Creative Writing PhD

Our Creative Writing programme has a long and distinguished history which dates back to 1970, meaning that, in the UK, we were there at the very beginning of the discipline. And we remain at the fore with prize-winning authors as tutors, and students who go on to publish their work both while with us and after.

Why Lancaster?

• Develop your own writing with one-to-one tutorial support from our many celebrated author-tutors.

• Study online or join us on campus to be close to the Lake District, home of the Romantic poets, and inspiration for many writers since
• Study on campus in the University Library’s bespoke Postgraduate Study Space

• Benefit from our rich programme of literary events on campus, online, and in the city’s historic Castle Quarter

• Make the most of our partnership with The Wordsworth Trust in Grasmere and Lancaster’s city-wonderful based LitFest

Your project

Typically, we would expect a critical writing piece around 20,000 words long and a creative writing piece of around 60-80,000 words. You can work in a traditional form such as poetry, fiction, drama, and memoir and/or a newer form such as fantasy, game writing, young adult fiction, and the graphic novel. These, though, are just examples; we’re happy to discuss other forms and projects with you. You can find more guidance on your application.

Supervision

Finding the right supervisor is key to your success. We would, therefore, recommend that you already have one in mind and contact them before submitting your application.

Before formally applying, we would encourage you to learn more about our many areas of research interests, and get in touch us with by email.

Campus and/or online

Our pioneering virtual learning and research facilities mean you can study from anywhere in the world. Our campus students enjoy a lively programme of Department events, and both distance and campus students meet in regular Work in Progress sessions.

If you haven’t studied a Master’s in Creative Writing at Lancaster, you’ll be able to take our Creative Writing module, Research Methods and Professional Practice. You can take this module in person or online.

Events and Support

• We have rich literary connections with the city and nearby Lake District. Many of our special literary events, such as talks from visiting scholars and authors, take place in The Storey, Lancaster’s Victorian Art Centre or at Lancaster’s spectacular medieval Castle.

• The archive-rich Wordsworth Museum at Grasmere is usually the venue for our annual study retreat day, and the Department’s May Gathering, a social event, is usually held at Lancaster’s ancient Priory, as is our annual October Lecture.

• We seek, when possible, to offer students the opportunity to undertake limited, but paid, undergraduate teaching at some point during their programme of study.