Creative Writing DFA/MFA
Our Creative Writing Research degrees are unique and intense programmes for practising writers who wish to complete an ambitious creative project.
- DFA: 3 years full-time; 5 years part-time; Thesis of 70,000-100,000 words
- MFA: 2 years full-time; 4 years part-time; Thesis of 40,000-60,000 words
Overview
Our new research Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) build on a long history of offering Masters and Doctoral options in the study and practice of Creative Writing.
Our Degrees
Our postgraduate research degrees are based in an independent supervised research context that best supports your creative and critical work.
Both programmes give you dedicated, supported time to complete a substantial creative work, include opportunities to teach writing to undergraduates and apply to be a graduate teaching assistant for other literature courses, and the DFA additionally allows you to undertake extended academic research, informed by your creative work and practice, leading to a significant critical essay or output.
Support
Our students enjoy the guidance of writers including Sophie Collins, Jane Goldman, Colin Herd, Carolyn Jess-Cooke, Nicholas Melville, Elizabeth Reeder, Zoë Strachan and Louise Welsh, as well as the support and insights from inter-disciplinary supervisors like Naomi Richards (End of Life Studies), Matthew Barr (Computing Science), Alan Riach and Kirsteen McCue (Scottish Literature) and Bryony Randall, Jennifer Smith, Will Tattersdill, Malica White from English Literature and many others from these subjects and throughout the College of Arts and Humanities (and sometimes beyond).
Resources
Across all our postgraduate provision, both taught and by research, students have access to the best of the new and also develop a sense of the context from which their work emerges and into which they are researching and writing.
There is an ambitious programme of visiting speakers, masterclasses and public events held by Creative Writing and other subjects throughout the College, including our popular Creative Conversations that bring a carefully curated range of visiting speakers to campus every week during the semester.
The University Library with its modern collections and archives is a crucial resource, including the archive for Edwin Morgan’s Papers. We also collaborate with the Mitchell Library, one of the great civic libraries of Europe.
We have strong links with literary agents and an impressive history of published graduates and are home to two literary prizes: the North Literary Agency Prize and the Kayva Prize.
Our Creative Writing staff are involved in multiple research projects that span many subjects and methodologies and these are often of direct benefit to the Creative Writing PGR students via events, opportunities and diverse communities.
Study options
DFA: 3 years full-time; 5 years part-time. Thesis length 70,000-100,000*
MFA: 2 years full-time; 4 years part-time. Thesis length 40,000-60,000*
* or approved equivalencies for poetry or cross-genre work
Both the MFA and DFA run as campus-based or Low Residency options.
Entry requirements
This is a popular and selective programme.
All applications must follow the standard entry requirements for the College of Arts & Humanities:
- First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree or equivalent qualification (2:1 in the case of UK Research Council supported students)
- A Masters qualification or equivalent
In addition, for both our MFA and DFA we are looking for writers to have a preparatory one-year, postgraduate masters in Creative Writing with either Merit or Distinction (MA, MLitt or MPhil) or three publications in respected literary journals or magazines, in the intended genre of study.
Compelling equivalencies will be considered.
We also require a 20-25 page portfolio of your writing. This portfolio must include a one-page proposal for the project you intend to undertake on our courses, a sample of creative work and a short sample (5-6 pages) of critical work if you are applying to the DFA.
As with standard entry requirements, we require two letters of reference. Your referees should include an academic and a creative referee where possible. Where this is not possible, you can provide referees from other areas who can vouch that you are who you say you are and that your work and achievements are your own. It is particularly helpful if these referees are familiar with your writing and can provide references on that basis.
Application deadlines
- 02 December 2024 at noon: to receive a decision on your admissions application by 10 January 2025 (If applying for AHRC funding, this deadline must be met. Please state this on your application.)
- 24 February 2025 to receive a decision on your application by 1 April 2025.
- 2 June 2025: to receive a decision on your application by 1 July 2025.
English language requirements
For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)
7.0 with no subtests under 7.0 - Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test
- IELTS One Skill Retake accepted.
Common equivalent English language qualifications
TOEFL (ibt, my best or athome)
- 94; with Reading 24; Listening 24; Speaking 23; Writing 27
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements , this includes TOEFL mybest.
Pearsons PTE Academic
- 66 with no subtest less than: Listening 66;Reading 68; Speaking 65; Writing 82
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)
- 185 overall, no subtest less than 185
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Oxford English Test
- Oxford ELLT 8
- R&L: OIDI level no less than 8 with Reading: 27-28 and Listening: 20
- W&S: OIDI level no less than 8
Trinity College Tests
Integrated Skills in English II & III & IV: ISEII Pass with Pass in all sub-tests.
University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses
Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.
Alternatives to English Language qualification
- Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- students must have studied for a minimum of 2 years at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have complete their degree in that majority-English speaking country and within the last 6 years
- Undergraduate 2+2 degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- students must have completed their final two years study in that majority-English speaking country and within the last 6 years
For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) but we do not require a specific UKVI SELT for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.
Fees and funding
Fees
2025/26
- UK: To be confirmed [24/25 fee was £4,786]
- International & EU: £26,580
Prices are based on the annual fee for full-time study. Fees for part-time study are half the full-time fee.
Irish nationals who are living in the Common Travel Area of the UK, EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status, and Internationals with Indefinite Leave to remain status can also qualify for home fee status.
Alumni discount
We offer a 20% discount to our alumni on all Postgraduate Research and full Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes. This includes University of Glasgow graduates and those who have completed Junior Year Abroad, Exchange programme or International Summer School with us. The discount is applied at registration for students who are not in receipt of another discount or scholarship funded by the University. No additional application is required.
Possible additional fees
- Re-submission by a research student £540
- Submission for a higher degree by published work £1,355
- Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed £350
- Submission by staff in receipt of staff scholarship £790
Depending on the nature of the research project, some students will be expected to pay a bench fee (also known as research support costs) to cover additional costs. The exact amount will be provided in the offer letter.
Support
Teaching and research in the Arts and Humanities is supported by the outstanding resources of our University Library with its special collections and our on-campus Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery.
Our close links and partnerships with Glasgow Life, and the city’s many museums, art galleries, performing arts and music venues, international festivals and creative industry organisations make the University of Glasgow the ideal place for postgraduate study of the arts.
Graduate School
Our Graduate School creates a productive and interdisciplinary collegiate environment for all of our research students. We offer a range of services, courses and skills development opportunities for research students.
The College of Arts & Humanities is home to a vibrant and diverse community of students enrolled on taught masters and research programmes within a stimulating intellectual and cultural environment. Across every school and subject area the college is home to world-leading and agenda-setting research.
Find out more about what is happening in the community by following us on social media.
You will also be part of the wider Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities, the world's first national graduate school in the Arts & Humanities. Membership includes 16 Scottish universities, four art schools & the national conservatoire, with support from the arts, culture, creative & heritage sectors.
How to apply
Identify potential supervisors
All Postgraduate Research Students are allocated a supervisor who will act as the main source of academic support and research mentoring. You may want to identify a potential supervisor and contact them to discuss your research proposal before you apply. Please note, even if you have spoken to an academic staff member about your proposal you still need to submit an online application form.
You can find relevant academic staff members with our staff research interests search.
Gather your documents
Before applying please make sure you gather the following supporting documentation:
- Final or current degree transcripts including grades (and an official translation, if needed) – scanned copy in colour of the original document.
- Degree certificates (and an official translation, if needed): scanned copy in colour of the original document.
- Two references on headed paper and signed by the referee. One must be academic, the other can be academic or professional. References may be uploaded as part of the application form or you may enter your referees contact details on the application form. We will then email your referee and notify you when we receive the reference. We can also accept confidential references direct to rio-researchadmissions@glasgow.ac.uk, from the referee’s university or business email account.
- Research proposal, CV, samples of written work as per requirements for each subject area.
Contact us
- If you have any questions about your application before you apply: contact The School of Critical Studies (Critstudies-PGApplications@glasgow.ac.uk)
- If you have any questions after you have submitted your application: contact our Admissions team
- Any references may be submitted by email to: rio-researchadmissions@glasgow.ac.uk
International Students
More information
Our research environment
Induction
- Getting started with PGR development: how postgraduate researchers are welcomed into our community
