Master of Creative Writing – MCW

Advance straight from your bachelor’s degree

The Master of Creative Writing (MCW) is a 180-credit qualification that can follow on immediately from your bachelor’s degree in any subject.

Develop your creative process

Produce your own creative writing to challenge your innovative energies. Discover new ways to unlock ideas and connect with readers.

Gain writing experience

Work alongside award-winning authors to write your own novels, poems, short stories, plays, scripts, creative non-fiction and more.

Admission to Massey

All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.

• Massey University entry requirements

Specific requirements

This is a selected entry qualification. This means there are a number of extra requirements you must meet.

To enter the Master of Creative Writing you will:

• have been awarded or qualified for a bachelor’s degree with at least a B grade average across the 200 and 300-level specialisation courses, or
• have a bachelor’s with honours degree or a postgraduate diploma in arts in Creative Writing, Expressive Arts or English, with at least a B grade average for the qualification.

You will be selected into the qualification on the basis of a process which includes providing:

• a summary of your research interests: a brief (1 to 2 paragraphs) outline of your proposed MCW thesis, summarising your proposed creative project (about 70% of the thesis) and proposed critical project (about 30% of the thesis). Please indicate the genre in which you would like to write your creative thesis in this outline. Critical projects usually take the form of a literary essay, a craft essay, or an exegesis.
• a portfolio of your creative writing (please refer below).
• confirmation that your creative writing portfolio is your own personal work.
• a writing CV showing relevant publishing and professional experience (you may omit this if you have no relevant publishing and professional experience).
• a 1-paragraph personal statement explaining why you would like to study creative writing, and what has brought you to the point of applying for the MCW.

If you have a bachelor’s with honours degree or postgraduate diploma in arts in Creative Writing, Expressive Arts or English from Massey University as outlined above, you may apply for credit towards Part One of the qualification.

You will need to provide copies of all official academic transcripts for studies taken at all universities other than Massey University.

Application closing date

Applications close on 31 October for study commencing the following year.

English language requirements

To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.

• Massey University English language requirements

Portfolio of creative writing requirements

Your creative writing sample should be in the genre you wish to pursue in your thesis and limited to 4,000 words maximum for fiction, creative non-fiction, a theatre or film script, or a hybrid writing sample. For poetry, please submit a sample of up to 10 poems (about 10-15 pages). If you are unable to upload your portfolio, please upload confirmation that you are sending your portfolio in hard copy to:

Academic Support
Massey University
Private Bag 11-222
Palmerston North

Please enquire for any other questions on required supporting documents.

Time limits for Honours, Distinction and Merit

Where your qualification is completed within the stated time limit and to a high standard, you may be able to graduate with Distinction or Merit.

• Look for information under ‘Student Progression’ in the General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas and Postgraduate Certificates.
• Contact us through the Get advice button on this page if you have any questions.

Prior learning, credit and exemptions

For information on prior learning, exemptions and transfer of credit or other questions:

• review the Recognition of Prior Learning regulations
• contact us through the Get advice button on this page.

English language skills

If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.

Maximum time limits for completion

There are maximum time limits to complete postgraduate qualifications. If you do not complete within the maximum time, you may be required to re-apply if you wish to continue your studies.

The maximum time-frame for completion of this qualification is 5 years.