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You'll need a 2:2 degree in an arts, humanities or social sciences subject.  

Find the equivalent international qualifications for your country.

You also need to provide a sample of written work that we can assess. 

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you must show that you can use English to the level we require. Visit our English language pages to find out which qualifications we accept and how you can meet our requirements.

If you are taking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), you must get at least the following scores:

If you do not meet the English language requirements through a test or qualification, you may be able to meet them by completing one of our pre-sessional English programmes before you start your course.

Pre-masters

If you don’t meet direct entry requirements, you can apply to complete a Pre-Master's programme through our partnership with OnCampus.

You'll progress to your chosen course after successfully completing the programme.

Recognition of professional experience

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

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

Got a question?

Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Learning

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

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

We aim to:

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

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

• active participation
• independent learning
• creativity
• personal initiative

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

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

Assessment

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

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

Dissertation

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

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

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

Academic Support

You’ll have access to:

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

Tuition fees

Fees for a year's study:

• UK students pay £12,600.
• EU and international students pay £29,100.

Check fees for other versions of this course.

Deposit

If you're an international student on a full-time course, we'll ask you to pay £2,000 of your tuition fees in advance, as a deposit.

Your offer letter will tell you when this should be paid and provide full terms and conditions.

Find out about exemptions, refunds and how to pay your deposit on our tuition fees for overseas students page.

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fee covers the full cost of tuition and any exams. The fee you pay will remain the same each year from when you start studying this course. This includes if you suspend and return.

Find out how to pay your tuition fees.

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.

Explore:

• accommodation costs
• living costs
• budgeting advice
• fees, charges and expenses regulations

10% alumni discount

If you’re a graduate of the ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ, you could be eligible for a 10% discount on your postgraduate tuition fees.

Postgraduate Master’s Loans (UK nationals only)

This can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate master's course. 

If you study part-time, you may not be eligible for this loan. .

Dean of Faculty of Arts and Humanities Global Talent Award

Up to 5 scholarships of £10,000 are available to first year international students starting an eligible full-time, on-campus, 1-year postgraduate taught programme in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities.

Learn more about eligibility criteria and conditions for the Dean of Faculty of Arts and Humanities Global Talent Award.

Other postgraduate funding options

A variety of additional funding options may be available to help you pay for your master’s study. Both from the University and other organisations.

Funding for EU and international students

Find out about funding you could get as an international student.

1. Use the blue 'apply for this course' button on this page to take you to our postgraduate admissions system.
2. Create an account which gives you access to your own application portal.
3. Search for the course you want to apply for.
4. Complete the application form and upload any supporting documents.
5. Submit your application.

For further details of our admission process, read our step by step guide to postgraduate taught applications.

Application deadlines

UK Students

The deadline to apply for this course is Wednesday 18 August 2027, midday UK time.

We advise applying early as applications may close before the expected deadline if places are filled.

International students

The deadline to apply for this course is Wednesday 4 August 2027, midday UK time.

We advise applying early as applications may close before the expected deadline if places are filled.

Application assessment fee

There is no application assessment fee for postgraduate courses starting in 2027.

Supporting information

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

You’ll need to include information about: 

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

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

You also need to provide:

• a sample of your original creative writing, up to 2,000 words in length. This can be fiction of any genre and in any form (one or more short stories, several flash fictions, a novel excerpt), or non-fiction (autobiography, biography, creative non-fiction). It should not be poetry, a film or play script

What happens after you apply

You'll be able to track your application through our online Applicant Record System.

Unfortunately, due to number of applications we receive, we may not be able to give you specific feedback on your application if you are unsuccessful.

Equality and diversity

We treat and select everyone in line with our Inclusion and Respectful Behaviour Policy.

Got a question?

Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

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