Writing Poetry MA
Put poetry at the centre of your creative practice with our Writing Poetry MA.
You are currently viewing course information for entry year:
Start date(s):
- September 2025
Overview
Choose this master's in poetry to receive expert tuition from nationally and internationally renowned poets. They'll help develop your poetry-writing and reflective abilities through reading, discussion and revision. You'll progress to receive formal recognition for your work.
You can choose to study either in Newcastle or London. All classes are in the evening if studying at Newcastle and during the day in London. Newcastle University leads the North East cohort. The London course is run in collaboration with The Poetry School.
Important information
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Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
What you'll learn
By the end of this master's in poetry you'll have:
- advanced awareness of the processes of writing in your own work and that of others
- advanced your creative ability through practice, reading, discussion and revision
- learned new ways to generate work, and refine it through the development of enhanced revision skills
- a range of knowledge on the writing of poetry in English
- enhanced sensitivity to verbal creativity
- an advanced ability to understand and judge the timing and duration of creative projects
- the ability to revise and prepare poetry for submission and publication
- knowledge of the professional world of writing and publishing
Modules
You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.
Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
Optional modules availability
Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
The programme is available for study in part-time mode only, over two years.
Years One and Two
All candidates studying on the Newcastle campus will take each of the following modules over two years, 40 credits per year:
MA Writing Poetry: Workshop 1 NU (20 credits)
MA Writing Poetry: Workshop 2 NU (20 credits)
Craft: Poetry (20 credits)
MA Writing Poetry: Masterclass 2 NU (20 credits)
All candidates studying on the Poetry School site will take each of the following modules over two years, 40 credits per year:
Pattern, and Workshop 2 (20 credits)
The Line, and Workshop 1 (20 credits)
Metaphor, and Workshop 4 (20 credits)
Voice, and Workshop 3 (20 credits)
All candidates shall take two of the following optional modules, 20 credits per year:
MA Writing Poetry: Summer School 1 (20 credits)
MA Writing Poetry: Annual Submission 1 (20 credits)
MA Writing Poetry: Summer School 2 (20 credits)
MA Writing Poetry: Annual Submission 2 (20 credits)
Year Two
All candidates shall take the following compulsory module in their second year of study:
MA Writing Poetry: Portfolio (60 credits)
| Compulsory Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| MA Writing Poetry: Portfolio | 60 |
How you'll learn
Delivery
This course is typically delivered through workshops and masterclasses. Workshops focus on:
- reading
- discussion
- revision of your own work
Masterclasses focus on:
- the generation of new work and new understanding, often through responses to published contemporary poetry
- place
- archives
- un-poetic texts
- translation
- the visual arts
Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:
- Portfolio
Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:
- module handbooks
- course materials
- groups
- course announcements and notifications
- written feedback
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:
- peers
- academics
- personal tutors
- our University Student Services Team
- student representatives
You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.
This master's in poetry is rooted in the experience and expertise of our award-winning tutors:
- Glyn Maxwell (London)
- Tamar Yoseloff (London)
- Jacob Polley (Newcastle, Degree Programme Director)
- W N Herbert (Newcastle)
- Sinéad Morrissey (Newcastle)
- Tara Bergin (Newcastle)
Your future
Our Careers Service
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Quality and ranking
All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Facilities
Newcastle
The School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics is a lively and diverse community with over 700 undergraduates and 200 postgraduates. We are based in the Percy Building. Our purpose-built postgraduate suite includes:
- several dedicated computer clusters
- meeting rooms
- a kitchen and lounge area
Our award-winning Phillip Robinson Library has an extensive audio-visual collection.
The Newcastle Centre for Literary Arts (NCLA) is a world-class centre of excellence in the field of creative writing which contributes to the cultural life of the North East via:
- readings
- projects
- teaching
- research
The NCLA offers you the opportunity to get involved in our writing community through readings and events that feature:
- poets
- scriptwriters
- non-fiction writers
- novelists
Past speakers include:
- Paul Muldoon
- Claudia Rankine
- Carol Ann Duffy
- Carolyn Forché
- Jorie Graham
- Alice Oswald
These readings and events may be subject to COVID-19 restrictions.
London
You’ll study at the Poetry School based in Somerset House, Strand, London. The National Poetry Library British libraries and London's central cultural hubs are nearby.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)
As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.
Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.
EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.
If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.
Scholarships
We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information.
What you're paying for
Tuition fees include the costs of:
- matriculation
- registration
- tuition (or supervision)
- library access
- examination
- re-examination
- graduation
Find out more about:
If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.
You can check this in the How to apply section.
If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.
For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.
Search for funding
Find funding available for your course
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.
Qualifications from outside the UK
English Language requirements
Admissions policy
This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.
University Admissions Policy and related policies and procedures
Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course
How to apply
Using the application portal
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Get in touch
Questions about this course?
If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:
Scott Burdon
Education Administrator (PGT & PGR)
School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 6233
Email: pg.english@ncl.ac.uk
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