Creative Writing has been taught at St Andrews
since 1993, when the MLitt degree was established
as the first of its kind in Scotland. Over the
past ten years, the subject has grown in scope
and depth to include undergraduate modules in
the writing of short stories, poetry and speeches.
We also offer a menu of postgraduate modules in
poetry and prose writing (including the novel,
the short story, the literary essay and radio
work). In 2003, we introduced the PhD in Creative
Writing.
John Burnside, Robert Crawford, Douglas Dunn,
Kathleen Jamie, A L Kennedy and Don Paterson are
on the permanent staff of the school of English.
In addition, Sara Lodge is able to offer advice
and support on speech writing, and Susan Sellers
on fiction. Honorary professors include Kay Redfield
Jamison, Paul Muldoon and Marina Warner.
‘As
well as providing academic study in the
three major literary forms, the M.Litt.
degree programme in Creative Writing is
concerned with the development of students’
original work, whether in prose or verse.
It should be a different kind of experience
from mainstream taught postgraduate courses
in that it is anticipated that students
on the programme will be especially motivated
and closer to each other than usual, and
adept at academic study as well as their
own writing. Writing is a highly individual,
highly intensive, even obsessive activity.
Therefore, students should expect their
requirements to be met on that basis—your
teachers are published fiction writers and
poets and more than familiar with the problems,
pressures, and pleasures of writing. The
success of the programme depends on asking
for specific advice. You shouldn’t
be shy in pursuing requests with your teachers
and other academics in the School. You should
find the programme stimulating and enjoyable,
and make it fit your own particular requirements.’
|
Course
Handbook for Mlitt in Creative Writing |
With the leading annual
poetry festival StAnza in St Andrews, and the
year-round programme of events with international
visiting writers and scholars at the Poetry
House and the School of English, as well as
an active postgraduate community associated
with the School, studying creative writing at
St Andrews offers you an extraordinary range
of experience and opportunity.
For full details, course
requirements and application procedure, see
the Creative
Writing pages on the School of English site. |
