Creative Writing PhD
Our writers include internationally renowned novelist Alan Warner (author of Morvern Callar, The Sopranos and The Stars in the Bright Sky as well as film and stage adaptations of his work); David Wheatley (author of Mocker, A Nest on the Waves and The President of Planet Earth, and a 2015 judge of the National Poetry Competition); Helen Lynch (author of The Elephant and the Polish Question and Tea for the Rent Boy; Wayne Price, author of Furnace, Mercy Seat and the Laureate’s Choice poetry collection Fossil Record).
The University of Aberdeen offers a rich and unique variety of inter-disciplinary creative opportunities based on the University’s centres of research excellence such as the WORD Centre for Creative Writing, The Research Institute of Irish and Scottish Studies (host of visiting writers such as Michael Longley and James Kelman), the Centre for the Novel (host of visiting writers such as Michele Roberts, Janice Galloway and Will Self), and the Sir Herbert Grierson Centre.
Our postgraduate programmes host masterclasses from world-class visiting writers (recent workshops have featured Claire Keegan, Don Paterson and Simon Armitage) and The WORD Centre organises a number of highly popular literary events each year as part of the University’s May Fest. The Centre also fosters many active and productive links with the wider writing community of the north east.
PGR students may opt to study part-time or full-time, and all successful applicants are considered for competitive bursary funding. We are open to discussing all potential projects with applicants, including the possibility of undertaking these via Distance Learning.
Approaches from applicants who wish to undertake their studies as Distance Learners will be considered, subject to discussion with an appropriate supervisor
Campus Information
Old Aberdeen
The Old Aberdeen campus is the historic heart of the University and combines immaculately preserved buildings with state-of-the-art facilities for learning, research and recreation. The Schools incorporating the Arts and Social Sciences and Physical Sciences are based here.
Intakes
- Sep
Application Processing Time in Days: 30
Minimum English Language Requirements
| English Level Description | IELTS (1.0 -9.0) | TOEFL IBT (0-120) | TOEFL CBT (0-300) | PTE (10-90) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expert | 9 | 120 | 297-300 | 86-90 | |
| Very Good | 8.5 | 115-119 | 280-293 | 83-86 | |
| Very Good | 8 | 110-114 | 270-280 | 79-83 | |
| Good | 7.5 | 102-109 | 253-267 | 73-79 | |
| Good | 7 | 94-101 | 240-253 | 65-73 | |
| Competent | 6.5 | 79-93 | 213-233 | 58-65 | |
| Competent | 6 | 60-78 | 170-210 | 50-58 | |
| Modest | 5.5 | 46-59 | 133-210 | 43-50 | |
| Modest | 5 | 35-45 | 107-133 | 36-43 | |
| Limited | 4 | 32-34 | 97-103 | 30-36 | |
| Extremely Limited | < 4 | < 31 | < 93 | < 30 |
Job Opportunity Potential
The University Careers and Employability Service aims to inspire and support your career success through collaboration, innovation and professionalism. We provide our students and recent graduates with the advice and information they need for effective career planning and skill development along with opportunities for networking and connecting with employers.
Explore your options
- One-to-one support in-person, by phone or online with a Careers Adviser who specialises in your degree subject
- Information resources for researching options with your degree subject and specific job types
Develop your skills
- Opportunities for you to participate in programmes, such as the Leadership Academy and Career Mentoring, that will allow you to develop skills that employers value
- Online professional skills courses
Connect with opportunities
- Employer-led events, including workshops, presentations and fairs
- Support with finding work experience and graduate opportunities
PSW Opportunity
2 Years Post Study Work Visa
Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria
Postgraduate: Requirements will vary dependant on recognition of University and scoring system used. As a guide, a score of between 60-80% is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of between 50-69% is considered comparable to a UK 2.2, depending on the ranking of the institution.
Please note that in many cases applicants will not need to submit IELTS scores if they have achieved 80% or above in HSC Yr XII or if they have a letter from their former university demonstrating that their degree was taught in English.
To study for a Postgraduate Taught degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:
IELTS Academic:
OVERALL - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 6.0; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
TOEFL iBT:
OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 21; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
PTE Academic:
OVERALL - 62 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59
Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency:
OVERALL - 176 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 169; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169
- Course Type: Full Time
- Course Level: Doctoral Degree/PhD
- Duration: 03 Year
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Total Tuition Fee:
51000 GBP
Annual Cost of Living: 9207 GBP
Application Fee: N/A