Information for Applicants:

Distance Learning: Masters Course

For this year's student comments on the campus and distance learning MAs in Creative Writing, click here.

Distance learning is a speciality of our provision at Lancaster and is led by Dr. Graham Mort, who also runs Crossing Borders, a pan-African distance learning project.

We provide a distance learning version of the MA for writers who need to remain based at home or in work but who would benefit from an opportunity to develop their writing to a professional standard. This is tutored by ‘offshore’ MA teaching staff - all professional writers and experts in this method of tuition. You will be assigned a personal tutor who is a practitioner in your chosen field of writing.

The course is a two-year, part-time option and includes a residential Summer School, which usually takes place at Lancaster at the end of June. This computer-mediated course will provide tutorial support by e-mail and regular sharing and discussion of work-in-progress in computer conferences via the web. Each piece of work you send your tutor is accompanied by a reflective commentary and your tutor replies with a detailed report. By the end of the course this process accumulates as an invaluable resource of creative, critical and reflective writing. You will submit two substantial pieces of creative work to your tutor each term and there will also be an online conference each term that falls between the tutorials.

The course enrols biennially and the next intake of students will enrol in October 2008. The deadline for applications is the last day of February 2008.

What Students Say

Sophie Duffy: distance learning student

It can be isolating at home with young children – more so when you have a desire to write. I needed the challenge of an MA but the problem was finding one that would accommodate the needs of my family. I never expected the right course for me to be 300 hundred miles away. The Lancaster MA has a structure that keeps me writing and offers the flexibility I need. It’s just the challenge I want and my writing now has a sense of purpose and direction. I no longer feel isolated but part of a virtual writing community. To read more about Sophie, winner of the 2006 Yeovil Literary Prize, click here.

Catherine O’Mahony: distance learning student

I've written ever since I can remember. At school I was always able to do creative writing as part of my English lessons. When it came to my degree in English, I really missed being able to do that. I missed the encouragement and criticism of a tutor. None of my friends or family was particularly interested in creative writing or able to provide that kind of support. I discussed this with one of my university tutors, who suggested I consider an MA in Creative Writing.

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Full description of Distance Learning MA and download of handbook

Campus MA in Creative Writing

Information for Applicants:

Distance Learning: Masters Course

What Students Say

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