masters in creative writing new zealand

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Creative Writing

You can take undergraduate courses in creative writing or enrol in the Master of Creative Writing programme.

Subject overview

You can take undergraduate courses in creative writing as part of English , or you can complete your large-scale creative writing project in our Master of Creative Writing programme.

In addition to their classes, our creative writing students enjoy numerous opportunities to engage with Auckland’s vibrant cultural scene, working at the Auckland Writers Festival and on projects for the New Zealand Society of Authors and New Zealand Book Council.

Undergraduate creative writing was first taught at the University of Auckland by C.K. Stead in the 1980s, and our Master of Creative Writing programme was set up in the 1990s by Albert Wendt and Witi Ihimaera.

Where can Creative Writing take you?

A background in Creative Writing can open up opportunities in a broad range of careers, including copywriting, journalism, marketing and public relations, and many more.

Career options with an Arts degree

Explore your study options in Creative Writing

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Master of Writing

UC's Master of Writing (MWrit) is a coursework-based degree that enables you to specialise and deepen your expertise in professional, academic, creative, or technical writing. Learn more about studying an MWrit through our Te Kaupeka Toi Tangata | Faculty of Arts.

TUITION FEES

2024 tuition fees estimate per 180 points:

• Domestic — $12,276
• International — $46,350

Introduction

For anyone with an interest in professional, academic, creative, and technical writing, this coursework-based Master’s degree allows you to specialise and deepen your expertise.

You will apply skills of advanced textual analysis and written communication to a wide range of contexts, audiences, and styles, and also connect your studies to the community and the workplace. By bringing together a diverse range of writing modes, graduates of the Master of Writing degree will be set up for diverse careers, from creative industries to business and government.

Students of this highly versatile degree will study, produce, and be assessed on their professional, technical, and fiction and non-fiction writing.

What will my study involve? keyboard_arrow_down

Why study a master of writing at uc.

• One year, taught master’s degree.
• Graduates who are confident and competent in many different written communication styles will stand out in a competitive job market.

Entry requirements keyboard_arrow_down

Entry requirements.

You should have achieved at least a B Grade Point Average in 300-level courses in your undergraduate degree, which should have also had a strong written component.

If English is your additional language, you will also need to provide evidence of your English language ability as IELTS (Academic) 6.5, with no individual score below 6.5. Preference will be given to those with a score of 7 or over.

For the full entry requirements, see the Regulations for the Master of Writing or use the admission requirements checker .

How to apply

You can enrol online at myUC .

See Admission and enrolment for all information on enrolling at UC.

Subjects and courses keyboard_arrow_down

Subjects and courses.

MWRIT requires 180 points of coursework, with two compulsory courses:

• WRIT401 Advanced Reading and Writing
• WRIT680 Extended Writing Project

And a choice of:

• WRIT402 Writing for Community Change and/or WRIT403 Creative Writing , and
• 30 points (or 60 if only doing one of WRIT402 or WRIT403) from 400 or 600-level English courses , or another subject approved by the Head of Department

Further study keyboard_arrow_down

Further study.

You can choose to go on to a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in English.

Careers keyboard_arrow_down

Career opportunities.

Graduates of this applied Master’s degree will be able to:

• apply advanced skills in writing to a range of professional, technical, organisational, community, and creative contexts;
• write effectively within a range of registers and genres, and for a range of purposes;
• respond to the requirements of different audiences and media;
• engage the creative dimensions of professional writing and the professional dimensions of creative writing;
• undertake research relevant to their writing tasks;
• analyse critically the writing of others and apply what they discover to their own writing;
• provide editorial advice for other writers;
• understand and articulate the implications of being a writer in Aotearoa New Zealand/Niu Sila, especially in regard to te ao me te reo Māori, and the Pasifika philosophy of teu le va.

Useful information:

• Read what other UC postgraduate students have gone on to achieve in their studies and careers in our student stories .
• Te Rōpū Rapuara | UC Careers can help you to achieve the career you want, connect with employers, or find a job.
• For research into career destinations by qualification, visit Te Pōkai Tara | Universities New Zealand website .
• Find out more about what can you do with a degree from UC .
• Come along to an upcoming information event for prospective postgraduate students.

Fees keyboard_arrow_down

2024 tuition fees estimate (per 180 points):

2023 tuition fees estimate (per 180 points):

• Domestic — $11,942
• International — $43,500

SSL estimate (per 180 points):

• 2024 — $1375.50 (capped at 150 points per academic year)
• 2023 — $1240.50 (capped at 150 points per academic year)

Domestic tuition fees

International tuition fees

Student Services Levy (SSL)

Funding your study

Degree structure keyboard_arrow_down

How do i plan my degree.

Within the MWRIT you will complete 180 points of coursework, including one 60-point project.

This can be completed in 1 year or up to 18 months of full-time study, or up to 3 years part-time.

For full requirements, see the Regulations for the Master of Writing .

Postgraduate Prospectus 2024

Whakatairanga tāura.

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International Institute of Modern Letters Te Pūtahi Tuhi Auaha o Te Ao

The International Institute of Modern Letters (IIML) hosts Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington's Creative Writing programme, offering both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. We are part of the Wellington Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University.

Application deadlines

We have specific application deadlines for undergraduate workshops in each trimester, and for our MA and PhD programmes.

Emerging Pasifika Writing Residency 2024

Applications for our three-month Emerging Pasifika Writer in Residence position are open until 31 May.

The residency is supported by Creative New Zealand and will be based at the IIML in the second half of 2024.

Undergraduate courses

Discover your individual voice and develop your imaginative capacity within a lively community of writers.

Master of Arts in Creative Writing

Join the Creative Writing programme with a national and international reputation for developing many of New Zealand's best writers.

PhD in Creative Writing

Our PhD programme is designed for those who wish to write creatively and think in focussed and original ways about the critical contexts of their writing.

Sue Orr—Short and Long-form Fiction workshops convenor

'A fine short story describes an entire universe in just a few words. We explore the craft and magic of this enigmatic genre in lively, supportive workshops.'

Amy Brown—MA graduate

Amy's highly-anticipated first novel will be published by Simon and Schuster early this year.

Abby Letteri—PhD candidate

'We overlay our human stories onto the creatures we interact with, a tendency which is both primary and profound.'

Upcoming and current events

Latest news.

Master of Creative Writing

This course is available

Level of Study

Master's Degree

Next start date

The Master of Creative Writing is the centrepiece of the AUT Centre for Creative Writing. As a Master of Creative Writing candidate, you take part in master classes led by our experienced mentors, who are among the most accomplished writers and creative writing tutors in the country. Peer feedback and networking with industry bodies (including publishers, writers societies and the film industry), are key components of the programme. We also follow up with regular alumni meetings, and staff and alumni have gone on to collaborate on successful publishing initiatives.

The Master of Creative Writing (for scriptwriters) offers dedicated master classes and industry-style script development pods for writers who want to bring their ideas to the screen.

As well as literary fiction, we encourage high-quality work in popular genres such as young adult fiction, travel writing, biography, screenplays, graphic novels, children’s stories, narrative journalism and creative non-fiction. Poetry and experimental image/text work are also covered.

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.

Career opportunities

• Creative industries
• Media and new media
• Professional writing

Entry criteria

One of the following:

• Four-year bachelor’s degree
• Bachelor’s degree with honours
• Bachelor’s degree and one year of advanced study
• Special admission (bachelor’s degree and creative work equivalent to one year of advanced study)
• Exceptional admission (for established practitioners with a substantial body of creative work)

Other requirements

• Portfolio of creative writing (20 pages of original work for the page, screen or multimedia)
• May be required to submit evidence of ability to study at postgraduate level, and attend a selection interview

IELTS (Academic) 7.0 overall with 7.0 in Writing and Speaking and all other bands 6.5 or higher; or equivalent; TOEFL iBT score of 100; GIE with A grade; CAE minimum overall score of 185; PTE minimum overall score of 65.

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Master of Professional Writing

The only one of its kind in New Zealand, Waikato’s Master of Professional Writing offers a research-led, strongly practice-based qualification in professional and creative writing.

180 points, 1.5 years

School of Arts

Trimester A (March) and Trimester B (July)

Why study a MPW?

The Master of Professional Writing (MPW) involves taking a core paper, designed specifically to enhance your workplace readiness, as well as elective papers which range across a variety of fields from creative writing to writing for promotional purposes and advertising, for digital media and for scholarly and professional publication.

If creative writing is your passion, then you will have the opportunity to specialise in this. The Creative Writing Thesis gives selected students the option of producing a manuscript of publishable quality – whether poetry, fiction or creative nonfiction – in a stimulating and supportive workshop environment of fellow writers, and supervised by award-winning authors. The selection of students for the Creative Writing Thesis is by assessment of a portfolio of poetry and prose, and a manuscript proposal outlining the creative project.

When studying towards the MPW you will be able to include a professional writing internship and be offered an on-campus writing mentor, who will provide professional advice and direct you towards writing opportunities.

Industry Connections

The staff contributing to the Professional Writing programme have long-standing relationships with the broader writing community at a number of levels:

• They have established senior profiles as publishers of creative and scholarly writing, as editors of literary and scholarly materials, and as peer reviewers for local and international journals.
• The creative writing staff have won significant local and international prizes for short fiction, poetry and creative non-fiction.
• They publish across a wide range of academic and popular media, including reviews, opinion columns, feature articles, works of scholarly reference, book chapters, scholarly articles, researched scholarly editions, and researched books.
• They are called on to judge local and international literary prizes and to assess applications for substantial public and private funding for literary grants, including the annual University of Waikato Writers’ Residency (co-funded by Creative New Zealand) and the Sargeson Grimshaw Writing Fellowship.
• Contributing staff in Screen and Media maintain international networks in scriptwriting and script development.
• Staff maintain professional links with local and international organisations who coordinate, sponsor and enhance the interests of professional writing in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Career Opportunities

MPW graduates will have excellent transferable skills in devising, producing and editing text. If you include a formal internship in your programme of study or take up the option of informal professional mentoring, you will make connections in the professional writing community, and enhance your CV with relevant work experience.

Potential careers include editing, long-form researched journalism, policy analysis and policy writing, report writing, script writing, speech writing, teaching, website content editing, writing for digital and broadcast media, writing for stage and screen, writing for travel and tourism and writing for public relations and marketing.

Potential employers include biotechnology industries; cultural sector/arts organisations; energy provision sector; higher education sector; libraries and archives; local and district councils; manufacturing and technology; national government, NGOs; non-profit and philanthropic sector; primary industries; print and digital news media; publishing industry; telecommunications; theatre, film and broadcast media production houses; transport, tourism and travel.

Degree information

Choose a subject

Browse available subjects and choose one for more information.

Browse available subjects and choose one for more information

To be eligible to be considered for enrolment in the MPW, a student must have completed either:

a) a bachelors degree (or equivalent) with at least a B grade average across the 300 level papers, or

b) a bachelors degree with Honours (or equivalent) with at least second class honours (second division).

Students must complete 180 points from approved 500 level papers, and either a 120 point thesis, a 90 point thesis, a 60 point dissertation, or a 30 point dissertation.

Candidates for the Creative Writing thesis are selected on the basis of assessment of a portfolio of work.

For the latest information about admission requirements please refer to the  catalogue of papers . If you have any questions and need more advice contact one of our friendly student advisors phone: 0800 800 145  or  +64 7 838 4080 or email:  [email protected]

MPW Degree Regulations

Estimated fees

$7,626 - $9,137 per year

Scholarships

Visit our Scholarship finder for more information about possible scholarships.

Domestic tuition fees

Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for domestic students enrolled in one year of full-time study.

Relevant as of 20 February 2024.

All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees. View information about fees-free study .

$35,900 (120 pts) $53,855 (180 pts) per year

International tuition fees

Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for international students enrolled in one year of full-time study.

All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees. 

Scholarships and prizes

Visit our  Scholarship Finder for information about possible scholarships.

Graduate study options

The MPW is a higher degree with both taught and independent research components. As such, it provides critical support for preparing you for doctoral research in applied and professional writing, and in creative writing at doctoral level. As a professional qualification, the MPW is a standalone degree that will confer significant value in employment situations where excellent writing is a requirement.

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Study creative writing in New Zealand’s UNESCO City of Literature

The Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies offers postgraduate supervision in creative writing at both master's and PhD level.

Our preference is for writers of fiction. We offer particular expertise in the field of crime writing.

Supervision and mentoring by prize-winning authors

Creative writing students will be supervised by Professor Liam McIlvanney (winner of the Saltire First Book Award, the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best NZ Crime Novel and the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year), and mentored by Visiting Professor Val McDermid (winner of the LA Times Book Prize, two Anthony Awards and the Crime Writers' Association Cartier Diamond Dagger Award for Outstanding Achievement). Visit Professor Liam McIlvanney's profile page . Visit Professor Val McDermid's profile page .

Students will work with holders of the Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies Writers Fellowship

Students will also work with holders of the Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies Writers Fellowship , previously held by Janice Galloway, Louise Welsh, Zoe Strachan, Damian Barr, Andrew Greig and Lesley Glaister. The 2019 Fellows are Craig Robertson (Sunday Times bestselling author of The Photographer and Murderabilia ) and Alexandra Sokoloff (screenwriter and bestselling author of the Huntress series). The Centre hosts regular literary events, such as the Celtic Noir Crime Writing Festival in 2019, while recent visitors include Ian Rankin, Peter May and Adrian McKinty. See details for the Celtic Noir Crime Festival 2019 .

The programme is housed in the handsome redbrick premises of the Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies at the heart of the Dunedin campus. The University of Otago also hosts the Robert Burns Fellowship (NZ's premier literary residency), Otago University Press and Landfall , NZ's foremost literary journal. The city of Dunedin (a UNESCO City of Literature) is home to the Dunedin Writers and Readers Festival, the Dunedin Burns Club, the Dunedin Detection Club and a lively local literary scene.

Creative writing at master's and PhD level

Master's students will be expected to write a thesis of about 40,000 words that will comprise a creative and a critical component.

For PhD students, the thesis can be up to 100,000 words, again with a creative and critical component.

Read the University's 'Guidelines for a PhD with a Nominated Creative Component'.

For further information, please contact:

Professor Liam McIlvanney Stuart Chair in Scottish Studies Tel +64 3 479 4936 Email [email protected]

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Massey University

• Courses 162

Master of Creative Writing

Masters (Coursework)

Key details

About this course.

The Master of Creative Writing (MCW) is a 180-credit programme that can follow on immediately from your bachelor's degree in any subject.

Entry requirements

This programme is a selected entry programme. This means there are a number of extra requirements you must meet.

To enter the Master of Creative Writing you will:

• have been awarded or qualified for a bachelor's degree with at least a B grade average across the 200 and 300-level specialisation courses, or
• have a bachelor's with honours degree or a postgraduate diploma in arts in Creative Writing, Expressive Arts or English, with at least a B grade average for the qualification.

You will be selected into the programme on the basis of a process which includes providing:

• a summary of your research interests: a brief (one to two paragraphs) outline of your proposed MCW thesis, summarising your proposed creative project (about 70% of the thesis) and proposed critical project (about 30% of the thesis). Please indicate the genre in which you would like to write your creative thesis in this outline. Critical projects usually take the form of a literary essay, a craft essay, or an exegesis
• a portfolio of your creative writing (please refer below)
• confirmation that your creative writing portfolio is your own personal work.

If you have a bachelor's with honours degree or postgraduate diploma in arts in Creative Writing, Expressive Arts or English as outlined above, you may apply for credit towards Part One of the qualification in accordance with the limits specified in the Recognition of Prior Learning regulations.

You will need to provide verified copies of all academic transcripts for studies taken at all universities other than Massey University.

Study locations

Career pathways.

A Master of Creative Writing is one of the most creative and enriching degrees you can do. Employers seek out arts students for their lateral and analytical thinking, communication skills and creative ability.

There are various possibilities for creative writing graduates, including:

• non-profit or corporate freelance writing
• creative arts project coordination
• writing for television, magazines, blogs or the book-publishing industry
• inter-arts collaboration for arts festivals
• writing for public relations
• creative writing in advertising
• performance-related writing and production
• writing and advising on government policy
• writing for social media.

Credit for prior study or work

For information on prior learning, exemptions and transfer of credit or other questions:

• review the Recognition of Prior Learning regulations
• contact us through the Enquire button on this page.
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Creative Writing – Graduate Certificate in Arts

With a Graduate Certificate in Arts (Creative Writing) you’ll examine inspiring creative writing and start developing your own.

Planning information

Entry requirements.

• Fees & scholarships
• Careers & jobs

Where you can study

International students.

International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.

Definition of New Zealand citizens and residents

Specialise in Creative Writing for your Graduate Certificate in Arts at Massey

The Graduate Certificate in Arts (Creative Writing) is a bridging tool for graduates in other subjects to gain knowledge of creative writing. You can use it to study another subject area without completing a second bachelor’s degree. 

Be inspired

Inspiration, communication and vocation are at the heart of this exciting qualification.

You’ll develop your writing so that it’s pitch-perfect for a variety of audiences. You’ll enhance your critical thinking. You will master a wide range of transferrable communication skills while pursuing your own creative vision.

Choose your canvas

Creative writing offers you flexibility in writing original work in a variety of genres. Learn to write fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction,  travel writing and scripts for the stage and screen.

There are also vocationally oriented opportunities for participating in a community arts project as well as an online publishing project.

Learn from published authors

Our award-winning teachers are acclaimed and best-selling writers who teach from their own first-hand experience in moving from idea to page, polishing their work and sending it off to be published or performed.

Get published

Students who have taken our creative writing courses have gone on to publish poems, stories, essays and books as well as winning some of New Zealand’s top writing prizes. Why not join them?

Further study

Once you have completed your Graduate Certificate in Arts (Creative Writing) you can go on to postgraduate study if you wish.

A Graduate Certificate in Arts in Creative Writing is a good fit if you:

• have a bachelor’s degree and want to expand your horizons
• want to develop your interest in creative writing
• are interested in doing postgraduate study.

This qualification may be completed in one semester of full-time study (depending on sequencing of courses) or over a longer period of part-time study.

Not all courses will be offered in all modes or across all campuses in any given year.

100-level prerequisites

When you are granted entry to the qualification, you are not required to pass any 100-level prerequisite course/s for the specialisation. You may need to apply for 200-level courses using the Special Request function in Course Enrolment in your student portal if your previous study was not completed at Massey. If you plan to take any electives in subjects such as Languages, Economics, Mathematics or Statistics, you will need to meet the 100-level prerequisite requirements.

Official regulations

To understand what you need to study and must complete to graduate read the official rules and regulations for this qualification .

You should read these together with all other relevant Statutes and Regulations of the University including the General Regulations for Undergraduate Degrees, Undergraduate Diplomas, Undergraduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates.

Returning students

For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.

In some cases the qualification or specialisation you enrolled in may be no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these qualifications go to the Massey University Calendar.

Please contact us through the Get advice button on this page if you have any questions.

Courses you can enrol in

Course planning key, compulsory courses.

An intermediate-level introduction to the craft of nonfiction writing in a variety of genres, with a particular focus on the application of techniques usually associated with fiction and poetry to nonfiction material.

Restrictions: 139327

An advanced study of the process of writing that consolidates knowledge of creative writing craft, expands understanding of genre, and analyses aesthetic and/or cultural aspects of published manuscripts across genres. The first portion of an envisioned full-length creative manuscript will be drafted with an emphasis on the critical evaluation of its aesthetic and/or cultural implications.

Prerequisites: Any 200-level Creative Writing course

Subject courses

A study of the relationships between creative writing and ecological concerns, covering a range of contemporary forms from eco-fictions, nonfictions, or poetry, to nature writing, to animal stories. It engages students in the workshopped production of original creative work.

Restrictions: 139381

An in-depth study of the skills, formats, technique and terminology of professional script writing, with emphasis on the adaptation of traditional approaches across the diversity of contemporary media.

A study of travel writing, involving both critical and ideological analysis and creative writing developed from the students' own field work.

An exploration of the poetics and politics of experimentation and subversion in contemporary fiction and metafiction including analysis of the work (both creative and critical) of major practitioners, theorists and original student compositions.

The course provides an applied service learning project in the disciplines of expressive arts and media studies. Working collaboratively, students apply skills in theatre, performance, film-making, creative writing, media practice or mixed media to developing a creative response to a social issue or community need.

Prerequisites: Any one of 139123 , 139104 , 139133 , 154204 , or 139223

In this course, students study and experience the principles, processes and practice of publishing, through the co-production of an online publication. Key concepts include teamwork, co-production, theme selection, peer review, production scheduling, source selection, and online publishing.

Prerequisites: Any 200-level course with a 139 prefix or 219202

A study of contemporary Oceanic (Māori and Pasifika) literature in English contextualised in relation to customary and pre-colonial Oceanic literatures, narratives, and storytelling methods.

Admission to Massey

All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.

• Massey University entry requirements

Specific requirements

To enter the Graduate Certificate in Arts (Creative Writing) you will have been awarded or qualified for a bachelor's degree.

You will need to provide copies of all official academic transcripts for studies taken at all universities other than Massey University.

English language requirements

To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.

This qualification is classified as NZQF Level 7 and requires the same English language standard as most undergraduate bachelor degrees, diplomas and certificates.

•  Massey University English language requirements .

English language skills

If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.

Can't meet the entry requirements?

If you need to do a course before you start your qualification, there may be options for you in Summer School.

• Summer School

Fees and scholarships

Fees, student loans and free fees scheme.

Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.

There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.

• Get an estimate of the tuition fees for your qualification
• View a list of non-tuition fees that may be payable

Already know which courses you're going to choose?

You can view fees for the courses that make up your qualification on the course details pages.

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Student loans (StudyLink) and Fees Free scheme

You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.

The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme and your eligibility on the Fees Free website. To use the site's eligibility checking tool, you will need your National Student Number.

Current and returning Massey students can find their National Student Number in the student portal.

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Scholarship and award opportunities

Fees disclaimer.

This information is for estimation purposes only. Actual fees payable will be finalised on confirmation of enrolment. Unless otherwise stated, all fees shown are quoted in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax, if any. Before relying on any information on these pages you should also read the University's Disclaimer Notice .

Careers and job opportunities

In a global marketplace, creativity and related skills are more important than ever. Creative writing will prepare you not just for the range of careers that exists today, but also for new roles that will appear in the future.

Gain marketable skills

Massey’s Graduate Certificate in Arts (Creative Writing) will prepare you to work in the creative world and provide transferable skills for other industries.

The following careers are a natural fit for creative writing graduates:

• writing for television, magazines, social media or the book-publishing industry
• corporate or non-profit freelance writing
• creative arts project coordination
• advertising
• performance-related writing and production
• writing and advising on government policy.

Related study options

Creative writing – bachelor of arts.

Unlock your imagination, expand your creative thinking and polish your writing.

Creative Writing – Diploma in Arts

With a Diploma in Arts (Creative Writing) you will examine inspiring creative works and explore your personal creative approach through poetry, life writing, scriptwriting, and fiction.

Creative Writing – Graduate Diploma in Arts

Examine great creative works and start writing your own. The Graduate Diploma in Arts (Creative Writing) will give you the equivalent of an undergraduate major in creative writing without completing a second bachelor’s degree.

English – Graduate Certificate in Arts

Understand how words shape our world with the Graduate Certificate in Arts (English).

English – Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

With Massey’s Bachelor of Arts (Honours) (English), you can take your undergraduate study of English further.

English – Bachelor of Arts

Develop your passion for literature. Understand how great writing has shaped identity, culture, and society.

English – Diploma in Arts

Do you have a passion for literature? The Diploma in Arts (English) will give you versatile and transferable skills that can open many career pathways.

English – Postgraduate Diploma in Arts

A Massey Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (English) will help you understand how language shapes the world we live in.

English – Master of Arts

With Massey’s Master of Arts (English) you can build on your undergraduate study and follow your passion for literature. Complete advanced research into an aspect of English, rhetoric or theatre studies.

English – Graduate Diploma in Arts

The Graduate Diploma in Arts (English) will give you the equivalent of an undergraduate major in English without having to complete a second bachelor’s degree.

Master of Creative Writing – MCW

Use your passion for writing to transform yourself and the world through an intense exploration of language.

Useful planning information

• Find more courses or qualifications
• Planning your study
• Application process overview
• Semester dates
• Fees and funding
• Scholarships and awards search
• International students’ information

Key information for students

Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions. Learn more on careers.govt.nz

Creative Writing Courses in New Zealand

Get ready to change your future when you decide to study Creative Writing in New Zealand.

People who have studied abroad said it not only improved their confidence but also gave them a better understanding of their cultural values and taught them worthwhile skills that influenced their future career.

When you decide to study in New Zealand, you can access universities that rank highly in Creative Writing, improving your job prospects. You also get the opportunity to stay back in New Zealand once you’ve graduated with a post-study work visa. There are plenty of universities on offer. Choose from 3 institutions and 8 courses.

The time is now to study abroad. It’s worth it, we promise.

Top Creative Writing universities in New Zealand

• Victoria University of Wellington
• University of Otago
• Massey University

Creative Writing fees in New Zealand

Tution fees will make up a large chunk of your costs. These will vary depending on which university you decide to study at, so do make sure you check with the institution.

There are also plenty of options to help cover the costs, such as scholarships. These can cover some or all tuition fees and other living expenses.

In general, you can expect tuition fees to range from:

• Minimum fees in Creative Writing in New Zealand - £3,824
• Maximum fees Creative Writing in New Zealand - £13,383

Student’s visa cost for studying Creative Writing in New Zealand

You need a student visa to study in New Zealand. Please see the table below for how much you will need to pay for the application and other potential costs.

Studying Creative Writing in New Zealand eligibility criteria

When applying to study abroad in any country, the documents you need tend to be pretty similar.

Some will vary depending on the institution, but we’ve outlined below the core documents you’ll need to make your application.

• Academic transcripts
• Application form
• Letter of recommendation
• English language proficiency test scores
• Statement of purpose
• Admissions test results

Post-study work permit after completing Creative Writing qualification in New Zealand

You’ll be pleased to know that once you’ve completed Creative Writing qualification in New Zealand you’ll be eligible to stay back and see work!

This is an excellent opportunity to put your degree to good use and begin your career. See the table below for how long you get to stay:

Top Creative Writing Courses in the New Zealand

8 + courses available

Explore, filter and shortlist now

• Writing in New Zealand
• Strategic Studies in New Zealand
• Latin in New Zealand
• Literature in New Zealand
• World Englishes in New Zealand
• English Literature in New Zealand
• Non-Fiction Writing in New Zealand
• Journalism in New Zealand

Is a Creative Writing degree hard in the New Zealand?

Is it worth going to university in the new zealand for creative writing, why you choose new zealand rather than india to study creative writing, what do you need to study creative writing in the new zealand.

This can vary depending on the intuition, so ensure that you check. However, in general, you will need the following: 

• Statement of purpose 
• Admissions test results 
• Postgraduate Creative Writing
• Undergraduate Creative Writing

Want to study Creative Writing in the New Zealand?

Countries with Creative Writing courses