Creative Writing Low Residency MFA

Facts about Creative Writing Low Residency

Qualification	MFA
Duration	Full time: 2 year Part time: 4 years
Attendance	Attendance at both residency periods is required for full-time students. The first residency period is 7–14 September 2013 and the second residency period is 31 May–6 June 2014 for academic year 2012/13. Part-time students normally attend the September residency period in their first year and the June residency period in the second year. They are also encouraged to attend the two additional residencies.
Assessment	Continuous assessments in individual accredited modules plus assessment of final dissertation.
Course structure

Choose Kingston's Creative Writing Low Residency MFA

The Creative Writing Low Residency MFA at Kingston University provides the opportunity to work with a wide range of well-established and award-winning writers in the most dynamic writing environment in the UK without having to relocate or give up your current job.

Developed to complement the University's growing and acclaimed suite of courses in creative writing, the Low Residency gives you the option of completing the majority of your credits through distance learning while enjoying both accredited and non-accredited residency periods on campus, scheduled annually in mid-September and early June. All residency periods will combine writing workshops with critical reading seminars, masterclasses, guest readings, supervisions and visits to cultural events in London. Accommodation is located close to the University and arranged before arrival by the course team.

What will you study?

The Creative Writing Low Residency MFA follows the same general course structure as the successful and popular Creative Writing MFA.

Full-time students take two 30-credit modules in semester 1, combining the first residency module with a Writers' Workshop module. In semester 2, they will take two more 30-credit modules, this time following their choice of a Special Study workshop with their second residency module in June. During this time they will complete work on structure and style begun online during the semester, while participating in general workshops and reading sessions and tutorials with their assigned dissertation supervisor.

Students then complete a 15,000-word formatively assessed dissertation across the summer leading to the 3rd residency module, which is non-accredited and optional. They will begin to plan their 15,000-word dissertations as part of the first June residency and will receive one-to-one supervision as they work towards their September completion date. They will then be required to write a 40,000-word 120-credit advanced dissertation project to be finished in one year by full time students and two years by part time students. Supervisors for the 40,000-word dissertation will be assigned in at the time of the third residency period, with those students choosing to attend this residency given the opportunity of one-to-one tutorials with their supervisors.

Instruction during all of the residency periods will combine small group workshops and reading classes along with readings by colleagues, writers-in-residence, students and guests. Modules delivered by distance learning will be organised normally to achieve staff student ratios of 8:1 and will include individual tutorials as well as peer group discussion seminars and workshops. Students will be able to access supporting materials, including streamed lectures and readings held at or sponsored by the University.