Creative Writing

Course details

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

All of our courses are embedded in Cork’s dynamic creative milieu, rooted inexpert practice and taught by highly accomplished professionals. A rich variety of modules are available, including Fiction, Poetry and Life Writing. Creative non-fiction options include innovative courses in Food Writing and Writing for Radio. 

The School of English in UCC treats writing as a living, evolving practice: students taking the course will read and write in a context in which literature is being performed, transformed and adapted. Some of Ireland’s greatest writers have studied or taught at UCC, including Frank O’Connor, Sean O’Faolain, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill and John Montague. Notable poets associated with UCC include Sean Lucy, Tom McCarthy, Sean Dunne, Paul Durcan, Theo Dorgan and Leanne O’Sullivan. The School of English hosts an annual Writer-In-Residence and previous holders of this prestigious post havei ncluded Mary Morrissy, Claire Keegan and Matthew Sweeney.

Course Details

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

PART I

Core Modules  (15 credits)

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

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

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

Elective Modules

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

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

PART II

Core Module

This Core Module represents the culmination of the learning process fostered by this programme. Students produce a substantial portfolio of work and record the processes by which they write and research. 

• EN 6040            Dissertation   (40 credits)

Detailed Entry Requirements

Applications will be considered from graduates of all disciplines. Applicants will normally have an honours primary degree at Second Class Honours level (2.2 or above) in any discipline. For North American students a cumulative GPA of 3.2 is normally expected. 

Applicants with relevant writing or arts experience (eg. working in publishing, journalism or arts administration) are also invited to apply. 

All applicants will be asked to submit a piece of creative writing of at least 1000 words (any genre). This piece of creative writing will be used by the teaching team to evaluate each applicant's suitability. Further examples of applicant's work may be requested.

English Language Requirements: Minimum IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 100

Course Practicalities

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

Assessment

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