Creative Writing Newcastle University

Overview

The  Creative Writing MPhil, PhD programme from Newcastle University offers supervision from a diverse range of experienced writers who are recognised specialists in their field. Areas of expertise include:

• poetry
• prose fiction, including fiction for children or young adults
• writing for stage, screen, or radio

You can see the range of research topics our current students are working on.

Your research will have two main components:

1. The creation of a substantial, original piece of creative work:

• a novel
• a collection of short stories
• a collection of poetry
• a play script or screen play

2. An academic thesis related to your creative work, which could cover:

• topics
• genres
• themes
• a writer or group of writers

Many of our students go on to publication or performance either during or shortly after their studies.

Partners

We have strong links with a variety of partners, who all provide a wealth of materials, knowledge and opportunities:

• Seven Stories: The National Centre for the Children's Book
• Wordsworth Trust (Dove Cottage)
• Bloodaxe Books
• Northern Stage
• Live Theatre
• Tyneside Cinema

We are closely linked to the Newcastle Centre for the Literary Arts (NCLA), which puts you in regular contact with leading national and international creative practitioners. This develops your awareness of the creative, social and cultural issues that impacts and influences creative writing.

Research culture

Our rich research culture is fed by frequent public readings, seminars and workshops by staff, visiting artists, and postgraduates within the School. We also jointly sponsor The Newcastle/Bloodaxe Poetry Lectures with Bloodaxe Books. Recent writers include:

• Paul Muldoon
• Marilynne Robinson
• Ali Smith
• Kazuo Ishiguro
• Nuruddin Farah
• Andrea Levy

You will have the opportunity to participate with the NCLA and other faculties on multi-disciplinary research projects. For example, students have worked with linguists, computer scientists, musicians, film-makers, archivists, and visual artists on projects funded by leading research councils such as the AHRC, Clore Duffield, Wellcome Trust, and Arts Council England.