MA Writing for Children Postgraduate

Postgraduate
MA Writing for Children
Why study at Winchester?
The University of Winchester offers you a
University’s Research and Knowledge Exchange
Visit us
postgraduate learning experience that targets
Centre.
Open Days and Campus Tours are a great
your career ambitions, deepens your knowledge
opportunity to explore the campus and see
Research excellence
whether Winchester is the place for you to
In the most recent RAE (Research Assessment
embark on postgraduate study. Visit www.
Location
Exercise) 75 per cent of the University’s research
winchester.ac.uk/opendays for more information
The University of Winchester is located just
submitted was considered internationally
and to book a place.
one hour away from London set in a pleasant
recognised, with some research achieving the
wooded setting overlooking the South Downs in
highest grade possible (4*) and a rating of ‘quality
Course Enquiries and Applications
Hampshire. The campus is within walking distance
that is world-leading in terms of originality,
Telephone: +44 (0) 1962 827234
of Winchester city centre and the railway station.
significance and rigour’.
Email: course.enquiries@winchester.ac.uk
and enhances your skills.
Winchester is one of the most beautiful cathedral
cities in the UK. It is a small but lively historic city,
renowned for its ancient history, its cathedral and
high quality of life.
Postgraduate study options
Winchester offers a range of postgraduate study
designed to enhance your career prospects and
develop depth of knowledge in your chosen area.
Programmes range from PGCEs (Primary and
Secondary) to a wide selection of MA and MSc
degrees in arts, business (including an MBA),
education, humanities and social sciences.
Research and knowledge exchange are at the
heart of activities at Winchester, and we have
academic staff at the forefront of their disciplines.
A diverse range of Research degree opportunities
(PhD, MPhil, ProfD and EdD) are available
and2dedicated support is on hand from the
www.winchester.ac.uk
MA Writing for Children
The MA Writing for Children is one
and craft of writing for children as a feature
of only a handful of programmes to
of a particular cultural and commercial
concentrate solely on creative writing
environment. No particular profession is
for children, and the University has
targeted and recruitment from diverse
long been considered a leading light in
backgrounds has enriched the programme’s
Entry requirements: Normally a
this field of creative study. Children’s
proceedings.
first or second class Honours degree or
literature is an art form in its own right
FACT FILE
professional experience in the area of
and Winchester gives it the recognition it
Candidates for the programme normally
study
richly deserves.
possess a relevant first degree and/or a
Full-time: 12 months
portfolio of recent writing for children
Part-time: 2 years
Taught by professional writers of
or evidence of recent and regular
novels, picture books, poetry, songs and
performance for children, for example
This programme is delivered at:
nonfiction with academic backgrounds
storytelling, writing, performing or other
Winchester
and supported by guest appearances from
appropriate vocational experience. Where
published authors, editors and agents,
the vocational experience is demonstrably
If English is not your first language:
the programme seeks to move students
of sufficient merit, it may constitute
IELTS 6.5 (including 6.5 in academic
progressively through a structured series
grounds in itself for admission to the
writing) or a TOEFL score of 575 (paper-
of writing assignments and exercises which
programme. Such evidence is considered
based) or 232 (computer-based) or
will enable them to come to terms with the
by the Programme Director and a report
equivalent
specific complexities of writing for children.
is presented to the school APEL Board for
Start dates: September
The underlying rationale behind the MA
approval.
Application process: Direct Entry
is to hone writing skills, help students
understand the needs of child readers and
Registration
Application Form or via UKPASS (full-
develop scope and range.
The degree usually takes one year to
time applicants only)
complete full-time and at least two
Applications
years to complete part-time. Students
The Writing for Children programme has
register for a minimum of 12 months.
a wide appeal to those interested in the
The maximum period of registration
practice of writing for its own sake, pursued
is normally 5 years. It is possible for
within a disciplined academic context, and
students to negotiate a break in their
to those particularly interested in the art
studies taking into account the maximum
www.winchester.ac.uk
1
MA Writing for Children
period of registration, in accordance
modules from other relevant MAs such as
with the University’s Common Academic
the MA Creative and Critical Writing.
Regulations for Taught-Course Masters
Programmes.
Fiction for Children (core)
This introductory module examines a
Programme content
range of techniques, genres and voices
The MA Writing for Children offers students
and addresses the question of audience
the opportunity to develop creative work,
in fiction for children aged 8+ up to, and
experiment with new forms and ideas, give
including teenage and Young Adult fiction.
and receive critical feedback in a supportive
environment and reflect on the writing
Writing for Early Years
process. It also encourages students to
This module addresses one of the most
The Publishing Project (core)
discuss the work of established writers,
innovative and demanding genres in
This module explores the modern world of
examine current audiences and markets
writing for children, that is, picture books
publishing by requiring students to develop
and consider the theoretical, social and
and image-based texts for children up to
their own publishing project, and prepare
cultural contexts for contemporary writing
the age of seven.
this with a view to either publication or
for children.
2
submission. The module relies upon each
The Writer as Researcher
student exploring a variety of forms of
Most of the teaching is carried out through
This module is designed to deepen
dissemination, from more orthodox book
evening seminars/workshops of three hours’
students’ own creative writing through
and journal publication to electronic/web
duration (6-9pm), though some of the tutor
an individual research project on a
publishing. Seminars are stimulated by
contact takes place in the afternoons. Every
relevant theme such as language, place or
a series of guest speakers who are newly
opportunity is given to students to discuss
experience within the cultural and social
published authors, or agents or editors.
their own writing.
context of contemporary childhood.
Modules
Fantastic Fiction
Programme diagram
Full-time mode
Each student takes five taught modules,
This module allows students to investigate
Semester 1
two of which are core modules, followed by
non-realist writing, including the fantasy
• Fiction for Children
a period of supervised Independent Study
genre, fairy tales, myths and legends, science
• The Writer as Researcher
leading to the dissertation. Students may
fiction, historical fiction, horror and non-
Semester 2
exchange up to two non-core modules with
mainstream fiction for children aged 8-16.
• Writing for Early Years
www.winchester.ac.uk
MA Writing for Children
• Fantastic Fiction
a dissertation of 15-20,000 words. The
• The Publishing Project
dissertation can be a creative piece or
pieces of work, supported by a 3000-
Part-time mode
word critical rationale, or it can be a
Semester 1
critical piece in its entirety. Students work
• Fiction for Children
independently and meet regularly with
Semester 2
their supervisor for feedback and support.
• Writing for Early Years
• The Writer as Researcher
Career and research
opportunities
Semester 4
Writing well for children is a skill that
• Fantastic Fiction
can enhance lifelong learning and
Walker Books, Andersen Press, Ginn,
• The Publishing Project
personal development as well as assisting
Heinemann and OUP. Others have worked
employment.
as storytellers, or developed their skills as
Semester 3
Assessment
teachers and librarians.
Individual modules are assessed by a
Students are encouraged to participate
combination of critical and creative work
in visits to publishers, sessions with a
Some students may also continue to
submitted at the end of each module.
range of visiting speakers, competitions,
develop their creative and critical writing at
Students are required to pass each
visits to local schools and bookshops and
postgraduate level by registering for a PhD.
module in order to progress. However, the
to submit work to the University’s own
outcome of the MA rests primarily with the
student writing magazine, VORTEX. The
Teaching team
Independent Study.
city of Winchester also plays host to the
The core teaching team members are:
internationally-renowned Winchester
Judith Heneghan (Programme Leader),
Independent Study
Writers’ Conference and the Wessex
Professor Andrew Melrose, Judy Waite and
When the taught modules are
Children’s Book Festival, presenting
Carole Burns. All are published writers. For
successfully completed, students submit
further opportunities for students to make
more information see:
an Independent Study Proposal after
contacts and engage in writerly activities
www.writingatwinchester.com
consultation with tutors. Students then
beyond the MA programme. A significant
embark on a period of Independent Study,
number of Winchester graduates have
Contact us
usually between 4 months and 2 years in
been published by major publishers
Course enquiries and applications
duration. This leads to the completion of
such as Bloomsbury, Scholastic, Magi,
Telephone: +44 (0) 1962 827234
www.winchester.ac.uk
3
www.winchester.ac.uk
Explore the Winchester experience
There is a wealth of academic and social facilities
There is also wireless internet access available
Services team ensures you have quality
offered on or close to the campus providing
across the campus.
housing throughout your study and can advise
on private housing in the city.
excellent opportunities for study, research,
enterprise, learning, teaching, socialising, sports
University Centre
and recreation.
The University Centre offers a number of social
Sports
facilities including the Student Union, an internet
We offer excellent sports facilities located
Research and Knowledge Exchange
Centre
café, mini-mart, dining hall and a bookshop.
on and close to the campus. The Winchester
The Student Union caters for a wide selection of
Sports Stadium offers a 400m eight-lane
The key facility for postgraduate students is
tastes offering comedy nights and film showings
running track with supporting athletic facilities
the Research and Knowledge Exchange Centre,
in its cinema.
for field events, an all-weather hockey and
general sports pitch, floodlighting and a
which is dedicated to research, enterprise and
consultancy. It provides excellent resources,
Accommodation
pavilion. We also have a gym, sports hall and
particularly for research students, as it is the
Campus accommodation and university managed
outdoor tennis courts.
centre of research administration and support
housing is available. The Student Housing
services.
The Martial Rose Library
The central library is a modern three-storey
building offering excellent facilities for study
and research. It houses a collection of 250,000
books, videos and sound recordings and receives
some 1,000 journals with electronic access to
thousands more. There are study spaces for more
than 450 readers, of which over 100 are equipped
with computers.
IT resources
There are over 600 networked PCs for students
located within the library, the IT Centre, faculty
buildings and the 24-hour access Learning Café.
Finding out more...
Course Enquiries and Applications
Telephone: +44 (0)1962 827234
Email: course.enquiries@winchester.ac.uk
The University of Winchester Winchester
Hampshire S022 4NR www.winchester.ac.uk
a large print version of this booklet
is available on request
02674/5/11