External summary

Creative Writing is a fundamental human endeavour, producing one of civilisation’s major art-forms—literary art—but also imaginative, linguistic and compositional excellence more broadly. The current form of the discipline within the academy is relatively new, but is related to a branch of study, often termed ‘rhetoric’, that has been taught since before Aristotle. Studying Creative Writing in Edinburgh gives students a unique opportunity to work and learn within the environment of the world’s first UNESCO city of literature. Edinburgh enjoys a rich and copious history of literary production, and is home to the world’s largest literary festival. The study of English at Edinburgh University, meanwhile, has played a large, central part in this creative tradition. Our Creative Writing MSc provides the structure and resources for students to learn and develop while contributing to the on-going, vibrant literary culture of the city. Students are encouraged to use the excellent resources of the University—including an annual programme of readings by visiting writers—but also the resources of the city, such as the National Library, the Scottish Poetry Library, and the Scottish Story-Telling centre; and to attend and get involved in the city’s year-round literary and artistic activities. The main programme aims, or learning outcomes, are that students will be able to identify and build on writing strengths; to advance their creative, technical and critical skills; develop their reading and knowledge; to expand their creative vision; and to develop an energetic, responsive and inspired community of perceptive readers and adventurous writers.

Educational aims of programme

The Masters in Creative Writing programme develops both creative and reflective understanding of the chosen genre of writing, through courses both creative and literary-critical. Working with established authors and discussing each other’s work, students will hone both their own vision and skills as authors and their capacity for imaginative, sympathetic analyses of writing. The programme seeks to establish a responsive forum: emerging writers need responsive readers and acute listeners within a supportive environment. On beginning the course, students contract to produce and develop new work, to attend seminars, presentations and weekly workshops as well as the programme of visiting speakers, to respond critically and supportively to the work of their peers, and to consult regularly with tutors. Ideally, by the conclusion of the course, students will have completed a substantial body of quality work in one creative field or another.

Programme outcomes: Knowledge and understanding

Graduates of this programme will be able to:

• identify and build on writing strengths;
• advance their creative, technical and critical skills;
• develop their reading skills and knowledge of literary style and structure;
• develop an energetic, responsive and inspired community of perceptive readers and adventurous writers.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in research and enquiry

Graduates of this programme will be able to:

• search for, evaluate and use information relevant to their field of study using library resources including databases
• identify, conceptualize and define new and abstract problems and issues
• plan and execute a significant project of research, investigation or development
• clearly communicate their research plans and the rationale underpinning them unambiguously to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal and intellectual autonomy

Graduates of this programme will be able to:

• exercise substantial autonomy and initiative in activities, including decision making on the basis of independent thought.
• be open to new ideas, methods and ways of thinking
• be intellectually curious with that curiosity leading to professional, personal and academic goals and they will have ability to work towards these goals
• develop, maintain and sustain intellectual rigour and application.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in communication

Graduates of this programme will be able to:

• communicate to a range of audiences with different levels of knowledge
• communicate with peers, more senior colleagues and specialists
• communicate orally, written, or visually demonstrating clarity and coherence
• engage in debate demonstrating skills of active listening, critical reading and the ability to advance an argument and to develop that argument in the light of new evidence
• seek and to respond to feedback.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal effectiveness

Graduates of this programme will be able to:

• plan, execute and critically evaluate a significant project of research investigation or development
• work collaboratively while recognizing the diversity of the group, the complexity of the specific context and the complexity of the process of collaboration itself
• transfer learning, skills and abilities from one context to another.

Programme outcomes: Technical/practical skills

Graduates of this programme will be able to:

• write with developed stylistic continuity, with awareness and control of register and structure;
• display advanced editorial skill;
• write with an awareness of literary heritage relative to their chosen genre;
• be articulate in constructively critiquing works of imaginative literature and in discussing material, style and structure.

Programme structure and features

The MSc in Creative Writing is a 12-month full-time programme organised by the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures.

All students will complete two core courses in their chosen specialism (poetry or fiction), and two option courses from a range of options offered within the department of English Literature and must complete 120 credits before they can be eligible to progress from Diploma to the MSc. They then need to complete a dissertation over the summer period, bringing their total number of credits to 180. All courses listed below and available options are at SQCF level 11:

In order to progress to the masters dissertation students must:

(a) pass at least 80 credits at SCQF level 11 with a mark of at least 50% in each of the courses which make up these credits; and
(b) attain an average of at least 50% for the 120 credits of study examined at the point of
decision for progression; and
(c) satisfy any other specific requirements for the masters degree programme, that are clearly stated in respective programme handbooks.

Please see the regulations below for clarification on the requirements for different awards:

Regulation 53 Postgraduate degree, diploma and certificate award

In order to be awarded the certificate students must:
(a) Pass at least 40 credits with a mark of at least 40%; and
(b) attain an average of at least 40% for the 60 credits of study examined for the certificate; and
(c) satisfy any other specific requirements for the named certificate that are clearly stated in respective programme handbooks.

In order to be awarded the diploma students must:
(a) pass at least 80 credits with a mark of at least 40%; and
(b) attain an average of at least 40% for the 120 credits of study examined for the diploma; and
(c) satisfy any other specific requirements for the named diploma that are clearly stated in respective programme handbooks.

In order to be awarded a masters degree students must:
(a) have satisfied any requirements for progression, as laid out in taught assessment regulation 52 above, and
(b) attain an additional 60 credits, by achieving a mark of at least 50% for the dissertation or project component and
(c) satisfy any other specific requirements for the masters degree programme, that are clearly stated in respective Programme Handbooks.

When all the marks for the taught components of the programme or diploma are available, if the student has achieved PASS marks (40%) in at least 80 credits and has an overall average of 40% or more over the full 120 credits, then they will be awarded credits on aggregate for the failed courses, up to a maximum of 40 credits. For a certificate, a maximum of 20 credits may be awarded on aggregate.

The programme develops each student’s capacity to learn by enquiry, through the in-depth study they undertake, and fosters in its students a real sense of belonging to a community of learners. It creates new opportunities for our students to gain an international experience as part of their Edinburgh degree, and takes a cohesive, inclusive and individualised approach to enhancing our student experience, by increasing student satisfaction with opportunities and support for developing their graduate attributes and employability. The programme promotes and recognises the value of international mobility, cross-cultural understanding and multilingualism for all students and has developed a globally relevant curriculum, promoted global citizenship, and collaborated on teaching, research and knowledge exchange with international partners, as well as increasing the number of active alumni engagements with the University.

The programme increases our impact on culture and makes a positive intellectual, educational, and cultural contribution to society. It also develops, and derives benefits from, local and international partnerships and collaborations with other leading universities, the commercial sector and governmental and civil society organisations and broadens strategic partnerships between academics, specialists and other institutions to enhance the development of graduate attributes in all students. It embeds equality, inclusion and diversity as fundamental principles throughout our community, facilitates flexible learner journeys and fosters a culture which permits freedom of thought and expression within a framework of mutual respect.

Teaching and learning methods and strategies

Teaching and Learning strategies employed at the University of Edinburgh consist of a variety of different methods appropriate to the programme aims. The graduate attributes listed above are met through a teaching and learning framework (detailed below) which is appropriate to the level and content of the course.

Seminars

Workshops

Peer group learning

Visiting speakers

Dissertation

One to one meetings with personal tutors and supervisors

Alongside the university’s central library and computing facilities, the School has a number of specialist libraries within its subject areas such as the School of Scottish Archives, the European languages library, and the Language and Humanities Centre which provides language laboratories.  The Graduate School has its own computer lab at 19 George Square for the exclusive use of its postgraduate students.

The University of Edinburgh Innovative Learning Week is scheduled in Week 6 of Semester 2.  During this week ‘normal’ teaching is suspended which provides space outwith the curriculum for staff and students to explore new learning activities. Some examples of the types of activities held in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures were language taster sessions, workshops on essay writing and dissertations, a German play, a Russian folklore concert, careers sessions, poetry and drama workshops as well as various film screenings and readings. 

Assessment methods and strategies

Courses can be assessed by a diverse range of methods and often takes the form of formative work which provides the student with on-going feedback as well as summative assessment which is submitted for credit. 

Formative verbal feedback via workshop

Formative verbal feedback via one to one meetings

Summative written feedback on Creative Writing folios

Summative written feedback on Option Course Essays

Extended creative dissertation folio

Career opportunities

Your programme in Creative Writing gives you the opportunity to focus in depth on your own practice - of poetry or fiction - and develop both creative and critical skills in your chosen medium.  Study and practice of creative writing can prepare you for a career in writing in a variety of different forms including poetry, prose, and material for the theatre, screen and radio (such as comedy/soap opera scripts, drama productions and documentaries).  Writers may also create the content for websites or write for magazines or newspapers.  Most writers work freelance and are self-employed.

Creative writing graduates may also find work in related areas including publishing, journalism, teaching and lecturing, broadcasting and arts management, often working in these areas in combination with a writing career.

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