PhD in Creative Writing PhD

Tuition is £23,390 (full-time) / £11,695 (part-time). Applications close 1 June.

A creative document of between 80,000 and 100,000 words, such as a novel, a collection of short stories, a poetry volume or a script, forms the core of the PhD. You will develop this alongside a critical thesis that situates your work in literary contexts and demonstrates rigorous analytical thinking. The programme is practice-based, allowing you to work under the guidance of published writers and scholars within an interdisciplinary Film and Creative Writing department.

Graduates go on to publish their creative work, secure literary agents, or pursue academic positions as lecturers and researchers. The combination of a publishable creative output and a scholarly argument prepares you for roles in publishing houses, literary festivals, and higher-education teaching.

You will produce a work of publishable quality.

The University of Birmingham, chartered in 1900, is a large, research-intensive redbrick university located in Edgbaston. It offers a broad spectrum of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and has a reputation for multidisciplinary research, substantial campus investment and strong academic staffing. With more than 34,000 students, including a sizeable international community, Birmingham combines historic strengths with modern facilities and a global outlook.

Research and teaching span the arts, sciences, engineering, medicine and social sciences, supported by major investments in campus infrastructure and academic appointments. The university promotes interdisciplinary collaboration through flagship fellowships and research initiatives, and many courses provide opportunities for placements, industry engagement and overseas study on its international campuses. Student support services include extensive academic development, career services and wellbeing provision tailored to an international cohort.

Life at Birmingham blends a vibrant campus with access to the city's cultural and professional resources, enabling students to pursue extracurricular activities, volunteering and professional networking. The institution’s global partnerships and growing research profile open doors for international collaborations and career pathways. Prospective international applicants should carefully check entry requirements, funding and application deadlines and contact the university’s international office for guidance on visas, scholarships and arrival planning.