Course summary
A specialist creative writing MA for writers for children and young adults, taught by published authors.
- Taught by published children’s and young adult authors with a wealth of industry experience.
- Small-group workshops and one-to-one tutorials lie at the heart of this course.
- Over 70 alumni are now traditionally published authors.
Modules
Trimester one The first Context module explores the main categories of books published for children and young people, with a focus on reading as a writer and on understanding your audience at the different stages of childhood and adolescence. We consider a wide range of texts from picture books and chapter books to middle grade and young adult novels; verse novels and some narrative non-fiction are also included. The first Writing Workshop module is an opportunity to explore various aspects of the craft of writing for children and young people. This module focuses on experimentation, trying new things and developing your range, working with your tutor and your peers to test and try out your own ideas. Trimester two The second Writing Workshop module enables you to continue to experiment and to develop your skills as a writer, and to start to focus more on your final manuscript project. The second Context module considers the realities of the children’s publishing industry, publishing as a business and the practicalities involved in turning a manuscript into a book. In addition to looking at the work of agents, editors, sales teams, rights professionals, marketing teams and publicists, you'll develop the professional skills all working authors need to position and promote their own work. Trimester three The Manuscript module involves working on a one to one basis with a tutor to develop, draft, edit and revise your major project – part of a full-length novel, or a collection of pieces.
Assessment method
You'll be assessed through a range of tasks, including creative portfolios, samples of work-in-progress, reflective commentaries, a selection of publishing-focused pieces, and your manuscript submissions – this might be a portion of a novel, or a selection of picture/chapter books or other short works.
Entry requirements
Most applicants will have an undergraduate degree however we're willing to look at applications from those with non-traditional academic or work backgrounds who meet the criteria summarised above. It's not necessary to have a degree in English, Creative Writing or related disciplines; your engagement with children’s and Young Adult literature as a reader and writer is more important than the field of previous study.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £4528 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £4528 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £4528 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £4528 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £4528 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £4528 | Year 1 |
| EU | £8883 | Year 1 |
| International | £8883 | Year 1 |
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Provider information
Bath Spa University
Newton Park
Newton St Loe
Bath
BA2 9BN