AUT - Master of Creative Writing
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Master of Creative Writing
Programme code: AK1303
Level: 9
Points: 120
Duration: One year full time
Venue: Centre for Creative Writing, City Campus
Starting date: 27 February 2012
Application deadline: AUT encourages early application. Closed when full.
Enquiries to:
Helen Xue, Programme Administrator, School of Languages and Social Sciences helen.xue@aut.ac.nz
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
- Guidelines to entry
- Portfolio of creative work
- Interview may be required
To be considered for entry, you must have a three year bachelor’s degree, plus one year of additional study (or equivalent)*. As an applicant you are also required to submit an entry portfolio and produce a proposal for the creative work you will be developing throughout the year. The guideline is 20 pages of original work for the page, screen or multimedia, to be sent to: Dr Paul Mountfort, Chair, Centre for Creative Writing pmountfo@aut.ac.nz
This portfolio will be reviewed by the chair and the centre’s creative writing tutors. Successful candidates will have a mentor appointed through discussion with the chair to supervise the development of their creative work.
(*The “or equivalent” clause can be satisfied by creative-industry based experience or on a case by case basis a sufficient body of previous creative work. Applicants who do not meet the academic entry requirements are encouraged to contact Helen Xue to discuss alternative entry to the programme of study where professional creative writing experience may be considered as an entry pathway.)
WHAT THIS PROGRAMME COVERS
This postgraduate degree is a one year full time research degree providing candidates with the opportunity to work on a project of your own choice under mentorship by an established creative writing practitioner.
The aim of the degree is to provide a supportive, dynamic environment where candidates can develop creative works in a variety of genres and media. Emphasis is on narrative, although by negotiation with the Chair and mentor(s), candidates may perform in a variety of written genres as well as multi-media works, such as screenplays, storyboards, graphic novels and web-based creative.
Class size is limited to around 14 students.
Masterclasses
These two-hour workshop/seminars are held weekly during the teaching semester, onsite at the Centre for Creative Writing (4th Floor, Duthie-Whyte Building, corner Wakefield Street and Mayoral Drive).
Our leading creative writing tutors take candidates through key stages of a creative production - developing a concept, hooking an audience in, and submitting a manuscript or similar project for publication.
Mentoring
Successful applicants to the programme will be assigned a mentor – in rare cases, two – to provide expert feedback and support on their project as it develops. In many cases these mentors are the centre’s key tutors, but where appropriate the chair will liaise with outside parties to secure for candidates their preferred mentor(s).
Blogging
An innovative part of the AUT MCW is that blogging is used as a medium for the crucial “peer review” feedback component of the course. This allows candidates to compose their responses to their peers' work and post useful links and other resources. The blog is moderated by the centre chair, and tutors provide follow-through from this during the masterclasses with group discussion.
Portfolio
Your submitted work for the MCW will consist of a (approx.) 40,000-60,000 word portfolio of creative work and a (approx.) 5000 word exegesis explain and critically reflecting upon it. The primary emphasis of the programme is on narrative, but, by negotiation with the chair and mentor/s, candidates may perform in a variety of written genres as well as multi-media works, such as screenplays, storyboards, graphic novels and web-based creative productions.Note: in the cases of some genres, such as poetry or graphic novels, the word limit requirements are reduced because of the compressed nature of the medium concerned.
ASSESSMENT
Assessment is by at least two examiners, one internal and another external to the University.
COURSE FEES
2010 course fees for domestic students are approximately $6000.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
- Communication
- Creative industries
- Media and new media
- Professional writing
- Publishing