Master of Creative Writing

Graduates in the Master of Creative Writing have the skills and knowledge to work in Arts industries as writers, editors and creative content producers; as technical, professional and creative writers; in publishing, marketing and publicity. Expertise in written composition and analysis also make the graduates employable in government and public service positions, and in industries which require high level communication skills not normally associated with written composition, such as the banking and financial sectors. Expertise in learning and teaching of creative writing and the analysis of contemporary literature enables graduates to work in primary and secondary school settings and libraries as heads of subject and mentors with advanced knowledge of their field.

Professional recognition

Units of study can contribute to primary and secondary teacher ongoing Professional Learning requirement.

Higher education

• AQF level 8 bachelor honours or graduate diploma qualification in a related field or recognised equivalent, or
• Meet two of the following three criteria:
  • AQF level 7 bachelor's qualification in a related field or recognised equivalent
  • Approved work experience, professional certification or other recognised prior learning
  • AQF level 7 bachelor's qualification or recognised equivalent with a WAM of 65

English Proficiency Requirements

The required standard of English for this program is:

Academic IELTS of 7 overall (with minimum 6.5 in each band) or equivalent.

All applicants to coursework programs at Macquarie University are required to provide evidence of proficiency in English. 

For more information on accepted equivalents, please see English Language Requirements.

The Core zone is compulsory.

The Master of Creative Writing is designed to extend and challenge emerging writers to hone their craft in a small community of writers. The focus is on developing your creativity and writing skills, and to provide expert training if you are aiming for professional publication. You are encouraged to experiment, hone your craft and to develop a technical vocabulary for critiquing your own work and the work of others. Specialist units in the degree engage with novel and short story writing, creative nonfiction (such as memoir, writing about place, personal essay), poetry, writing for young adults and manuscript development.

Recommended Study Pattern

Completion of 8 subjects

Essential subjects:

• ENGX8010 Creative Writing Sminar: Narrative Fundamentals
• ENGX8015 Writing Creative Non-Fiction - An Introduction
• ENGX8022 Short Form Writing - Short story, Novella, Poetry Cycle
• ENGX8075 Professional Contexts of Literary and Feature Writing

Award Requirements

The Master of Creative Writing is a postgraduate coursework degree consisting of a minimum of 80 credit points.

Choose your subjects

Electives

Elective Subjects: (40 credit points)

Complete 4 subjects from the following options:

• ENGX8011 Word Essentials: Prose and Poetry
• ENGX8017 Writing the Past, Building New Worlds: Fiction and Non-Fiction
• ENGX8026 Developing the Novel or Novella
• ENGX8036 Manuscript Project
• ENGX8030 Digital Creative Writing : Interactive Prose and Poetry
• ENGX8090 Research for Creative Writing

Please note:

Once you have been admitted into your degree, you must enrol in at least one subject in the study term immediately following admission, and you must remain enrolled past the census date. If not, your admission will lapse and you will need to re-apply for the degree again. Deferment is not available for OUA students.

 https://students.mq.edu.au/study/faculties/open-universities-australia/degree-information.