Postgraduate Taught

Creative Writing and English Literature

An english student stood with statue of Philip larkin in the city's rail station
A group of students sat around a table in the Brynmor Jones Library
A creative writing student sitting at a table with a brightly coloured statue behind him
A female student reaching for a book in the library
Hull’s been called the country’s “most poetic city” thanks to our connections with renowned poets and writers including Philip Larkin, Andrew Marvell and J.R.R. Tolkien to name a few.
Keep your options open by enhancing your writing skills and studying the parts of literature that appeal to you with this flexible Masters degree.
Use your voice to change the world. Our Larkin Centre for Poetry and Creative Writing harnesses the power of the written word to change attitudes, improve health outcomes and tackle society’s issues.
Become part of a tradition that stretches back nearly 100 years: we’ve been teaching English here since 1928.
An english student stood with statue of Philip larkin in the city's rail station
A group of students sat around a table in the Brynmor Jones Library
A creative writing student sitting at a table with a brightly coloured statue behind him
A female student reaching for a book in the library

There’s no better place to study creative writing and English Literature than the UK’s “most poetic city”.

Renowned poets and writers from Andrew Marvell to Philip Larkin, Stevie Smith to Tom Paulin, J.R.R. Tolkien to Winifred Holtby, all have ties to the University and Hull.

Our MA Creative Writing and English Literature course is perfect if you want to enhance your creative writing skills but are also interested in English Literature.

You’ll study contemporary text with published writers and scholars and can specialise in either creative writing or English Literature – or both.

  • Published writers and scholars

    teach on this course

  • 90+ years

    of teaching English since 1928

  • Specialise

    in Creative Writing, English Literature, or both

  • Focus on the writers and texts

    that interest you most

  • 100%

    of students feel prepared for their future careers 1

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Course overview
Module options

About this course

This course gives you the perfect opportunity to combine your love of studying literature with learning the skills you need to successfully write your own.

You’ll gain insight into society, culture and politics by developing an understanding of the power of language while receiving a thorough grounding in research methods and practices.

Full flexibility means you can choose to focus on the writers, or forms of writing, that most interest you while tailoring this course to your interests in either Creative Writing, English Literature, or both.

This course has received 100% overall satisfaction from our MA students in the national 2023/24 Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES), with 100% agreeing that they feel better prepared for their future careers.

Guided by published scholars and authors, the literature modules explore cutting-edge themes, including gender and sexuality, climate fiction and intertextuality. Creative writing modules allow students to focus their interests on both fiction and non-fiction prose forms, as well as sci-fi and fantasy

The course culminates in a creative writing portfolio, where you will produce an extended creative piece in a genre of your choice.

Choose your modules

For a full Masters degree, you'll study 180 credits over the duration of your course. Some programmes offer a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) qualification or a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) qualification. For a PGDip, you'll study 120 credits, and for a PGCert, you'll study 60 credits.

Research, Creativity and Engagement

You'll be trained in research and practice-based methods in literary studies, creative writing or both. You'll work with the University-based Journal of Gender Studies to develop your reviewing skills or preparing your work for publication skills. You'll then present aspects of your research at a conference day.

Compulsory•30 credits

Creative Writing Portfolio

Creative writing students can opt for the Creative Writing Portfolio, rather than the Dissertation. Supported by a supervisor you will produce a substantial piece of creative writing, such as a novel extract, a novella, a group of short stories, a collection of poetry, or a script/screenplay. 

Compulsory•60 credits

Gender in Popular Culture

This module analyses masculinity and femininity in genres central to contemporary popular fiction and film, such as crime fiction, chick and lad lit, war fiction, true crime and the gangster movie. You'll analyse these novels and films using the theoretical perspectives of Bakhtin, Foucault, Butler, Bourdieu and Fiske.

Optional•30 credits

Shakespearean Transformations

You will be introduced to classical and early modern theories of imitation and originality, and modern theories of intertextuality as a starting point for considering how works by Shakespeare and other early modern writers can be understood as intertextual ‘transformations’ in relation to both classical and medieval precursors, and contemporary works of fiction and art.

Optional•30 credits

Climate Fiction: Writing Water in a Warming World

This module focuses on representations of water in contemporary climate fiction. You will explore the capacity of fiction to imagine possible futures, alongside concepts including eco-anxiety, environmental injustice, and sustainability.

Optional•30 credits

Writing Creative Non-Fiction: Reflecting Reality

On this module, you will be introduced to a wide range of non-fiction prose, including travel writing, true crime, narrative history and biography. You will produce a portfolio of non-fiction and reflective writings yourself and will also be expected to partake in guest talks/writing workshops with tutors who have taught for many years in prison and in other contexts of incarceration. 

Optional•30 credits

Writing Short Stories

Develop your understanding of the short story form by critically engaging with and examining a range of examples. You'll then build on this understanding by writing your own stories.

Optional•20 credits

Writing the Novel

How does an opening chapter make the rest of a novel inevitable? Through reading, workshops, and studies of character, plot and structure, you'll kick-start your own novel.

Optional•20 credits
8 Modules

Our academics

You’re taught by internationally-renowned scholars, published poets, fiction writers, and scriptwriters. People who bring their expertise, creativity and passion into everything you learn.

We’re part of the Larkin Centre research group. In REF 2021, 93% of our research was ranked world-leading or internationally excellent.3

See more academics for this subject
Anna Turner
Featured academic

Anna Turner

Novelist and poet Anna Turner writes under the name Anna Chilvers. She has three published novels and a collection of short stories, as well having poems published in various journals and anthologies.

Edmund Hurst
Featured academic

Dr Edmund Hurst

A novelist and published author, Dr. Edmund Hurst’s focus is on Genre Fiction. Interested in Fantasy and Science Fiction, he achieved his PhD for the thesis: 'Dawnsmoke and the Influence of Character Tropes on the Construction of Fantasy Fiction.'

Entry requirements

What do I need?

Typical offer
2:2 in relevant subject area

We normally require a 2:2 undergraduate degree in English (literary studies/creative writing) or a cognate humanities discipline or international equivalent.

Additional entry requirements for this course

With your application, you must submit a satisfactory 2000 to 3000-word sample of your written work, consisting of either literary criticism or creative writing, on a subject of your choice. You can use written work that you have previously produced for your coursework.

If you’re an undergraduate student at Hull, you’re guaranteed a fast-track route to this postgraduate degree, as long as you meet the entry requirements.

In order to ensure our students have a rich learning and student experience, most of our programmes have a mix of domestic and international students. We reserve the right to close applications early to either group if application volumes suggest that this blend cannot be achieved.

What do I need?

Typical offer
2:2 in relevant subject area

We normally require a 2:2 undergraduate degree in English (literary studies/creative writing) or a cognate humanities discipline or international equivalent.

Additional entry requirements for this course

With your application, you must submit a satisfactory 2000 to 3000-word sample of your written work, consisting of either literary criticism or creative writing, on a subject of your choice. You can use written work that you have previously produced for your coursework.

If you require a student visa to study or if your first language is not English you will be required to provide acceptable evidence of your English language proficiency level.

This course requires academic IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 5.5 in each skill. See other English language proficiency qualifications accepted by the University of Hull.

If your English currently does not reach the University’s required standard for this programme, you may be interested in one of our English language courses.

Visit your country page to find out more about our entry requirements.

Fees & funding

How much is it?

Additional costs you may have to pay

Your tuition fees will cover most costs associated with your programme. There are some extra costs that you might have to pay, or choose to pay, depending on your programme of study and the decisions you make:

  • Books (you can borrow books on your reading lists from the library, but you may buy your own)
  • Optional field trips
  • Study abroad (incl. travel costs, accommodation, visas, immunisation)
  • Placement costs (incl. travel costs and accommodation)
  • Student visas (international students)
  • Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and PCs on campus, but you may want your own)
  • Printing and photocopying
  • Professional-body membership
  • Graduation (gown hire and photography)

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel, food and more.

How do I pay for it?

How much is it?

Additional costs you may have to pay

Your tuition fees will cover most costs associated with your programme. There are some extra costs that you might have to pay, or choose to pay, depending on your programme of study and the decisions you make:

  • Books (you can borrow books on your reading lists from the library, but you may buy your own)
  • Optional field trips
  • Study abroad (incl. travel costs, accommodation, visas, immunisation)
  • Placement costs (incl. travel costs and accommodation)
  • Student visas (international students)
  • Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and PCs on campus, but you may want your own)
  • Printing and photocopying
  • Professional-body membership
  • Graduation (gown hire and photography)

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel, food and more.

How do I pay for it?

Our scholarships

We offer a number of awards, bursaries and scholarships for eligible students. They’re awarded for a variety of reasons including academic achievement and/or to help those on lower incomes.

Scholarships and bursaries are separate to student loans. And the best bit is, you don’t pay a penny back.

Find out more about our scholarships

Alumni Postgraduate Scholarship

University of Hull undergraduates progressing to a taught masters course may receive a 25% discount on the cost of their tuition fees.

Find out if you’re eligible by visiting the University of Hull Alumni Postgraduate Scholarship page.

International Scholarships and Bursaries

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries for international students.

To find out more and see if you're eligible, please visit the International Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Take a look at our facilities

Brynmor Jones Library

Our 7-storey library is home to 1 million+ books, extensive digital resources drawn from libraries and archives across the world, and stunning panoramic views of the city.

Reading Room

You’ll find the Reading Room on the first floor of our library. It offers a comfortable space and a quiet environment to study – away from the hustle and bustle of the campus.

Rare Books

Our collection includes titles published between 1473 and 2002. Texts are in 18 languages. Places of publication range from Amsterdam to Zwickau, covering 26 countries on 5 continents.

Study rooms

You'll find over 1,000 workspaces in our library. From boardroom-style meeting venues with big-screen PCs, to informal group study areas and interactive whiteboards.

See more in our virtual tour

Look around

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Brynmor Jones Library
Brynmor Jones Library Reading Room
Brynmor Jones Library Rare Books Room
Brynmor Jones Library Group Study Room
Maya Tyrell, third year english student in library

Future prospects

You will leave Hull with enhanced communication, research and creative skills with a grounding not just in research and engagement but also in self-reflection and development.

Career options include writing and editing jobs, in fields such as journalism, marketing or promotions. Many students opt to pursue further research or a career in academia or teaching.

You’ll also learn how to place your own writing with publishers if your ambition is to become a published author.

University of Hull Open Day

Your next steps

Like what you’ve seen? Then it’s time to apply.

Make your application online now, and our admissions team will get back to you as soon as possible to make you an offer.

Apply now
How to apply

Not ready to apply?

We regularly deliver virtual and on-campus events to help you discover your perfect postgraduate course, whether it’s a subject you already love or something completely different. Our events are an opportunity for you to chat to tutors and current students and find out about the career options a postgraduate degree could lead to.

Discover more

You may also be interested in…

Course

MA English Literature
  1. 2023/24 PTES survey
  2. Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.

All modules presented on this course page are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.

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