About This Course
This programme offers you the opportunity to conduct in-depth practice-based, empirical or critical research into the process and product of professional writing. You will work towards the production of a practice-based portfolio or independently researched piece of work which will explore the creative and critical styles, contexts and attitudes of professional writing. You will develop, sustain, consolidate and resolve a self-directed programme of work in professional writing over an extended period of time, supervised by specialist professional staff in the field.
Successful applicants for this programme will have an excellent first degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent practical/industrial experience, and a demonstrated ability to work independently to bring a self-directed project to completion.
Course Content
What will you study on this course?
Modules:
Media, Culture, and Creativity Theory: This module builds on one of the School of Creative Studies and Media Department’s greatest strengths, by bringing students together with other practitioners and researchers from other fields of study in a forum for a wider discourse about current research in the media and creative industries. The module will provide a systematic overview of major 20th and 21st century critical schools and theoretical approaches, which are key for an advanced understanding of how to read and analyse creative, cultural and media artefacts such as fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama, film, video games and other new media texts.
Research Methods: This module equips you with an understanding and critical overview of key methodological issues associated with various types of research in the Media, Cultural and Creative Industries, in preparation for the dissertation.
MRes Humanities Dissertation: With guidance from academic staff, students following the MRes Humanities Dissertation module will be asked to choose a topic of their own, for further research. Students will be expected to produce an independently researched piece of work which will reflect the knowledge and skills acquired from the taught modules. The topic chosen may be specific to one culture or comparative.
Modules for the current academic year
Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Journalism Modules page.
Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.
Entry Requirements
A good 2.i Honours degree or industry equivalent experience.
IELTS score of 6.5 (no component below 6.0) or equivalent if your first language is not English or Welsh.
Careers
The MRes in Professional Writing will prepare students to meet the need – increasingly being identified within industry – for self-reflective practitioners with experience at project development in the creative industries. It will also give them the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to work independently on a long and complex project, providing a strong basis for those wishing to go on to further academic study and to academic careers.
We actively seek to put students in contact with relevant industry bodies and organises a variety of professional workshops and competitions, e.g. through the Enterprise by Design scheme.
Past graduates have secured positions in a variety of creative (and related) industries, including broadcasting and filmmaking, advertising/PR, games development and tourism.
