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Programme code | 1ENGL001T |
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Programme type | Postgraduate Taught Degree |
Programme director(s) |
Mimi Thebo
|
Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
School/department | Department of English |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Mode of study | Full or Part Time |
Programme length |
1 years (full time)
2 years (part time) |
The Masters in Creative Writing is now the most successful gateway for writers to enter professional practice.
This programme supports emerging writers to prepare for the submission of a full-length manuscript. Using collaborative teaching methods with continual feedback, students become aware of how their work is read and received and are provided methods of improving their writing by experienced writers in their genre, and from guided reading and the analysis of successful texts. Researchers in contemporary literature from the university’s English Literature staff discuss current critical discourses, allowing students to craft writing that shows awareness of issues in the wider world of letters. Agents, editors and professional writers guest lecture in order to discuss current issues in literary publishing, supporting the students’ emerging professional practice.
Students also develop skills of close reading by analysing cohort writing and reading contemporary fiction and poetry. They write, not only fiction or poetry, but also short essays about contemporary issues in literature. Graduates of the programme will be able to write well and to confidently discuss their writing in relation to current literature and literary trends.
Currently, the major issue in literary publishing is a lack of diversity – voices from LGTBQ, BAME, disabled and working-class writers are not proportionate to the UK population. This course is designed specifically in response to that industry need to widen participation in the literary arts. It includes elements to make it easier for people with working or caring responsibilities to access quality learning, even (if their writing shows the requisite ability for admission) without a first degree in a related subject. Fixed ‘twilight’ teaching hours, part-time pathways, a ‘summer school’ to introduce students to critical concepts and carefully curated reading lists and guest lecture rotas are provided to help all writers feel at home and able to achieve at the University of Bristol.
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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|
In intensive collaborative seminars, called ‘workshops’, students will give and receive feedback on their own and each other’s original creative writing under the guidance of an experienced tutor. This format develops the student’s understanding of the technical requirements for writing and increases their awareness of nuance. It also foregrounds the active role readers/audiences play in the imaginative experience of literature and develops editorial skill. Students will develop their primary creative work through allocated units for independent study with tutorial support. This support increases as the student’s work develops. These units allow the student to develop their time management skills, to learn confidence in their own creative processes (accommodating change and uncertainty) and to articulate their own aesthetics sense. Lectures and seminars will analyse contextual issues in criticism and publishing and develop students’ awareness how their work relates to a wider literary and commercial context.. Students will undertake a programme of directed and undirected reading. This will include criticism/theory and creative texts. Students will write critical and creative responses to their reading, developing their technical vocabulary, their aesthetic understanding, and their ability to construct a sound argument. Students may also be asked to attempt specific professional writing tasks to contextualise their work in relation to associated industries. These will normally be related to professional practice in publishing, broadcasting or theatre. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Assessment will concentrate on written work, submitted in a portfolio. Portfolios will normally include original creative writing with an essay and/or a reflection on the student’s own creative practice.
• Notes/reviews of their reading/viewing • Interviews • Journalistic features
|
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
---|---|
|
In intensive collaborative seminars, called ‘workshops’, students will give and receive feedback on their own and each other’s original creative writing under the guidance of an experienced tutor. This format develops the student’s understanding of the technical requirements for writing and increases their awareness of nuance. It also foregrounds the active role readers/audiences play in the imaginative experience of literature and develops editorial skill. Students will develop their primary creative work through allocated units for independent study with tutorial support. This support increases as the student’s work develops. These units allow the student to develop their time management skills, to learn confidence in their own creative processes (accommodating change and uncertainty) and to articulate their own aesthetics sense. Lectures and seminars will analyse contextual issues in criticism and publishing and develop students’ awareness how their work relates to a wider literary and commercial context.. Students will undertake a programme of directed and undirected reading. This will include criticism/theory and creative texts. Students will write critical and creative responses to their reading, developing their technical vocabulary, their aesthetic understanding, and their ability to construct a sound argument. Students may also be asked to attempt specific professional writing tasks to contextualise their work in relation to associated industries. These will normally be related to professional practice in publishing, broadcasting or theatre. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Assessment will concentrate on written work, submitted in a portfolio. Portfolios will normally include original creative writing with an essay and/or a reflection on the student’s own creative practice.
• Notes/reviews of their reading/viewing • Interviews • Journalistic features
|
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
---|---|
|
In intensive collaborative seminars, called ‘workshops’, students will give and receive feedback on their own and each other’s original creative writing under the guidance of an experienced tutor. This format develops the student’s understanding of the technical requirements for writing and increases their awareness of nuance. It also foregrounds the active role readers/audiences play in the imaginative experience of literature and develops editorial skill. Students will develop their primary creative work through allocated units for independent study with tutorial support. This support increases as the student’s work develops. These units allow the student to develop their time management skills, to learn confidence in their own creative processes (accommodating change and uncertainty) and to articulate their own aesthetics sense. Lectures and seminars will analyse contextual issues in criticism and publishing and develop students’ awareness how their work relates to a wider literary and commercial context.. Students will undertake a programme of directed and undirected reading. This will include criticism/theory and creative texts. Students will write critical and creative responses to their reading, developing their technical vocabulary, their aesthetic understanding, and their ability to construct a sound argument. Students may also be asked to attempt specific professional writing tasks to contextualise their work in relation to associated industries. These will normally be related to professional practice in publishing, broadcasting or theatre. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Assessment will concentrate on written work, submitted in a portfolio. Portfolios will normally include original creative writing with an essay and/or a reflection on the student’s own creative practice.
• Notes/reviews of their reading/viewing • Interviews • Journalistic features
|
Statement of expectations from the students at each level of the programme as it/they develop year on year.
Level M/7 - Masters |
Postgraduate Masters Students will have planned and executed a substantial piece of original Creative Writing. They will have a good understanding of contextual issues (both critical and industrial) in their chosen genre and will be able to write convincingly about these issues in essay form. They will have admirable close reading skills and will have developed their ability to discuss their own work and the work of others in a group setting. They will have developed and be able to articulate their own aesthetic sensibilities and will be able to relate these to their texts and to current trends in literature. They will have an excellent understanding of the process of editing text, and will show a responsive, self-critical ability and a robust writing practice that enables them to focus on their own creation whilst taking on board criticism and feedback. Their craft decisions will be informed by their understanding of the context into which they write. |
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Level M/7 - Postgraduate Certificate |
Postgraduate Certificate Students will show the ability to plan and begin a substantial piece of original Creative Writing. They will be able to articulate some contextual issues in their chosen genre and will be able to write convincingly about these issues in essay form. They will have successfully annotated and discussed cohort writing in a group setting. They will be able to develop and articulate their own aesthetic sensibilities and have a good understanding of the process of editing text, especially in relation to feedback and discussion. |
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Diploma |
Postgraduate Diploma Students will show the ability to plan and execute a good portion of a piece of original Creative Writing. They will be able to articulate contextual issues in their chosen genre and will be able to write convincingly about both critical and industrial issues in essay form. They will have successfully annotated and discussed cohort writing in a group setting and will have shown an ability to discover, retrieve and synthesise information. They will have developed and be able to articulate their own aesthetic sensibilities. They will have edited texts in relation to feedback and discussion and as a result of their burgeoning understanding of industry requirements. |
The intended learning outcome mapping document shows which mandatory units contribute towards each programme intended learning outcome.
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the postgraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/postgraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
Integration into the literary life of Bristol
Guest lecturers will be agents, editors, festival coordinators, prize organisers, etc. These professionals will not only provide valuable industry information for the students but also encourage them to begin professional practice by submitting their work. We will have close relationships with festivals, speakers and book launches and negotiate
volunteer positions and discounted tickets for students, as well as encouraging students to participate in more informal literary evenings and events in Bristol. This will provide an enviable research environment for Creative Writing at Bristol and we will be supportive and instrumental in helping graduates and their publishers to launch books and publicise their events – the idea is that the course graduates provide inspiration and opportunities for the new students and the new students provide publicity and readership for previous graduates, growing the community of writers year on year and making a rich and eventful research environment for doctoral students and Creative Writing staff.
N/A
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MACW Workshop 1 | ENGLM0070 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Critical Issues in Contemporary Literature | ENGLM0071 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Exploration for Creative Dissertations | ENGLM0072 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
MACW Workshop 2 | ENGLM0073 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Planning a Creative Dissertation | ENGLM0074 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Select 20cp from: | ||||
Critical Issues in Contemporary Publishing | ENGLM0076 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Placement in Publishing or Related Industries | ENGLM0075 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Creative Dissertation | ENGLM0077 | 60 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
180 |
The pass mark set by the University for any level 7(M) unit is 50 out of 100.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to exit from the programme with a postgraduate diploma or certificate.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
An award with Merit or Distinction is permitted for postgraduate taught masters, diplomas and certificates, where these are specifically named entry-level qualifications. An award with Merit or Distinction is not permitted for exit awards where students are required to exit the programme on academic grounds but is permitted in designated programmes (as set out in the programme specification) where students choose to withdraw from the intended programme but otherwise achieve the necessary credit points for the exit award.
The classification of the award in relation to the final programme mark is as follows:
Award with Distinction*: at least 65 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation. **Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
Award with Merit*: at least 60 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 60 out of 100 for the dissertation. Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
* The MA in Law has separate regulations for awarding distinction and merit.
** For the award of Distinction, the Faculty of Engineering requires at least 70 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to choose, or be required, to leave at the postgraduate diploma or certificate stage.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
Students taking the MA part-time over three years take the units EMGLM0070, ENGLM0072 and one of ENGLM0075/ENGLM0076) in this year and the dissertation unit (ENGLM0077) in their third year.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Critical Issues in Contemporary Literature | ENGLM0071 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
MACW Workshop 2 | ENGLM0073 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Planning a Creative Dissertation | ENGLM0074 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
80 |
Students taking the MA part-time over three years take the units ENGLM0071, ENGLM0073 and ENGLM0074 in this year and the dissertation unit (ENGLM0077) in their third year.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MACW Workshop 1 | ENGLM0070 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Exploration for Creative Dissertations | ENGLM0072 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Critical Issues in Contemporary Publishing | ENGLM0076 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Creative Dissertation | ENGLM0077 | 60 | Optional | AYEAR |
100 |
The pass mark set by the University for any level 7(M) unit is 50 out of 100.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to exit from the programme with a postgraduate diploma or certificate.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
An award with Merit or Distinction is permitted for postgraduate taught masters, diplomas and certificates, where these are specifically named entry-level qualifications. An award with Merit or Distinction is not permitted for exit awards where students are required to exit the programme on academic grounds but is permitted in designated programmes (as set out in the programme specification) where students choose to withdraw from the intended programme but otherwise achieve the necessary credit points for the exit award.
The classification of the award in relation to the final programme mark is as follows:
Award with Distinction*: at least 65 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation. **Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
Award with Merit*: at least 60 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 60 out of 100 for the dissertation. Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
* The MA in Law has separate regulations for awarding distinction and merit.
** For the award of Distinction, the Faculty of Engineering requires at least 70 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to choose, or be required, to leave at the postgraduate diploma or certificate stage.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
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