MA Creative Writing Non-Fiction
Course
options
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Arts
- Course Length
- 1 year
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
Why you should choose us
Course Overview
Do you have a story to tell? A memoir you want to write? Biography? Travel? Autofiction? Consider a career as a creative non-fiction writer with an MA that gives you the best grounding possible in an exciting literary field.
This is one of the only dedicated creative non-fiction writing courses in the UK. You’ll be taught by award-winning authors who will support your development as a writer. You’ll think from day one about where you might publish your own work.
You’ll experiment with your writing and develop your skills through reading your peers’ non-fiction in workshop groups. Each week in the seminar room, with its lively, collegiate atmosphere, you’ll analyse a celebrated work of non-fiction by Joan Didion, for example, or Zadie Smith, Primo Levi or Zora Neale Hurston – to see how it’s done. In one-to-one tutorials with your supervisor, you’ll be encouraged to explore new ways of storytelling and to experiment with different subjects and voices. You’ll write a dissertation under the supervision of a faculty member; the dissertation might contain the seed of a future book.
You’ll be based in UEA’s world-famous Creative Writing department, which is part of the School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing (you can follow our activities on Instagram!). You’ll also take part in Norwich’s vibrant literary culture, from regular readings and events to the well-established programme at the National Centre for Writing. You'll benefit from UEA’s connections in the publishing industry and pitch ideas for books to visiting publishers and literary agents. You’ll meet established non-fiction authors and quiz them about their craft. Recent guest speakers include Marina Warner, Olivia Laing, Julia Blackburn, Lea Ypi, and Colin Grant. At the end of each year, we publish an anthology of our students’ writing and distribute it to a key list of editors, agents and critics.
Graduates from the course, such as Andrew Kenrick (winner of the 2023 Tony Lothian Prize), Ike Anya, Caroline Davison and Pyae Moe Thet War, have gone on to publish acclaimed and diverse works of non-fiction. If you want to join them and become a biographer, nature writer, essayist, memoirist or travel writer, this MA programme is for you.
Study and Modules
Structure
At the heart of this non-fiction writing course are two compulsory modules which will allow you to explore the form and function of all types of non-fiction, via discussion of a range of influential examples both old and new. Workshopping is a central element in the compulsory modules: each week selected students will workshop up to 3,000 words of a work in progress.
In addition, you’ll take optional modules, which you can choose from the wide range available within the School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing. The optional module gives you the chance to meet students from other MA strands, such as Prose Fiction and Poetry.
In the summer semester (May–June), you’ll have one-to-one sessions with a tutor as you work on your dissertation – a 15,000-word piece of non-fiction.
You’ll have opportunities to discover the extensive collections held by the British Archive for Contemporary Writing at UEA. We also invite leading non-fiction writers to give seminars on aspects of their craft. Recent guests include George Szirtes, Lea Ypi and Marina Warner. These are supplemented by one-to-one tutorials with your module leader. In most years, students also choose to set up informal reading and writing groups among themselves.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 20)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Practising and prize-winning non-fiction writers regularly teach on the MA. Teaching takes place in three-hour seminars, part of which is given over to workshopping students’ work. The rest of the seminar is spent discussing set texts that you’ll have read in advance. Some of these will be entire books, others will be extracts. The set texts are chosen to illustrate a particular literary technique or because they raise pertinent questions about a specific aspect of non-fiction writing, such as ethics, ‘truth’ or voice. This reading, together with scrutiny of your fellow students’ work, is designed to make you more critically aware as a reader and, just as importantly, as a writer.
Independent study
During the teaching period, you’ll be writing your own pieces to present for workshopping. You may conduct independent research relating to your chosen project throughout the year, particularly during the summer, when you’ll be working on your 15,000-word dissertation. Each year, students produce a dossier before the visits by agents and publishers in which they provide brief biographical information and talk about the projects they're working on. You’ll also write a 2,000-word submission for an anthology of student writing, which is published in the autumn.
Assessment
Your compulsory modules are each assessed by a 5,000-word assignment. The topic is entirely your choice, and you'll have ample opportunity to workshop possible assignment subjects and discuss them with individual tutors.
The subject of your 15,000-word dissertation is also entirely your choice. You’ll work with your supervisor over the early summer and submit it at the beginning of September.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.1
Degree Subject
Any subject acceptable
- Additional Entry Requirements
Candidates are required to submit a sample of biographical writing or creative non-fiction of around 3000 words with their application.
- Interviews
Promising candidates will be invited for an online interview with a member of the Creative Writing faculty and we aim to inform candidates of the outcome within five working days. Unsuccessful candidates are welcome to re-apply, though not within the same academic year. Successful candidates will either be offered a place for the forthcoming academic year or a place for the following academic year (if it is felt that they need more time to develop as a writer). Once the forthcoming year is ‘full’ candidates will be offered a place on our reserve list with the option of a place for the following academic year if a place does not become available.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.1 or equivalent
Degree Subject
Any subject acceptable
- Additional Entry Requirements
Candidates are required to submit a sample of biographical writing or creative non-fiction of around 3000 words with their application.
- English Foreign Language
English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 7.0 overall (minimum 7.0 in writing with 6.0 in the others)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
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- Interviews
Promising candidates will be invited for an online interview with a member of the Creative Writing faculty and we aim to inform candidates of the outcome within five working days. Unsuccessful candidates are welcome to re-apply, though not within the same academic year. Successful candidates will either be offered a place for the forthcoming academic year or a place for the following academic year (if it is felt that they need more time to develop as a writer). Once the forthcoming year is ‘full’ candidates will be offered a place on our reserve list with the option of a place for the following academic year if a place does not become available.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2025/26 are:
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UK Students: £10,675
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International Students: £22,700
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
We estimate living expenses at £1,136 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.
Employability
After the Course
Our students’ publication record is impressive; many have gone on to have their work published, some with large publishing houses including Random House and Bloomsbury, others with smaller presses.
There is a strong alumni network. Often students stay in touch after graduation and continue to read and comment on each other’s work. A significant number go on to take a PhD as they value the supportive atmosphere UEA offers its creative writers.
Careers
Example of careers that you could enter include:
- Non-fiction author
- Journalist
- Art critic
- Essayist
- Editor
Discover more on our Careers webpages.