Department of English Studies | MLitt Creative Writing

Durham University, The Palatine Centre, Durham, GB, Durham, United Kingdom

Shortlist

# 33QS Subject Rankings

24 monthsProgram duration

YesScholarships

English Language and LiteratureMain Subject Area

Shortlist

Program overview

Main Subject

English Language and Literature

Degree

Other

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus

MLitt Creative Writing at Durham University

english.studies@durham.ac.uk

MLitt Creative Writing at Durham University

english.studies@durham.ac.uk

It is expected that most Creative Writing PhDs at Durham will have a 50:50 weighting between a Creative Portfolio and a Literary-Critical Dissertation; however, this ratio is negotiable as particular projects may require a different weighting, or the emphasis may change after the completion of initial research.

During your three years of supervision you will produce a complete and coherent creative writing project in your chosen form, plus a literary-critical dissertation of a high academic standard. The nature and form of the creative project will vary from student to student and the literary-critical dissertation may focus on any writer(s), and/or aspect(s) of Creative Literature and/or Theoretical Writing. It is expected that the literary-critical dissertation will be informed by your personal creative practice and process, but will not focus on it primarily. The creative and critical elements of your thesis should be viewed as complementary, in dialogue with one another and forming a coherent whole that you will be asked to defend at the viva (oral examination) after submission.

The research interests of the Creative Writing team within the Department of English Studies lie in a broad range of Nineteenth, Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Writing from English-language traditions and from Literature in English-language translation. We welcome CW PhDs in Poetry, The Short Story, Innovative Fiction, Narrative Non-Fiction, Memoir & Life-Writing and Hybrid Forms of Writing (the Lyric Essay, Autofiction, Conceptual Poetry). Recent publications by members of the Creative Writing team include works exploring Identity & Self-Expression; Affect in Writing, including Manifestations of Shame in Contemporary Poetry; Feminist Writing & Theory; Activist Texts; Musicality & Orality in Poetry; Form in Performance & Form on the Page; Race & Lyric Subjectivity; Hip Hop Studies; Elegy; Epistolary Writing; Uncreative Writing, Repurposing & Appropriation.

Creative Writing at Durham University is housed in the Department of English Studies, which usually has about 75 PhD students at any one time. In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF), 90% of the Department’s research activity was judged to be ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent.’. The research expertise of the Department of English Studies includes the Reception of Classical Texts; Medieval Literature & Culture; Renaissance Literature; Eighteenth & Nineteenth-Century English Literature; Romantic Poetry, Fiction, Political Writing & Aesthetic Theory; Victorian Fin-de-Siècle & Edwardian Writing; Postmodernism, Literary Hermeneutics and Ideas of Authorship.

You will be assigned principal and secondary supervisors with whom you will work out your research programme. We will be pleased to discuss your interests with you before you apply;
You will be expected to meet with one of your supervisors every two weeks in term-time and every month out-of-term;
Within eight months of your start date (or within sixteen months for part-time students) you will produce a piece of critical writing of 3,000 words, plus a portfolio of creative writing (3,000 words of prose, or six pages of poetry) which will be read by members of staff other than your supervisor(s) as a check on progress;
Each July you will submit a joint annual progress report with your supervisor(s);
You will submit either a PhD thesis (consisting of a portfolio of creative work of up to either 50,000 words of prose or 2,000 lines of poetry, plus a critical dissertation of up to 50,000 words) or an MLitt thesis (consisting of a portfolio of creative work of up to either 35,000 words of prose or 1,400 lines of poetry, plus a critical dissertation of up to 35,000 words);
You will be examined by an internal and external examiner after you have submitted your thesis.

The Department’s reputation for the quality and intellectual rigour of its teaching means students are in possession of skills and experience that are much sought after by potential employers around the world.

Our postgraduates are equipped with highly transferable skills and the ability to analyse, assess and communicate knowledge effectively. Many choose to take these newly acquired abilities into professional roles in sectors including arts and theatre management, broadcasting, publishing and journalism, business, accounting, marketing and advertising, teaching, higher education, law, third sector and government positions. Others choose to continue their academic study at a higher level.

Durham University: Inspiring the Extraordinary

We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things in the world.

A globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting - Durham is a university like no other!

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Program overview

Main Subject

English Language and Literature

Degree

Other

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus

MLitt Creative Writing at Durham University

english.studies@durham.ac.uk

MLitt Creative Writing at Durham University

english.studies@durham.ac.uk

You will be assigned principal and secondary supervisors with whom you will work out your research programme. We will be pleased to discuss your interests with you before you apply;
You will be expected to meet with one of your supervisors every two weeks in term-time and every month out-of-term;
Within eight months of your start date (or within sixteen months for part-time students) you will produce a piece of critical writing of 3,000 words, plus a portfolio of creative writing (3,000 words of prose, or six pages of poetry) which will be read by members of staff other than your supervisor(s) as a check on progress;
Each July you will submit a joint annual progress report with your supervisor(s);
You will submit either a PhD thesis (consisting of a portfolio of creative work of up to either 50,000 words of prose or 2,000 lines of poetry, plus a critical dissertation of up to 50,000 words) or an MLitt thesis (consisting of a portfolio of creative work of up to either 35,000 words of prose or 1,400 lines of poetry, plus a critical dissertation of up to 35,000 words);
You will be examined by an internal and external examiner after you have submitted your thesis.

Durham University: Inspiring the Extraordinary

We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things in the world.

A globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting - Durham is a university like no other!

Read less

Admission Requirements

Program Duration

2 Years

Starting Month(s)

Sep-2024

Tuition Fee and Scholarships

One of the important factors when considering a master's degree is the cost of study. Luckily, there are many options available to help students fund their master's programme. Download your copy of the Scholarship Guide to find out which scholarships from around the world could be available to you, and how to apply for them.

In this guide you will find:

Where to look for scholarship opportunities

How to apply to scholarships relevant to you

A list of available scholarships around the world

A scholarship application checklist

Download Scholarship Guide

QS subject rankings

2013
#41
2014
#51-100
2015
#=36
2016
#38
2017
#35
2018
#34
2019
#=41
2020
#46
2021
#=44
2022
#=36
2023
#38
2024
#29
2025
#33

Ranking criteria

Overall

78.8

Academic Reputation

79.1

Citations per Paper

79.9

Employer Reputation

75.3

View all rankings data

Department of English Studies | MLitt Creative Writing

Durham University, The Palatine Centre, Durham, GB, Durham, United Kingdom

# 33QS Subject Rankings

24 monthsProgram duration

YesScholarships

English Language and LiteratureMain Subject Area

Program overview

Main Subject

Degree

Study Level

Study Mode

Program overview

Main Subject

Degree

Study Level

Study Mode

Admission Requirements

Important Dates

Tuition Fee and Scholarships

Scholarships

In this guide you will find:

QS WUR Ranking By Subject

QS subject rankings

Subject: English Language and Literature

Ranking criteria

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