# UEA Creative Writing Course

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**The University of East Anglia's Creative Writing Course** was founded by [Sir Malcolm Bradbury](/source/Sir_Malcolm_Bradbury) and [Sir Angus Wilson](/source/Sir_Angus_Wilson) in 1970. The M.A. has been regarded among the most prestigious in the United Kingdom.[1][2][3]

The course allows specialisation in the following strands: [prose](/source/Prose), [creative non-fiction](/source/Creative_non-fiction), [poetry](/source/Poetry), [scriptwriting](/source/Scriptwriting) (which is [Skillset](/source/Skillset) accredited) and [crime fiction](/source/Crime_fiction). In 2024, a new strand, MA Creative Writing, which allows students to work across different literary forms, was launched.[4] Each strand results in an M.A. qualification upon successful completion of the course. Course Directors have included [Andrew Cowan](/source/Andrew_Cowan_(writer)), [Tessa McWatt](/source/Tessa_McWatt), [Tiffany Atkinson](/source/Tiffany_Atkinson), [Steve Waters](/source/Steve_Waters), [Kathryn Hughes](/source/Kathryn_Hughes), [Lavinia Greenlaw](/source/Lavinia_Greenlaw), and [Henry Sutton](/source/Henry_Sutton_(novelist)). Writers teaching on the course in recent years have included [Amit Chaudhuri](/source/Amit_Chaudhuri), [Trezza Azzopardi](/source/Trezza_Azzopardi), [Giles Foden](/source/Giles_Foden), [Tobias Jones](/source/Tobias_Jones_(writer)), [James Lasdun](/source/James_Lasdun), [Jean McNeil](/source/Jean_McNeil) and [George Szirtes](/source/George_Szirtes).

Writers such as [Margaret Atwood](/source/Margaret_Atwood), [Angela Carter](/source/Angela_Carter), [Rose Tremain](/source/Rose_Tremain), [Andrew Motion](/source/Andrew_Motion), [W. G. Sebald](/source/W._G._Sebald), [Michèle Roberts](/source/Mich%C3%A8le_Roberts) and [Patricia Duncker](/source/Patricia_Duncker) have also taught on the course.

[Writers-in-residence](/source/Artist-in-residence) have included [Alan Burns](/source/Alan_Burns_(author))[5] and Margaret Atwood. [Ali Smith](/source/Ali_Smith) has been a Writing Fellow and Visiting Professor on the programme.[6] From 2021 to 2022, [Tsitsi Dangarembga](/source/Tsitsi_Dangarembga) was the inaugural International Chair of Creative Writing.[7]

## Notable alumni

### Nobel Prize winners

- [Kazuo Ishiguro](/source/Kazuo_Ishiguro) (MA, 1980), 2017 [Nobel Prize in Literature](/source/Nobel_Prize_in_Literature) laureate

### Booker Prize winners

- [Anne Enright](/source/Anne_Enright) (MA, 1987), 2007 [Booker Prize](/source/Booker_Prize) winner for *[The Gathering](/source/The_Gathering_(Enright_novel))*
- [Kazuo Ishiguro](/source/Kazuo_Ishiguro) (MA, 1980), 1989 [Booker Prize](/source/Booker_Prize) winner for *[The Remains of the Day](/source/The_Remains_of_the_Day)*[8]
- [Ian McEwan](/source/Ian_McEwan) (MA, 1971), 1998 [Booker Prize](/source/Booker_Prize) winner for *[Amsterdam](/source/Amsterdam_(novel))*

### Costa Book Award winners

- [Tash Aw](/source/Tash_Aw) (MA, 2003), [Whitbread Book Award](/source/Costa_Book_Awards) winner in the 2005 First Novel category for *[The Harmony Silk Factory](/source/The_Harmony_Silk_Factory)*
- [Susan Fletcher](/source/Susan_Fletcher_(British_author)) (MA, 2002), [Whitbread Book Award](/source/Costa_Book_Awards) winner in the 2004 First Novel category for *[Eve Green](/source/Eve_Green)*
- [Adam Foulds](/source/Adam_Foulds) (MA, 2000), [Costa Book Award](/source/Costa_Book_Awards) winner in the 2008 Poetry category for *The Broken Word*
- [Emma Healey](/source/Emma_Healey) (MA, 2011), [Costa Book Award](/source/Costa_Book_Awards) winner in the 2014 First Novel category for *[Elizabeth is Missing](/source/Elizabeth_is_Missing)*
- [Andrew Miller](/source/Andrew_Miller_(novelist)) (MA, 1991), [Costa Book Award](/source/Costa_Book_Awards) winner in the 2011 Novel category for *[Pure](/source/Pure_(Miller_novel))*
- [Monique Roffey](/source/Monique_Roffey) (BA, 1987), [Costa Book Award](/source/Costa_Book_Awards) winner in the 2020 Novel category for *[The Mermaid of Black Conch](/source/The_Mermaid_of_Black_Conch)*
- [Christie Watson](/source/Christie_Watson) (MA, 2009), [Costa Book Award](/source/Costa_Book_Awards) winner in the 2011 First Novel category for *Tiny Sunbirds Far Away*

### Women's Prize for Fiction winners

- [Naomi Alderman](/source/Naomi_Alderman) (MA, 2003), 2017 [Women's Prize for Fiction](/source/Women's_Prize_for_Fiction) winner for *[The Power](/source/The_Power_(Alderman_novel))*
- [Rose Tremain](/source/Rose_Tremain) (BA, 1967), 2008 [Women's Prize for Fiction](/source/Women's_Prize_for_Fiction) winner for *[The Road Home](/source/The_Road_Home_(novel))*

### Betty Trask Award & Prize winners

- [Rowan Hisayo Buchanan](/source/Rowan_Hisayo_Buchanan) (PhD, 2019) 2017 [Betty Trask Award](/source/Betty_Trask_Award) winner for *Harmless Like You*
- [Sam Byers](/source/Sam_Byers) (MA, 2003; PHD, 2014) 2014 [Betty Trask Award](/source/Betty_Trask_Award) winner for *Idiopathy*
- [Anthony Cartwright](/source/Anthony_Cartwright_(writer)) (BA, 1996) 2004 [Betty Trask Award](/source/Betty_Trask_Award) winner for *The Afterglow*
- [Helen Cross](/source/Helen_Cross_(author)) (MA, 1997) 2002 [Betty Trask Award](/source/Betty_Trask_Award) winner for *My Summer of Love*
- [Suzannah Dunn](/source/Suzannah_Dunn) (MA, 1989) 1991 [Betty Trask Award](/source/Betty_Trask_Award) winner for *Quite Contrary*
- [Susan Elderkin](/source/Susan_Elderkin) (MA, 1994) 2000 [Betty Trask Award](/source/Betty_Trask_Award) winner for *[Sunset Over Chocolate Mountains](/source/Sunset_Over_Chocolate_Mountains)*
- [Diana Evans](/source/Diana_Evans) (MA, 2003) 2005 [Betty Trask Award](/source/Betty_Trask_Award) winner for *26a*
- [Susan Fletcher](/source/Susan_Fletcher_(British_author)) (MA, 2002) 2005 Betty Trask Prize winner for *Eve Green*
- [Adam Foulds](/source/Adam_Foulds) (MA, 2000) 2007 [Betty Trask Award](/source/Betty_Trask_Award) winner for *The Truth About These Strange Times*
- [Imogen Hermes Gowar](/source/Imogen_Hermes_Gowar) (MA, 2014) 2019 [Betty Trask Award](/source/Betty_Trask_Award) winner for *The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock*
- [Emma Healey](/source/Emma_Healey) (MA, 2011) 2015 [Betty Trask Award](/source/Betty_Trask_Award) winner for *[Elizabeth is Missing](/source/Elizabeth_is_Missing)*
- [Anjali Joseph](/source/Anjali_Joseph) (MA, 2008; PHD, 2013) 2011 Betty Trask Prize winner for *[Saraswati Park](/source/Saraswati_Park)*
- [Frances Liardet](/source/Frances_Liardet) (MA, 1998) 1994 [Betty Trask Award](/source/Betty_Trask_Award) winner for *The Game*
- [Nicola Monaghan](/source/Nicola_Monaghan) (MA, 2018) 2006 [Betty Trask Award](/source/Betty_Trask_Award) winner for *[The Killing Jar](/source/The_Killing_Jar_(novel))*
- [Glenn Patterson](/source/Glenn_Patterson) (MA, 1986) 1988 [Betty Trask Award](/source/Betty_Trask_Award) winner for *Burning Your Own*
- [Natasha Pulley](/source/Natasha_Pulley) (MA, 2012) 2017 [Betty Trask Award](/source/Betty_Trask_Award) winner for *The Watchmaker of Filigree Street*
- [Phil Whitaker](/source/Phil_Whitaker) (MA, 1996) 1998 [Betty Trask Award](/source/Betty_Trask_Award) winner for *[Eclipse of the Sun](/source/Eclipse_of_the_Sun)*

### James Tait Black Memorial Prize winners

- [Ian McEwan](/source/Ian_McEwan) (MA, 1971) [James Tait Black Memorial Prize](/source/James_Tait_Black_Memorial_Prize) winner in the 2005 Fiction category for *[Saturday](/source/Saturday)*
- [Andrew Miller](/source/Andrew_Miller_(novelist)) (MA, 1991) [James Tait Black Memorial Prize](/source/James_Tait_Black_Memorial_Prize) winner in the 1997 Fiction category for *[Ingenious Pain](/source/Ingenious_Pain)*
- [Rose Tremain](/source/Rose_Tremain) (BA, 1967) [James Tait Black Memorial Prize](/source/James_Tait_Black_Memorial_Prize) winner in the 1993 Fiction category for *[Sacred Country](/source/Sacred_Country)*

### Other alumni

- [Nicholas Allan](/source/Nicholas_Allan) (MA, 1981), children's author
- [Mona Arshi](/source/Mona_Arshi) (MA, 2012), Forward Prize-winning poet
- [Trezza Azzopardi](/source/Trezza_Azzopardi) (MA, 1998), novelist
- [Martyn Bedford](/source/Martyn_Bedford) (MA, 1994), novelist
- [Brett Ellen Block](/source/Brett_Ellen_Block) (MA, 1998), author
- [Peter Bowker](/source/Peter_Bowker) (MA, 1991), screenwriter
- [John Boyne](/source/John_Boyne) (MA, 1996), novelist[9]
- [Aifric Campbell](/source/Aifric_Campbell) (MA, 2003), writer
- [Tracy Chevalier](/source/Tracy_Chevalier) (MA, 1994), historical novelist
- [Cassandra Clark](/source/Cassandra_Clark) (MA, 1991), historical novelist
- [Judy Corbalis](/source/Judy_Corbalis) (MA, 1990), novelist
- [Andrew Cowan](/source/Andrew_Cowan_(writer)) (MA, 1985), novelist
- [Fflur Dafydd](/source/Fflur_Dafydd) (MA, 2000), writer
- [Donna Daley-Clarke](/source/Donna_Daley-Clarke) (MA, 2001), novelist
- [Louise Doughty](/source/Louise_Doughty) (MA, 1987), novelist
- [Joe Dunthorne](/source/Joe_Dunthorne) (MA, 2005), novelist
- [Oliver Emanuel](/source/Oliver_Emanuel) (MA, 2002), playwright
- [Stephen Finucan](/source/Stephen_Finucan) (MA, 1996), short story writer
- [David Flusfeder](/source/David_Flusfeder) (MA, 1988), author
- [Bo Fowler](/source/Bo_Fowler) (MA, 1995), novelist
- [Ruth Gilligan](/source/Ruth_Gilligan) (MA, 2011), writer
- [Tim Guest](/source/Tim_Guest) (MA, 1999), author
- [Mohammed Hanif](/source/Mohammed_Hanif) (MA, 2005), writer
- [Graeme Harper](/source/Graeme_Harper_(writer)) (PhD, 1997), writer
- [Jane Harris](/source/Jane_Harris_(writer)) (MA, 1992), novelist and screenwriter
- [Alix Hawley](/source/Alix_Hawley) (MA, 2002), novelist
- [Kathryn Hughes](/source/Kathryn_Hughes) (MA, 1987), historian
- [Naomi Ishiguro](/source/Naomi_Ishiguro) (MA, 2018), author
- [Mick Jackson](/source/Mick_Jackson_(author)) (MA, 1992), novelist
- [Christopher James](/source/Christopher_James_(poet)) (MA, 2000), poet
- [Panos Karnezis](/source/Panos_Karnezis) (MA, 2000), novelist
- [Larissa Lai](/source/Larissa_Lai) (MA, 2001), novelist
- [Hernán Lara Zavala](/source/Hern%C3%A1n_Lara_Zavala) (MA 1981), novelist
- [Joanna Laurens](/source/Joanna_Laurens) (MA, 2003), playwright
- [Ágnes Lehóczky](/source/%C3%81gnes_Leh%C3%B3czky) (MA, 2006), poet
- [Toby Litt](/source/Toby_Litt) (MA, 1995), novelist
- [Philip MacCann](/source/Philip_MacCann) (MA), writer
- [Deirdre Madden](/source/Deirdre_Madden) (MA, 1985), novelist
- [Robert McGill](/source/Robert_McGill_(writer)) (MA, 2002), writer
- [Sarah Emily Miano](/source/Sarah_Emily_Miano) (MA, 2002), author
- [Neel Mukherjee](/source/Neel_Mukherjee_(writer)) (MA, 2001), writer
- [Paul Murray](/source/Paul_Murray_(author)) (MA, 2001), novelist
- [Sandra Newman](/source/Sandra_Newman) (MA, 2002), writer
- [Kathy Page](/source/Kathy_Page) (MA, 1988), novelist
- [Sandeep Parmar](/source/Sandeep_Parmar) (MA, 2003), poet
- [Christine Pountney](/source/Christine_Pountney) (MA, 1997), author
- [Dina Rabinovitch](/source/Dina_Rabinovitch) (MA, 2000), journalist and writer
- [Ben Rice](/source/Ben_Rice_(author)) (MA, 2000), novelist
- [Eliza Robertson](/source/Eliza_Robertson) (MA, 2012), author
- [Anthony Sattin](/source/Anthony_Sattin) (MA, 1984), writer
- [Simon Scarrow](/source/Simon_Scarrow) (MA, 1992), author
- [James Scudamore](/source/James_Scudamore_(author)) (MA, 2004), novelist
- [Owen Sheers](/source/Owen_Sheers) (MA, 1998), author, poet and playwright
- [Jeremy Sheldon](/source/Jeremy_Sheldon) (MA, 1996), novelist
- [Robert Sheppard](/source/Robert_Sheppard_(poet)) (MA, 1979), poet
- [Kathryn Simmonds](/source/Kathryn_Simmonds) (MA, 2002), poet
- [Rob Magnuson Smith](/source/Rob_Magnuson_Smith) (MA 2010), novelist
- [Paul Stewart](/source/Paul_Stewart_(writer)) (MA, 1979), writer
- [Julia Stuart](/source/Julia_Stuart) (MA, 2013), novelist
- [Todd Swift](/source/Todd_Swift) (MA, 2004), poet
- [Rebecca Tamás](/source/Rebecca_Tam%C3%A1s) (PHD, 2017), poet and essayist
- [Mark Tilton](/source/Mark_Tilton) (MA, 1997), screenwriter
- [Carol Topolski](/source/Carol_Topolski) (MA, 2004), novelist
- [Erica Wagner](/source/Erica_Wagner) (MA, 1991), author and literary editor of *[The Times](/source/The_Times)*
- [Craig Warner](/source/Craig_Warner) (MA, 2013), playwright and screenwriter
- [Matt Whyman](/source/Matt_Whyman) (MA, 1992), novelist
- [Clare Wigfall](/source/Clare_Wigfall) (MA, 2000), writer
- [Luke Williams](/source/Luke_Williams_(author)) (MA, 2002), author
- [D. W. Wilson](/source/D._W._Wilson) (MA, 2010), author
- [Jennifer Wong](/source/Jennifer_Wong) (MA, 2009), writer and poet
- [Yan Ge](/source/Yan_Ge) (MA, 2020), novelist

## References

1. Barnett, Laura (16 November 2011). ["Is the UEA creative writing course still the best?"](https://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/nov/16/uea-creative-writing-course-best). *The Guardian*

1. ["Creative writing graduates will 'never make a living as novelists', says Self | the Bookseller"](https://www.thebookseller.com/news/self-says-literature-becoming-giant-quilting-exercise-1001681)

1. ["The write stuff - Prospect Magazine"](https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/creative-writing-courses-ian-mcewan)

1. ["University of East Anglia to deliver a new Creative Writing MA course for the new creative economy"](https://www.uea.ac.uk/about/news/article/university-of-east-anglia-to-deliver-a-new-creative-writing-ma-course-for-the-new-creative-economy). *University of East Anglia*. Retrieved 2024-11-08.

1. Ian McEwan (1995). ["Class Work"](http://malcolmbradbury.com/uea_ian_mcewan_class.html)

1. ["Ali Smith receives honorary degree"](https://www.newwriting.net/2016/08/ali-smith-receives-honorary-degree-from-uea/). *www.newwriting.net*. Retrieved 2024-11-08.

1. ["International Chair of Creative Writing"](https://www.uea.ac.uk/creative/international-chair-of-creative-writing). *University of East Anglia*. Retrieved 2024-11-08.

1. ["The Nobel Prize in Literature 2017 - Biobibliographical Notes"](https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/2017/bio-bibl.html). *www.nobelprize.org*. Retrieved 5 October 2017.

1. Boyne, John (5 October 2017). ["Kazuo Ishiguro deserves Nobel prize but others deserve it more"](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/kazuo-ishiguro-deserves-nobel-prize-but-others-deserve-it-more-1.3245553). *[The Irish Times](/source/The_Irish_Times)* Ishiguro will make a fine laureate and, from one graduate of the University of East Anglia's creative writing programme to another, it's hats off.

## External links

- [UEA Creative Writing](https://www.uea.ac.uk/web/about/school-of-literature-drama-and-creative-writing/creative-writing) webpages

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [UEA Creative Writing Course](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEA_Creative_Writing_Course) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEA_Creative_Writing_Course?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.