UCD Search

 

(Full-time Programme)

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, and many others. There are around thirty members of full-time staff with expertise ranging from Old English to contemporary literature and drama. The Writer-In-Residence for the College of Arts and Celtic Studies is the distinguished playwright, Frank McGuinness. There are first rate libraries in UCD and the Dublin Area. Several have renowned archives as well as expertly resourced electronic collections. The School has established a reputation for excellence in fostering postgraduate research and teaching over many years.

The School has always included in its programme of extracurricular activities a rich array of readings, writing workshops, writers’ groups, and special seminars offered by writers-in-residence. More recently, it also offers a structured programme of courses and supervision to enable committed writers to develop their potential and to produce creative writing within a supportive and constructive framework.

The MA in Creative Writing, (which corresponds to the MFA in US universities,) 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.

The 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 material [various drafts of  works of leading writers] held in special collections and  courses which explore material in the UCD archive, renowned for its vast collection of folklore.

• 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 the course of the last academic year.

 

    * Creative Writing Workshop One (10 Credits)

    * Creative Writing Workshop Two  (10 Credits)

    * The Archive of Imagination: Myth & Folklore in fiction  or    

      Journalism: genre & style (5 Credits)

    * Reading and Writing the Novel (10 Credits)

    * Performance & Fiction or                                                

      Journalism: genre & Style (5 Credits)

    * The Writing Life: Writers on writing (5 Credits)

    * Reading and Writing the Short Story (5 Credits)

    * Reading and Writing Poetry (5 Credits)

    * The Library of Imagination – Fiction  (5 Credits)

    * The Library of Imagination  - Poetry  (5 Credits)

    * Writing Project (35 Credits)

Students are assessed in a variety of ways, which may include writing assignments, editing exercises, creative responses to texts, class presentations, and writing portfolio.

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

Siobhan Campbell - [Writer Fellow] Poet

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 (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 for the course must be made online at: http://www.ucd.ie/apply/  Entry requirement 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 final deadline for applications for this MA is May 1st. You are, however, encouraged to apply early, but should note that only fully completed applications can, at any stage, be considered. Decisions on some places on the MA will be made prior to this final application deadline. Applications received after that deadline may not be considered.

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 or the course convenor James Ryan: james.ryan@ucd.ie

Our current cohort of students come from a variety of backgrounds and countries, mainly Ireland, the United Kingdom, the US and Canada. 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's work has been published in journals such as Stinging Fly and Poetry Ireland, and some have won prestigious awards and have had novels accepted for publication.

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.

Colin Barrett, Susan Stairs, Claire Coughlan, Tania Tynan, and Anne Graham

(some of the newly conferred MAs in Creative Writing, December 2009)

Creative Writing

MA Courses