MA Creative Writing at University of the Witwatersrand

Programme overview

Immerse yourself in the art of creative writing and master self-reflection, critical thinking and analysis. Specialise in prose (fiction or creative nonfiction), poetry or script writing in a writing- and reading-intensive, practice-based research degree. Our MA is an active, discursive process of growth and exploration that relies as much on peer-to-peer relationships and mentoring as it does on individual initiative. The dissertation comprises a literary work (a novel, a collection of short stories, a collection of creative nonfiction essays or articles, a collection of poetry, or a dramatic work) and a research/reflective essay that examines the process of the work’s composition in relati

Faculty: Humanities | Department: Literature, Language and Media | Duration: 2 years | Study mode: part-time | Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

What you will study

Candidates will write a creative literary work (a novel, a collection of short stories, a collection of creative nonfiction essays or articles, a collection of poetry, or a dramatic work) and a reflective essay. All candidates are expected to complete their projects over a two-year period. Candidates will be required to attend the fortnightly in-person seminars/workshops on the Wits Braamfontein c

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

An Honours degree in literary studies, journalism or drama is a prerequisite for entry into the MA in Creative Writing. Occasionally a candidate without such a degree may, at the discretion of the course coordinator, be admitted to the MA on the basis of their submitted portfolio or an extensive publishing history. Candidates may be called for an interview as part of the application process. Submit the following to: Stacy Hardy [email protected] A full curriculum vitae. A covering letter that includes a brief explanation of your reading and writing interests; details of your publishing history; a brief sketch of the project you would like to explore should you be accepted into the course; your personal challenges or obstacles to writing; any awards or accolades that you have received for your writing. A portfolio of writing comprising: at least fifty pages (1.5 spacing) of prose (fi

Tuition is charged per module, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Postgraduate applications are made online at www.wits.ac.za/applications; the closing date for each programme is listed in its course finder entry. The application fee is R200 (not payable by current Wits students applying online), paid via the Self-Service Portal or by EFT to the Wits University Application Fees account at FNB.

Apply through the official page: https://www.wits.ac.za/applications

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