PhD in Creative Writing in Bath United Kingdom | Bath Spa University

The Creative Writing PhD program merges a substantial creative manuscript (such as a novel, poetry collection, play, or digital work) with complementary scholarly research. The creative component should match standard publication length for its genre, while the academic portion requires 20,000 words. Many alumni have established successful writing careers or secured faculty positions, with the program actively supporting publication through diverse research training options in both campus-based and global low-residency formats. Admission is highly competitive, with selection based on proposal feasibility, writing sample quality, the candidate's academic and creative background, and available supervisory resources. Typically, applicants possess an undergraduate degree with first or upper second-class honors plus a distinguished MA in Creative Writing (or equivalent achievement).The program emphasizes synthesis rather than separation - a unified investigation where creative practice informs scholarly inquiry and vice versa. Both components must meet professional publication standards, with the research portion demonstrating original, rigorous scholarship. Collectively, the creative and academic work must advance knowledge in the field through their interconnected relationship.