Creative Writing

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.

Overview

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 relation to contemporary theoretical and philosophical debates on the genre of the work, and the themes and concerns it addresses.

The qualification is awarded on the basis of the quality of both the creative work and the research/reflective essay.

Students are assigned to a supervisor by the course coordinator and are required to attend fortnightly in-person writing seminars on the Wits Braamfontein campus.

Curriculum

  • 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 campus, complete a proposal by mid-year, and show significant progress on their creative project by the end of the first year of study.

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 stacy.hardy@wits.ac.za 

  • 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 (fiction or nonfiction), if you intend to write a novel, collection of short fiction, or a memoir or work of creative nonfiction;
    • or at least twenty-five poems or twenty-five pages of poetry, if you intend to write a poetry manuscript;
    • or, if you intend to write a play for the MA, a full-length play manuscript.
  • You may include examples of your published work, but at least half of the writing submitted should be unpublished. Academic papers, journalism and press releases will not be accepted as part of the portfolio.

Course Application Process

Should you be accepted into the programme, you will be notified to complete your registration and submit a University application. This is only a formality and, once completed, we will accept your application and you will officially be admitted.

  • Applications are handled centrally by the Student Enrolment Centre (SEnC).
  • Click here to see an overview of the Wits applications process.
  • Please apply online.
  • Upload the supporting documents required by the University at the time of application, or via the Self Service Portal.
  • Applicants can monitor the progress of their application via the Self Service Portal.

International students, please check this section.

For more information, contact the Student Call Centre +27 (0)11 717 1888, or log a query at www.wits.ac.za/askwits.

University Fees and Funding

Click here to see the current average tuition fees. The Fees site also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal.

For information about postgraduate funding opportunities, including the postgraduate merit award, click here. Please also check your School website for bursary opportunities. NRF bursaries: The National Research Foundation (NRF) offers a wide range of opportunities in terms of bursaries and fellowships to students pursuing postgraduate studies. External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.