Do you love writing stories? Are you an avid reader of books in any genre? Do you often find yourself writing down ideas and imaginary scenarios in a notebook? These are some traits of a creative writer.
Creative writing includes imaginative forms of writing that allow writers to express their ideas freely. The field attracts aspiring writers from around the world. To help you explore your options, we have compiled a list of top universities in Europe that offer creative writing programs.
Top Creative Writing Schools in Europe
1. University of Oxford
The University of Oxford offers an MSt in Creative Writing. This two-year, part-time master’s degree emphasizes cross-cultural and cross-genre writing while combining critical reading with creative practice.
During the first year, students work across prose fiction, narrative non-fiction, poetry, and writing for stage and screen. In the second year, they specialize in an option area. Residences include workshops, seminars, and one-to-one tutorials that help students develop their creative and analytical skills.
2. University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge offers creative writing courses through its Professional and Continuing Education division. Its current master’s-level options include the MSt in Creative Writing and the MSt in Writing for Performance.
The MSt in Creative Writing is taught part-time over two years and offers four pathways: fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, and multidisciplinary writing. The course includes intensive teaching residentials and is structured so that students can balance their studies with other responsibilities. The MSt in Writing for Performance is designed for students who wish to specialize in writing for stage and screen.
3. University of Manchester
The University of Manchester offers creative writing programs at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Its three-year BA in English Literature with Creative Writing combines the study of literature with the development of writing skills.
At the postgraduate level, Manchester offers an MA in Creative Writing and a Creative Writing PhD. The MA is available full-time or part-time in person and includes seminars, workshops, and individual tutorials through the Centre for New Writing. Students can develop work in areas such as novels, short stories, creative non-fiction, and poetry.
4. University of Edinburgh
Located in Scotland, the University of Edinburgh offers an MSc in Creative Writing and a PhD in Creative Writing. The MSc allows students to develop their writing within Edinburgh’s literary culture and draws on resources such as readings by visiting writers.
The MSc includes creative writing core courses and a dissertation. The PhD provides a route for advanced research in creative writing. These postgraduate options allow students to develop their creative and critical work in a city recognized for its literary culture.
5. King’s College London
King’s College London offers a Creative Writing Research PhD. The English department is home to award-winning novelists, poets, essayists, biographers, non-fiction authors, and literary critics. Many members of its creative writing staff are Fellows of the Royal Society of Literature.
The practice-led PhD is available full-time or part-time and is intended for writers working toward a book-length creative work for publication. It combines supervision and workshops with professional engagement involving the publishing and performance industries. Students also become part of a community of fellow writers and collaborative projects.
6. Lancaster University
Lancaster University is among the small number of UK universities with a collegiate system. It has nine colleges in total, and every student belongs to a college. The colleges offer facilities, services, and communities that support students throughout their studies.
Lancaster offers undergraduate programs such as Film and Creative Writing, Theatre and Creative Writing, English Literature with Creative Writing, and Fine Art and Creative Writing. It also offers an MA and a PhD in Creative Writing. The MA can be completed in one year full-time or two years part-time. The PhD can be completed in three to four years full-time or four to seven years part-time, with options to study on campus or online.
7. University of Warwick
The University of Warwick offers a three-year, full-time BA in English Literature and Creative Writing. The course combines the study of literature with the craft of writing and gives students opportunities to work alongside other emerging writers.
Warwick also offers an MA in Writing and a Literary Practice PhD through the Warwick Writing Programme. The MA can be completed in one year full-time or two years part-time. The PhD can be completed in three to four years full-time or seven years part-time and allows students to develop work such as novels, poetry, short stories, or creative non-fiction.
We hope that you found this article on creative writing schools in Europe informative and helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe!
