financial Declaration  in order to meet your financial condition of admission.

Disclosure of criminal convictions

In accordance with the University’s obligations towards students and staff, we will ask you to declare any  relevant, unspent criminal convictions  before you can take up a place at Oxford.

The department is committed to supporting you to pursue your academic goals. 

The Rewley House Continuing Education Library , one of the Bodleian Libraries, is situated in Rewley House. The department aims to support the wide variety of subjects covered by departmental courses at many academic levels. The department also has a collection of around 73,000 books together with periodicals. PCs in the library give access to the internet and the full range of electronic resources subscribed to by the University of Oxford. Wi-Fi is also available. The Jessop Reading Room adjoining the library is available for study. You will have access to the Central Bodleian and other Bodleian Libraries.

The department's Graduate School provides a stimulating and enriching learning and research environment for the department's graduate students, fostering intellectual and social interaction between graduates of different disciplines and professions from the UK and around the globe. The Graduate School will help you make the most of the wealth of resources and opportunities available, paying particular regard to the support and guidance needed if you are following a part-time graduate programme. The department’s graduate community comprises over 600 members following taught programmes and more than 70 undertaking doctoral research.

The department provides various IT facilities , including the Student Computing Facility which provides individual PCs for your use. Many of the department's courses are delivered through blended learning or have a website to support face-to-face study. In most cases, online support is delivered through a virtual learning environment. 

Depending on the programme you are taking with the department, you may require accommodation at some point in your student career. Rewley House is ideally located in central Oxford; the city's historic sites, colleges, museums, shops and restaurants are only a few minutes’ walk away. The department has 35 en-suite study bedrooms, all with high quality amenities, including internet access.

The Rewley House dining room has seating for up to 132 people. A full meal service is available daily. The department operates a Common Room with bar for students. 

Department for Continuing Education

The need for new learning opportunities throughout life is now recognised throughout society. An intensive, initial period of higher education is not always enough in times of rapid social, economic and technological change. The Department for Continuing Education is known worldwide as a leading provider of extended learning for professional and personal development.

The department provides high-quality, flexible, part-time graduate education, tailored for adults. Students can undertake graduate-level certificates, diplomas and taught master’s degrees in a wide range of subjects. Increasing numbers of courses are delivered in mixed mode, combining intensive periods of residence in Oxford with tutored online study.

The department recruits adult students of all ages on a regional, national and international level. Many courses are offered jointly with other academic departments around the University. Courses are offered in the following areas:

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All postgraduate students on the department's courses are members of its Graduate School. The Graduate School aims to provide a stimulating and enriching environment for learning and research. It also fosters intellectual and social interaction between students coming from different disciplines and professions. Interdisciplinary research seminars, training opportunities and other events are offered by the Graduate School in support of this goal.

All masters' and DPhil applicants are considered for Clarendon Scholarships . The department is committed to seeking scholarship support for other students wherever possible.

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The University expects to be able to offer over 1,000 full or partial graduate scholarships across the collegiate University in 2024-25. You will be automatically considered for the majority of Oxford scholarships , if you fulfil the eligibility criteria and submit your graduate application by the relevant December or January deadline. Most scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or potential. 

For further details about searching for funding as a graduate student visit our dedicated Funding pages, which contain information about how to apply for Oxford scholarships requiring an additional application, details of external funding, loan schemes and other funding sources.

Please ensure that you visit individual college websites for details of any college-specific funding opportunities using the links provided on our college pages or below:

Please note that not all the colleges listed above may accept students on this course. For details of those which do, please refer to the College preference section of this page.

Further information about funding opportunities for this course can be found on the department's website.

Annual fees for entry in 2024-25

Further details about fee status eligibility can be found on the fee status webpage.

Information about course fees

Course fees are payable each year, for the duration of your fee liability (your fee liability is the length of time for which you are required to pay course fees). For courses lasting longer than one year, please be aware that fees will usually increase annually. For details, please see our guidance on changes to fees and charges .

Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. Unless specified in the additional information section below, course fees do not cover your accommodation, residential costs or other living costs. They also don’t cover any additional costs and charges that are outlined in the additional information below.

Where can I find further information about fees?

The Fees and Funding  section of this website provides further information about course fees , including information about fee status and eligibility  and your length of fee liability .

Additional information

This course has residential sessions (residences and retreats) in Oxford. You will need to meet your travel costs in attending these sessions. The tuition fee includes the cost of board and lodging during the residences and retreats (eg for a four day residence, three nights accommodation will be provided). Further, as part of your course requirements, you will need to complete a research placement in the second year. For this placement you will need to meet your travel and accommodation costs, and any other incidental expenses. You may be able to apply for small grants from your department and/or college to help you cover some of these expenses. Further information about departmental funding can be found on the department's website. Please check with your specific college for bursary or other funding possibilities.

Living costs

In addition to your course fees, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.

For the 2024-25 academic year, the range of likely living costs for full-time study is between c. £1,345 and £1,955 for each month spent in Oxford. Full information, including a breakdown of likely living costs in Oxford for items such as food, accommodation and study costs, is available on our living costs page. The current economic climate and high national rate of inflation make it very hard to estimate potential changes to the cost of living over the next few years. When planning your finances for any future years of study in Oxford beyond 2024-25, it is suggested that you allow for potential increases in living expenses of around 5% each year – although this rate may vary depending on the national economic situation. UK inflationary increases will be kept under review and this page updated.

If you are studying part-time your living costs may vary depending on your personal circumstances but you must still ensure that you will have sufficient funding to meet these costs for the duration of your course.

Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. Please note that ‘college’ and ‘colleges’ refers to all 43 of the University’s colleges, including those designated as societies and permanent private halls (PPHs). 

If you apply for a place on this course you will have the option to express a preference for one of the colleges listed below, or you can ask us to find a college for you. Before deciding, we suggest that you read our brief  introduction to the college system at Oxford  and our  advice about expressing a college preference . For some courses, the department may have provided some additional advice below to help you decide.

The following colleges accept students on the MSt in Creative Writing:

• Blackfriars
• Brasenose College
• Campion Hall
• Harris Manchester College
• Keble College
• Kellogg College
• Lady Margaret Hall
• Oriel College
• Regent's Park College
• St Catherine's College
• Somerville College
• Wadham College
• Wycliffe Hall

Before you apply

Our  guide to getting started  provides general advice on how to prepare for and start your application. You can use our interactive tool to help you  evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

If it's important for you to have your application considered under a particular deadline – eg under a December or January deadline in order to be considered for Oxford scholarships – we recommend that you aim to complete and submit your application at least two weeks in advance . Check the deadlines on this page and the  information about deadlines  in our Application Guide.

Application fee waivers

An application fee of £75 is payable per course application. Application fee waivers are available for the following applicants who meet the eligibility criteria:

• applicants from low-income countries;
• refugees and displaced persons; 
• UK applicants from low-income backgrounds; and 
• applicants who applied for our Graduate Access Programmes in the past two years and met the eligibility criteria.

You are encouraged to  check whether you're eligible for an application fee waiver  before you apply.

Do I need to contact anyone before I apply?

You do not need to make contact with the department before you apply but you are encouraged to visit the relevant departmental webpages to read any further information about your chosen course.

If you have any questions about the course, these should be directed to the course administrator via the contact details provided on this page.

Completing your application

You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents . 

If any document does not meet the specification, including the stipulated word count, your application may be considered incomplete and not assessed by the academic department. Expand each section to show further details.

Referees: Three overall, academic and/or professional

Whilst you must register three referees, the department may start the assessment of your application if two of the three references are submitted by the course deadline and your application is otherwise complete. Please note that you may still be required to ensure your third referee supplies a reference for consideration.

Your references will support your commitment to creative writing and suitability to pursue a course of this nature at graduate level. Both professional and academic references are acceptable.

Official transcript(s)

Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date. You should only upload official documents issued by your institution and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation.

More information about the transcript requirement is available in the Application Guide.

A CV/résumé is compulsory for all applications. Most applicants choose to submit a document of one to two pages highlighting their academic and writerly achievements and any relevant professional experience.

Statement of purpose: A maximum of 750 words

The statement of purpose should contain sufficient detail to allow it to be assessed against the indicated criteria.

Your statement should be written in English and explain your motivation for applying for the course at Oxford, your relevant experience and education, and the specific areas that interest you and/or in which you intend to specialise.

If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document.

This will be assessed for:

• your reasons for applying
• evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study
• the ability to present a reasoned case in English
• commitment to the subject, beyond the requirements of the degree course
• capacity for sustained and intense work
• reasoning ability and quality of written expression
• capacity to address issues of writerly and critical significance.

Written work: A maximum of 2,000 words of prose fiction or narrative non-fiction or 10 short poems or 15 minutes of dramatic writing (stage, screen, radio or TV)

Your portfolio of creative writing for assessment can be in any of the four genres, or in more than one. It should be clearly indicative of your ability in creative writing.

This will be assessed for excellence in creative writing.

Start or continue your application

You can start or return to an application using the relevant link below. As you complete the form, please  refer to the requirements above  and  consult our Application Guide for advice . You'll find the answers to most common queries in our FAQs.

Application Guide   Apply

ADMISSION STATUS

Closed to applications for entry in 2024-25

Register to be notified via email when the next application cycle opens (for entry in 2025-26)

12:00 midday UK time on:

Friday 19 January 2024 Latest deadline for most Oxford scholarships

Friday 1 March 2024 Applications may remain open after this deadline if places are still available - see below

A later deadline shown under 'Admission status' If places are still available,  applications may be accepted after 1 March . The 'Admissions status' (above) will provide notice of any later deadline.

*Three-year average (applications for entry in 2021-22 to 2023-24)

Further information and enquiries

This course is offered by the Department for Continuing Education

• Course page  and blog on  department website
• Funding information from the department
• Academic staff
• Departmental research
• Continuing Education Graduate School
• Postgraduate applicant privacy policy

Course-related enquiries

Advice about contacting the department can be found in the How to apply section of this page

✉ [email protected] ☎ +44 (0)1865 280145

Application-process enquiries

See the application guide

Visa eligibility for part-time study

We are unable to sponsor student visas for part-time study on this course. Part-time students may be able to attend on a visitor visa for short blocks of time only (and leave after each visit) and will need to remain based outside the UK.

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Creative writing

Ma creative writing - emma watson.

HalloweenGhost · 05/05/2023 23:41

Gosh this is going to sound like such sour grapes, but I don't mean it that way But - how did EW get accepted on the MA- is it her celebrity status? I know that competition is fierce, I have been published in anthologies from a local university competition, and did the CHE in creative writing at Oxford (got a distinction), but I was turned down for the MA. Anyone been accepted on an MA and have some words of wisdom for me? Feeling useless :-(

I would assume her GPA and relevant experience was taken into account, just like any other student. If you still want to do the MA, have you considered applying again? Sometimes it takes more than one go, or a different university.

Why should she be rejected just because she's famous? I don't like her at all, but I can't see how anyone in the public would know whether she had any talent or not if she has always kept her writing private. One thing is for certain, she hasn't asked J. K. Rowling for advice on writing.

A CHE isn't really a competitive academic qualification. It's only equivalent to the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree. Anybody can do one. Emma Watson has an undergraduate degree in English Literature from an Ivy League university, so she's more than qualified. Do you not have an actual undergraduate degree OP?

No, I don't think she should be rejected because of her fame. But I've not found any examples of her writing, so she's not been through any competitions or anything. I didn't think that your GPA in am unrelated Subject would be as relevant for the MA in CW as writing experience, that's interesting to know. Thanks for replies.

JagerbombsUnite · 05/05/2023 23:51

Yes, I do, and a pgce, but not in English literature, which Emma has, so I expect that was more relevant than mine.

NeedCoffeeNowPlease · 05/05/2023 23:42

Yes, but unfortunately it's much more expensive now and I would not be able to access it now.

I think a degree in English literature would be very relevant to an MA in a related discipline. If you really want to do it yourself, apply again, and maybe more widely.

NeedCoffeeNowPlease · 05/05/2023 23:55

Sadly too expensive now. Maybe some day though :-)

There's no MA in creative writing as far as I can see though? Only this? https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/courses/mst-creative-writing If I could hazard a guess OP Oxford is an academic university and so they expect an 'academic' portfolio. And more literary writing, perhaps across a number of genres. Obviously more Hilary Mantel than Danielle Steel. This isn't to discourage you - I don't know much about your work other than you've been in university anthologies, but have you won any other competitions/been published anywhere else? Was your undergraduate degree in a field that would have lent you that depth of analysis?

MSt in Creative Writing | University of Oxford

About the courseThe MSt in Creative Writing is a two-year, part-time master's degree course offering a unique combination of high contact hours, genre specialisation, and critical and creative breadth.

https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/courses/mst-creative-writing

I think anyone with a 2:1 or higher undergrad degree will be accepted on an MA

I had no idea she was doing MA in creative writing but good for her. Honestly, yes her celeb status probably did play a role but as others have said, she has a good degree from an excellent university in an appropriate subject, which may well have covered a creative writing element. She's also founded a popular reading group, which will have informed her thinking and application. As her career will have done, too. And she hasn't entered any competitions that you know of. Even if you did have complete access to all competitions in the UK & the USA and had systematically gone through the names of all entrants (not a security breach, I'm sure) and found her missing, who is to say she hasn't entered under a pen name? Celeb status aside, she's uniquely qualified.

Yes I think you're all right. I got a 2.2 in french and Spanish so completely the wrong thing and grade. No I've won nothing else except shortlisted for a limerick contest 😂 That's right about the mst, though I had forgotten as it was some years ago I was looking. The MA is at UAE. To be honest I think it's uae that carries the most prestige in terms of actually going on to get published afterwards. I was rejected there too of course - but the mst I saw more as a enjoyable thing to do. I enjoyed the che despite it being low level.

Try the Open University. My friend did her MA with them and loved it.

Hi, just sharing that I’m on my second year of a part time MA in creative writing. Very mature student but worked in a creative industry for 20 years. I got a ba hons 23 years ago and not in English lit !!! The MA is challenging, which you would expect, even part time with family life and commitments. essays are expected to be completed over holidays…not great with young school kids!! However, applying was nerve racking but absolutely worth it. I’m just about to submit my final essay before my dissertation starts. I’m really looking forward to that but how I’ll manage my time is another story. My point is, it’s been my ambition to do this course and I’m doing it! I had to submit a portfolio of writing, which I did including mostly professional stuff. It’s exhilarating and hard but I absolutely love it and I’m already mourning it finishing. Have hope!

Ah - your enthusiasm reminds me of me, @Dellabob123 ! I had a similar experience, though older, full time, very niche at specialist institution, nearly thirty years after my first degree in a completely different subject and intervening professional career. Have you, by the way, shared your marvellous experience on the Mature Study and Retraining board ? Sympathies, @HalloweenGhost ! I know someone who, on enquiring about the MSt, was bluntly asked what prizes she had won. She crept away chastened, eventually went somewhere else, studied something fabulous, came out with a Distinction, won prizes, and then returned to the MSt place in a more elevated capacity. It’s hugely helpful if you can demonstrate some connection to the professional writing world … Arts Council grants, competitive residencies, producing your own performances, or being taken up as an emerging talent by a respected institution, being published somewhere surprising … What do you mean about it being too expensive, specifically? If you’re under 60 you’ll qualify for a Government Postgraduate Loan, which would cover your fees, at least.

Mature students: Distance learning, retraining and mentorship | Mumsnet | Mumsnet

Welcome to Mumsnet’s mature student forum. Discuss everything from starting adult courses to retraining and distance learning or even seek out a personal mentor.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

Have you considered the MA at Bath Spa? Also gets great publication results and from memory you can pay off the fee in instalments.

Even a year at a adult education writing workshop will help you with your application. Or a residential weekend. Will show that you have done your time in workshops and know what to expect with group work.

You’re obviously correct that no institution is going to turn down such a well qualified and high profile candidate. They’ll be able to ask her back to give workshops and master classes for decades to come. And of course she’ll have no difficulty getting published - so again, great for the university. Forget all that and concentrate on you. ‘Creative Writing’ is such an amorphous term nowadays - anyone with a Twitter account is a ‘writer’. Can you narrow your own writing down to a specific field? Poetry? Playwriting? Graphic novel? Essays? Look for institutions with a course focusing on that one thing.

MarciaSaysANumber · 16/05/2023 08:49

Oh that's sad to read about your friend, thank you for sharing that. I had hoped that my che course (although lowly) and the anthology inclusion would be a demonstration of my level, but I guess there is always someone with a little bit more to offer. In looking at the cost, the cost for the mst at Cambridge, for example, is 8.5k per year for four weekends per year, and I presume a good amount of support in between,but still, it's expensive. I hadn't thought about a postgraduate loan, but I am a little wary of loading another 16k on my student loan. I'm not working atm so might not be accepted.

Here’s how they work: Government Postgraduate Loan

Funding for postgraduate study

Postgraduate funding - find grants, loans, studentships and scholarships.

https://www.gov.uk/funding-for-postgraduate-study

but I guess there is always someone with a little bit more to offer. No, there are probably thousands of people across the country (not all equal in talent) elbowing their way into all the things I listed above. It is a really, really competitive world. But the story I told you had a happy ‘ending’!

Do you mean UAE?? Or UEA?

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ODFOx · 16/05/2023 17:38

🤣🤣🤣 Thank you. The latter!!

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