Creative Writing MA

Postgraduate
Conversion course

Create narratives, hone your passion and prepare for a career in fiction, films, television, new media and video games.

Year of entry

2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

1 year full-time

Course code

CAST027

Start date

September 2025
November 2025
January 2026
March 2026
May 2026
June 2026

How to apply

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Course overview

This course focuses on new and emerging genres of writing, as well as writing for digital media and platforms, including streaming, video games and other interactive narratives, graphic novels, the contemporary novel, and creative non-fiction. It will appeal to applicants from a broad range of educational backgrounds who wish to hone their craft in writing for contemporary and emerging industries and sectors.

Learn to write for diverse media and platforms, with a focus on industry-specific storytelling techniques and audience engagement.
Explore the relationship between technology, authorship and creativity, examining digital tools, AI and emerging narrative options in modern industries.
Develop professionally through collaboration, portfolio creation, and insights from industry experts, gaining skills to market, pitch, and publish your work effectively.²

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Ranked 9th Modern University in UK by the Times

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Ranked 8th for Overall Satisfaction in PTES

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024

Why you should study this course

Writing skills: develop specialist creative writing skills and competency in particular genres to meet the growing demand in the publishing, film, television, streaming, new media, games and video games industries.

Opportunities: get involved in opportunities to work with local, national and international collaborators, which have in the past included Ubisoft, HMP Rye Hill, local government and charity organisations, and culture and heritage organisations. Other opportunities with publishers and literary agents could help prepare you for a creative or research-based career.²

Learning: take part in a student-led learning journey, with tailored coursework and learning outcomes that align with industry standards.

Creativity: bring your creative vision to life by turning your film script, radio play or interactive narrative into a full production. Gain hands-on experience in bringing stories to audiences, working through the entire process from concept to completion.

Employability: successfully graduate with a diverse portfolio of work to present to clients and employers.

Collaborations

Endorsement by the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA)

Coventry University and the RSA have collaborated on a module concerning social and ethical responsibility. You will be entitled to a 12-month fellowship of the RSA so you can access all RSA resources and platforms during your period of study. Once you have successfully passed the Professional Practice and Innovation module, you will receive an RSA digital credential.

What you'll study

Study your favourite genres and modes. Create your own narratives and produce them for contemporary and emerging platforms. Use the latest creative technology to produce exciting and innovative work. Gain a critical understanding of the opportunities and pitfalls of AI for creative industries and practitioners.

Modules

Gaming and Online Media - 30 credits

Explore gaming and online media by creating content for tabletop games, video games, YouTube videos and livestreams while also examining their marketing processes. Create a portfolio of work based around your own original concepts and gain an understanding of how the industry delivers entertainment and launches ideas onto popular platforms. Design a narrative experience and collaborate across schools to design complete experiences. Expand your vision by following entrepreneurial attitudes, learning the online media industry and how to monetise and advertise content to gain the attention of major publishers.

Compulsory

Graphic Novels and Illustrated Storytelling - 30 credits

Explore the phenomenon of illustrated storytelling. Analyse western comic books and animations to learn about unique stories told through a series of illustrations and moving images. Explore different narrative approaches and reflect on the standards of presentation in each industry. Examine how comic art can be applied to non-fiction work, providing entertaining ways to deliver important information to young people and adults. Learn the challenges of adapting written text to visual storytelling. Explore the comics, manga and animation genre that has a built-in audience across various streaming, web and reading platforms.

Compulsory

Writing the Contemporary Novel - 30 credits

Learn how to plan a novel and write its opening chapters. Analyse contemporary writing and learn the building blocks of stories to help you write your own fiction. Plan your novel, complete a full story synopsis and compose an introductory letter to create a package for a literary agent. Use your research skills and analysis of the current market to target agents and publishers for their creative work. Develop sophisticated genre-based novel writing skills for a particular target audience and build a professional package of writing forms such as query letters, synopses and novel chapters.

Compulsory

Creative Nonfiction – 30 credits

Read a wide range of creative nonfiction, including memoir, personal essay and cultural criticism from different time periods and across the world. Through reading, lecture, and discussion, gain an understanding of the history and shape of nonfiction writing, as well as a wide range of literary techniques that go into its creation. Workshop your works-in-progress with peers. Gain an insight into the publishing world through a range of guest lectures.²Learn the process of writing, pitching and publishing creative nonfiction.

Compulsory

Authorship, Technology and the Digital Age - 30 credits

Think about changing ideas of authorship and the author in relation to technology and the ever-changing digital landscape. Examine texts from across centuries, encountering a range of ideas and opinions about how technology can impact on the possibilities of writing, the writing process, as well as the role of the author. Reflect on and experiment with AI to see how it can impact creativity and originality.

Compulsory

Professional Practice and Innovation – 30 credits

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

Teaching and learning methods may include:

lectures
seminars
tutorials
presentations
group projects
workshops.

Teaching learning hours

As a full-time postgraduate student, you will study modules totalling 180 credits each academic year. A typical 30-credit module requires a total of 300 hours of study. Study hours are made up of teaching and learning hours, and guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours will vary, depending on where you are in your studies, but on average, you will have between 8 and 12 teaching and learning hours each week. You will also have the opportunity to attend optional sessions, including time with a Success Coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback.

Guided and independent learning

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent learning which will make up the required study hours per module. You will be undertaking a variety of activities, learning through guided background research, planning and preparation, studio activity, creative practice and making, reviewing what you have learned and completing assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress towards the end of your studies, you will spend more time on independent learning.

Online learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods, including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending on the module. Assessment methods may include:

essays
board game production
digital content creation
coursework
creative portfolios
presentations.

The Coventry University assessment strategy aims to ensure that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

An honours degree 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) in any discipline.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical entry requirements

An honours degree 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) in any discipline.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course. For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Fees and funding

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£11,200	Not available
EU	£11,200 per year with EU Support Bursary £18,600 per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	£18,600	Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees³ and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see the university's Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of international scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

Our George Eliot Building plays host to interactive seminars, advanced research training, and group project activities. Interact with like-minded students, cross the Edible Garden to relax at the Hub, or immerse yourself in books at the Lanchester library.

Our Delia Derbyshire complex offers more space to learn, design and make, including a hyper-studio for students across all disciplines to collaborate on projects together, a gallery space and an events atrium.

People walking in front of a building which has a big library sign

Lanchester Library

The library is usually open 24/7, in term-time. It’s where you can access your course’s specialist Academic Liaison Librarian. It’s also home to specialist teams which can support you with your academic writing and maths and statistics questions.

Glass modern building with a spire in the background

The Hub

The Hub is the centre of student life on campus. Facilities include a food court, convenience store, multi-faith centre, medical centre, hairdresser, coffee shops and the Your SU offices. It has fully licensed function spaces and a bar.

Two people working together with a laptop in front of them

Careers and employability

Get one-on-one career and employability guidance lasting up to 36 months from the end of your course. We’ll help you find placements and graduate roles, offer CV and application checks, mentoring, skills workshops, employer events and more.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Careers and opportunities

Successful graduates may seek positions in the following job roles: freelance writers, publishing authors, education and teaching, screenwriters and scriptwriters, marketing and communications, culture and heritage organisations, research organisations or content creators.

On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

understand and use the rules, conventions and possibilities of written and spoken language in a range of forms, genres and media to industry standards
reflect on and analyse their own craft, practices, assumptions and cultural framework, with an awareness of the wider, diverse and intercultural frame
be adaptable and flexible in their approach to the execution of their work, being able to collaborate as well as work independently
communicate and discuss the complexities and nuances of a wide range of writing effectively
use high level information retrieval and analytical skills, including the ability to interpret, evaluate, synthesise and organise material, to formulate independent and critical judgements, articulate reasoned arguments and find creative solutions
cultivate their own unique critical practice through synthesising a wide range of materials, theories and approaches
generate and develop innovative and original ideas for a wide range of creative projects
produce creative work to a professional standard and in industry-ready formats.

How to apply

UK students

To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University, you can apply online. Please read the entry criteria page before applying.

Start your application

For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

International students

Full-time international students should apply directly to the university. Please read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for postgraduate degrees view our International hub.

You can also download our international mini guide for an overview of study options and why you should study with us.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

+44 (0)24 7765 2152

applications.io@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations, partnerships and memberships

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply. See the relevant body website for more details). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships are subject to successful renewal in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery. If the accreditation, recognition or membership of this course changes, we will seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.

Where relevant, the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) module content is undergoing assessment by the CMI to confirm that all criteria are met to the required standard. Whilst it is expected that students who successfully pass the module will be eligible to be considered by CMI for the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice as an additional qualification, we cannot confirm this until the accreditation is approved. This is a normal part of the continuous improvement process for our courses to ensure they remain up-to-date and reflect best practice.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

⁴Facilities

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2024/2025 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2025/2026 contract will apply for the 2025/2026 intake. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.