- The MA is taught by experienced writers and offers a wide range of writing genres including fiction, short story, poetry, drama, screenwriting and creative non-fiction.
- Drama writing a particular strength, including the relatively new and unexplored field of Dramaturgy.
- Regular play readings and students' dramatic writing is often performed by professional actors in the Rough Diamonds mini-festival in the summer.
- Creative Writers have a close relationship with National Theatre Wales and also open-mic poetry events at local venues such as the Dylan Thomas Centre and Howl.
- There is scope for work experience with local publishers.
- The writing programme has an online journal, The Swansea Review, and students write for The Siren, a student-run online journal, and The Waterfront student newspaper.
- Students have free membership of Literature Wales, the national literature promotion agency.
- Students are involved in the annual Writers' Day at the Dylan Thomas Centre, where they meet editors, agents, publishers and writers, to discuss the ins and outs of publication and the craft of writing.
- Students are part of a vibrant community of writers and artists - Swansea, the birthplace of Dylan Thomas, having a fair claim to being Wales's city of culture.
- The programme has connection with and experience of the unique literary culture of Wales, home to possibly the oldest (but still vibrant) bardic tradition in Europe.
Course Overview
The Extended MA in Creative Writing is a unique programme that offers integrated training in the writing of literary and media text.
The Extended MA (EMA) is a 240-credit postgraduate qualification that is equivalent to 120 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) and is thus a recognised Masters qualification throughout the European Union. The EMA is a standard UK MA plus an additional 60 credits (30 ECTS) and this additional coursework is undertaken in one semester at a partner institution overseas. The EMA is therefore not only an EU recognised postgraduate qualification it also adds a study abroad experience thus enhancing the qualification's employability credentials.
