university of oxford creative writing masters

Master's in Creative Writing

• About the MSt
• Alumni News
• Links & Resources
• MSt alum Bette Adriaanse’s new novel, What’s Mine, is coming out with US publisher Unnamed Press this August.

MSt alum Bette Adriaanse’s new novel, What’s Mine , is coming out with US publisher Unnamed Press this August.

There will be several launch events, as follows:

AUGUST 15, 6PM UK time, ONLINE: Bette joins Caoilinn in Conversation for Chicago bookstore Exile in Bookville.

Details: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/caoilinn-in-conversation-with-bette-adriaanse-tickets-686659987507?aff=oddtdtcreator

AUGUST 16, 7PM, LOS ANGELES, CA: North Fig Books with Gallagher Lawson.

Details: https://northfigbookshop.com/events/?page=1

AUGUST 22, 7PM, SAN FRANCISCO, CA: The Interval at Long Now Foundation with Chelsea T. Hicks, Brian Eno, Aqui Thami and Margaret Levi.

Details: https://longnow.org/ideas/radical-sharing/

AUGUST 25, SAN FRANCISCO, CA: The Internet Archive.

Details: find details on www.betteadriaanse.nl soon

“WHAT’S MINE is a surprising and deep work with a persistent quiet momentum carrying the reader back-and-forth in time and space across the slivers of four interlocking lives. It is totally engaging.”

“Bette Adriaanse is becoming a major literary novelist in the best European tradition. She has the down-and-out life experiences of the early Orwell, the desperate humor of Flann O’Brien, the prose immediacy of Beckett, and the avalanche of bureaucracy of Kafka. WHAT’S MINE is a stellar achievement of depicting the absurdist brutality of contemporary urban capitalism where nothing but narcissism and arbitrary outcomes rule.”

—ALAN N SHAPIRO

• MSt alumnus Martin Jago’s poetry collection, Photofit, is published in the UK today.

MSt alumnus Martin Jago’s poetry collection, Photofit, is published in the UK today. More information about the book is available here: http://www.pindroppress.com/books/Photofit.html

• Congratulations to MSt alum Sam Moore

MSt alum Sam Moore’s new book, Search history, is now available from Queer Street Press ( https://queerstreetpress.com/Menu ).

• Congratulations to Aisha Hassan

Orion Fiction has acquired MSt alum Aisha Hassan ‘s début novel The Boy Who Built Lahore  and one other title in a six-figure deal. Charlotte Mursell, publishing director, pre-empted UK and Commonwealth rights from Hellie Ogden at Janklow & Nesbit UK in under 24 hours. US rights have been sold at auction to Alison Callahan at Simon & Schuster and translation rights have sold at auction in Spain (Almuzara) and the Netherlands (Mosaiek). Orion will publish in May 2025.  See https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/rights/orion-fiction-pre-empts-hassans-heartbreaking-debut-in-six-figure-two-book-deal for more information.

• 50 States of Mind

Alum Ryan Bernsten’s book 50 States of Mind: A Journey to Rediscover American Democracy  is being published in the UK and the states with Bite-Sized Books. Ryan began the work as his year two project on the course.

50 States of Mind: A Journey to Rediscover American Democracy  is a work of travel nonfiction in the style of Alexis de Tocqueville that takes readers on a long and winding journey through all 50 states to explore the complexities of today’s America. Leading with the desire to listen and overcome preconceived notions, Bernsten ultimately offers a hopeful vision for the future of America as he embarks on a search for meaning and reflects on what it means to be American. The companion podcast “50 States of Mind,” featured in  Condé Nast Traveler , showcases live interviews from the journey and is available on all podcast platforms. 

One can download the audiobook on  Audible  with a free trial or credit, or save 10% on Lantern Audio’s website  with code ListenFirst10. One can also pre-order the US hardcover here  (released June 2023) or order the UK paperback or ebook on Amazon . Visit 50statesofmind.org  for more info.

Course Director Dr Clare Morgan appearing at the Oxford Literary Festival on 31 March 2023

On 31 March at 6pm, MSt Course Director Dr Clare Morgan will be in conversation with fellow writer Susan Sellers , discussing how and why the radically experimental and pioneering writers Virginia Woolf and Katherine Mansfield continue to inspire contemporary writing. They’ll be relating their discussion to their own recently published works of fiction,  Scar Tissue  and  Firebird: a Bloomsbury Love Story.   

Further information about this and other events taking place as part of the Oxford Literary Festival can be found here .

Course Director Dr Clare Morgan in conversation with Tim Pears in Oxford on 2 March

MSt Course Director Dr Clare Morgan will discuss her writing with fellow short fiction writer Tim Pears, at Waterstones in Oxford on Thursday 2nd March.

For more information and to book a ticket click here .

Dr Clare Morgan giving seminar on ‘Writing the Short Story,’ 24th November at Kellogg College, Oxford

Dr Clare Morgan, Director of the MSt in Creative Writing, will be giving a seminar on ‘Writing the Short Story’ at the Kellogg College Centre for Creative Writing on Thursday 24th November.

The session will take place in the Mawby Room at 5.00pm (refreshments) for a 5.30pm start. All are welcome and there is no need to book.

Dr Morgan’s stories have been widely anthologized and commissioned by BBC Radio 4, and her new collection, Scar Tissue was published by Seren in September 2022. 

MSt tutor Jane Draycott’s ‘The Claim’ is The Guardian’s Poem of the Week

‘The Claim,’ from Jane Draycott’s recently published fifth collection, The Kingdom , has been selected by Carol Rumen’s as Poem of the Week in The Guardian . 

Also in The Guardian , David Morley wrote that Jane’s work demonstrates, “a patient intelligence of practice, and concision of address, not only in every poem … but in the very philosophy of perception informing her poetics.” Of her previous collection, he wrote, “I’ve waited some time to read something this intelligent, this sensuous and this crystalline. In fact The Night Tree is the finest collection I’ve read for ages. What are you waiting for?”

MSt tutor Jamie McKendrick reading from his recent poetry collection in Oxford 20 November

Oxford’s Woodstock Bookshop will be hosting its first in-store poetry event on 20 November, when MSt tutor Jamie McKendrick will be joined by Jennie Feldman to give readings from their most recent collections. Jamie will be reading from Anomaly (Faber & Faber) and The Years (Arc Publications) while Jennie will read from No Cherry Time (Arc Publications).

Entry is free, the event starts at 18:30 and tickets must be booked here .

Subscribe to this blog

Your email:

Upcoming events:

Recent posts.

• Calls for Submission
• Competitions
• Writers reflect on …

Unsubscribe

Our cookies

We use cookies for three reasons: to give you the best experience on PGS, to make sure the PGS ads you see on other sites are relevant , and to measure website usage. Some of these cookies are necessary to help the site work properly and can’t be switched off. Cookies also support us to provide our services for free, and by click on “Accept” below, you are agreeing to our use of cookies .You can manage your preferences now or at any time.

Privacy overview

We use cookies, which are small text files placed on your computer, to allow the site to work for you, improve your user experience, to provide us with information about how our site is used, and to deliver personalised ads which help fund our work and deliver our service to you for free.

The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience.

You can accept all, or else manage cookies individually. However, blocking some types of cookies may affect your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.

You can change your cookies preference at any time by visiting our Cookies Notice page. Please remember to clear your browsing data and cookies when you change your cookies preferences. This will remove all cookies previously placed on your browser.

For more detailed information about the cookies we use, or how to clear your browser cookies data see our Cookies Notice

Manage consent preferences

Strictly necessary cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems.

They are essential for you to browse the website and use its features.

You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. We can’t identify you from these cookies.

Functional cookies

These help us personalise our sites for you by remembering your preferences and settings. They may be set by us or by third party providers, whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, then these services may not function properly.

Performance cookies

These cookies allow us to count visits and see where our traffic comes from, so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are popular and see how visitors move around the site. The cookies cannot directly identify any individual users.

If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site and will not be able to improve its performance for you.

Marketing cookies

These cookies may be set through our site by social media services or our advertising partners. Social media cookies enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They can track your browser across other sites and build up a profile of your interests. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to see or use the content sharing tools.

Advertising cookies may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but work by uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will still see ads, but they won’t be tailored to your interests.

MSt in Creative Writing

University of oxford department for continuing education, different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, similar courses at different universities, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

MSt - Master of Studies

Subject areas

Creative Writing

Course type

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.

The programme offers a clustered learning format of five Residences, two Guided Retreats and one Placement over two years. The research Placement, a distinguishing feature of the course, offers between one and two weeks' hands-on experience of writing in the real world. Students may undertake their placement in a literary agency, a publishing house, the offices of a literary periodical, a theatre company, a screen production company, or other relevant organization. Placement organisations have included Macmillan, the Poetry Society, Initialise Films, Random House, the BBC, the Literary Review, AM Heath, Pegasus Theatre, and Carcanet.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the equivalent of the following UK qualifications: a first-class or upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in a related field.

Creative Writing MA

University of surrey, creative writing phd, scriptwriting ma, bath spa university, writing for young people ma.

Creative Writing

There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in creative writing whilst a student within the Faculty and a number of our academics are also published authors. Oxford's English Faculty also has some of the country's leading poets among its lecturers. Our academics, the Professor of Poetry and other invited guests give regular lectures and workshops at the Faculty. Browse recent events below.

Creative Writing Workshops & Lectures

Anna Deavere Smith playwrighting workshop: Causing a Scene/Scene-ing a Cause

Professor Smith held two workshops for University of Oxford students entitled ‘Causing a Scene/Scene-ing a Cause’.The workshops were designed to bring short scenes conceived by student playwrights into performance. 

Jeanette Winterson workshop

"Generous and candid, Jeanette had the room enraptured for two hours, as she discussed everything from stalking your characters home, to writing with your whole body." 

Rachel Cusk workshop

"Rachel’s candour and eloquence – and sometimes astounding capacity for truth-telling – sent everyone spiralling into almost palpable coils of thought."

Alan Hollinghurst workshop

"For those of us who had a first encounter with a creative writing ‘class’, we could not have chosen a more amicable and supportive environment."

Alice Oswald postal poetry workshop

Prof Oswald invited participants to anonymously write and send a poem to another workshop participant.

Zadie Smith lecture on 'Conscience and Consciousness' at the Oxford Literary Festival

Following a talk at the Oxford Literary Festival, Zadie Smith joined English Faculty students at a formal dinner.

Professor of Poetry lectures

The current Professor of Poetry is A.E. Stallings. She will be giving one lecture each term for the four years of her tenure. You can watch and/or listen to previous Professor of Poetry talks by A.E Stallings and Alice Oswald by clicking on the links below. Visit the Professor of Poetry page for more information.

A Lament for the Earth

In Sleep A King

Sidelong Glances

On Behalf of a Pebble

Interview with Water

Useful links.

The Oxford Centre for Life-Writing

The Oxford Centre for Life-Writing is committed to outreach, collaboration, and fostering research into life-writing. It promotes a lively, cross-disciplinary dialogue on the full range of life-writing, including biography, memoir and social media forms.

Authors at the Faculty

Hermione lee.

Elleke Boehmer

Bart van Es

Hannah Sullivan

Sally Bayley

Matthew Reynolds

• Home »
• University of Oxford »
• University of Oxford Department For Continuing Education »
• Creative Writing

find your perfect postgrad program Search our Database of 30,000 Courses

University of oxford: creative writing, part-time, 2 years starts oct 2024.

**The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (November 2023). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas.**

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:

- the novel

- 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.

Part-Time, 2 years started Oct 2023

**The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (October/November 2022). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas**

Part-Time, 2 years started Oct 2022

**The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (October/November 2021). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas**

Not what you are looking for?

Scholarship Opportunity with Postgrad.com

Are you a PG student at this University or have you applied to study a postgraduate program at a university in Europe? Tell us your plans and qualify for a £500.00 PGS Scholarship.

Exclusive bursaries Open day alerts Funding advice Application tips Latest PG news

Sign up now!

Take 2 minutes to sign up to PGS student services and reap the benefits…

• The chance to apply for one of our 5 PGS Bursaries worth £2,000 each
• Fantastic scholarship updates
• Latest PG news sent directly to you.

Ready for your legal career? Apply now to start your journey at The University of Law this Summer.

Find out more!

Centre for Creative Writing

Home » Centres » Centre for Creative Writing

The Kellogg College Centre for Creative Writing fosters a vibrant community of writers and researchers whose work crosses traditional boundaries of genre and culture. The Centre hosts both a masterclass and a research seminar series. The twice-termly research seminars focus on topics of contemporary interest to creative writing practitioners and scholars. It complements but is distinct from the  Master of Studies in Creative Writing .

About the Centre

Since it was established the Centre has developed a strong reputation for creative and intellectual excellence. In addition to its regular programme of research activities, the Centre has sponsored, jointly with the Radcliffe Science Library, the Poetry and Science competition, and Oxford Today’s alumni short story competition. The Centre has also co-published with Blackwell, Initiate: An Oxford Anthology of New Writing ,  showcasing emergent writers from the MSt in Creative Writing along with established practitioners in fiction, poetry and drama.

The Centre is directed by Dr Clare Morgan, with the support of an advisory panel. Dr Morgan is a Fellow of Kellogg College and Director of the Master of Studies in Creative Writing. Her most recent publication is  A Book for all and None , published in paperback by Weidenfeld & Nicolson in 2012. She has also published a collection of stories,  An Affair of the Heart . Her book from her cross genre research in business and creative writing, What Poetry Brings to Business , was published by University of Michigan press in 2010.

The Centre’s Advisory Panel includes Dr Chris Davies, former Vice President of Kellogg College, and Dr Anna Beer, Visiting Fellow, and Rose Solari, Visiting Writer and researcher.

Support the Centre

The Centre relies on the generosity of its supporters to help sustain its innovative and dynamic series of programmes.  If you would like to be involved in supporting the Centre, please contact  Dr Clare Morgan .

Master of Studies in Creative Writing

The Kellogg College Centre for Creative Writing is distinct from the Master of Studies in Creative Writing, however many associates of the Centre share a close connection with the MSt programme, including the Centre’s Director Clare Morgan. Watch Clare, and other Centre associates, talking about the Master’s programme and creative writing at Oxford.

Centre Activities

Publications and Papers

LIVING WITH RIVERS Publications include: “Re-connecting with a neglected river through imaginative engagement.”  Ecology and Society 15(3): 18 ; Selman, P., C. Carter, A. Lawrence and C. Morgan “Raising Catchment Consciousness” in  Sustainable communities : skills and learning for place-making , eds. Sadler, Sue, Green, Anne E, Wong, Cecilia and Rogerson, Robert, University of Hertfordshire Press; P Selman, C Carter, C Morgan, A Lawrence. My River Dearne  (anthology); ed. Clare Morgan Papers include: National Association of Writers in Education annual conference: “The use of creative writing in generating imaginative engagement with environmental issues”: Dr Clare Morgan, Kellogg College

The Kellogg College Seminar, Oxford University: “Creative Writing and the Environment”: Prof Paul Selman, University of Sheffield; Dr Clare Morgan, Kellogg College

Research and Seminars

Interdisplinary Research

The Centre for Creative Writing engages in collaborative research projects of an interdisciplinary nature, focusing on questions of contemporary relevance.

The  Living with Rivers  project, conducted jointly between the Centre for Creative Writing, Sheffield University and Forest Research, was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.  The project examined the role of creative writing in the development of imaginative engagement with environmental issues in relation to river basins.  It involved the running of creative writing workshops for a group from the local community of the Dearne Valley in Yorkshire, facilitated by Clare Morgan, who has also edited an anthology of participants’ work, titled  My River Dearne .   Read the anthology here .

If you are interested in learning more about the  Living with Rivers  project, you can read the resulting open access paper Selman, P., C. Carter, A. Lawrence and C. Morgan 2010. “ Re-connecting with a neglected river through imaginative engagement .”  Ecology and Society 15(3): 18 .

The project was later extended into the visual arts, by collaborating with a Workers Educational Association art group. This involved producing an ambitious frieze of the Dearne landscape throughout history. As part of its development,  Clare Morgan led a group of local creative writers who `gave voice´ to characters in the frieze. The work culminated in an exhibition in Goldthorpe Library and was funded by University of Sheffield Knowledge Transfer Rapid Research Fund, and the Royal Society for Protection of Birds.

Research Seminar Series – selected abstracts and speakers

Rose Solari: : “Navigating Time: Narrative structure and believability in the contemporary multiple time-frame novel” One robust trend in contemporary fiction is the novel that juxtaposes multiple time frames and narratives. Unlike purely historical novels, these works are not linear; the through-line is not chronological but exploratory, and often revolves around a particular character’s quest to solve a historical, spiritual, or personal mystery.  Recent multi-time-frame novels include Marina Warner’s  The Leto Bundle , Barry Unsworth’s  Stone Virgin , Penelope Lively’s  The Photograph , and Don DeLillo’s  Underworld , as well as, of course,  Possession , perhaps the ur-novel of this genre. This seminar explores problems of believability and continuity in the multi-time-frame novel, drawing on the above-mentioned titles, as well as her experience in crafting her own such novel,  A Secret Woman . The author of two previous full-length collections of poetry, Solari will also talk briefly about the ways in which poetic techniques can inform and support fiction.

Professor Susan Sellers: “Writing and Real Life” The seminar explores the interconnections between the real-life object or experience that is often the starting point for writing, and the role of invention and imagination. Drawing on her own experience of fictionalizing two real-life women, Virginia Woolf and her artist sister Vanessa Bell, Professor Sellers addresses such questions as the importance of observation and research, the crucial issue of point of view, the role of the senses in writing, the status of ‘truth’, and the startling and the transformative insights that creatively exploring what is not known may produce.

Contact the Centre

For any enquiries about the work of the Centre please contact Dr Clare Morgan, [email protected]  in the first instance.

Creative Writing MSt University of Oxford

Key course facts, 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.

List of 389 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Oxford - Course Catalogue

Student composition of University of Oxford

Where is this programme taught.

Similar courses

Office of the Vice President for Research

Ovpr announces recipients of 2024 discovery and innovation awards.

The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) is honoring 11 faculty and staff for their exceptional contributions to research, scholarship, and creative activity as part of the 2024 Discovery and Innovation Awards .

“ The winners represent the best and the brightest of our University of Iowa faculty and staff, who are making an impact across a range of disciplines,”  said Marty Scholtz, vice president for research. “Their research and scholarship enhance undergraduate and graduate education on campus, and their efforts to expand the frontiers of discovery betters our community, state, and world.”

The OVPR solicited nominations from across campus for the awards, which include: Scholar of the Year, Early Career Scholar of the Year, Leadership in Research, and awards that recognize achievement in communicating scholarship with public audiences, community engagement, arts and humanities, mentorship, research administration and safety. A campuswide event on April 30 will celebrate the winners.

Faculty Awards

Jun Wang , James E. Ashton Professor and interim departmental executive officer in the College of Engineering’s

 Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, is the 2024 Scholar of the Year . The award celebrates nationally recognized recent achievement in outstanding research, scholarship, and/or creative activities. 

Wang’s research centers on the development of novel remote sensing techniques to characterize aerosols and fires from space. He serves as the University of Iowa’s lead investigator on NASA’s TEMPO, Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring Pollution, which Time magazine named one of its best inventions of 2023. 

“Professor Wang's scholarly endeavors over the past two years stand out as a paradigm of excellence, serving as an exemplary model for both emerging and seasoned faculty members to aspire toward,” said Karim Abdel-Malek, professor of biomedical engineering and director of the Iowa Technology Institute.

James Byrne , assistant professor of radiation oncology in the Carver College of Medicine ( CCOM ), is the 2024 Early Career Scholar of the Year . The award honors assistant professors who are currently involved in research, scholarship, and/or creative activity and show promise of making a significant contribution to their field. 

As a physician scientist, Byrne continues to care for patients while developing novel biomedical therapies for cancer, finding inspiration in everything from latte foam to tardigrades. In his first two years as faculty at the UI, he has earned more that $2.5M in external research funding, including a K08 award from the NIH.

“Dr. Byrne’s scientific creativity stems from both an active and curious mind as well as his ability to bridge diverse fields from engineering to biology to medicine,” said Michael Henry, professor and interim director of the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center. “These interdisciplinary boundaries are where some of the most interesting and important work is happening today.”

Donna Santillan , research professor and director of the Division of Reproductive Science Research in the CCOM Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, received the Leadership in Research Award , which recognizes research and scholarly accomplishments throughout a career. 

While Santillan’s research has spanned across the field of reproductive science, she has a particular interest in the deadly diseases of pregnancy, including preeclampsia and its intergenerational effects. She designed and directs the Women’s Health Tissue Repository. Santillan’s work has been cited more than 2,700 times, and she has mentored 114 early career scientists and students, a testament to her expansive impact.

“Dr. Santillan has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to fostering the professional and personal development of trainees in research, including myself,” said Banu Gumusoglu, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology. “Her mentorship extends beyond the confines of traditional academic settings, touching the lives of many aspiring trainees from high school through residency, clinical fellowship, and faculty levels.”

Stephen Warren , professor of history and American studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), received the Distinguished Achievement in Publicly Engaged Research Award . The award recognizes an individual faculty member who has put addressing public needs and direct engagement with the public, in the service of improving quality of life through research, at the forefront of his or her academic activities.

A prolific scholar of Native American culture, Warren’s research has centered on the Shawnee people of Oklahoma for the past two decades. He has published four books and co-authored the most recent one , Replanting Cultures: Community-Engaged Scholarship in Indian Country, with Chief Benjamin Barnes of the Shawnee Tribe. 

“Over the last two decades, Professor Warren has established himself as a leading community-engaged scholar, and his achievements in research and publishing demonstrate that community engagement and strong scholarship are not mutually exclusive,” said Nick Benson, director of the Office of Community Engagement. “Professor Warren’s work serves as an inspiration for researchers at Iowa and nationally who seek not only to make a difference in academia, but also in our communities.”

Kaveh Akbar , associate professor of English in CLAS, received the Distinguished Achievement in Arts and Humanities Research Award . This award honors distinguished achievement in humanities scholarship and work in the creative, visual and performing arts. 

Akbar joined Iowa in 2022 to serve as the director of the English and creative writing major. In January, his new novel, Martyr!, was published to critical acclaim. Akbar previously published two prize-winning poetry collections and has served as poetry editor for The Nation  since 2021. 

“Akbar’s leadership in the profession and on campus continues: his transformative work in our department not only enriches the academic experiences of 700+ English and creative writing majors, but also enhances the profile of UI as ‘The Writing University,’” said Blaine Greteman, professor and departmental executive officer of the Department of English.

Cara Hamann , associate professor of epidemiology, received the Faculty Communicating ideas Award . This award recognizes excellence in communication about research and scholarship in the sciences and humanities and the study of creative, visual, and performing arts to a general audience directly or via print and electronic media.

Hamann has frequently shared her work on transportation issues, including teen driving, bike and scooter safety, and pedestrian safety, through peer-reviewed journals and extensive media outreach. Her recent op-ed, “The most deadly traffic policy you’ve never heard of leaves you vulnerable, too,” drew widespread attention to a legal loophole in crosswalk laws and appeared in more than 50 news outlets nationwide, including USA Today .

“Dr. Hamann’s work is not only academically rigorous but also accessible and impactful to a

wide audience,” said Diane Rohlman, associate dean for research in the College of Public Health. “Her ability to communicate with clarity, creativity, and passion coupled with her extensive media outreach, exemplifies how she utilizes multiple approaches to address transportation challenges impacting society.”

Bob McMurray , F. Wendell Miller Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, and Caroline Clay , assistant professor of acting in the Department of Theatre Arts, were recipients of the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) Distinguished Mentor Awards . The awards honors mentors’ dedication to making their students research experiences successful.

“I can’t imagine my research journey without Bob’s welcoming kindness, thriving lab community, and confident mentorship, and I am so deeply grateful for his impact on me,” said Hannah Franke, a psychology and linguistics major mentored by McMurray.

“I know I am far from the only student whose life has been impacted by Caroline Clay,” said Isabella Hohenadel, a second-year theatre arts major. “She deserves to be recognized of all of the wonderful work she does and how much she cares about us as students. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of recognition than her.”

Staff Awards

Angie Robertson , department administrator for CCOM’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology, received the Distinguished Research Administrator Award . The award recognizes staff members who performed exceptional service in support of research at the UI by exploring funding opportunities, assisting in grant proposal preparation, submission, post-award administration, and operational support. 

In addition to overseeing every aspect of daily operations for the department, Robertson manages nearly 100 research grants for the department and three longstanding NIH T32 training grants. 

“Angie plays a leading role in our department office, inspiring us to achieve all aspects of our missions ,” said Li Wu, professor and department chair. “She is innovative, collaborative, accountable, and respectful  in her daily work. She exceeds any expectations and sets a great example for staff members in the department.”

Min Zhu , research specialist in the Iowa Institute for Oral Health Research (IIOHR) within the College of Dentistry, received the Distinguished Research Professional Award . The award recognizes staff members who performed exceptional service in support of research at the UI by conducting experiments, collecting, and analyzing results and performing operational duties associated with a laboratory or research program. 

Zhu has worked as a lab bench scientist in the College of Dentistry since 2006, executing experimental work for grants and other research, working closely with IIOHR faculty members, overseeing lab maintenance and environmental health and safety efforts. 

“Beyond her research skills, Dr. Zhu has been an exceptional mentor and educator for my students and other junior researchers,” said Liu Hong, professor of prosthodontics. “Her kindness and willingness to share her knowledge have made her a beloved figure among them.”

Curtis Iberg , manager of sterilization services in the College of Dentistry, received the Innovation in Safety Award, which celebrates exceptional and ground-breaking innovations that advance safety at the UI. Iberg led a major renovation of the College of Dentistry’s instrument processing and sterilization area, with the aim of encouraging better workflow and support for future growth. 

“His innovations in workspace are a valuable asset to the greater University and demonstrates that the most important people to be involved in a space renovation are those that use the area because they can see how the facility can better function and how it can be designed for future needs,” said Kecia Leary, associate dean of clinics.

Duration: 2 years part-time

Starts: October 2024

Online open event:  Thu 18 Apr 2024, from 1pm UK time (13:00 BST)

Application deadline, 7pm UK time:

• Thursday 02 May 2024

Please read the  application guidance notes  before applying.

Course Director:  Dr John Ballam ​

Sign up to receive news and updates about the course.

Undergraduate Diploma in Creative Writing

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.

Online open event

Thursday 18 april 2024, 1pm uk time (13:00 bst).

Following on from our recent online info session , we're holding an online open event on Thursday 18 April 2024, from 1pm UK time (13:00 BST). This is your chance to meet the Course Director, Dr John Ballam, and have your questions answered  ahead of the next application deadline. 

Reserve your place >

If you missed our recent info session you can watch the recording online .

To stay informed of future events,  sign up to receive course news .

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 their 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.

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 queries on applications and admissions: +44 (0)1865 270286  [email protected]

For general guidance and advice, credit transfer, special needs provision and sources of funding: +44 (0)1865 280355  [email protected]

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

How to apply

Application deadlines.

Next application deadline is 7pm UK time:

Please click on the ‘Apply’ button which will automatically notify us that you want a link to the online application form. 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.

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 fee for Option 1 in 2024-25 is £3,620 (Home, Islands, and Republic of Ireland students) or £6,210 (Overseas students). An option to pay the fee in instalments may be available.

The fee for Option 2 in 2024-25 is £3,620 (Home, Islands, and Republic of Ireland students) or £6,210 (Overseas students). An option to pay the fee in instalments may be available.

Please be aware that fees will usually increase annually.

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 .

 Return to top

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support

Stay in touch with the Diploma in Creative Writing

Diploma in creative writing info session, tahmina maula, daisy mcnally, literature, creative writing and film studies, mst in creative writing.