Master of Arts (MA) in Creative Writing
On this page:
- Introduction to the MA
- Elements of the MA Programme
- Scriptwriting Stream
- Hear from our Students
- How to Apply
Introduction to the MA
The Master of Arts (MA) in Creative Writing (CREW) is offered in two streams:
This one year full-time graduate research degree gives recognition to work in creative writing. It is built around a strong workshop culture, reflecting our belief in the importance of nurturing individual voices within a lively community of writers.
30 places are available each year: 20 in the Page stream and 10 in the Scriptwriting stream. Selection is competitive and the quality of your writing sample and other application material will be central to the selection process. Your writing sample should demonstrate your ability to write in the genre or medium in which you intend to specialise. To be considered you will also normally need to have a university degree, in any subject.
The MA does not teach a specific set of predetermined skills; rather, it encourages writers to identify and articulate, as appropriate, their own distinctive voices in their chosen medium.
Assessment for the MA in Creative Writing is based entirely on your final portfolio, although you must also submit your reading journal before the end of the year.
Three examiners provide written reports on your final portfolio. Before graduation, you must submit a hardbound copy of your portfolio to the Victoria University library, where it becomes part of the university's record of its research activities.
Elements of the MA Programme
Workshop
Each week you will attend a three-hour workshop. At workshops a range of exercise work is presented and discussed; and you present for discussion your own portfolio work-in-progress.
Reading Programme
You are required to read and/or view extensively in an area related to your writing project, usually following an individually tailored programme. You report either in two formal 3000-word essays or through an extensive Reading Journal which you keep throughout the year.
Reading Programme Meeting
This weekly meeting is an opportunity for the discussion of literary, craft or industry issues and of works and authors from individual reading lists. It provides a forum for guest visits by writers and industry professionals. During the year each member of the class leads a seminar relating to an aspect of their reading/viewing list or their portfolio project.
Portfolio
Although you will discuss your portfolio work at workshop meetings, you will also be assigned a supervisor, with whom you will meet regularly. As against the diversity of views you are likely to meet in workshops, your supervisor provides the response of a single, continuing reader. Your supervisor will respond to your work as you write it and will act as one of your final readers when the folio is submitted.
Industry Placements
Each student in the scriptwriting stream of the MA will also complete about 40 hours of industry placement. Arrangements will be negotiated at the beginning of the academic year, but please note that placements will normally be organised for the June/July mid-year break.
Visiting Writers
Recent visitors to the MA programme have included bookworld professionals along with such writers as: Andrew Bovell, Philippa Boyens, Brian Castro, Robert Dessaix, Mark Doty, Richard Ford, Aminatta Forna, Anna Funder, Patricia Grace, Lavinia Greenlaw, Lloyd Jones, August Kleinzahler, Elizabeth Knox, Robert Kroetsch, Hari Kunzru, David Malouf, Michael Palmer, Richard Powers, Christopher Reid, Jane Smiley, Ronny Someck, Wole Soyinka, Linda Voorhees, Eliot Weinberger and Benjamin Zephaniah. 2010 visiting writers include Glyn Maxwell, Lee Gutkind and David Vann.
Scriptwriting Stream
Prospective applicants for this stream should also visit our Scriptwriting stream page for additional information and advice from Scriptwriting Director Ken Duncum.
Hear from our Students
Find out more about our students - their projects and experiences of the course, and what they’re doing now - in their own words.
How to Apply
Visit our How to Apply page for application deadlines, requirements and forms.