The MA in Creative Writing may be taken full-time over 12 months or part-time over 24 months from the date of first registration for the programme.

Applications will be considered from graduates of all disciplines. Applicants will normally have a primary degree at Second Class Honours level (2.2 or above) in any discipline. For North American students a cumulative GPA of 3.2 is normally expected. Applicants with relevant writing or arts experience (eg. working in publishing, journalism or arts administration) are also invited to apply. All applicants will be asked to submit a piece of creative writing of at least 1000 words (any genre). This piece of creative writing will be used by the teaching team to evaluate each applicant's suitability. Further examples of applicant's work may be requested.

Students take 90 credits as follows:

Part 1 (50 credits)

Core Modules
EN6034 The Business of Writing (5 credits)
EN6035 Writing and Experiment (10 credits)

Elective Modules
Students take 35 credits from the following:

DR3009 Special Studies in Theatre Production (5 credits)
EN6031 Poetry 1 (10 credits)
EN6032 Fiction Workshop (10 credits)
EN6033 Writing the Self: Fiction and non-Fiction (10 credits)
EN6037 Food Writing (5 credits)
EN6038 Writing for Radio (5 credits)
EN6042 Workshop with Writer-in-Residence (5 credits)
EN6043 Poetry 2 (5 credits)
EN6044 Craft and Technique of Fiction (1) The Short Story (5 credits)
EN6056 Craft and Technique of Fiction (2) Reading the Novel (5 credits)
EN6057 Writing for the Media (5 credits)

In order to ensure coherence and a good workload balance over the course of the programme, students will select their modules in consultation with the programme coordinator and other members of the Board of Studies as appropriate. Not all modules may be available every year.

Part II
EN6040 Dissertation in Creative Writing (40 credits)

Part-time option
Part-time students must take a minimum of 20 credits of taught modules in their first year. For part-time students, the Dissertation module is only available in the second year.

Postgraduate Certificate in Creative Writing
Students passing modules to the value of at least 30 credits in Part I and achieving an aggregate pass mark of 40% overall in Part I (50 credits) may opt to exit the programme and be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Creative Writing.

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2016 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules 2015/2016.

Programme Learning Outcomes for MA in Creative Writing (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• produce well-crafted writing in one of the forms of creative writing.
• experiment with, engage with, and reflect on a diversity of writing practices.
• express an awareness of the role of technique and craft in their own work, that of their peers, and that of other writers.
• understand the importance of editing and revision in the process of writing.
• express an awareness of the creative process in their own work, that of their peers, and that of other writers.
• develop appropriate research methods and record processes of self-reflection.
• reflect upon and discuss the conceptual challenges of the creative process.
• understand the practical constraints and professional opportunities of life as a writer.
• pursue an extended Master’s level research and writing project, showing discipline-appropriate research, writing and technical skills, developed through clear and recordable processes of enquiry and selection and demonstrated in a c.15,000 word dissertation.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Certificate in Creative Writing (NFQ Level 9, Minor Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• produce well-crafted writing in one of the forms of creative writing.
• experiment with, engage with, and reflect on a diversity of writing practices.
• express an awareness of the role of technique and craft in their own work, that of their peers, and that of other writers.
• understand the importance of editing and revision in the process of writing.
• express an awareness of the creative process in their own work, that of their peers, and that of other writers.
• develop appropriate research methods and record processes of self-reflection.
• reflect upon and discuss the conceptual challenges of the creative process.
• understand the practical constraints and professional opportunities of life as a writer.