ma creative writing oxford university

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MSt in Creative Writing University of Oxford

Course options

Qualification.

MSt - Master of Studies

University of Oxford

• TUITION FEES
• ENTRY REQUIREMENT
• UNIVERSITY INFO

Course summary

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.

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 doctoral programmes in creative writing

Tuition fees

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£ 14,155 per year

Tuition fees shown are for indicative purposes and may vary. Please check with the institution for most up to date details.

University information

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University of Oxford, University Offices, Wellington Square, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 2JD, England

Suggested courses

Creative Writing MA or PGDip or PGCert

Oxford Brookes University

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MA Creative Writing

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  MSt in Creative Writing

University of oxford     department for continuing education, findamasters summary.

Unleash your creativity with Oxford University's prestigious MSt in Creative Writing programme. Over two years of part-time study, immerse yourself in a diverse range of genres including prose, poetry, drama, and more. The course's unique clustered learning format offers five Residences, two Guided Retreats, and a hands-on Placement, providing invaluable real-world experience in various literary settings. In the first year, explore all genres to develop your writerly voice through critical analysis and new creative work. Year two allows for specialisation in your chosen genre, whether it be the novel, poetry, screenwriting, or others. Assessment includes a mix of creative writing assignments and critical essays, culminating in a substantial final project. With dedicated Supervisors guiding you throughout, this programme equips you with the skills and knowledge to thrive in the global writing community. Embrace the challenge and elevate your writing to new heights.

About the course

Oxford University's Master of Studies in Creative Writing is a two-year, part-time master's degree course offering a unique combination of high contact hours, genre specialization, and critical and creative breadth.

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

Entry Requirements

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Please see the university website for further information on fees for this course.

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Funding for graduate courses is competitive, but the University of Oxford offers more support than you might think. For example, for the 2022-23 academic year, just over 48% of our new graduate students received full or partial funding from the University or other funders. For the 2024-25 academic year, the University expects to be able to offer over 1,000 full or partial graduate scholarships for new students. Scholarships are usually awarded on the basis of academic excellence and potential, and will cover some or all of your course fees and/or provide a grant for living costs for your period of fee liability. The eligibility criteria for different scholarships vary, with some being open to the majority of new graduate students and others restricted by particular characteristics, for example by degree subject or country of ordinary residence. Some scholarship schemes offer additional benefits like events to support scholars, or membership of a scholar community or leadership programme. For the majority of Oxford scholarships, all you need to do is submit your graduate application by the December or January deadline for your course. There’s no separate scholarship application process or extra supporting documentation required for funding. Based on the information supplied in your graduate application, you will be automatically considered for scholarships where you meet the eligibility criteria with most scholarships using academic merit and/or potential as the basis on which award decisions are made. The vast majority of college scholarships do not require you to select that particular college as your preference on the graduate application form. They will consider all eligible applicants who apply by the relevant deadline. If you are selected for a college scholarship, we will move your place to the relevant college. Most Oxford scholarships are awarded between late February and June. The approximate date by which decisions are expected to be made will normally be given in the scholarship information available from the A-Z of Scholarships. A scholarship may be awarded either at the same time or after you are offered a place by your department. It may be awarded either before or after you have been offered a college place.

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Emma Watson to study at Oxford next academic year

The actor is taking on the new role of creative writing student

Emma Watson is to start an MA in creative writing at the University of Oxford in September.

In a recent Financial Times interview , the Harry Potter star also revealed that she began writing poetry and a series of essays on love, friendship, and relationships during lockdown.

Watson studied English Literature at Brown University where she came to Oxford on a junior year abroad (JYA) at Worcester College . She graduated in 2014.

Watson has long standing links to Oxford, having moved to Oxfordshire when she was 5. She attended the Dragon School, where fees are currently more than £11,000 per term , and Headington School where she took her GCSEs and A levels.

In 2016, her privacy was allegedly breached when a student took a photo of her on a visit to LMH, where she was reportedly discussing becoming a visiting fellow of the college.

Other famous names due to join Oxford in September include Ruby Granger, the studytuber, who will be studying for an MA in English literature.

Image description: photo of Emma Watson

Image credits: HDWallpapers.net (CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Creative Writing MSt University of Oxford

Key course facts.

• Admission advice for international students

Course Description

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.

Entry Requirements / Admissions

Requirements for international students / english requirements.

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

• Graduate Degrees
• Undergraduate Degrees
• (no subscore less than 6.0)

Average student cost of living in the UK

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

University Rankings

Positions of university of oxford in top uk and global rankings., about university of oxford.

The University of Oxford is a prestigious research university located in Oxford, England, and is the oldest English language university in the world. It is made up of 39 partly autonomous constituent colleges, six private halls, and a variety of academic departments which are split into four divisions: Humanities, Mathematical, Physical & Life Sciences, Medical Sciences, and Social Sciences.

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MST Creative Writing - University of Oxford

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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.

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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Creative Writing

Our English and Creative Writing courses will grow your writing through work with established writers, industry professionals, teaching specialists and your peers, whilst you experience this most literary of all cities.

Getting you published

Our graduates’ recent achievements mean that agents and publishers really listen when they hear you’re with us. Among many other stand-out successes, in 2018 Anne Youngson's Meet Me at the Museum has met with international success, and Linni Ingemundsen launched the first novel of her two-book deal with Usborne’s young adult list. In 2016 Kit de Waal (pictured with Philip Pullman at our 2013 showcase) published My Name is Leon , which was immediately taken up for adaptation by BBC radio, TV and film; and in 2015 Catherine Chanter’s The Well appeared to international acclaim and was chosen by the Richard & Judy/WH Smith Book Club.

All Major Projects gaining a Distinction are looked at by top agents Felicity Bryan Associates (who visit us each year), with a view to representation, and by legendary London publisher Philip Gwyn Jones , who has commissioned some of the biggest names in fiction. People like this are the gatekeepers of literary success; our aim is to get them to open those gates for you.

Discover more of our publishing success stories

Be Inspired

Creative Writing at Oxford Brookes can open doors to your creativity that you didn't even know existed.

Teaching fellows

Our Creative Writing Fellows lead on average a major workshop session every other week of each semester as well as other shorter sessions.

Patience Agbabi

Patience Agbabi – poet and author of Telling Tales and The Infinite .

Sally Bayley

Sally Bayley – fiction and nonfiction author, most recently Girl With Dove and No Boys Play Here .

Steven Hall

Steven Hall – was included as one of Granta Magazine’s ‘Best Young British Novelists’ in 2013.

Philip Gwyn Jones

Simon Mason

Simon Mason – author of Moon Pie (Guardian Children's Fiction Prize - shortlisted) and YA series Garvie Smith , and leading children's fiction editor.

Dr Morag Joss

Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing

• --> [email protected]

Morag Joss is the Subject Coordinator for Creative Writing at Brookes. She is the award-winning author of the three  Sara Selkirk  novels,  Half Broken Things ,  Puccini’s Ghosts ,  The Night Following ,  Among the Missing  ( Across the Bridge ) and  Our Picnics in the Sun . Her work has been translated into several languages and her fourth novel,  Half Broken Things,  was adapted as a film for ITV, starring Penelope Wilton and Daniel Mays. She has also written for television, and writes short stories for print and broadcast. Her prizes and shortlistings include the CWA Silver Dagger, the USA Edgar Award for best novel, and residencies at the Heinrich Böll house on Achill, Ireland, and at Casa Ecco, Como, Italy. Her recent work includes new libretti for operas by Donizetti and Offenbach. Prior to joining Brookes, she held Fellowships at the universities of Reading and Southampton, and taught Creative Writing at Oxford University. She has also been a tutor for the Arvon Foundation and for the National Writers Centre of Scotland, Moniack Mhor.

Annual showcase

At the end of each year, students from MA Creative Writing course are given the opportunity to showcase their work to a group of literary agents, publishers and some best-selling writers.

They present extracts of their work to the literary professionals, and as a direct result of the evening, students can enter talks with agents and have even landed a publishing deal that will establish them in the literary world.

“Among the Creative Writing courses that I’ve seen – and I’ve seen quite a lot now – the one I’ve seen at Oxford Brookes is certainly one of the best.” Philip Pullman

Open lectures

Previous Oxford Brookes Creative Writing Lectures have been delivered by Philip Pullman, Marilynne Robinson, Howard Jacobson, Daisy Goodwin, Nick Cohen and Stewart Lee.

Mark Watson

This film of the 2013 Oxford Brookes University Annual Creative Writing Lecture features Mark Watson combining two strands of his rich and varied career, in an evening of ‘bookomedy’. Mark reads from his fourth and latest bestselling novel The Knot, and from unpublished work-in-progress.

Mark Watson is an award-winning stand-up comedian, a prolific TV and Radio broadcaster, and author of four bestselling novels. He was born in Bristol, and is an English graduate of the University of Cambridge.

Stewart Lee

Stewart Lee is a stand-up comedian, writer, novelist and reviewer. In this interview he talks about his life in writing and comedy; broadcasting, performance and publishing.

Hosted by: Simon Kövesi, Head of English and Modern Languages, Oxford Brookes University

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Students’ blog

Preparing for University – What to pack (Exeter Campus)

Hello everyone! It’s Mya (Emerald) from Myanmar again! I am an international postgraduate student, pursuing an MA in Creative Writing. I’m here to talk you through what I found useful to pack when heading to university. Around this time a year ago, I was looking at Pinterest boards thinking what to include in my luggage before setting off for a long journey. I was trying not to make it exceed 23 kg but failed miserably as I wanted to pack almost everything I could so that I could save money on buying household items in Exeter. How wrong was I?!

While I took some things out from the luggage, my mom put in a few more behind my back. That’s how I exceeded the allowed weight, and stupidly, I asked airport information assistant how much I should pay for excess baggage. He smirked, and said, “Ma’am, just take a few things out there. No. Probably half of it.” Just like that, my luggage was opened in front of the public; The Secret History and other books were taken out, my beloved vintage blue blender had to go, So, here I am… to help you not to have an embarrassing and hasty exhibition of your beloved items in front of the check-in counter!

The first thing I was worried about when I packed was that I wouldn’t be able to bring enough instant food (Burmese ready-made meals) and essential ingredients like red chilli flakes, fish sauce, tamarind and several other condiments to make me feel at home. My mom could have been thinking the same as she looked concerned when I was performing my suitcase reveal show at the check-in counter. I decided to leave most of the instant noodle packages – but when I walked past the security check, taking my coat off, I found instant noodle packs in each of my pockets. My mom had sneaked these in! I had a good laugh and guess what… I had to bring them in my pockets as both of my suitcases and my backpack plus my tote bag were chubby enough, having no more room to host those noodle packs! (Moral of the story, provided they are not illegal items, it’s always a good idea to make use of any pockets you have on you because honestly, those Shan instant noodles were the best comfort food while settling in!). I do recommend you take unique food items of your culture to make yourself at home.

However, spices and condiments are easily spotted at various stores in Exeter. Mesopotamia and Asian stores such as 168 Oriental Supermarket, BHL Oriental Food Store and Yonk Asian Supermarket have every condiment I need for my cooking, and I have been cooking my traditional cuisines ever since, creating myself a home-away-from-home. As for the groceries, I check discounts from Tesco and order online from Asda. Iceland is a better option for a rainy day because of its affordable prices and sales.

On top of that, students usually forget to bring some items for the kitchen, for example, chopping board, strainer, scissors, grater, tin opener, bottle opener, and ladle. Pots and pans are too heavy to pack in your luggage obviously. So, during the Welcome Week, when University arrange tours to IKEA, it’s a good idea to join these tours to socialise and also to buy heavy household items for your new home! It’s also a good idea to share these items with your flatmates if you are already sharing a kitchen.

Being a Pinterest aficionado, I found several lists that outline what I needed to pack when going to university. It’s a good place to look if you’re not sure where to start! Instead of packing everything you might need for a whole year, it would be wiser and lighter weight for you to travel with only the essentials, especially if you are an international student.

Obviously, you would want to bring the clothing that match your style. I brought all sort of clothing including summer dresses and evening dresses which I did not regret. Otherwise, I would be shopping at the last minute before the seasonal balls held by various societies here! University of Exeter has a huge variety of societies and the events held by them are regularly scheduled. Even if you did not want to pack a lot of clothing, I want to suggest you bring various attires including winter coats and thermal wear for your first few months of your life here in the UK.

Cultural shock is one thing. Weather is another! Speaking of the weather, I would suggest you bring your favourite sturdy umbrella or a raincoat (to be honest, I prefer to walk in the rain as I am too light weighted to withstand the force of the wind swipping my umbrella away). There will often be a drizzle even in summer. I know right?!

If you didn’t want to pack a lot of clothing and also don’t want to spend a lot on fashion, you can always check out boutiques, second-hand stores and charity shops in the heart of city centre like British Heart Foundation or Hospiscare (where proceeds go towards helping a charity/worthy cause), or order from ASOS or Vinted for much cheaper prices.

Speaking of fashion, if you are into tote bags, please don’t bother bringing any to the University. During Freshers’ week, I collected free tote bags from Students’ Guild. I also went to tie-dying workshops at the University where you can create your own tote bag according to your taste and take it home!

For the bathroom, I chose to only bring the items I would need for the first few weeks. This included a bar of soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, facewash, shampoo and conditioner. Bath towels and hand towels are a must to bring (although you can buy them when you get to Exeter)! I suggest you to bring adaptor as sockets can be different from what you use in your home country. (It’s always better to research before losing your mind as your phone and power bank are running out of batteries after a long flight!) However, you can order online or pop down to Boots, or Poundland for the items that are cheaper. For online shopping, Aldi is the cheapest option you have both for groceries and household items!

When I thought about having my own place, I imagine my own comfy bed and tiny LED lights on the wall featuring my sketches, random pages of poems and cutouts from magazines. So, even before I arrived in Exeter, I ordered a duvet, duvet cover, and a set of two pillows and pillowcases. Since I ordered from the website suggested by the University’s accommodation page, I didn’t have a lot of options to choose but I made sure to get the right colour, pastel green.

The view outside your window is likely to be green and pleasant since Exeter is in the middle of some of the UK’s most beautiful countryside. However, you can also bring these elements of nature into your room. For me, I had a tiny succulent, welcoming me when I first stepped into my studio room. You shouldn’t and can’t necessarily bring a plant from your hometown (due to Customs Laws etc). But there are ways to get them here; the University of Exeter usually has a huge plant sale at the Forum (Streatham Campus) in May. Even without sales, you can still buy tiny desk plants at the Marketplace in the Forum, or other places in the city.

Tips and Tricks

As the University of Exeter is renowned for offering a great student experience and with all of its societies and events held throughout the academic year, there are various opportunities for new and prospective students to grab free items and experience along the way. I would suggest you come earlier and explore the swapping events before the semester starts. Usually before leaving accommodation, students pass their household items and food to newcomers, so it’s a good idea to reach out to them once you arrive in Exeter. There are also donation points (charity boxes) in various students’ accommodations. For example, at the Birks Grange Village, donation point is located in the Birks Grange Central Common room near the pool table. There were countless items left by old students. I picked one beautiful glass and Game of Throne books!

You can look forward to the Welcome Week (Freshers’ week) as well on the campus! When I arrived just in time to experience Freshers’ week, I got a lot of free stuff ranging from stationery like pens, notebooks, stress balls, personal alarm, ice bucket, t-shirt, and tote bags. The Students’ Guild in Devonshire House also provides post it notes, pens, and papers for the students during the exam week.

Most importantly, when you move into a new place, it’s important to bring things that matter to you. It could be a plushie or your favourite kind of bedding, or the photos of your family and friends, or a drawing given by your beloved ones. For me, it’s a book “What I Talk About When I Talk About Running” by Haruki Murakami. I brought it to whichever country I travelled, and it has been my sidekick in every international chronicle of mine. Seeing the book sitting on the top shelf of my study desk reminds me of the marathon of life I have yet to run. For now, before you run out of time, I suggest you start making a list of what to pack and I hope you have a general idea of which things to leave as you can always make new memories with the things that can be bought in the UK, most precisely… in this beautiful green city, Exeter!

Duration: 2 years part-time

Format: In-person or mostly online

Starts: October 2025

Applications will open in September 2024.

To be notified when applications open,  please register your interest . 

Course Director:  Dr John Ballam ​

Applications status

• Opening soon

Undergraduate Diploma in Creative Writing (from 2025)

Course details.

With expert tuition and small class sizes, this course gives keen writers the opportunity to explore and develop their craft.

Our two-year, part-time Diploma allows you to strengthen your ability in four major areas of literary activity — prose, poetry, drama and analytical reading — as well as the chance to specialise in the genre of your choice.

There are two ways to study. The in-person pathway ( Option 1 ) takes place on weekends in Oxford and offers a rich combination of seminars, one-to-one tutorials and group discussions. The online pathway ( Option 2 ) with a summer school in Oxford, replicates the in-person structure exactly, using a variety of media to offer a stimulating and challenging learning environment.

For both study options, the chance to have your work read and analysed by a supportive, suitably skilled peer group is one of the great benefits of the course, offering fresh perspectives and insights on your writing. At the same time, we emphasise the importance of individual voice and vision, and there will be ample time for one-to-one, in-depth discussion of your work.

Many of our former students have had work accepted for publication during or after their time with us. A significant number have progressed to Creative Writing MAs and MFA programmes at a range of universities, including Oxford University’s  Master's in Creative Writing.

Please note:

This page is intended as an overview of the course, and some information listed may be subject to change before applications open in September 2024.

Online info session

Wednesday 23 october 2024, 12 midday uk time (12:00 bst).

Are you interested in learning more about the Diploma for 2025 entry? Course Director Dr John Ballam will provide an overview of the course, including both study options, and answer your questions during this online webinar.

To join us, please  register here ► 

Quick links

Who is this course for, how you will study.

• Course content and assessment
• IT requirements and study skills
• Teaching staff and contact information
• Application details  – how to apply, fees, award and credit transfer

English language requirements

Pathways and other levels of study

We are looking for enthusiastic writers with a strong commitment to improving their craft, an awareness of literary areas and a degree of articulacy in discussing them, and the capacity for intellectual and imaginative development. This is an intensive and challenging course, and you will need to consider carefully whether you can offer the high level of commitment required. You will want to devote at least 12 hours a week to your writing outside of timetabled classes.

You don’t need formal qualifications. You must already be active as a writer, but it is not essential to have been published. Our students come from many backgrounds, and typically range in age from 18 to 80. Some have previous experience of literary study, but again, this is not essential.

If you apply, we will ask you to submit a small portfolio of your work. Admission is selective and would be based on your portfolio and an interview.

Student spotlights

Hear firsthand from our students about their views on the Diploma and how it helped them with their creative journey.

Student spotlights ►

There are two study options for the Diploma in Creative Writing.

Option 1: 

Most terms you will attend four Saturday day schools, four per term in terms 1-5, two in term 6, which usually run from 9am - 5pm at Ewert House in Summertown, Oxford. Should circumstances dictate, the teaching can be moved online (either fully or partly).

In the day schools you will take part in:

• seminars, involving practical writing activities and lively group discussions;
• group discussions of each other’s work. This is because the value of group activity as a catalyst for the creative imagination is a central tenet of the course.

You will also attend one Sunday day school each term, which is paired with one of the Saturday schools. At the Sunday sessions, visiting writers, speakers and tutors provide a wide range of voices to counterpoint and amplify the insights and opinions of the Diploma’s regular teaching team. You can hear readings by well-known writers from all genres, and engage in discussions with them, as well as enjoying related workshop sessions.

There is a seven-day summer school (residence possible) at the end of the first year of study, in June, which provides an unparalleled opportunity to concentrate on living and working your craft. The summer school is a vibrant culmination to your first year, allowing dedicated time and space for your writing. Sessions for the whole group are balanced by individual sessions which allow you to focus on areas of your choice. There is time set aside for uninterrupted writing, and guidance will be given, as a group and individually, about how best to focus your efforts during the summer vacation so that you can get the most out of your second year.

The summer school is an integral part of the course and included in the course fee. It usually starts at lunchtime on a Saturday in June and finishes at lunchtime on the Friday. From Sunday, each day begins at 9.30 am and continues to 7pm, with breaks for tea/coffee and lunch.

Accommodation, should you require it for the summer school, is not included in your tuition fee but it may be possible to book accommodation for that period subject to availability.

Due to UK immigration and visa rules, Option 1 is normally more suitable for UK nationals and others who do not need a student visa or immigration permission to study in the UK, whereas Option 2 is normally suitable for all nationals. Please see  www.ox.ac.uk/students/visa  for more visa and immigration information.

Option 2: 

The online study option repeats the course structure exactly as outlined above, but instead of in-person day schools in Oxford, nearly all of the work you do will be through online media and resources. Each of the first five terms is comprised of ten weekly units focusing on individual aspects of the writer’s craft. Term 6 has five units instead of ten, mirroring the in-person option above. Each weekly unit has:

• experiments and exercises in reading, critiquing and practical writing activities as well as lively group discussions in focused study forums wherein your tutor is an active participant;
• group discussions in forums centred on each other’s work. This is because the value of group activity as a catalyst for the creative imagination is a central tenet of the course.

There is a two-week residential summer school at the end of the first year of study, which provides an unparalleled opportunity to concentrate on living and working your craft. This is an integral part of the course. Please note accommodation is not included in the course fee.

The summer school is a vibrant culmination to your first year, allowing dedicated time and space for your writing. Sessions for the whole group are balanced by individual sessions shortly before or during the summer school  which allow you to focus on areas of your choice. There is time set aside for uninterrupted writing, and guidance will be given, as a group and individually, about how best to focus your efforts during the summer vacation so that you can get the most out of your second year. Every day begins with a plenary lecture by a visiting speaker – most often these are professional writers in various media. There are eight two-hour in-person classes with your tutors one week, and seven in the other week. As well as your classes, you can spend your free time getting to know the world's most famous university city, visit Oxford’s outstanding museums and art galleries, gardens and enjoy tours of ‘literary/historical’ sites, concerts and theatre trips and so on in the evenings.

Throughout the course, whichever study option you take, you will be producing your own work (see below for more details). For each assignment, there is usually a one-to-one tutorial with a specialist in this type of writing, making an unrivalled opportunity for focused, developmental discussion of your own work in progress. Remember that you will need to devote a considerable amount of time to your writing outside the timetabled sessions — you should plan for at least 12 hours each week.

Course content

Year 1 teaching.

The first term provides an introduction to the three main genres: prose, poetry and drama. From the outset you will be able to engage in practical activity and wide-ranging group discussions of aims, techniques and issues.

All good writers must first be skilled readers. Developing your strengths as a critical, intelligent reader allows you to consider and articulate the ways in which various kinds of writing work. In the second term, you can refine and develop your analytical skills with three weeks of Reading for Writers, followed by seven weeks of close attention to the structures and approaches of prose fiction.

The third term concentrates on how to address the challenges of writing poetry and stage drama.

Year 2 teaching

Year 2 allows you to consolidate and broaden the advances in skill, confidence and analytical ability you will have made in Year 1.

Term 4 provides in-depth concentration on short and long fiction, while Term 5 focuses on advanced Reading for Writers (three weeks) and further high-level consideration of the craft of poetry. Term 6 gives students up-to-the-minute experience of how to write broadcast drama.

Each term you will have two tutorials of around 45 minutes each. These one-to-one sessions allow time for concentrated appraisal of your work in progress, giving you feedback on the strengths of your work as well as those areas which may need improvement. The tutorials focus on work you have produced in relation to the genres studied during that term. This means that as early as Term 1 you have considerable freedom of choice to engage with prose, poetry or drama (though you should expect to engage with more than one category in that term). For those students pursuing Option 1 (in person) tutorials can be arranged in person or online; for those pursing Option 2 (online) all tutorials are online except for those at or around the summer school, where some will be online and others in-person, as circumstances permit.

Space for specialisation

At the end of both years you will be able to work more extensively in your own area of interest, producing a portfolio of around 6,000 words in the case of prose, or 30pp of drama, or around 300 lines of poetry. Your second-year portfolio is allocated four term weeks for concentrated attention, guided by a preliminary tutorial discussion of the content you are proposing, and a review tutorial on completion of the project.

You will be assessed on:

• Two pieces of writing submitted each term. These are tied to that term’s seminar activities and are each expected to be about 2,000 words of prose, 15 pages of drama, or about 100 lines of poetry. 
• The end-of-year portfolio submission, which will be around three times this length for prose and poetry, double this length for drama.

If you have not recently been involved in assessment of this kind, do not regard it as a barrier. Tutors and other specialist staff will be happy to offer advice and guidance at any time during the course.

IT requirements

To study at this level you are expected to have some IT skills, access to a computer and the internet. Your course requires you to engage with the Virtual Learning Environment for course materials and uses the Department’s online assignment submission system. Students need to have regular access to a computer and the internet, and some level of experience and skill including the use of Microsoft Word or similar word-processing package, email and internet browser such as Firefox or Google Chrome .

The computer you use should meet our  recommended minimum computer specification .

Study skills

The course team will provide both academic and pastoral support, including guidance on the development of effective study skills for students returning to study after a break. Additional support is available at a Departmental level by the Widening Access Assistant, who can be contacted on +44 (0)1865 280355 or via email at  [email protected] .

Before the start of the Michaelmas (autumn) term, we offer an Award-Bearing Course Preparation Study Day focusing on Academic Reading and Writing, which is free for students enrolled on our award-bearing courses. This can help students gain the confidence to read and follow academic assignment instructions and to respond to essay questions; and it discusses how to manage your time effectively, and how to locate and cite sources.

The Department also runs a programme of Study Skills workshops and weekly classes (available at a reduced rate to current students), designed to enable you to develop and improve the skills needed for effective study. If you have any questions about ‘Award-Bearing Course Preparation Study Day’ or any Study Skills course, please email  [email protected]  or telephone +44 (0)1865 270286.

Teaching staff

Course director.

John Ballam  is the author of two collections of poems, six stage plays, four screenplays, two novels and numerous reviews, articles and academic works. His best-known title is his memoir  The Road to Harmony  (1999; newest edn. 2013). He has been a script consultant/screenwriter for several major film producers in Hollywood, London and Mumbai. His latest work is a novel entitled  The Mary House , published in NYC in 2019.

Potential tutors

Contact information

Course Director, Dr John Ballam +44 (0)1865 280885  [email protected]

For general guidance, application and admissions advice, course specific information, or credit transfer:  [email protected] , +44 (0)1865 270312.

For information about disability support or sources of funding:  [email protected] , +44 (0)1865 280355.

For information about Study Skills courses: +44 (0)1865 280892  [email protected]

How to apply

Once open, clicking the 'Apply' button will automatically notify us that you want a link to the online application. We will email you that link together with a code to waive the application fee and guidance on completing and submitting your application.

You will need to upload the following documents as part of your application:

• a sample of your work: approximately 2000 words of prose fiction or dramatic dialogue, or about half a dozen poems
• a statement of between 300 and 400 words explaining why you wish to enrol on the course, and stating which pathway you are applying for.
• proof of English language ability if a non-native English speaker. Further information on English language requirements can be found here . Please note that candidates are required to have the higher-level score.
• contact details for one referee

If possible, your referee should be someone who can comment on your academic ability and background, but where this is not appropriate, please choose a referee who can vouch for your motivation, commitment and potential. A reference from a family member is not acceptable.

Admissions decisions will be based on an assessment of knowledge, relevant experience, academic ability, potential and suitability for a course of study. We welcome applicants without traditional qualifications, including those with relevant career or life skills.

Selection criteria

Even if a course has no specific academic entry requirements then: (a) assessment of an applicant’s academic ability and suitability for the course of study will still take place and (b) since applications for many courses often significantly exceed places available, each application will be judged against the gathered field of applicants for each course each year.

The University is committed to promoting diversity, equality, inclusion, and widening access, including during the admissions process. We fully endorse the Equality Policy and our admissions procedures are kept under regular review to ensure compliance with this policy.

Short-listed applicants will be invited for interview.

The final decision on admission to the course rests with the Department.

Concurrent registration

If there is likely to be an overlap in the timing of courses at Oxford University or elsewhere that you are currently taking and/or intend to take in the future, please see the  Department's policy and guidance on concurrent registration  for further information about what combinations may be possible.

Award and credit transfer

An Undergraduate Diploma will be awarded on completion of the course. You will be invited to receive your Diploma at the annual Awards Ceremony of the Department for Continuing Education, held at Oxford’s Sheldonian Theatre.

Students who successfully complete this two-year course will be awarded an Oxford University Undergraduate Diploma in Creative Writing. The Diploma carries a Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS) rating of 120 points at FHEQ Level 5. Outstanding performance will qualify for a Distinction. These credit points are widely recognised in terms of credit for transfer to other higher education institutions, including the Open University and modular universities such as Oxford Brookes University. 

Opportunities vary for the transfer of credit, so students who are considering taking this course in order to transfer credit are advised to discuss the possibilities with the Course Administrator on  [email protected]  or  [email protected] . 

Learn more about the  Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS points) .

The course fees for 2025 entry will be published once applications open.

Please be aware that fees will usually increase annually. For a price guide, see last year's fees here: £3,620 (Home, Islands, and Republic of Ireland students) or £6,210 (Overseas students).

Information for applicants from the EU, EEA and Switzerland

On 11 May 2021 the UK Council for International Student Affairs published  new regulations and guidance  to be used in assessing the fee status of students commencing courses in August 2021 and later. We will be using this guidance to carry out fee status assessments for students commencing courses in 2021/22 and later, including students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland. 

If you are an EU national and do not live in the UK then you are likely to be charged Overseas fees. Students with settled and pre-settled status in the UK and some other categories of students who work in the UK can qualify for Home fee status as long as they meet the residence criteria.

Students from outside the UK/Republic of Ireland

If you are from outside the UK/Republic of Ireland, you will be classed either as an ‘Overseas’ or 'Islands' student.

Information on financial support can be found on  our website here .

Please check the information on the specific  English language requirements  for this course.  Applicants are required to have the higher level scores.

The Department for Continuing Education offers  day and weekend  courses, weekly learning programmes and  summer schools  in English literature, creative writing and film studies.

In the undergraduate programme, as well as the Diploma in Creative Writing, we offer the  Certificate in English Literature  and the  Certificate of Higher Education . At postgraduate level we offer an  MSt in Creative Writing  and  MSt in Literature and Arts , along with the  DPhil in Literature and Arts .

If you are planning on embarking on a new career as a result of your studies, or hope to progress in your current field, you can access help and advice through the  University Careers Service .

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