The Creative Writing MA course at Southampton challenges you to cross boundaries. While offering expertise in five areas of contemporary writing – fiction, scriptwriting, creative non-fiction, writing for young people and poetry – we also encourage students to tap into the university’s rich resources in theatre, music, art, and the sciences. Our aim is to provide you with a supportive academic context in which to learn, grow and develop your writing skills. Our programme offers the chance to specialize in what interests you, to work in a friendly academic environment with other student writers, and to benefit from expert tuition and a dynamic schedule of visiting speakers which includes established writers, editors, publishers and agents. You will also choose from a variety of stimulating MA modules offered by the School of Humanities which will help you to think critically and in depth about what you do. You will be assessed by traditional means, such as essays, but, depending on the modules you choose, you will also be asked to work in groups and teams to make presentations. You will also manage a large independent research project: the master’s dissertation. The 20,000 word dissertation is a core element in establishing the acquisition of appropriate skills and the application of research techniques. Your supervisors will be available to provide regular and supportive advice, guidance and feedback on your progress. A master’s degree will enable you to further develop the key skills employers seek such as: time management; problem solving; team work; deadline and project management; cultural awareness; working independently; using your initiative; relationship-building; critical thinking and research analysis. Above all, you will learn to communicate your ideas and enthusiasm to a wide range of audiences.