At the heart of the Manchester Writing School are our Masters programmes in Creative Writing, available to study on campus in Manchester, and also from anywhere in the world via online distance learning.

On our Master of Fine Arts (MFA) programme, you will explore and practise techniques and styles of modern and contemporary writing and apply these through the development of your own full-length book or feature-length script.

MFA students undertake all of the elements of our MA Creative Writing programme (a taught element blending writing workshops with reading units, an elective, and a dissertation), then take an additional unit about the publishing, literary and arts industries and submit a full-length manuscript: a completed novel or short story collection, poetry collection, book for children or young adults, feature-length script for stage, screen or radio, or book of creative non-fiction.

You will be introduced to professionals from the publishing industries, which may include literary agents, publishers, broadcasters and arts practitioners, and the School has strong links with many major arts, educational and cultural organisations. Our MFA model is unparalleled in coaching students through the development and completion of a full-length book under the sustained guidance of distinguished, practising writers and seeing those students achieve success in publishing.

You will specialise in one of the following routes: Novel (including Short Fiction), Poetry, Writing for Children & Young Adults, Scriptwriting (for stage, screen or radio) or Creative Non-Fiction.

The MFA is available to complete over two years full-time or three years part-time. This course is available to study on campus (full-time or part-time) or online (part-time only). The main student intake is in September, but it is also possible to begin studying in January.

Applications are also welcome from those already holding an MA in Creative Writing (180 credits) from Manchester Metropolitan or other universities who would like to top-up to an MFA by taking an additional 120 credits (including the Manuscript unit). 

Visit the Manchester Writing School website for more information, including profiles of staff and published students, news, events and projects.

Established in 1998, The Manchester Writing School is one of the longest running, largest and most successful literary centres in the UK. More than 95 of the School’s students and graduates have embarked on publishing careers by launching first books, with many more achieving publication in journals and magazines, winning writing awards and prizes, and setting up small presses and anthologies.

We host a vibrant series of city-wide literary events, innovative publishing projects, an international writing competition, ground-breaking outreach activities and the Manchester Children’s Book Festival. We also share the same home as the Manchester Poetry Library, the North West’s first public poetry library. All of this means you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get involved and develop your experience in a number of exciting directions.

You’ll be based in Manchester, a city designated as an international UNESCO City of Literature in recognition of its thriving literary scene. Our strong partnerships with many cultural and arts organisations in the city will open up a world of doors for you, including the Royal Exchange Theatre, the Royal Northern College of Music, the Manchester Literature Festival and the Manchester International Festival.

On completion of this course you may decide to pursue PhD study, or to develop a career in bookselling, agenting, publishing, editing, the media, or in teaching creative writing. You will have access to the Careers and Employability Hub located in the Business School at Manchester Met, offering a host of information resources, one-to-one careers support, and employability events throughout the year. This service is also available for up to three years after you graduate.