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Creative Writing

MFA (NFQ Level 9)

This course is available through the following application route(s)

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UCD offers two graduate courses in creative writing, an MA and MFA. 
The MFA programme is a more advanced degree than the MA, and in some instances can follow on from the MA. MFA students will be part of a smaller cohort which offers very close supervision of a work in progress for the duration of an academic year. It is best suited to students who are working to complete a full-manuscript and have already undertaken courses in craft and/or related fields.

 

  • Develop your own writing skills under experienced tuition and supervision
  • Structural and line editing of the work in progress is a core component and class groups in this module are from two to four students
  • Taught by experienced, published staff of international reputation

About This Course

On successful completion of the programme, students will have

  • an ability to select , negotiate, adapt and implement approaches / techniques appropriate to the work in progress.
  • an in-depth knowledge of successful works in the field / genre in which they are working.
  • competence in preparing a manuscript, a synopsis and a biog. for presentation to a literary agent / publisher.
  • insight into the different sources and methods of research, with particular emphasis on the assimilation of same into the work in progress.
  • mastery of pacing, narrative coherence and ending.
  • expertise in close editing and overall structuring a work of fiction.
  • contributed to an anthology and attended a selection of the literary events and festivals for which the city is renowned.

Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
 CRWT40260 Reading Like A Writer Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 CRWT40280 Line Editing I Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 CRWT40150 Creative Writing Workshop II Spring  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 CRWT40290 Line Editing II Spring  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 CRWT40300 Final Project Year-long (12 months)  50

Dave Rudden
MA 2013
Award-winning Author

The Creative Writing Masters in UCD has been incredibly useful to me as an author. I still use some of the lessons I learned in that year in my creative writing classes, and the expert advice of the lecturers contributed massively to me finding a home for my Knights of the Borrowed Dark trilogy at Puffin. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

MFA Creative Writing (Z197) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 10350
nonEU    fee per year - € 22600

***Fees are subject to change

Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see International Scholarships.

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. Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 7.5 (no band less than 7.0 in each element), or equivalent.

You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EU) applicants: Yes


This course is suited to students who have already acquired the skills associated with a course in creative writing and have a work in progress to which they now wish to devote the greater part of an academic year with a a view to offering that work for publication.


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General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Creative Writing:

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Z197
Creative Writing
Master of Fine Arts

Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Graduate Taught
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