University of York

What you'll study

The PhD in English (Creative Writing) is a practice-led doctorate in which candidates produce a substantial creative portfolio — for example a novel, a linked short-story collection, a full poetry manuscript, or an extended work of creative non-fiction — together with a critical exegesis that locates the creative work within relevant scholarly debates and research methodologies.

Programmes are individually negotiated with supervisors, and typical elements include:

• Development of a book-length creative thesis produced under regular supervisory guidance.
• A critical component that may examine craft, genre, theory, archival sources, or the cultural contexts of the creative work.
• Training in research methods for practice-led work, including approaches to creative process documentation, reflective practice, and interdisciplinarity.
• Participation in writing workshops, peer critique groups and departmental research seminars to test and refine work in progress.
• Opportunities to teach undergraduate seminars or lead workshops, where appropriate, to develop pedagogical skills.
• Access to the university's research training programme for postgraduate researchers, covering skills such as publishing, public engagement and research dissemination.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to demonstrate a strong academic and creative track record. Typical application components include:

• A relevant postgraduate qualification or an equivalent record of professional achievement in writing; candidates with a strong master’s degree in English, Creative Writing or a closely related discipline are normally preferred.
• A clear and focused research proposal that sets out the creative project, the critical component, research questions and proposed methods.
• A portfolio of recent creative work appropriate to the proposed project, submitted as part of the application.
• Academic references that can speak to the applicant’s research potential and creative ability.
• Evidence of command of English where applicants have not studied in English; the department can advise on accepted qualifications and alternatives.

Shortlisted applicants are usually invited to interview with potential supervisors to discuss the project and fit with departmental expertise.

Career prospects

Graduates of a practice-led PhD in Creative Writing follow diverse career paths. Common directions include:

• Academic roles (teaching and research in higher education) and postdoctoral research posts.
• Professional writing careers as novelists, poets, freelance authors, or creative non-fiction writers.
• Publishing and editorial work, including commissioning, copy-editing and literary consultancy.
• Arts and cultural management, festival programming, and roles within literary organisations.
• Creative industries work in media, scriptwriting, content creation and digital storytelling.
• Research and writing for heritage, archives and public history projects, particularly where creative practice engages with archival material.

Why study at University of York

The University of York offers a supportive research environment for practice-led creative work, with supervisors active in a wide range of contemporary and historical literatures and genres. The department maintains a lively programme of seminars, visiting writers and interdisciplinary events that help embed creative research within broader scholarly conversations.

Students benefit from the university’s extensive research resources, special collections and archives, and a postgraduate community that fosters peer workshop and performance opportunities. The department emphasises tailored supervision and professional development, helping doctoral researchers prepare for careers in academia, publishing and the creative industries.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact potential supervisors to discuss project ideas and to consult the department’s research training and postgraduate pages for further information about candidature and support.