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Creative Writing, PhD

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Different course options

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

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OCT-24, JAN-25, APR-25, JUL-25

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COURSE OVERVIEW

Swansea’s Creative Writing research programme offers a choice from a spectrum of skills and a research dialogue across genres, including poetry, fiction, drama and screenwriting. We are a closely bonded community of writers, each research student being supervised by a specialist writer-teacher. One-to-one meetings take place every 4 weeks, or at the student’s request. The corpus of research students also meets in monthly staff-student Creative Writing Methodology Workshops.

The Swansea Writing Programme offers its graduate writers an apprenticeship, with the precious time to dedicate oneself to learning a craft which, for all its mysteriousness, works according to techniques and rules which may only be creatively broken once they have been thoroughly understood. Swansea is especially proud of the intellectual rigour of its programme and research culture. Our team includes teacher-writers of award-winning stature and long experience, and we go to considerable lengths to match student with supervisor, to create an enriching and enduring writerly bond.

Programme Summary

This PhD in Creative Writing at Swansea will enable you to undertake a substantial project led by your own interests. It is a highly respected qualification which can present a career in academia or a wider scope for employment in fields such as education, government or the private sector. A thesis of 100,000 words will be submitted for assessment demonstrating original research with a substantive contribution to the subject area. The PhD is examined following an oral examination of the thesis (a viva voce examination or viva voce). You will acquire research skills for high-level work and skills and training programmes are available on campus for further support. There will be an opportunity to deliver presentations to research students and staff at departmental seminars and conferences. There may also be opportunities to develop your teaching skills through undergraduate tutorials, demonstrations and seminars.

Programme Aims

This PhD programme will provide doctoral researchers with:

  • The opportunity to conduct high quality postgraduate research in a world leading research environment.
  • Key skills needed to undertake advanced academic and non-academic research including qualitative and quantitative data analysis.
  • Advanced critical thinking, intellectual curiosity and independent judgement.

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Applicants for PhD must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level and a master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’. Alternatively, applicants with a UK first class honours degree (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) not holding a master’s degree, will be considered on an individual basis.

Students living in

£4,712 per year

Students from Domestic

Jan, Apr or Jul 2024: £4,712; Oct 2024 or Jan, Apr or Jul 2025: £4,800. Tuition fees for years of study after your first year are subject to an increase of 3%.

£17,000 per year

Students from EU

Jan, Apr or Jul 2024: £17,000; Oct 2024 or Jan, Apr or Jul 2025: £17,850. Tuition fees for years of study after your first year are subject to an increase of 3%.

Students from International

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Located on the stunning Swansea Bay coastline, this Welsh university provides easy access to a vibrant city centre as well as to...

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Singleton Park Swansea SA2 8PP

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Swansea university: creative writing.

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Email [email protected]
Telephone +44 (0)1792 295358

Doctor of Philosophy - PhD

Full-time, 3 years starts jul 2026.

Swansea’s Creative Writing research programme offers a choice from a spectrum of skills and a research dialogue across genres, including poetry, fiction, drama and screenwriting. We are a closely bonded community of writers, each research student being supervised by a specialist writer-teacher. One-to-one meetings take place every 4 weeks, or at the student’s request. The corpus of research students also meets in monthly staff-student Creative Writing Methodology Workshops.

The Swansea Writing Programme offers its graduate writers an apprenticeship, with the precious time to dedicate oneself to learning a craft which, for all its mysteriousness, works according to techniques and rules which may only be creatively broken once they have been thoroughly understood. Swansea is especially proud of the intellectual rigour of its programme and research culture. Our team includes teacher-writers of award-winning stature and long experience, and we go to considerable lengths to match student with supervisor, to create an enriching and enduring writerly bond.

**Visit our website for more information on fees, scholarships, postgraduate loans and other funding options to study at Swansea University.**

Study type Research
Level RQF Level 8
Entry requirements

We accord great weight to the quality of the writing sample you send us: a couple of chapters of a novel; a succinct collection of short stories or poems; scenes from a drama script. International applicants should have a minimum IELTS of 6.5 or Swansea University recognised equivalent.

Location Singleton Park Campus
Singleton Park
Swansea
SA2 8PP
EU 17850 GBP for Year 1
International 17850 GBP for Year 1
Wales 4800 GBP for Year 1
Scotland 4800 GBP for Year 1
England 4800 GBP for Year 1
Northern Ireland 4800 GBP for Year 1

Part-Time, 6 years starts Jul 2026

EU 8950 GBP for Year 1
International 8950 GBP for Year 1
Wales 2400 GBP for Year 1
Scotland 2400 GBP for Year 1
England 2400 GBP for Year 1
Northern Ireland 2400 GBP for Year 1

Full-Time, 3 years starts Apr 2026

Part-time, 6 years starts apr 2026, full-time, 3 years starts jan 2026, part-time, 6 years starts jan 2026, full-time, 3 years starts oct 2025.

Study type Research
Level RQF Level 8
Entry requirements

We accord great weight to the quality of the writing sample you send us: a couple of chapters of a novel; a succinct collection of short stories or poems; scenes from a drama script. International applicants should have a minimum IELTS of 6.5 or Swansea University recognised equivalent.

Location Singleton Park, Swansea
Singleton Park
Swansea
SA2 8PP

Part-Time, 6 years starts Oct 2025

Full-time, 3 years starts jul 2025, part-time, 6 years starts jul 2025, full-time, 3 years starts apr 2025, part-time, 6 years starts apr 2025, full-time, 3 years starts jan 2025, part-time, 6 years starts jan 2025, full-time, 3 years starts oct 2024, part-time, 6 years starts oct 2024, full-time, 3 years started jul 2024.

EU 17000 GBP for Year 1
International 17000 GBP for Year 1
Wales 4712 GBP for Year 1
Scotland 4712 GBP for Year 1
England 4712 GBP for Year 1
Northern Ireland 4712 GBP for Year 1

Part-Time, 6 years started Jul 2024

EU 8500 GBP for Year 1
International 8500 GBP for Year 1
Wales 2356 GBP for Year 1
Scotland 2356 GBP for Year 1
England 2356 GBP for Year 1
Northern Ireland 2356 GBP for Year 1

Full-Time, 3 years started Apr 2024

Part-time, 6 years started apr 2024, full-time, 3 years started jan 2024, part-time, 6 years started jan 2024, full-time, 3 years started oct 2023, part-time, 6 years started oct 2023, full-time, 1 years starts sep 2025.

Visit our website for more information on fees, scholarships, postgraduate loans and other funding options to study at Swansea University.

The MA in Creative Writing is a uniquely inspirational programme that delivers integrated training in the writing of literary and media text.

Taught by experienced writers of major profile, this course provides teaching on a range of genres including fiction, short story, poetry, drama, screenwriting and creative non-fiction.

Your studies will connect with the unique literary culture of Wales, home to one of the oldest bardic traditions in Europe.

Study type Taught
Level RQF Level 7
Entry requirements

The typical entry requirement is a first degree in a relevant discipline, normally a 2:2 with a minimum of 55% overall, and a short portfolio of writing. Overseas students are expected to possess an IELTS score of 6.5.

Location Singleton Park Campus
Singleton Park
Swansea
SA2 8PP
England 8700 GBP for Year 1
Northern Ireland 8700 GBP for Year 1
Scotland 8700 GBP for Year 1
Wales 8700 GBP for Year 1
EU 18400 GBP for Year 1
International 18400 GBP for Year 1

Part-Time, 2 years starts Sep 2025

England 4350 GBP for Year 1
Northern Ireland 4350 GBP for Year 1
Scotland 4350 GBP for Year 1
Wales 4350 GBP for Year 1
EU 9200 GBP for Year 1
International 9200 GBP for Year 1

Part-Time, 3 years starts Sep 2025

England 2900 GBP for Year 1
Northern Ireland 2900 GBP for Year 1
Scotland 2900 GBP for Year 1
Wales 2900 GBP for Year 1
EU 6150 GBP for Year 1
International 6150 GBP for Year 1

Full-Time, 1 years starts Sep 2024

Part-time, 2 years starts sep 2024, part-time, 3 years starts sep 2024, full-time, 1 years started sep 2023.

England 8300 GBP for Year 1
Northern Ireland 8300 GBP for Year 1
Scotland 8300 GBP for Year 1
Wales 8300 GBP for Year 1
EU 17500 GBP for Year 1
International 17500 GBP for Year 1

Part-Time, 2 years started Sep 2023

England 4150 GBP for Year 1
Northern Ireland 4150 GBP for Year 1
Scotland 4150 GBP for Year 1
Wales 4150 GBP for Year 1
EU 8750 GBP for Year 1
International 8750 GBP for Year 1

Part-Time, 3 years started Sep 2023

England 2800 GBP for Year 1
Northern Ireland 2800 GBP for Year 1
Scotland 2800 GBP for Year 1
Wales 2800 GBP for Year 1
EU 5850 GBP for Year 1
International 5850 GBP for Year 1

Master of Philosophy - MPhil

Full-time, 2 years starts jul 2026.

Study type Research
Level RQF Level 7
Entry requirements

We accord great weight to the quality of the writing sample you send us: a couple of chapters of a novel; a succinct collection of short stories or poems; scenes from a drama script. International applicants should have a minimum IELTS of 6.5 or Swansea University recognised equivalent.

Location Singleton Park Campus
Singleton Park
Swansea
SA2 8PP
EU 17750 GBP for Year 1
International 17750 GBP for Year 1
Wales 4800 GBP for Year 1
Scotland 4800 GBP for Year 1
England 4800 GBP for Year 1
Northern Ireland 4800 GBP for Year 1

Part-Time, 4 years starts Jul 2026

Full-time, 2 years starts apr 2026, part-time, 4 years starts apr 2026, full-time, 2 years starts jan 2026, part-time, 4 years starts jan 2026, full-time, 2 years starts oct 2025.

Study type Research
Level RQF Level 7
Entry requirements

We accord great weight to the quality of the writing sample you send us: a couple of chapters of a novel; a succinct collection of short stories or poems; scenes from a drama script. International applicants should have a minimum IELTS of 6.5 or Swansea University recognised equivalent.

Location Singleton Park, Swansea
Singleton Park
Swansea
SA2 8PP

Part-Time, 4 years starts Oct 2025

Full-time, 2 years starts jul 2025, part-time, 4 years starts jul 2025, full-time, 2 years starts apr 2025, full-time, 2 years starts jan 2025, part-time, 4 years starts jan 2025, full-time, 2 years starts oct 2024, part-time, 4 years starts oct 2024, full-time, 2 years started jul 2024, part-time, 4 years started jul 2024, full-time, 2 years started apr 2024, part-time, 4 years started apr 2024, full-time, 2 years started jan 2024, part-time, 4 years started jan 2024, full-time, 2 years started oct 2023, part-time, 4 years started oct 2023.

creative writing phd swansea

At Swansea University’s  School of Culture and Communication, our students are at the heart of our teaching and we provide a supportive learning and research environment which is designed to create accomplished and socially aware global citizens.

Swansea University, School of Culture and Communication

Based within our Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, our wide range of arts and humanities focussed courses are based on our historic Singleton Park Campus which dates to 1920. Here you will have access to modern teaching and study rooms and a well-equipped library and will be able to fully immerse yourself in our vibrant and multi-cultural campus life. Take a  virtual …

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Swansea University

Swansea University

Degree level: postgraduate, awarded by: swansea university (prifysgol abertawe), creative writing (research), course options.

There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

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Course summary.

Swansea’s Creative Writing research programme offers a choice from a spectrum of skills and a research dialogue across genres, including poetry, fiction, drama and screenwriting. We are a closely bonded community of writers, each research student being supervised by a specialist writer-teacher. One-to-one meetings take place every 4 weeks, or at the student’s request. The corpus of research students also meets in monthly staff-student Creative Writing Methodology Workshops. The Swansea Writing Programme offers its graduate writers an apprenticeship, with the precious time to dedicate oneself to learning a craft which, for all its mysteriousness, works according to techniques and rules which may only be creatively broken once they have been thoroughly understood. Swansea is especially proud of the intellectual rigour of its programme and research culture. Our team includes teacher-writers of award-winning stature and long experience, and we go to considerable lengths to match student with supervisor, to create an enriching and enduring writerly bond. Visit our website for more information on fees, scholarships, postgraduate loans and other funding options to study at Swansea University.

Entry requirements

We accord great weight to the quality of the writing sample you send us: a couple of chapters of a novel; a succinct collection of short stories or poems; scenes from a drama script. International applicants should have a minimum IELTS of 6.5 or Swansea University recognised equivalent.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees.

EU £17750 Year 1
International £17750 Year 1
Wales £4800 Year 1
Scotland £4800 Year 1
England £4800 Year 1
Northern Ireland £4800 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Provider information.

Visit our website

Swansea University Singleton Park Swansea SA2 8PP

Course contact details

Swansea university postgraduate.

[email protected]

+44 (0)1792 295358

16 Course options

Please select a course option to view the information for the course

Duration
Singleton Park Campus Full-time2 yearsApril 2026Please speak to the provider to make an application
Singleton Park Campus Part-time4 yearsJuly 2026Please speak to the provider to make an application
Singleton Park Campus Part-time4 yearsApril 2026Please speak to the provider to make an application
Singleton Park Campus Full-time2 yearsJanuary 2026Please speak to the provider to make an application
Singleton Park, Swansea Full-time2 yearsOctober 2025Please speak to the provider to make an application
Singleton Park Campus Part-time4 yearsJanuary 2026Please speak to the provider to make an application
Singleton Park Campus Part-time4 yearsOctober 2025Please speak to the provider to make an application
Singleton Park Campus Full-time2 yearsJuly 2026Please speak to the provider to make an application
Singleton Park Campus Part-time6 yearsJanuary 2026Please speak to the provider to make an application
Singleton Park Campus Part-time6 yearsApril 2026Please speak to the provider to make an application
Singleton Park Campus Part-time6 yearsOctober 2025Please speak to the provider to make an application
Singleton Park Campus Full-time3 yearsJanuary 2026Please speak to the provider to make an application
Singleton Park Campus Part-time6 yearsJuly 2026Please speak to the provider to make an application
Singleton Park, Swansea Full-time3 yearsOctober 2025Please speak to the provider to make an application
Singleton Park Campus Full-time3 yearsJuly 2026Please speak to the provider to make an application
Singleton Park Campus Full-time3 yearsApril 2026Please speak to the provider to make an application

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Creative Writing PhD

Swansea university.

University of Sheffield

This Creative Writing PhD course offered at Swansea University can be studied Full-time, Part-time.

For more detailed information about Creative Writing at Swansea University, please visit the institution website.

Entry Requirements For This Course

Ph.D./M.Phil - Applicants for Ph.D./MPhil study must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University).

English Language - IELTS 6.5 Overall (5.5+ each comp.) or Swansea University recognised equivalent.

As well as academic qualifications, Admissions decisions may be based on other factors, including (but not limited to): the standard of the research synopsis/proposal, performance at interview, intensity of competition for limited places, and relevant professional experience.

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Creative Writing

Entry requirements.

The typical entry requirement is a first degree in a relevant discipline, normally a 2:2 with a minimum of 55% overall, and a short portfolio of writing. Overseas students are expected to possess an IELTS score of 6.5.

Months of entry

Course content.

The MA in Creative Writing is a uniquely inspirational programme that delivers integrated training in the writing of literary and media text.

Taught by experienced writers of major profile, this course provides teaching on a range of genres including fiction, short story, poetry, drama, screenwriting and creative non-fiction.

Your studies will connect with the unique literary culture of Wales, home to one of the oldest bardic traditions in Europe.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

  • Campus-based learning is available for this qualification

Course contact details

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Creative Writing PhD student wins Swansea University 3MT competition

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Eilian Richmond delivering his three minute thesis.

Eilian Richmond, a PhD student in Creative Writing, has won the 2023 Swansea University Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition.

The competition took place as part of the Postgraduate Research (PGR) Festival, a month-long series of events which showcases the research being undertaken by students at Swansea University.

3MT challenges doctoral candidates to present a compelling spoken presentation on their research topic and its significance in just three minutes.

In his talk, Eilian, who studies in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, spoke about making narrative sense of the Biblical story by superimposing a second, satirical narrative on top - his novel, Earthbound . His ability to communicate the key question: ‘How many of these narrative inconsistencies can be explained as the consequence of a wager made between God and Satan, as per the Book of Job?’ has been greatly improved as a result of taking part in the competition.

Eilian fought off competition from 14 other postgraduate research students across the three of the University’s faculties to win.

Established by the University of Queensland in 2008, the 3MT is an international competition held at over 200 universities worldwide.

Swansea University is one of around 70 UK-based institutions that now form part of a global 3MT network, encouraging postgraduate research students to promote their research and enthusiasm for their chosen topic to reach non-specialist audiences. 3MT is designed to showcase to a variety of audiences the excellent quality and diversity of research being undertaken by postgraduate research students at Swansea University, and its relevancy and impact upon the world in which we live.

Speaking about his success in the competition so far, Eilian said: “Everyone that took part did such an admirable job of presenting their very esoteric work in an engaging way for a lay audience, and the research on show was all so impressive that it’s especially flattering to be counted among them. I’d recommend the experience to anyone looking to better understand their own work”.

Professor Gert Aarts, Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor for Postgraduate Research at Swansea University added: “It was a great pleasure to see the PGR Festival unfold over the past weeks, as a coordinated effort across the University and the Faculties. Postgraduate researchers are an integral part of the University’s research activity. As they are on their way to leave the student status behind, it is important to shine a spotlight on their achievements. The PGR Showcase and the 3MT competition did exactly that”.

Eilian will now progress to the 3MT UK quarter finals in July and will be in with the chance of presenting in the 3MT UK online final in September, hosted by Vitae the global leader in researcher development.

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Creative Writing, MPhil

Swansea university, different course options.

  • Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, university information, similar courses at this uni, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

MPhil - Master of Philosophy

Subject areas

Creative Writing

Course type

COURSE OVERVIEW

Swansea’s Creative Writing research programme offers a choice from a spectrum of skills and a research dialogue across genres, including poetry, fiction, drama and screenwriting. We are a closely bonded community of writers, each research student being supervised by a specialist writer-teacher. One-to-one meetings take place every 4 weeks, or at the student’s request. The corpus of research students also meets in monthly staff-student Creative Writing Methodology Workshops.

The Swansea Writing Programme offers its graduate writers an apprenticeship, with the precious time to dedicate oneself to learning a craft which, for all its mysteriousness, works according to techniques and rules which may only be creatively broken once they have been thoroughly understood. Swansea is especially proud of the intellectual rigour of its programme and research culture. Our team includes teacher-writers of award-winning stature and long experience, and we go to considerable lengths to match student with supervisor, to create an enriching and enduring writerly bond.

Programme Summary

This MPhil in Creative Writing at Swansea will enable you to undertake a substantial project led by your own interests. It is a highly respected qualification which can present a career in academia or a wider scope for employment in fields such as education, government or the private sector. A thesis of 60,000 words will be submitted for assessment demonstrating original research with a substantive contribution to the subject area. The Masters is examined following an oral examination of the thesis (a viva voce examination or viva). You will acquire research skills for high-level work and skills and training programmes are available on campus for further support. There will be an opportunity to deliver presentations to research students and staff at departmental seminars and conferences.

Programme Aims

This Masters programme will provide students with:

  • The opportunity to conduct high quality postgraduate research in a world leading research environment.
  • Key skills needed to undertake advanced academic and non-academic research including qualitative and quantitative data analysis
  • Advanced critical thinking, intellectual curiosity and independent judgement.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

Applicants for MPhil must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University).

Located on the stunning Swansea Bay coastline, this Welsh university provides easy access to a vibrant city centre as well as to the beaches of the spectacular Gower Peninsula. The university offers a range of superb taught and research postgraduate programmes across three academic faculties: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science Faculty of Science and Engineering Swansea’s... more

Creative Writing, MA

Full time | 1 year | 23-SEP-24

Creative Writing, PhD

Full time | 3 years | OCT-24

Creative Writing (Extended), MA

Full time | 2 years | 23-SEP-24

The University of Edinburgh home

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Postgraduate study

Creative Writing PhD

Awards: PhD

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Creative Writing

Introduction to Postgraduate Study at the University of Edinburgh

Join us online on 25 September to learn more about Scotland, the city of Edinburgh and postgraduate study at the University.

Find out more and register

Research profile

The PhD in Creative Writing offers committed and talented writers the opportunity to study Creative Writing at the highest level.

Supported by an expert supervisory team you will work independently towards the production of a substantial, publishable piece of creative writing, accompanied by a sustained exercise in critical study.

The academic staff you will be working with are all active researchers or authors, including well-published and prize-winning writers of poetry, prose, fiction and drama. They include:

  • Dr Jane Alexander - Fiction
  • Dr Lynda Clark - Fiction
  • Dr Patrick Errington - Poetry
  • Dr Miriam Gamble - Poetry
  • Dr Alan Gillis - Poetry
  • Nicola McCartney - Drama
  • Dr Jane McKie - Poetry
  • Dr Allyson Stack - Fiction
  • Kim Sherwood - Fiction
  • Alice Thompson - Fiction

Find out more about the programme and our team

Training and support

We encourage you to share your research and learn from the work of others through a programme of seminars and visiting speakers.

We have an in-house Writer-in-Residence, annual writing prizes, and a range of opportunities to learn from experts in the publishing industry.

We also offer access to opportunities provided by the Sottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities.

Our postgraduate journal, Forum, is a valuable conduit for research findings and provides an opportunity to gain editorial experience.

  • Forum: postgraduate journal of culture and the arts

A UNESCO World City of Literature, Edinburgh is a remarkable place to study, write, publish, discuss and perform prose, poetry and drama.

Take a PhD with us and you will be based in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC) in the historic centre of this world-leading festival city.

Our buildings are close to:

  • National Library of Scotland (where collections include the Bute Collection of early modern English drama and the John Murray Archive)
  • Edinburgh Central Library
  • Scottish Poetry Library
  • Scottish Storytelling Centre
  • Writers’ Museum
  • Traverse Theatre

We have strong links with the Edinburgh International Book Festival, which annually welcomes around 1,000 authors to our literary city.

There are lots of opportunities to write and share your work, from Forum to The Selkie, which was founded by Creative Writing students in 2018 to showcase work by people who self-identify as underrepresented.

Around the city, you’ll find library readings and bookshop launches, spoken word gigs, cabaret nights and poetry slams, including events run by celebrated publishing outlets, from Canongate and Polygon / Birlinn to Luath Press, 404 Ink, Taproot Press and Mariscat.

You will have access to the University’s many literary treasures, which include:

  • William Drummond library
  • Lewis Grassic Gibbon library
  • Hugh MacDiarmid library
  • Norman MacCaig library
  • W.H. Auden collection
  • Corson collection
  • works by and about Sir Walter Scott
  • Ramage collection of poetry pamphlets

The Centre for Research Collections also holds a truly exceptional collection of early Shakespeare quartos and other early modern printed plays. These have been put together by the 19th century Shakespearean James Halliwell-Phillipps, the correspondence of Thomas and Jane Welsh Carlyle (the focus of one of the major editorial projects in Victorian studies of the last half-century), and the extensive Laing collection of medieval and early modern manuscripts.

You will also have access to letters and papers by - and relating to - authors including:

  • Christopher Isherwood
  • Rudyard Kipling
  • John Middleton Murry
  • Walter de la Mare
  • George Mackay Brown
  • Compton Mackenzie

Many of the University's Special Collections are digitised and available online from our excellent Resource Centre, Computing Labs, and dedicated PhD study space in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC).

Look inside the PhD study space in LLC

Entry requirements

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK masters degree, or its international equivalent, in creative writing, normally with distinction.

We may also consider your application if you have equivalent qualifications or experience. For additional information please refer to the pre-application guidance in the 'How to apply' section.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

  • Entry requirements by country
  • English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced ( CAE ) / C2 Proficiency ( CPE ): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE : ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 62 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS , TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE , in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

  • UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

  • Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

  • Fees and costs

Read our general information on tuition fees and studying costs:

Scholarships and funding

Featured funding.

There are a number of scholarship schemes available to eligible candidates on this PhD programme, including awards from the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

Please be advised that many scholarships have more than one application stage, and early deadlines.

  • Find out more about scholarships in literatures, languages and cultures

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

  • Search for funding

Further information

  • Phone: +44 (0)131 650 4086
  • Contact: [email protected]
  • School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures
  • 50 George Square
  • Central Campus
  • Programme: Creative Writing
  • School: Literatures, Languages & Cultures
  • College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

This programme is not currently accepting applications. Applications for the next intake usually open in October.

Start date: September

Awards: PhD (36 mth FT, 72 mth PT)

Application deadlines

Due to high demand, the school operates a number of selection deadlines. We will make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis, but hold the majority of applications until the next published selection deadline when we will offer a proportion of the places available to applicants selected through a competitive process.

Deadlines for applicants applying to study in 2024/25:

Round Application deadline Places awarded by
1 24 November 2023 15 December 2023
2 30 April 2024 14 June 2024
  • How to apply
  • Pre-application guidance

Before you formally apply for this PhD, you should look at the pre-application information and guidance on the programme website.

This will help you decide if this programme is right for you, and help us gain a clearer picture of what you hope to achieve.

The guidance details the writing samples you should send us as part of your application (either fiction or poetry, along with a shorter sample of your academic writing).

It will also give you practical advice for writing your project summary – one of the most important parts of your application.

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

  • Accessibility Tools
  • Current Students
  • The University
  • Our Faculties
  • Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
  • School of Culture and Communication
  • English Literature, Creative Writing

Our English Literature Graduates

  • American Studies
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  • English Literature and Creative Writing Staff
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  • School of Culture and Communication News
  • School of Culture and Communication Rankings
  • A Guide to Clearing - Classics, Ancient History and Egyptology
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  • A Guide to Clearing - English Literature and History
  • Combined Honours

'I have realised my ambition of becoming a published writer'

- Rebecca F John

creative writing phd swansea

'Choosing to study at Swansea University was an easy decision for me.  I live in Swansea, and the city feels like home.  I love the proximity to the sea; the ease with which you can reach the countryside; the artistic enthusiasm evident in the area.  More importantly though, having researched various Creative Writing courses across the country, I knew the department was strong.  As I was determined to fulfil my ambition of becoming a published writer, I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to study with respected writers such as Stevie Davies, Nigel Jenkins, Fflur Dafydd, and Jon Gower.

During my time at Swansea, high quality lectures and intensive workshops honed my knowledge and writing skills.  The workshops were the real selling point of the course for me, as they provided us with a wonderful opportunity to analyse and criticise our own writing and that of our peers, with expert facilitation from practicing writers.  I loved these workshops and decided to enhance the essential editorial and critical skills I learnt therein by studying for an MA in Creative Writing. 

Having graduated with a 1 st  Class Honours BA in English and Creative Writing, and a Distinction at MA level, I have since realised my ambition of becoming a published writer, with a short story collection published in 2015 and a novel forthcoming in 2017.  I have also completed a PCGE PCET, which qualifies me to lecture in Creative Writing. 

Moving forward, I am currently working on a second novel, with the assistance of a Literature Wales Writers Bursary, and hope that I will be able to continue publishing new work for a long time.  I am also hoping to return to Swansea University this coming autumn to begin studying for a Creative Writing PhD with extremely talented writer Francesca Rhydderch.  I have my fingers firmly crossed.'

"I graduated from Swansea University with a BA in English Literature and went on to take the postgraduate qualification of a CELTA, also at Swansea University. Once a qualified TEFL teacher I was offered a position in Hong Kong for 14 months. I finished my teaching contract and then travelled around South East Asia. Now back in the Uk I am looking for a teaching position in Australia. My degree has been invaluable to me and without it I wouldn't have any of the experiences I have been fortunate to have found. It gave me access to a postgraduate qualification which is universally recognised and it offers me a means of making a living wherever I am."

- Jennifer Elliott

“My Postgraduate studies in the English Department at Swansea University allowed me to make time to concentrate on my creative writing. A couple of the short stories that I drafted during my course have been redrafted and included in my first collection, The Art of Contraception. The longer fiction of my dissertation, magically supervised by Prof. Stevie Davies, grew to become my novella Arrivals, also in my debut collection, and an e-book of its own right. My poetry and screenwriting classes have made a big impact on my working practice today as a member of Swansea Film-maker's Collective, I teach digital film-making to community groups for Swansea Telly and work on short creative films for the project”.

- Susie Wild is an MA in Creative Writing Graduate from the UK who is employed as a writer, journalist and editor.

"I studied BA English with Creative Writing and MA English at Swansea University, and I now work at Discovery, the student volunteering charity based on campus. I am also a volunteer project coordinator with the same organisation, and run a monthly project for children from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds. Having studied English has been incredibly advantageous in these roles, partially because my degrees have provided me with a good command of both written and spoken English. This enables me to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes. Throughout my studies, I also gained skills in presenting material to a group, which is particularly useful in my current job, where I am responsible for delivering induction training to new volunteers. My Masters degree in particular taught me how to manage my own workload, which is an ability I have been very thankful for in the workplace!

Aside from equipping me with practical skills, my English degrees have been influential in the way in which they nurtured my interest in other people and cultures. The discussion of social inequalities inspired by the literature I encountered on my degree courses was partly what drew me towards the kind of work I am now doing in both my paid and voluntary roles with Discovery. Similarly, it was through my degree that I became interested in feminism, which has led to me having a committee position in the Swansea Feminist Network, a local activist group."

- Kirsty Rowles 

COMMENTS

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    - Susie Wild is an MA in Creative Writing Graduate from the UK who is employed as a writer, journalist and editor. "I studied BA English with Creative Writing and MA English at Swansea University, and I now work at Discovery, the student volunteering charity based on campus. I am also a volunteer project coordinator with the same organisation ...

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