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  • About
    • The Centre
    • The Blackbird
    • The Heaney Community
    • Literary Belfast
  • Our People
    • The SHC Fellows
    • Ciaran Carson & Publishing Fellows
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    • Children's Writing Fellow
    • Visiting International Poetry Fellows
    • Ireland Chair of Poetry
  • Study
    • The Poetry Summer School
    • Student Showcases and Opportunities
    • Future Screens
    • Writing Groups
    • New Students...
    • SHC X Fighting Words
  • First Collection Poetry Prize
    • Poetry Prize 2021
    • Poetry Prize 2020
    • Poetry Prize 2022
  • Resources
    • The SHC Podcast
    • SHC Publications
    • Criticism & Ideas on Writing
    • Films & Virtual Events
    • Writers' Interviews
    • Tiny Masterclasses
  • News
  • Events
    • SHC Presents...
    • Ekphrasis: Writing & Art
    • The Book Club Series
    • Conferences
    • International Poets' Series
    • Masterclasses
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Study

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MA in Creative Writing
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MA in Poetry

As a student within the centre you can choose to follow either a critical or a creative pathway, or a combination of the two. 

Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney was both a student and lecturer here in Queen's University, and other famous poet-alumni of the university include Ciaran Carson, Paul Muldoon and Medbh McGuckian.

Heaney was a founding member of the famous ‘Belfast Group’ in the 1960s: a forum in which young poets came together with critics to discuss their work and the craft of good poetry more generally. The fruitful interaction of creative and critical activity is at the heart of what the centre offers students.

The centre strives to be a home for generations of new writers, and a place where writing lives, for decades to come. 

Programmes of Study 

  • MA English - Creative Writing

    The MA in Creative Writing focuses on prose fiction and scriptwriting. It encourages students to develop as independent writers and self-reflect. It provides a broad understanding of the literary marketplace and the commercial aspects of literary production.

    Creative Writing students are taught by experienced novelists, playwrights and screenwriters, attend workshops with visiting authors, publishers, editors and agents, and have a number of opportunities to present their work.

    Example modules:

    • Creative Writing: Craft and Technique (Prose or Scriptwriting)
    • Dissertation: Creative Writing
    • Creative Writing Workshops
    • From Page to Stage
    • Life Writing
    • Scriptwriting: Creative Writing
    • Fiction: Creative Writing Work

    Find out more and apply


  • MA in Poetry: Creativity and Criticism

    Poetry is an art that brings together creative and critical thought. This programme combines these two strands into one, making it suitable for poets and critics alike.

    Students are taught in an environment with a reputation for writing and critical appreciation of poetry from Ireland, Britain and the United States and benefit from the literary activities and resources of the Seamus Heaney Centre.

    Students have the opportunity to present their work to the public, through readings and journals produced at the Seamus Heaney Centre and are encouraged to take internship positions in the local literary landscape.

    Example modules:

    • Reading and Writing Poetry
    • Structure and Serendipity
    • The Poetry Collection
    • Irish Poetry
    • American Poetry from Dickinson to Today
    • Poetry: Creative Writing Works
    • Special Topic Creative Writing

    Find out more


  • PhD in Creative Writing

    The PhD in Creative Writing involves both an extended piece of creative work and a related critical component. To apply for a PhD in Creative Writing you must have already completed an MA in Creative Writing in the same genre. Students with a Distinction at MA level will be given preference.

    The School of Arts, English and Languages at Queen’s remains one of a handful of institutions which offer a PhD in Creative Writing. A former graduate of the MA in Creative Writing, Emily Dedakis, was the first student in Ireland to attain a PhD in Creative Writing and places are currently available for students wishing to study poetry, prose, or scriptwriting at doctoral level.

    Contact Linda for more information on how to apply, l.drain@qub.ac.uk.

    Previous PhD alumni include:

    • Emily DeDakis
    • Paul Maddern
    • Sheila Llewellyn

    Find out more


  • Scholarships and Bursaries

    MA in Poetry Scholarships

    £10,000 Seamus Heaney International Poetry Scholarship* (available to an international student)
    The Michael Longley Scholarships: Two scholarships of £7,500 (available to two students annually)

    For further information visit the Funding pages of the School of Arts, English and Languages 
    or contact ael-pg@qub.ac.uk

    *Awarded as part of the Seamus Heaney Legacy, a joint ten-year project between the University and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, supported by the Atlantic Philanthropies.

    MA in Creative Writing Scholarships

    Villanova Scholarship (£5,000 against fees)
    This is available to any graduating student from Villanova University, Pennsylvania.

    To be eligible for the Scholarship an applicant must:

    • be a graduating student from Villanova University, Pennsylvania.

    Process for Selection:

    • Applicants should apply as normal to the MA.
    • You shouls submit a cover letter stating their course at Villanova and datesof study. 
    • The selection panel will be made up of the convenor the creative writing MA plus two other members of academic staff.
    • The closing date for applications to the scholarship is 31stAugust 2022
     
    Creative Writing Scholarship (£5,000 against fees)
    This is available to a student from Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland taking up a place on the MA in Creative Writing at Queen’s University Belfast.Preference will be given to students who can demonstrate financial need, by meeting the criteria below.

    To be eligible for the Scholarship an applicant must:

    • be resident No Northern Ireland or the republic of Ireland and qualify for fees at ‘Home Student’ status;
    • have been accepted on to the MA in Creative Writing (Full time) in the School of AEL.
    • Preference will be given to students who can provide evidence of financial need. This could include:
    • As an undergraduate student you were/are in receipt of a maintenance grant, a special support grant or a means tested bursary.
    • You are in receipt of a means tested benefit such as Housing Benefit or Universal Credit.
    • You were in the care of a Health and Social Care Trust or Local Authority for three months or more from the age of 14 years.

    Process for Selection:

    • Applicants should apply as normal to the MA.
    • All those selected will be notified of the scholarship and the eligibility criteria, and invited to submit a cover letter stating how they meet the eligibility criteria.
    • The selection panel will be made up of the convenor the creative writing MA plus two other members of academic staff.
    • The closing date for applications to the scholarship is 31stAugust 2022

    Queries about these scholarships can be directed to the MA convenor, Sam Thompson: sam.thompson@qub.ac.uk

     

Course Conveners

MA in Poetry
Professor Fran Brearton

Professor (English)

SAEL
Email: f.brearton@qub.ac.uk

 

MA Creative Writing
Dr Sam Thompson

Lecturer (Creative Writing)

SAEL
Email: sam.thompson@qub.ac.uk

 

 

Other Learning Programmes

SUMMER SCHOOL
The Poetry Summer School

20-24 JUNE 2022

Led by Professor Nick Laird, the Seamus Heaney Centre’s Poetry Summer School is an annual intensive week of creative development for emerging poets, with seminars, workshops and one-to-one tutorials, alongside a programme of readings and other evening events. We are back to an in-person summer school this year. 

Find out more


WRITING THROUGH CONFLICT
Spring Break Programme

In March 2019, the Seamus Heaney Centre hosted a group of students from Villanova University Pennsylvania for a week-long intensive writing programme. Their tutors were stage and screenwriters, novellists, and poets from the Heaney Centre. Alongside this was a full programme of social and networking opportunities to introduce students to the city and its writers. 


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