Creative Writing, Ph.D. / M.Phil.

PhD- A Master's in Creative Writing is desirable, but we are flexible on this: a Master’s in some other subject, will also be satisfactory. We accord great weight to the quality of the writing sample you send us: a couple of chapters of a novel; a succinct collection of short stories or poems; scenes from a drama script. This portfolio may be sent by email attachment to the Research Director Dr Alan Bilton (a.j.bilton@swansea.ac.uk), before applying, if you would like to explore possibilities. In the case of British-based students, our conversation would include an informal interview. International applicants should have a minimum IELTS of 6.5 or equivalent.

If you hold a qualification from a non-UK institution please see our academic entry requirements for International qualifications (non-EU) and EU qualifications (non UK).  If English is not your first language you will need an acceptable pass in an approved English Language qualification to make sure you get the full benefit from studying at Swansea. We consider a wide range of qualifications, including the Swansea University English Test, the British Council IELTS test (with a score of at least 6.5 and 6.5 in each component). A full list of acceptable English Language tests can be found at: www.swansea.ac.uk/english-tests

Applicants to this programme would normally be expected to meet the minimum entry requirements indicated above. The College/School reserves the right to ask for higher academic grades and qualifications. Admissions decisions take into account not only prior academic qualifications, but also factors including the standard of the research synopsis/proposal submitted by the applicant, their performance at interview (if required), intensity of competition for limited places and relevant professional experience (where appropriate).

As well as academic qualifications, Admissions decisions may be based on other factors, including (but not limited to): the standard of the research synopsis/proposal, performance at interview, intensity of competition for limited places, and relevant professional experience.

Reference Requirement

As standard, two references are required before we can progress applications to the College/School research programme Admissions Tutor for consideration.

Applications received without two references attached are placed on hold, pending receipt of the outstanding reference(s). Please note that any protracted delay in receiving the outstanding reference(s) may result in the need to defer your application to a later potential start point/entry month, than what you initially listed as your preferred start option.

You may wish to consider contacting your referee(s) to assist in the process of obtaining the outstanding reference(s) or alternatively, hold submission of application until references are sourced. Please note that it is not the responsibility of the University Admissions Office to obtain missing reference(s) after our initial email is sent to your nominated referee(s), requesting a reference(s) on your behalf.

The reference can take the form of a letter on official headed paper, or via the University’s standard reference form. Click this link to download the university reference form.

Alternatively, referees can email a reference from their employment email account, please note that references received via private email accounts, (i.e. Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail) cannot be accepted.

References can be submitted to pgradmissions@swansea.ac.uk.

Writers of world class stature and experience will support your studies. Each research student in our closely bonded community is supervised by a specialist writer-teacher and supported by a second writer-supervisor. One-to-one meetings take place every three to four weeks, or at the student’s request, and there are monthly creative writing methodology workshops.

These workshops provide a valuable opportunity to give and receive constructive feedback on writing circulated before sessions.

We take care to ensure that each MPhil/PhD student has the expert supervision required to complete their project within the candidature period. You will have a minimum of two supervisors based in the Department. Upon receipt of your application, we will identify supervisors whose research expertise matches your chosen topic. 

You will usually meet your supervisors once a month, and possibly more often at critical stages of your candidature, including preparing for final submission. When you start the degree, you will work out a research plan with your supervisors.  Nine months into your candidature, you will present a first piece of substantial writing (e.g. draft thesis chapter) and a detailed thesis plan. Thereafter, the University will assess your progress every 6 months.  M.Phil students are eligible to apply for an upgrade to a Ph.D if they demonstrate the ability to perform at doctoral level

If you are a Welsh speaker our dedicated academy, Academi Hywel Teifi, is here to support you throughout your time at Swansea University. We offer you:

• An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
• The option to receive your personal correspondence in Welsh - we will then communicate with you in your language of choice.
• The option to write and submit your coursework or exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and every effort will be made to mark your work in its original language.
• A Welsh-speaking personal tutor.
• One-to-one support to improve your academic Welsh language skills.

Since 2011, there has been a 40% increase in the number of students studying through the medium of Welsh at Swansea University and our *TEF data over the last two years shows that Welsh-medium students are high achievers in regards to employability (*Swansea University TEF return 2017 and 2018).

Annual tuition fees for entry in the academic year 2020/21 are as follows:

Tuition fees for years of study after your first year are subject to an increase of 3%.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

Note: The UK/EU fee is indicative pending confirmation from UKRI

If your course starts in January, April or July 2020 please refer to the 2019/20 fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

International students and part-time study: It is now possible for some students to study part-time under the Tier 4 visa route. This is dependent on factors relating to the course and your individual situation. It may also be possible to study with us if you are already in the UK under a different visa category. Please visit the University information on Visas and Immigration for further guidance and support.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.

Government funding is now available for Welsh, English and EU students starting eligible postgraduate research programmes at Swansea University. To find out more, please visit our postgraduate loans page.

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but are not limited to):

• Parking and travel to and from campus
• Printing, photocopying, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
• Purchase of books or texts
• Printing and binding
• Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Apply online and track your application status at www.swansea.ac.uk/applyonline.

You may enrol in September, January, April or July.

The PhD in Creative Writing falls within the category of ‘Creative and Performing Arts’, which permits the thesis to take the form of a portfolio of original works, to be accompanied by a commentary, placing the portfolio in its intellectual context. The PhD in this area is understood to constitute research into a subject, research into a form, and research into the relation between them. This research discipline constitutes a practical, experimental and empirical mode of research, in which the creative work-in-progress is the central site of research, while the essay represents an analysis and elucidation  of and commentary on the choices made in that research.

The requirement is in two parts: a book-length creative work, and a critical essay.

The creative work may take the form of:

• a novel, or
• a collection of short fiction (which may be designed as a composite novel or may include or comprise work in the novella form), or
• an anthology of poetry, or
• a long poem, or
• a play for stage or radio (or both), or
• a work of creative non-fiction.

Length

• A work of prose fiction or creative non-fiction should be approximately 80,000-100,000 words in length.
• The critical essay should be around 20,000 words in length.
• An anthology of poems or a long poem should be up to 10,000 words in length  (i.e. roughly equivalent to a 50-poem collection).
• A work of drama should take the form of a fully-realised two-act play, suitable for production, each act designed to last about one hour.
• A feature length film script of 1 1/2 to 2 hours duration ( 90 - 120 pages), properly formatted. 

While the creative work is considered as the scholarly heart of the PhD, the critical essay should engage with the choices made in the creative work, addressing, for example: concept and process; drafts and revisions; questions of style (lexis, diction, voice or voices, setting, plot or fable, perspective or perspectives); theme; characterisation; the research undertaken for the book; historical and cultural context; where the work stands in relation to other works in the chosen genre and tradition; any other relevant issues.

The individual is not required to address all these issues in an equivalent way but to shape the essay in a fashion appropriate to the specific creative work. The essay demonstrates the candidate’s capacity to think critically about and comment on the processes involved in its conception, development and revision.

Submission of the thesis is followed by an oral examination of the thesis (viva) by two examiners who are not your supervisors, one of whom is external to the University.

The creative component of the degree should ultimately be of publishable standard. Our graduates have met with great publishing/ performing success. Our programme offers knowledge of and access to the publishing industry. We enjoy links with prestigious London agencies and national and international publishing houses. The publisher Parthian has its office is on our campus, and Swansea University is the host of the prestigious Dylan Thomas Prize for Literature.

Links with the performance industry are strong. Excerpts from postgraduate dramatic scripts are given professional performance at our annual Rough Diamonds theatre nights, and students enjoy visits to the BBC studios and from broadcasting and theatre professionals. Other intellectual and creative opportunities include regular postgraduate talks and discussions and the many readings and arts events (films, plays, concerts, exhibitions) available both on and off campus.

English Language and Creative Writing currently has 60 full- and part-time PhD, M.Phil and MA by Research students. PGR students are fully integrated into the research culture of the department, which was judged to be 7^th in the UK for research excellence in the 2014 REF. Postgraduates often join a research centre, such as the Centre for Research into Gender and Culture (GENCAS) or the Centre for Research into Welsh Writing in English (CREW), where they work alongside other students and staff in dedicated research rooms. Students are offered training in research-related administration (e.g. online funding applications) and editorial roles (e.g. reviews of new work for the CREW website).

Each English Literature and Creative Writing PGR student has two supervisors, with responsibility for pastoral as well as academic needs. The College of Arts and Humanities (COAH) has established a Graduate Centre, an International Office and an Academic Board (Research) to co-ordinate annual monitoring of students’ progress. In addition to the subject-specific provision described above, all students take an agreed number of COAH training workshops and give conference presentations. COAH provides dedicated PGR workstations, a common room, video conferencing facilities, funding towards research and conference expenses, and the services of the Research Project Officer to advise postgraduates on funding opportunities. The Graduate Centre also runs an annual interdisciplinary PGR conference, where presenters receive feedback from professorial staff, and in 2012-13 established an AHRC-funded Heritage Key Skills Programme of seminars offering intensive training in skills in demand in the heritage sector.

The University Skills Office, in the Academic and Professional Enhancement Centre, co-ordinates a skills development programme for all Swansea University research students: training is provided in advanced writing skills, research transferable skills, IT programmes, entrepreneurship and employability.