Study Creative Writing at PhD level at UCC

Creative Writing at University College Cork is a vibrant community of students, academics and practitioners. All lecturers on the course are actively publishing in a range of fields, from fiction to creative non-fiction to poetry. We also regularly host talks by novelists, poets, and scholars, in addition to masterclasses with leaders in publishing and creative practice.

UCC’s structured PhD is comprised of a programme of supportive and developmental elements, with a stated minimum level of 15 credits of coursework and training. All students will be supervised by a team comprising of a lead supervisor and a co-supervisor or a PhD advisor. Candidates will pursue a course of personal and professional development as prescribed by their supervisors.

About the PhD

The PhD in Creative Writing is based on a programme of study, creative practice and research, the focus of which is the writing of a substantial dissertation. Creative Writing PhDs should be between 40,000-120,000 words (40,000-80,000 for poetry, 80,000-120,000 for prose). For poetry the creative component can also be measured by pages – in this case the creative component should be 60-100 pages long.

Each PhD must comprise a creative and a critical element. While strict guidelines around the extent of each element can change depending on the specific needs of each project, it will be expected that theses will give roughly 10,000-30,000 words to the critical element. 

The form to be taken by each element is at the discretion of the student in discussion with their supervisory team, though the student’s decisions should be justified in the thesis and defendable at viva. All PhDs will be assessed by a panel of qualified examiners who will first read the full thesis, and then conduct the viva, or oral exam.

Duration

The minimum duration of a PhD course is 3 years full-time, or 6 years part-time. The maximum duration of a PhD course is 6 years (whether full-time or part-time).

Eligibility

To be eligible for the PhD in Creative Writing, a candidate must normally have obtained a standard of at least Second Class Honours, Grade I, in a relevant Masters degree such as Creative Writing or English Literature, and/or be able to demonstrate a substantial track record in creative writing and publishing.

Fees & funding

Information on fees for the PhD in Creative Writing is available from the Fees Office (under PhD Arts). Funding for Creative Writing PhDs can be applied for through the Research Ireland Postgraduate Scholarships and the CACSSS PhD Excellence Scholarships, and we have a strong track record of supporting researchers in securing funding. 

How to apply

Students apply through UCC's application system.

Applications are accepted throughout the year. Prospective students are advised to complete their applications at least two months in advance of their desired start date, as applications must go through different stages of approval. The four start dates during the year are: January, April, July, and September/October.

Before making an application, candidates are advised to contact one of our staff with expertise in their proposed area of research who may be willing to act as their supervisor. Please note that we can only give consideration to applications that can be matched to one of our areas of expertise. For information on staff and their research interests, see the profiles of our full-time faculty.

Prospective PhD students will typically need to submit a 2-3 page proposal, a CV, and academic transcripts as part of their application. Candidates may also be asked by the potential supervisor to fill in a PhD proposal form.

Candidates may also approach the Director of Creative Writing, Dr Kerri Andrews (kandrews@ucc.ie) with general queries. 

Further information

• Graduate Office
• International Office
• Graduate School of the College of Arts, Celtic Studies & Social Sciences