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