Creative Writing
PhD, MPhil
PhD study in the area of Creative Writing is offered by the School of English at Leicester and this means becoming part of an exciting and dynamic research and creative environment.
The PhD programme helps give structure to your creative project, and invites you to ask searching questions about your practice, to reflect on the process of producing creative work, and so to write a long critical-reflective essay (usually 15 to 20,000 words) to accompany the creative work. The creative body of work normally makes up 70% of the PhD, and the reflective thesis 30%.
At its broadest, the emphasis is on trying to comprehend the practice of creation itself - surely one of the most fascinating subjects imaginable. Creative Writing doctorates lead to a variety of potential career paths. These include novelist, poet, playwright or screenwriter, of course, but there are many related industries that Creative Writing research degree graduates nationally have gone on to work in, including (but not limited to):
- TV storyline writing
- Video game creation
- Journalism
- TV and film production
- Publishing
- Working as a literary agent
- Teaching or lecturing
- Working as a professional stand-up comedian
- Post-doctoral academic research
- Public relations
- Advertising and marketing
- Political research and speech writing
- Arts management
- Content provision
- Tweet writing
- Web editing
- Blogging
- Franchise creation
- Branding consultancy
- Literary and other arts events management
- Intellectual property advising
Please refer to the How to Apply section below before submitting an application.
Supervision and research areas
Supervision in Creative Writing can be found within our School of English
Interested in a different research area?
It is important that the area you want to work in is broadly compatible with our research interests - otherwise we may not be able to accept your application.
However, please do not feel we will not be interested if there is not an exact match. It is sometimes possible to be flexible, so please contact us.
Entry requirements
You should have a strong creative and academic track record - entry requirements are a UK undergraduate (Bachelor's) degree with at least First-Class or Upper Second-Class honours or an equivalent qualification from a recognised overseas institution and an MA or similar in Creative Writing and some prior publication history.
Otherwise, you should have compelling evidence of advanced writing experience, and an awareness of the technical and reflective elements of creative writing practice in an academic environment.
See academic entry requirements and the English language entry requirements.
How to apply
Make sure we offer PhD supervision in the area in which you want to work.
You might be interested in signing up for our 5 week online course Discovering Your PhD Potential: Writing a Research Proposal. The course is offered through FutureLearn where you can register your interest for the next available course.
Prepare your supporting documents - with your application you need to include proof that you meet the academic entry requirements and the English language entry requirements:
- Download and save the Research Proposal Form and prepare your proposal. Complete all sections using the guidance on the form. If your proposal is not submitted on the Proposal Form your application will not be considered.
- CV
- Personal statement explaining your interest in the research, your experience, why it is worth doing and why we should consider you.
- Copies of your Degree Certificates and Marks Transcripts of study already completed and if possible a transcript to-date of any study currently being undertaken.
- If your documents are not in English please include an official translation.
- Evidence of English language proficiency if applicable
- Enter contact details for two academic (not personal) referees who can comment on your suitability for the research degree programme in the space provided or upload letters of reference on signed headed paper if already available. Potential PhD supervisors cannot act as referees.
- In the funding section please state how you intend to fund your study
- In the proposal section please provide the name of the supervisors and project title
Submit your online application using the Apply button at the bottom of this page. Upload your supporting documents and your completed Research Proposal Form.
When to apply
We have intakes in January, April, July, and September each year.
You should try to submit your application as far in advance of your preferred start date as possible. If you are an international applicant and require a visa to study in the UK you should submit your application at least 5-6 months before the proposed start date.
After you have submitted your application, it will take a minimum of six weeks for you to receive a decision about your application.
Fees and funding
UK campus based
Full-time
- 2024/25 academic year: £4,786
- 2025/26 academic year: To be confirmed in early 2025
Part-time
- 2024/25 academic year: £2,393
- 2025/26 academic year: To be confirmed in early 2025
*UK fees will rise each year of study in line with UKRI rates.
International campus based
Full-time
- 2024/25 academic year: £17,550 - £19,700 per year
- 2025/26 academic year: £17,550 - £19,700 per year
*International fees for research degrees in this subject area vary according to the nature of the research project to be undertaken. The applicable fee will be determined at the point an offer of admission is made and will be stated in the offer letter. International fees are fixed for the duration of study.
Please note that owing to UK visa restrictions, part-time campus-based registration is not normally available to international applicants.
Duration of study
The maximum registration permitted is four years full-time or seven years part-time campus and part time distance learning.
The typical duration of a full time PhD is 3 - 3.5 years. PhD students may use the fourth year as a 'writing-up' year for which a reduced fee is payable if active research has been completed (currently £100).
Funding
For a list of our available scholarships/studentships, please visit our funded opportunities pages.
PhD description
PhD students complete an independent research project under the guidance of a supervisory team. The maximum period of registration permitted before thesis submission is 4 years full-time / 7 years part-time.
Active research (including all experimental work, laboratory work, field work, and data collection) will typically take 3 to 3.5 years full-time / 6 to 6.5 years part-time. On completion of active research students may request approval to register for a writing-up period of up to 12 months.
The period of active research and writing-up together must not exceed the maximum registration period.
The thesis should not normally exceed 80,000 words and must make an original contribution to knowledge and contain work of publishable quality. The thesis must then be defended in a viva voce (oral) examination before a degree can be awarded.
