
Professional Writing MA
Develop the skills to forge a successful career in professional writing.
Course overview
On this engaging Professional Writing MA course you’ll learn to craft fiction, script and non-fiction as well as magazine features and marketing copy for a range of competitive and fast-moving industries.
Immerse yourself in the literary world as part of Falmouth’s lively community of fellow writers and visiting speakers. Learning from active professionals, you’ll study and experiment with all forms of the written word and develop core skills across areas including genre writing, narrative structure, research and self-promotion. Graduating with a portfolio and an accomplished working style, you’ll be primed to tackle the industry head on.
You will:
- Learn from our team of practising writers, publishers and editors
- Develop the skills needed to succeed as a professional writer, such as how to pitch your ideas and build an online presence
- Benefit from our industry connections through our Writers in Residence and guest speaker programmes, which have previously included Xan Brooks, Nina Mingya Powles and Raynor Winn, as well as top literary agents and publishers
- Be inspired by studying at Falmouth, surrounded by creatives in a region rich with beauty, history and literature
Course details
On top of their regular learning, our professional writing students have placed work in local and national publications, and secured placements and ongoing work with leading publishers, media organisations, copywriting agencies, magazines and newspapers.
On this Professional Writing MA course, we'll develop your core writing skills in a range of formats and explore how different writers work in different sectors. You’ll then choose two specialisms from options like Fiction, Non-Fiction, Scriptwriting, and Business & Editorial Writing, so you can build a portfolio of your skills. We’ll also look into using the web and social media to build a profile as a professional writer.
You'll then carry out industry-focused research, and we’ll encourage you to secure work experience to help you develop a proposal for your creative Professional Writing MA project.
Module
Story, Structure and Form
In this module, you’ll interrogate what we mean by structure, and how aspects of structure and form influence and shape storytelling. You’ll consider how structure can assist you in your writing and also look at writers who have subverted form.
Professional Contexts
In Professional Contexts, you’ll practice different kinds of writing - blog posts, profiles, case studies, reviews - in order to create a portfolio of work that advertises who you are as an emerging writer. You’ll be introduced to the skills and knowledge needed to operate in the professional writing industries. You’ll also think about ways of promoting your work, develop online marketing materials and learn how to use relevant social media platforms in a way appropriate to the genre you work in.
Inhabiting Narrative: Character, World and Genre
In this module, you’ll develop your understanding of core narrative techniques of narrative in order to create compelling, engaging fictional narratives. There’s also a strong focus on character development, point of view and the use of genre conventions.
Business & Editorial Writing
In this module, you'll study the key skills needed to write features for magazines, newspapers and online publications, as well as those needed for creative copywriting for businesses and other organisations. You’ll produce a portfolio of high-quality work that spans several different formats and contexts – from press releases to feature articles and web copy.
Non-Fiction
In this industry-focused module, you’ll begin to develop and write a non-fiction project along with a commercially viable presentation package ready to send to a literary agent or editor. You’ll explore the market for non-fiction in its many forms and genres, gaining an awareness of specialist publishers and commissioning editors, and of fan bases and ‘containers’ for their ideas in sectors of the non-fiction market that have a special interest to them.
Novel
In this module, you’ll develop the skills, techniques and considerations you need to develop your own novel, such as researching, plotting, structuring scenes, genre markers and tropes, as well as considering professional practice for novelists such as agent approaches and developing/maintaining your author profile.
Scriptwriting
In Scriptwriting, you’ll develop your skills as a writer and establish standards of professional practice – those qualities that will help you stand out in a very competitive industry, whether writing for audio, television or film. You’ll also develop a critical awareness of contemporary practice at the forefront of screenwriting and an understanding of the market for screenwriting and opportunities within it.
You’ll work independently on your Professional Writing MA project, with support from your specialist tutor, and write an essay on an aspect of your writing practice.
Modules
Independent Project & Contextual Essay
In this module, you’ll work independently on an individual project, which builds on the work completed in previous modules. You’ll work with a tutor who will supervise the development of the project, set deadlines and advise on areas of improvement. The essay will contextualise your work with regard to current practice and theory.
The modules above are those being studied by our students, or proposed new ones. Programme structures and modules can change as part of our curriculum enhancement and review processes. If a certain module is important to you, please discuss it with the Course Leader.
From module information to course aims and assessment criteria, discover the full course details.
How you'll learn
This 45-week Professional Writing course covers 3 study blocks and brings together seminars, lectures, real-world briefs, practical workshops and your own self-managed work. You'll work individually and in teams - collaborating with other media professionals, developing your own projects and business ideas, and giving and receiving feedback.
Our Writers in Residence programme has previously featured Wyl Menmuir, Emily Barr, Matt Haig, Lionel Shriver, Owen Sheers and Philip Marsden. You’ll also have the chance to attend the London Book Fair and Port Eliot Festival.
Assessment methods
- Formal assessment and feedback at the end of each module, based on portfolios of creative, critical and reflective writing, as well as presentations and pitches
- Final assessment is largely based on your extended creative project, which is accompanied by a contextual essay.
Study Professional Writing at Falmouth and you'll have the chance to attend specialist writing workshops, collaborate on industry projects and enter your work into writing competitions. Check out the stories below to see what our Professional Writing students have been up to lately.

An evening with Dawn French at Falmouth Book Festival
15 October 2021
This story was written by Falmouth University Professional Writing MA student Jon Cox. Dawn Frenc...

Students Publish Insect Love Songs
25 June 2020
Earlier this year Forward Prize-winning poet Fiona Benson visited Falmouth to lead a poetry workshop...

Writing student wins publishing competition
14 January 2019
Winning a publishing deal is a huge, unforgettable life moment. Being offered a publishing contract ...

Writing School Collaborates with Maritime Museum
03 August 2018
The School of Communication have provided students and staff with the opportunity to contribute to F...
Staff
Our staff feature seasoned, published writers and industry professionals, with experience in areas like narrative and technology, game design, film directing, screenwriting, playwriting, journalism, young adult and children’s writing, and creating award-winning short films.
Some members of staff only teach on specific modules, and your course might not feature every staff member who teaches on the course.

Dr Jennifer Young
Head of Writing and Journalism
Jennifer Young came to Falmouth in 2019 to take up the post of Head of Writing and Journalism. She o...

Tom Scott
Senior Lecturer
Tom studied english at Keble College Oxford before taking an MA in African Studies at the School of ...

Dr Luke Thompson
Course Leader, MA Professional Writing
Luke is a writer, editor and publisher from Cornwall. His interests include print production, small ...

Dr Marshall Moore
Course Leader and Senior Lecturer
Dr. Marshall Moore hails from North Carolina and relocated to the UK in 2020 after living and workin...

Wyl Menmuir
Lecturer, Creative Writing
Wyl Menmuir is an award-winning author based in Cornwall. His 2016 debut novel, The Many was longlis...

Nicola Coplin
Lecturer
Nic has taught at Falmouth University since 2013. She trained in acting at the Hub Theatre School in...

Dr Adrian Markle
Lecturer in Creative Writing
Adrian joined Falmouth in 2019. Originally from Canada, he moved to the UK in 2011 for the MA at Bat...

Clare Howdle
Associate Lecturer: Professional Writing
From writing copy for Discovery Channel as a fresh new graduate, to launching independent surf lifes...

Dr Jo Parsons
Lecturer in English and Creative Writing
Dr Jo Parsons has been a Lecturer in English and Creative Writing at Falmouth University since 2019....
Facilities
- Library with a wide range of online resources.
- Media Centre with industry-standard audio/video recording and editing equipment.
- Course-specific Virtual Learning Environment.
- The Lighthouse – a dedicated writers' room and events space
- The Soundhouse – podcasting facility
- The Shed – dedicated study area

Careers
Graduates have become novelists, copy and content writers, editors and editorial managers, working freelance and for companies including branding agencies, streaming services and in the heritage and conservation sectors.

Graduate spotlight: Reigniting your creative fire
25 October 2022
BA Musical Theatre and MA Professional Writing graduate speaks about discovering, losing and finally...

Meet the accidental author juggling multiple books deals
16 March 2022
After honing his authorial prowess on Falmouth’s English & Creative Writing degree, Adrian Mar...

Fresh from Falmouth October edition
26 October 2021
Fresh from Falmouth, our monthly roundup of creative offerings from the talented students, staff and...

Graduate author publishes new book: Dunkirk to D-Day
19 August 2021
Philip Hamlyn Williams has published five books since graduating from MA Professional Writing at Fal...

Graduate launches award-winning gin
04 May 2021
Falmouth graduate Holly Challinor has applied the lessons she learnt from her univers...

Professional Writing with Mark Iles
18 October 2018
Professional Writing graduate Mark Iles has achieved considerable success with his debut novel serie...

Postgraduate Publishes Debut Novel
30 May 2018
Female heroines have captured the imagination of readers and authors for time immemorial. From Hermi...
How to apply
Talk to us
To find out more about this course, how you'll learn or what funding is available, get in touch with our Course Advisors. Click below to submit a form and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
Request information
Apply now
Ready to apply for postgraduate study? You can apply online by clicking the button below.
Professional Writing course application process
We'll ask you to send us a sample of your work along with your application. This could be an unpublished (or published) short story, screenplay, report, journalistic feature, novel extract or anything else you've written. If we feel you have potential, we'll invite you to an interview. Skype interviews can be arranged if this isn't possible.
Once you've applied, you'll receive a Falmouth Applicant Portal login, where you'll find more details about these requirements.
We welcome applications from those with relevant equivalent Level 6 qualifications. Our typical applicants hold an undergraduate degree of 2:2 or above, or equivalent experience and a demonstrable interest in the subject.
We’ll also welcome your application if you have formal or 'certified' learning (such as training courses not run by universities or colleges) and learning from work experience or self-study. This is called Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL), and should have been gained within the last five years, and be equivalent to the learning outcomes of our minimum entry qualifications.
APL applicants using experience to apply should note there is a £200 application fee for entry with advanced standing or with exemption from specific modules or credit.
If English isn’t your first language, you'll need to demonstrate English language skills that are sufficiently developed for successful completion of your studies. We accept a range of recognised English language qualifications that are equivalent to the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic minimum score of 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening.
International applicants who require a student visa to study in the UK must take a recognised language test that is approved and vouched for by the University. Our Applicant Services Team can help with any questions you may have about study visas or suitable language tests.
Fees, costs & funding
Tuition fees
£8,950 per year - full-time UK (£250 acceptance fee payable. This is deducted from tuition fees.)
£17,460 - full-time EU/international (acceptance fee up to £1,000 payable, dependent on nationality. This is deducted from tuition fees)
£9,200 per year - full-time UK (£TBC acceptance fee payable. This is deducted from tuition fees.)
£17,950 - full-time EU/international (£TBC acceptance fee payable. This is deducted from tuition fees)
Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.
The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs
Typical course costs
- £200 - Suggested reading
- To engage in the digital learning activity, although you will be able to access IT suites on campus, you will benefit from a laptop to access the platforms and tools we use.
If you need to bring equipment or materials with you, these will be outlined in your Welcome Letter.
Postgraduate funding
There are loans, awards, graduate discounts and alternative funding sources for postgraduate studies. Read about them on our Postgraduate Funding page.
Find out about funding
Ask a student
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From course details and academic support, to the social scene and settling in, our students are ready and available to answer any questions you might have. Simply set up your account, send them a question and they'll get back to you within 24 hours.
Request information
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