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Ignite your imagination and intellect
Use your passion for writing to transform yourself and the world through an intense exploration of language.
The Master of Creative Writing (MCW) is a 180-credit programme that can follow on immediately from your bachelor’s degree in any subject.
Produce your own creative writing to challenge your innovative energies. Discover new ways to unlock ideas and connect with readers.
Work alongside award-winning authors to write your own novels, poems, short stories, plays, scripts, creative non-fiction and more.
A Master of Creative Writing is one of the most creative and enriching degrees you can do. Employers seek out arts students for their lateral and analytical thinking, communication skills and creative ability.
There are various possibilities for creative writing graduates, including:
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
This programme is a selected entry programme. This means there are a number of extra requirements you must meet.
To enter the Master of Creative Writing you will:
You will be selected into the programme on the basis of a process which includes providing:
You will need to provide verified copies of all academic transcripts for studies taken at all universities other than Massey University.
If you are a new-to-Massey student, applications for this programme close on 31 October 2020.
To study this programme you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
Your creative writing sample should be in the genre you wish to pursue in your thesis and limited to 4,000 words maximum for fiction, creative non-fiction, a theatre or film script, or a hybrid writing sample. For poetry, please submit a sample of up to ten poems (about 10-15 pages). If you are unable to upload your portfolio, please upload confirmation that you are sending your portfolio in hard copy to:
Academic Support
Massey University
Private Bag 11-222
PALMERSTON NORTH
Please enquire for any other questions on required supporting documents.
For information on prior learning, exemptions and transfer of credit or other questions:
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, we have courses and programmes that may help.
From the Schedule to the Degree including:
List A courses
List B courses
Thesis course(s)
Advanced entry: Those who have already completed specified qualifications in advance of the minimum entry requirements may be able to complete this degree in 120 credits.
Attend a compulsory workshop either on-line or in person.
See ‘Courses for this programme’ below for schedules of courses.This is a parts-based qualification. This means there are regulations around your completion of Part One before progressing to Part Two, etc.
| At least 30 credits from | ||
|---|---|---|
| 139703 | Critical and Creative Research | 30 |
| 139765 | New Directions in Creative Writing | 30 |
| No more than 30 credits from | ||
|---|---|---|
| 139710 | Rhetoric, Composition and the Teaching of Writing | 30 |
| 139724 | Literary Revolutions: Romantic and Victorian Literature | 30 |
| 139750 | Contemporary New Zealand Writers in an International Context | 30 |
| 139758 | Postcolonial Theory and Writing | 30 |
| 139763 | Community Theatre | 30 |
| 139799 | Research Report (30) | 30 |
| 154708 | Modern Fiction, Popular Culture and the Media | 30 |
| 154747 | Media Practice and Global Culture | 30 |
| 120 credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| 139860 | Thesis | 120 |
| 139861 | Thesis 120 Credit Part 1 | 60 |
| 139862 | Thesis 120 Credit Part 2 | 60 |
If you study full-time, you’ll take 120 credits per year or 60 credits per semester.
The Master of Creative Writing is a parts-based qualification. That means you must complete the first part, before moving to the second.
Part One is composed of two online distance courses that may be taken full-time in a single semester or part-time over two consecutive semesters.
It is recommended that you take both of the List A courses to fulfil the requirements of Part One, but you may choose to take only one of the courses.
If you choose to take only 30 credits from List A, you must take 30 credits from List B.
A grade average of at least B+ is required in Part One in order to progress to Part Two.
Part Two (120 credits) is a thesis.
Part Two includes a compulsory one to three-day residential course, held on one of the Massey University campuses. The course venue and dates vary from year to year. Online workshops as well as optional face-to-face meetings may supplement this compulsory residential course.
If you have a bachelor’s with honours degree or a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts in Creative Writing, Expressive Arts or English, with at least a B grade average you may apply for the 120-credit programme, which consists of Part Two.
The maximum time-frame for completion of this qualification is five years.
There are maximum time limits to complete postgraduate qualifications. If you do not complete within the maximum time, you may be required to re-apply for the programme if you wish to continue your studies.
Where your qualification is completed within the stated time limit and to a high standard, you may be able to graduate with a class of Honours, Distinction or Merit.
Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.
There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.
If you already know which courses you are going to take, you can use our fees calculator to get an estimate of your fees.
You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.
The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme and your eligibility on the Fees Free website. To use the site's eligibility checking tool, you will need your National Student Number.
Current and returning Massey students will find their National Student Number on their student homepage.
“
Poetry is like fiction – it can be close to the truth, but it is a piece of art.
” Janet Newman
“
Between my first writing course at Massey and finishing my master’s, I’ve published novels, short stories, non-fiction and poetry.
” Jillian Sullivan
“
My thesis included the play I wrote, Trans Tasmin. Subsequently, a professional theatre company has shown interest in the script.
” Robert Gilbert
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions.
Review this important information before you apply for this programme. This gives you full details of the rules and regulations about what you need to study and what you must achieve in order to graduate with this qualification. That includes structure, courses and requirements. These regulations should be read in conjunction with all other Statutes and Regulations of the University including the below.
General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas and Postgraduate Certificates.
If you are ready to apply, have a look at our application checklist. It will help you get prepared with what you need. Please also check the entry requirements carefully before you apply.
You will apply for the programme using the Apply now button on this page. You’ll also choose your specialisation (major, subject or endorsement) if applicable.
Some programmes have additional requirements such as the submission of a portfolio or CV. Click on Apply now and you will be able to submit those documents as part of the application process.
You will receive an Admission Offer of Place when you have been accepted into the programme. You need to accept this before you can enrol in your courses. International students also need to pay their fees at this point.
You’ll then get access to your own student homepage (also known as the student portal). This is where you can enrol in courses. Any updates on your application or enrolments will also be on your student homepage. Make sure you check this regularly.
When you choose courses, ensure you check for any requirements that apply including:
Each of our courses has its own webpage where you can find this information. You can use our course search to find course pages.
More information on courses is in the ‘Courses for this programme’ section on this page.
You can find information on application due dates and semester dates on the key dates page.
We look forward to welcoming you to Massey!
If you have any questions, contact us through the Enquire button on this page.
Each Massey programme is made up of courses (in some tertiary institutions they are called ‘papers’).
You will have some compulsory courses and some you can choose from.
Each course is worth a certain amount of credits (often 15 credits, but this does vary). You must gain a set number of credits to be able to graduate from this programme.
There may also be some rules about which courses you need to pass to progress to the next year, or stage, of your study (known as progression). There are also courses you must pass to graduate with a specialisation.
The first three digits of our course numbers show you which subject the course is about.
The second three digits show you the level and course ID number. For instance:
| 1 | 6 | 2 | . | 3 | 0 | 1 | |
| Subject area | Level | Course ID number | |||||
Use this tool to help determine how much time you will need each week to complete your studies.
For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.
In some cases the programme or specialisation you enrolled in may be no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these programmes go to the Massey University Calendar.
Please contact us through the Enquire button on this page if you have any questions.
There are a number of scholarships available for new and current students. They could relate to your situation, achievement or interest.