MA Creative Writing & MFA Creative Writing [Fiction]
MA Creative Writing & MFA Creative Writing [Fiction]
The School of English, Drama & Film offers two postgraduate programmes in Creative Writing, an MA and an MFA [Master of Fine Arts] Fiction
The MA in Creative Writing builds on the well established commitment of the UCD School of English, Drama and Film to fostering and supporting new writing. The university has long been associated with some of Ireland’s greatest writers, including James Joyce, Flann O’Brien, Mary Lavin, Anthony Cronin, John McGahern, Neil Jordan, Conor McPherson, Marina Carr, Colm Tóibín, Emma Donoghue and many others. There are over thirty full-time members of staff with expertise ranging from Old English to contemporary literature and drama. The distinguished playwright, Frank McGuinness, is Professor of Creative Writing for the College of Arts and Celtic Studies, and internationally acclaimed novelist, Colm Tóibín, is Adjunct Professor.
The School of English, Drama and Film has always included in its programme of extra-curricular activities a rich array of readings, writing workshops, writers’ groups, and special seminars offered by writers-in-residence. In 2006 a structured programme of courses and supervision, the now well established MA in Creative Writing, was introduced to enable committed writers to develop their potential within a supportive framework. It is a one year course of lectures, seminars, workshops and supervision meetings which aims to provide committed writers with taught classes on theories and practices of writing, presentation and editing techniques, creative reading of selected texts, and supervision of a major writing project.
UCD is now introducing an MFA in Creative Writing (fiction). This is the first MFA (Master of Fine Arts) degree in Creative Writing (fiction) to be offered by an Irish university and can be taken either part or full time. It has been devised in response to demand for an advanced postgraduate course, offering close supervision and direction of a novel or collection of short stories for the duration of an academic year. This course is suited to students who have already acquired the skills associated with a full programme in creative writing [MA, M Phil {Creative Writing], BFA, BA Creative Writing Major/Joint Major or equivalent] and have a work in progress to which they now wish to devote the greater part of an academic year with a view to offering that work for publication. Credits are weighted accordingly. Fifty of the overall ninety are allocated to this work, which on submission will be a complete novel or collection of short stories. In addition, this course offers a module in the teaching of creative writing, comprising both theoretical and practical components.
There are first rate libraries in UCD and the Dublin area. Several have renowned archives as well as expertly resourced electronic collections. Over many years, the School has established a worldwide reputation for excellence in fostering postgraduate research and in teaching. Designated as a UNESCO City of Literature in 2009, Dublin has an immense amount to offer aspiring writers.
The MA programme:
• provides opportunities to explore and develop your own creative writing skills under experienced
tuition and supervision
• ensures that the art of writing is informed by the study of theories and practices of contemporary
writing
• allows for small classes by strictly limiting the number of participants
• actively fosters the development of students’ capacity to edit their own work
• is taught by experienced, published staff of international reputation
• builds on UCD 's long tradition of fostering literary talent.
• offers courses incorporating the manuscripts of works of leading writers held in Special
Collections and courses which explore material in National Folklore Collection in UCD, one of the
richest archives of oral tradition in the world.
• benefits from engaging with many visiting guests across the arts and publishing sectors. Seamus
Heaney, Salman Rushdie, and J.K. Rowling were among the many writers to read at the college in
recent years. In the course of the past year students participated in writing seminars presented by
William Trevor, Jane Urquart, Alistair MacLeod and Paul Harding.
Semester One
- Reading and Writing Fiction [10 Credits]
- The Archive of Imagination: Myth & Folklore in fiction [5 Credits]
or
- Poetry in Progress [5 Credits]
- Craft & Composition (10 Credits]
- Peer Reviewing Workshop
Semester Two
- Fiction in the Making [ MA ]; a single text study [10 Credits]
- The Library of the Imagination; Short Fiction [5 Credits]
or
- Poetry in Context [5 Credits]
- Workshop [+ individual consultation] with Writer-in-Residence [10 Credits]
- Writing Project –c.15,000 words (35 Credits)
The MFA programme
In addition to sharing the objectives as outlined above for the MA programme, the MFA [Fiction] provides close supervision and direction of a novel or a collection of short stories, already in draft form or well underway prior to the commencement of the course.
Semester One
- Fiction in the Making [ MFA ]; a single text study [10 Credits]
- Line & Structural Editing of work in progress [10 Credits]
- Pedagogic Strategies 1. Theory [5 Credits]*
or
- Module from selection of School of English postgraduate offerings
Semester Two
- Line & Structural Editing of work in progress [10 Credits]
- Pedagogic Strategies 2. Practice [5 Credits]*
or
- Module from selection of School of English postgraduate offerings
- Completed Work [Novel / Collection of Short Stories] –c.50,000 words [50 Credits]
* The modules offered in the teaching of creative writing, Pedagogic Strategies 1 & 2 are only available to those holding a post graduate degree.
Assessment
Students are assessed in a variety of ways, which may include writing assignments, editing exercises, creative responses to texts, class presentations, and writing portfolio.
The Teaching Team
Prof. Frank McGuinness – [Professor of Creative Writing at UCD] Playwright, Poet.
James Ryan – [Course Convenor] Novelist, Screenwriter, Essayist.
Éilis Ní Dhuibhne – [Writer Fellow] Novelist, short story writer, critic and folklorist
Paul Perry - [Writer Fellow] Poet
A writer-in-residence is appointed for the second semester by the university in conjunction with the Arts Council
Among the visiting writers, publishers, editors, scholars 2007-2011 were;
Brendan Barrington (Publisher & Editor)
Catriona Crowe( Archivist, essayist and Critic)
Prof. Paul Durcan (Poet)
Hugo Hamilton (Fiction and Memoir Writer)
Claire Keegan, (Fiction Writer)
Claire Kilroy (Fiction Writer)
Maggie McKernan (Literary Agent)
Conor McPherson (Playwright, Screenwriter, Film and Theatre Director),
Deirdre Madden (Novelist)
Edna O Brien (Former Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing at UCD), Fiction writer.
Denis O’Driscoll (Poet, Prose Writer, & Critic)
Billy Roche (Playwright, Novelist, Short-story & Screenwriter)
Jonathan Williams (Literary Agent)
Michael Longley (Poet and Ireland Professor of Poetry)
Caroline Walsh (Literary Editor, Irish Times)
Catherine Dunne (Novelist)
Applications
- Applications for both the MA & the MFA must be made online; http://www.ucd.ie/apply/
- Copies of relevant academic qualifications, the writing sample and the references should be included in the online application. No material should, at this stage, be submitted by post.
- The procedure for verifying these qualifications, undertaken after an offer has been accepted and before registration, requires the provision by post or by hand of original hard-copy academic transcripts, specifying the subjects studied and the grades attained, from the issuing educational institution/awarding body.
- These should be posted or personally delivered to Online Applications, Tierney Building, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland (applicants from the Republic of Ireland who wish to have their original documentation returned should forward a stamped addressed envelope, applicants from outside the Republic of Ireland should forward an addressed envelope). If originals are received without an addressed envelope they will be archived.
- Any documentation not in English should be accompanied by an official English translation.
The entry requirement for the MA programme is a BA Hons English or equivalent, and/or proven commitment to and experience in the field of creative writing; a portfolio (c.25 pages) of recent creative work; a personal statement of reasons for taking the course and references.
The entry requirements for the MFA programme, as stated earlier, are any of the following; an MA,
M Phil [Creative Writing] BFA [Creative Writing], BA Creative Writing Major/Joint Major or equivalent, a portfolio with an outline [ max 2.000 words] of the work in progress, together with the opening 25 /30 pages, or in the case of a short story collection, two stories, a personal statement of reasons for taking the course and references.
The final deadline for applications for both the MA and the MFA is May 1st. Applications for the academic year 2012-13 can be made at any time up to the closing date. You are encouraged to apply early. Please note that only fully completed applications can, at any stage, be considered. Decisions on some places on the MA will be made prior to the final application deadline. Applications received after that deadline may not be considered
For information about fees and grants please visit; http://www.ucd.ie/registry/adminservices/fees/index.html
For further information please contact the School of English, Drama and Film, UCD, Belfield Dublin 4. (+353 1 716 8157/8323) Fax: +353 1 716 1174, or email the course administrator: Hilary Gow; hilary.gow@ucd.ie
Student Profiles
Our current cohort of students come from a variety of backgrounds and countries, including Ireland, the UK, US, New Zealand, Austria and Germany. Most have a good deal of writing experience and wish to pursue professional careers in writing, with specialisations in novel writing, poetry and short stories. Graduates' work has been published in journals such as The Stinging Fly and Poetry Ireland, and some have won prestigious awards, and have had novels accepted for publication.
Directions
The School of English, Drama and Film is located on the Belfield Campus is close to the N11 and is serviced by a wide variety of public transports.
NEWS
PATRICK KAVANAGH POETRY PRIZE 2011
The Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Prize 2011, one of Ireland's most prestigious literary awards, has been won by Helena Nolan. Helena graduated from the MA in Creative Writing in 2008.
