Write your first novel in a year with the input and supervision of published writers and industry experts. Taught on our historic campus two evenings a week, with a part-time option also available.

Why study Creative Writing: First Novel?

While most Creative Writing MAs encourage students to sample a variety of written forms, our Creative Writing MA focuses on the novel, pure and simple.

It is aimed at students who want the time, support and tools needed to complete that crucial first draft and the network and knowledge needed to take it further, towards an agent or publisher.

Why St Mary's?

Teaching on our MA Creative Writing: First Novel is practical, rather than theoretical, focussing on the obstacles that face all first-time writers. The course is taught through evening seminars and small-group workshops where you’ll share your work in progress as well as individual supervisions with a published novelist.

Teaching methods

The course takes you from the exploratory phase of writing through to re-drafting, in five modules, across three semesters and a lecture series.

At the beginning of the course, you will be allocated a personal supervisor who will oversee the development of your draft through tutorials.

Assessment methods

Each module produces a creative element of your draft which will be assessed. In the seminar modules, you will also be assessed by presentation to the group.

In formal assessment, each module will produce a mixture of creative submission to deadline, workshop engagement, critical reflection and seminar presentation. The weight of marking always rests with creative submission and the aim is to complete a draft of a novel through continuous assessment.

Career opportunities

Some of our graduates go on to write full-time or apply to PhD programmes. Others work in publishing, teaching, journalism and a wide range of careers.

The transferable skills of being able to critically evaluate and articulate ideas as well as the ability to write well are relevant skills for any sector.