CRICOS Code: 092783B

This program applies to students who commenced in 2019 or later. 

Students should follow the program structure for the session start date relevant to the year they commenced.

Commencement Year 2017 and 2018 - 1831.2 Master of Arts in Literature and Creative Writing

The Writing and Society Research Centre offers a challenging, rigorous degree combining criticism and creativity leading to a Master of Arts in Literature and Creative Writing. The Master of Arts (MA) takes advantage of the unique strengths of the Centre which includes internationally renowned literary scholars, novelists, poets and translators, an important literary publishing house (Giramondo), the preeminent literary review in Australia (the Sydney Review of Books), and access to the vibrant literary culture currently emerging from Western Sydney and gaining national attention. The MA links theory and practice, and students can either concentrate on critical or creative work, or work with both forms.

For students wishing to continue to a PhD, the MA articulates with a research pathway degree in the second year.

• Director of Academic Program - Dr Charles Barbour

Early Exits

Students may exit this program on completion of 40 credit points with a 1833 Graduate Certificate in Literature and Creative Writing or on completion of 80 credit points with a 1832 Graduate Diploma in Literature and Creative Writing

Study Mode

One and a half years full-time or three years part-time.

Program Advice

enquiriesHCA@westernsydney.edu.au

Prospective students should visit the following websites for general enquiries about this program.

Enquire about this program| Local Admission | International Admission |

Location

Location

Campus	Attendance	Mode	Advice
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road	Full Time	Internal	See above
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road	Part Time	Internal	See above

Admission

A Bachelor degree in humanities, social sciences, society and culture or creative arts. Providing a 500 word writing sample (an essay or creative work) to be assessed by Writing and Society staff.

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas may be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or directly through the Western Portal. Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.

http://www.uac.edu.au/
https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

All other International applicants must apply directly to the University via the International Office.  

International students applying to the University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.

International Office

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Program Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 120 credit points including the subjects listed in the recommended sequence below.

Recommended Sequence

Full-time Start Year Intake

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Autumn session		Credit Points
Select one subject from the pool subjects below		10
CART 6005	Creative Methods in Research	20
	Credit Points	30
Quarter 2 session
Select one subject from the pool subjects below		10
Students may exit at this point with a Graduate Certificate in Literature and Creative Writing after the successful completion of 40 credit points of study. 1
	Credit Points	10
Spring session
Select one subject from the pool subjects below		10
CART 6004	Creative Writing Practice	20
	Credit Points	30
Quarter 4 session
Select one subject from the pool subjects below		10
Students may exit at this point with a Graduate Diploma in Literature and Creative Writing after the successful completion of 80 credit points of study. 2
	Credit Points	10
Year 2
Autumn session
Select one of the following:		40
Optional Entry Point to the Masters of Research 3
CART 7013	Masters Project
	Credit Points	40
	Total Credit Points	120

¹

1833 - Graduate Certificate in Literature and Creative Writing

²

1832 - Graduate Diploma in Literature and Creative Writing

³

Students who wish to pursue higher study at a doctoral level can apply for entry into the Masters of Research and apply for up to 80 credit points of advanced standing after successfully completing the Year 1 subjects.

Full-time Mid Year Intake

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Spring session		Credit Points
Select one subject from the pool subjects below		10
CART 6004	Creative Writing Practice	20
	Credit Points	30
Quarter 4 session
Select one subject from the pool subjects below		10
Students may exit at this point with a Graduate Certificate in Literature and Creative Writing after the successful completion of 40 credit points of study. 1
	Credit Points	10
Autumn session
Select one subject from the pool subjects below		10
CART 6005	Creative Methods in Research	20
	Credit Points	30
Quarter 2 session
Select one subject from the pool subjects below		10
Students may exit at this point with a Graduate Diploma in Literature and Creative Writing after the successful completion of 80 credit points of study. 2
	Credit Points	10
Year 2
Spring session
Select one of the following:		40
Optional Entry Point to the Masters of Research 3
CART 7013	Masters Project
	Credit Points	40
	Total Credit Points	120

¹

1833 - Graduate Certificate in Literature and Creative Writing

²

1832 - Graduate Diploma in Literature and Creative Writing

³

Students who wish to pursue higher study at a doctoral level can apply for entry into the Masters of Research and apply for up to 80 credit points of advanced standing after successfully completing the Year 1 subjects.

Pool Subjects

Four of the five pool subjects will be offered each year on a rotating basis.

Subject List

Subject	Title	Credit Points
LANG 7014	Gender and Genre	10
LANG 7027	Literary Theory	10
CART 7018	Writing Practice and Tradition	10
CART 6001	Writers at Work	10
CART 6002	Reading and Writing Australia	10
CART 6006	Creative Non-Fiction	10
CART 6007	Writing and Genre	10

The timeline for part-time students over four years will involve all coursework subjects listed above to be completed prior to the commencement of the Masters Project. In normal circumstances the coursework subjects will be completed by the end of the second year of a part time degree, although this can be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Equivalent Subjects

The subjects listed below count towards completion of this program for students who passed the subjects in 2022/2023 or earlier.

CART 7001 Applied Methods in Literary Studies and Creative Writing, replaced by CART 6005 Creative Methods in Research

CART 7002 Applied Practice in Literary Studies and Creative Writing, replaced by CART 6004 Creative Writing Practice

CART 7019 Writing Process, replaced by CART 6006 Creative Non-Fiction

CART 7020 Writing and Form, replaced by CART 6001 Writers at Work

CART 7021 Writing and Ideas, replaced by CART 6007 Writing and Genre

CART 7022 Writing, Sounds, Images, Texts, replaced by CART 6002 Reading and Writing Australia