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HomeStudyPostgraduate StudyProfessional Writing MA

Professional Writing MA

Develop the skills to forge a successful career in writing. 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.

Poet and playwright Owen Sheers giving a lecture.

Key details

LocationFalmouth Campus
Course Duration1 year
AttendanceFull-time
Contact01326 213730

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Introduction

Immerse yourself in the literary world as part of a lively community of fellow writers and visiting speakers. Learning from active professionals, you'll develop skills like 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, as well as from visiting industry professionals
  • Develop the supporting skills you need to succeed as a writer, including how to pitch your ideas and build an online presence
  • Benefit from our industry connections, including our Writers in Residence programme, which has featured Wyl Menmuir, Emily Barr, Philip Marsden, Matt Haig, Lionel Shriver and Xan Brooks
  • Experience the atmosphere of Falmouth, surrounded by creatives from a range of disciplines in a region rich with history and literature

Covid-19 update

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have reviewed and made changes to our courses to provide flexible, blended delivery that offers high-quality digital engagement and access to face-to-face teaching in our facilities. You can see how your course may be adjusted by viewing the changes for the current academic year by visiting our welcome letters & latest course updates page

  • Students
  • Graduates
  • Course details
  • How to apply
  • Fees, costs & funding

    What our students do

    Article
    Article

    Students Publish Insect Love Songs

    25 June 2020
    Earlier this year Forward Prize-winning poet Fiona Benson visited Falmouth to lead a poetry...
    Article
    Article

    Writing Student Wins Publishing Competition

    14 January 2019
    Winning a publishing deal is a huge, unforgettable life moment. Being offered a publishing contract...
    Article
    Article

    Writing School Collaborates with Maritime Museum

    3 August 2018
    The School of Writing & Journalism have provided students and staff with the opportunity to...
    Professional writing radio performance.
    Professional writing lecturer talking to students.
    Students sat on sofas and discussing in the writers room.

    What our graduates do

    Our graduates have become published authors, and taken on roles like deputy editor, full-time playwright, psychologist, feature writer and entertainment journalist.

    Article
    Article

    Professional Writing with Mark Iles

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

    Postgraduate Publishes Debut Novel

    30 May 2018
    Female heroines have captured the imagination of readers and authors for time immemorial. From...

    Course details

    What you'll learn


    On top of their regular learning, our 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.

    • Stages one and two
    • Stage three
    Stages one and two

    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 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 MA project.

    Module

    Story, Structure and Form
    Professional Contexts
    Inhabiting Narrative: Character, World and Genre
    Business & Editorial Writing
    Non-Fiction
    Novel
    Scriptwriting

    Stage three

    You’ll work independently on your MA project, with support from your specialist tutor, and write an essay on an aspect of your writing practice.

    Modules

    Independent Project & Contextual Essay

    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 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.

    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 member shown here.

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Dr Jennifer Young

    Head of Writing and Journalism

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

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Dr Danielle Barrios-O'Neill

    Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship

    Dr Danielle Barrios-O'Neill is a Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship, having previously taught in...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Tom Scott

    Senior Lecturer

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

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Dr Luke Thompson

    Course Leader, MA Professional Writing

    Luke is a writer of poetry and non-fiction and the founding editor of Guillemot Press. His...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    John Finnegan

    Module Leader, MA Writing for Script & Screen

    John has worked in the film and media sector for fifteen years. He started his career as a trainee...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Kris Kenway

    Associate Lecturer, Professional Writing

    Kris graduated from  Birmingham City University and later studied screenwriting at UCLA. 

    His first...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Oliver Bennett

    Associate Lecturer, Professional Writing

    Oliver is a prolific features journalist whose work appears regularly in national newspapers...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Jane Pugh

    Associate Lecturer, School of Film and Television

    I live with friends and my dog by the sea. I write, teach and facilitate because my job is to...

    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

    Take a virtual tour

    How to apply

    Apply now

    Ready to apply for postgraduate study? You can apply online by clicking the button below. 

    Apply

    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.

    Want to ask a question?

    If you have questions about the course, how you'll learn or what funding is available just click the button below. 

    Talk to us

    You'll be able to submit a contact form and we'll get in touch with you as soon as we can.

     

    • Entry requirements
    • Language requirements
    Entry 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.

    Language requirements

    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.

    Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) Policy (383.68 KB)
    Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) Procedure (364.26 KB)

    Fees, costs & funding

    Tuition fees

    • Tuition fees 2020-21
    • Tuition fees 2021-22
    Tuition fees 2020-21

    £8,500 per year - full-time UK/EU (£250 acceptance fee payable. This is deducted from tuition fees.)

    £16,000 per year - full-time international (acceptance fee up to £1,000 payable, dependent on nationality. This is deducted from tuition fees.)

    Tuition fees 2021-22

    £8,500 per year - full-time UK (£250 acceptance fee payable. This is deducted from tuition fees)

    £16,950 - full-time EU (acceptance fee up to £1,000 payable, dependent on nationality. This is deducted from tuition fees)

    £16,950 - full-time international (acceptance fee up to £1,000 payable, dependent on nationality. This is deducted from tuition fees)

    Find out more about our Alumni Loyalty Discount for Falmouth Alumni, which offers a reduction in course tuition fees.

    Typical course costs

    £250 - Optional study visits and placements for the course duration.

    If you need to bring equipment or materials with you, these will be outlined in your Welcome Letter.

    The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs

    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.

    Postgraduate Funding

    There are loans, awards and alternative funding sources for postgraduate studies. Read about them on our Postgraduate Funding page.

    Find out about funding

    Talk to us

    Do you have questions about the course or studying at Falmouth? Fill in our simple online form and we'll get in touch to support your application journey.

    Submit form
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