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Literature and Creative Writing at UEA
Find out more about studying Literature and Creative Writing at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreMA Creative Writing Poetry
Key details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Arts
- Course Length
- 1 year
- Course Start Date
- September 2027
Course options
Other Start Dates
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Other Start Dates
101-150 QS Rank
Worldwide for English Language and Literature
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024Course Overview
Why MA Creative Writing Poetry at UEA?
Uncover the full scope of your creative potential on our dynamic Poetry MA. Study in UEA’s world-leading Creative Writing(opens in a new window) department, based in the historic city of Norwich, England’s first UNESCO City of Literature(opens in a new window).
Why choose UEA
- Award-winning alumni: Previous graduates include poets Mona Arshi, Sam Buchan-Watts and Jade Cuttle
- Taught by experts: Learn from specialists combining creative craft, industry insight, and deep knowledge of poetic forms and traditions
- Creative community: Join a lively poetry network in Norwich, home to poetry magazines like Ink Sweat and Tears and The Rialto
What is MA Creative Writing Poetry?
You'll develop your writing with expert support from practising poets and critics, honing your craft and expanding your poetic range. From exploring innovative forms to engaging with poetry from across time and cultures, this MA is designed to challenge, inspire and equip you to write work of publishable quality.
UEA is part of a thriving network of poetry activities, which offers you opportunities to perform, publish, and connect with fellow writers. We host an annual Poetry Festival, which involves showcasing work from our MA and a masterclass with an accomplished visiting poet.
You’ll have opportunities to connect with some of the UK’s most acclaimed poets and poetry editors, gaining invaluable industry insight. Your work will be included in our annual anthology published by Egg Box Publishing(opens in a new window), which is distributed to leading poetry publishers.
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Careers
Career Pathways
With a MA Creative Writing Poetry degree, you could launch a career as a:
- Freelance writer: Publish standalone pieces and collections in print and digital formats
- Publishing professional: Collaborate with writers to discover, commission, or publicise new work. Graduates from the MA have gone on to work for Granta and the London Review of Books, among others
- Editor: Shape developing new work as an editor or copyeditor, working for publishers, magazines, or freelance
- Arts Manager: Develop projects to promote literature and art to a wide audience
- Marketing, Advertising, and PR Executive: Use your ability to shape language to develop engaging campaigns
Career Support
Throughout the course, you’ll hone your writing skills with a careful eye on detail, expression, and form, developing an acute feel for language as well as your unique writerly voice and style. In workshops, you’ll collaborate with your peers, giving and receiving thoughtful and constructive feedback on work-in-progress. These creative, expressive, and collaborative skills will prepare you for a host of fulfilling careers in writing and the creative arts.
Networking opportunities with accomplished poets and publishing industry professionals will help you chart your path into the working writer’s world, should you wish to do so. You’ll also benefit from our annual Working with Words event and from the support of UEA’s Career Central.
After the Course
Upon graduation, you’ll have built an extensive portfolio of work – close in length to a first poetry collection – and will be ready to approach publishers. As a graduate of the MA in Poetry, you’ll be following in the footsteps of accomplished poets like Mona Arshi, Sandeep Parmar, Gboyega Odubanjo, and Sohini Basak. Whether you’re aiming to publish, perform, or pursue a career in the literary arts, this degree opens doors to a vibrant and creative future.
Study and Modules
Structure
At the heart of MA Poetry is the weekly workshop—a dynamic, collaborative space which aims to help you articulate and meet your own creative ambitions. Each session combines in-depth discussion of student work with focused exploration of a key aspect of poetic craft. You’ll share your work in advance, receive detailed written feedback, and benefit from thoughtful peer and tutor commentary. Tutors may also introduce inspiring texts to broaden your creative horizons. Every time your work is discussed, you’ll have the opportunity for a one-to-one follow-up tutorial, offering personalised guidance to help refine your voice and strengthen your poetry.
In the autumn semester, you’ll also study a wide range of modern poetry to develop a vocabulary to describe poetic features and effects. As part of this module, you’ll visit UEA’s British Archive for Contemporary Writing, home to an innovative archival poetry project featuring work by contemporary poets Gail McConnell, Jay Bernard, Anthony Vahni Capildeo, and Joelle Taylor.
In the spring semester, alongside the poetry workshop, you’ll choose a module from a rich range of options, including writing place, translation and hybrid writing.
Over the summer, you’ll embark on your final dissertation with one-to-one support from an expert tutor. The dissertation will take the form of an extended body of poetry with an accompanying commentary. You’ll also attend a specialised Creative Writing Research Methodology Conference, with the entire Creative Writing MA cohort. This day includes plenary sessions, panels, and small-group breakout sessions to support you in preparing for the dissertation.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Important Information
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, and Assessment
Teaching and Learning
Teaching is largely seminar- and workshop-based, focusing on collaborative discussion led by award-winning poets and expert literary critics. You’ll also have regular one-to-one tutorials to discuss work-in-progress and will receive extensive feedback on your coursework.
Outside the classroom, you’ll spend a significant amount of time on independent study, writing and redrafting poems, preparing feedback on your peers’ work, and reading widely in poetry and relevant criticism. Your independent work will continue during the dissertation period, supported by one-to-one supervision meetings.
Assessment
On each module, you’ll receive feedback on work-in-progress that will shape your final, summative submission. The final coursework may take the form of poetry with a critical commentary, critical essays, and – depending on the option module chosen – other forms of creative or creative-critical work, such as poetry translations or hybrid writing. Your dissertation will consist of a collection of poetry with a critical commentary.
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
- Additional Entry Requirements
Candidates are required to submit a portfolio of writing for assessment with their application - up to 20 pages of poetry
- 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
- Additional Entry Requirements
Candidates are required to submit a portfolio of writing for assessment with their application - up to 20 pages of poetry
- 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):
IELTS: 7 overall (minimum 7 in Writing, 6 in Speaking, Reading and Listening)
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, our UEA International Study Centre offers a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2027/28 are:
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UK Students: £11,200
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International Students: £23,580
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 £1,171 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here(opens in a new window).
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships(opens in a new window); 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
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(opens in a new window).
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(opens in a new window)
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students(opens in a new window) section of our website.