Writing Popular Fiction MA



One novel, two countries, two degrees, one combined master's programme, 100% writing joy

Course overview

On Edinburgh Napier University's dual degree collaboration with Seton Hill University, you'll combine online and on-campus learning between two novel-worthy settings – Edinburgh and Pennsylvania.

Typical entry point to this course is in September. Please enquire for more information.

Learn more at:

www.setonhill.edu/fiction

www.napier.ac.uk/macreativewriting

Students chatting at a table from the MA Creative Writing course with lecturer Laura Lam

Mode of Study:

Full-time

Duration:

1 years

Course details

You'll begin Seton Hill University's MFA in Writing Popular Fiction with a June on-campus residency in the gorgeous Laurel Highlands of southwestern Pennsylvania, where you'll start writing and connect with a friendly, supportive writing community.

From there, you will spend a year (September to August) studying in Scotland on the MA Creative Writing degree at Edinburgh Napier University, while remaining an active part of Seton Hill's online program community.

After satisfactorily completing all Edinburgh Napier University requirements, you'll receive a Master of Arts in Creative Writing (and be well on your way to completing your novel).

You'll then re-join your Seton Hill University community at the next January on-campus residency in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. From this point on, you will continue in the Seton Hill program.

Having satisfactorily completed all Seton Hill requirements, you will graduate with a complete novel and a Master of Fine Arts in Writing Popular Fiction.

  • note and pen

    Assessments

     Assessments focus on practical creative challenges and achieving professional levels of critical reflection, enabling students to become more self-sufficient as writers and collaborative practitioners.

    Tasks includes crafting original short stories; creating pre-writing materials for full-length narratives; critical self-reflection on your work; keeping a learning journal of progress through one-to-one mentoring; plus developing strategies and content for teaching, public engagement events, and digital self-publishing.
  • study abroad

    Study abroad

     This degree programme is split between Edinburgh Napier University and Seton Hill University, Pennsylvania.
  • library

    Facilities

    While studying at Edinburgh Napier University, this course is taught in person at our Merchiston campus.

    Our students have access to the Writers' Room, a private workspace with wi-fi. It houses a library of 2,000 hand-picked books, DVDs and graphic novels,  for the exclusive use of creative writing students.

Meet your Programme Leader and Teaching Team

Throughout your studies at Edinburgh Napier University, you'll learn from experienced professionals and industry leaders who bring valuable expertise, insight and real-world perspectives to your learning experience.

Programme Leader: David Bishop.

The course is taught by a team of award-winning industry professionals including David Bishop, a successful crime writer and former editor; internationally best-selling science fiction and horror author Nicholas Binge; acclaimed folklorist and weird fiction author Elizabeth Dearnley; and best-selling historical fiction author Noelle Harrison.

Read more about their established academic and professional careers

Disclaimer

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Full information is available in our disclaimer.

Entry requirements

What are the entry requirements for Writing Popular Fiction?

The entry requirements for this course are an Honours Degree at a 2:2 or above in any discipline with relevant writing experience.

Once your application is received, you may be contacted by the Programme Leader with an invitation to submit a sample of writing: this is the second stage in selection. Please do not send writing samples with your initial application, as a detailed brief and deadline will be provided. The final stage in the selection process is an interview: for international applicants, this is conducted by telephone.

Can I make an appointment with an advisor to discuss further about the admission process?

If you want to get more information on the admission process, please get in touch with the postgraduate admissions team by submitting an enquiry form above.

If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test.  The English Language requirements for this programme are IELTS (Academic) with an overall score of 7.0 with no individual component score of less than 7.0.  For guidance on the acceptability of other English Language tests please contact pgadmissions@napier.ac.uk

This may not apply if you have completed all your school qualifications in English, or your undergraduate degree was taught and examined in English (within two years of starting your postgraduate course). Check our country pages to find out if this applies to you.

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Entry requirements by country

Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:
  • BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
  • MSc Nursing courses
  • All Graduate Apprenticeship courses

See who can apply for more information on Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study. 

Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.

Undergraduate admissions policies
Postgraduate admissions policies

Fees & funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.

Tuition fees
Students from 2026/27 2027/28
Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland £8,030 tba
Overseas and EU £20,540 tba

Tuition fees are subject to an annual review and may increase from one year to the next. For more information on this and other tuition fee matters, please see our Fees and Funding links above.

The University offers a 20% discount on Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes to its alumni. The discount applies to all full-time, part-time and online degrees. The discount can only be applied to year one of a full-time Postgraduate degree, any additional years are exempt from the discount. For part time Postgraduate degrees the discount will apply to years one, two and three only and any additional years will be exempt from the discount. Please read our full T&C here.

Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.


Please note:

The discount for Edinburgh Napier alumni can only be applied to year one of a full-time Postgraduate degree, any additional years are exempt from the discount.

For part time Postgraduate degrees the discount will apply to years one, two and three only and any additional years will be exempt from the discount.

Please read our full T&C here

Careers & employability

  • Book deals
  • Bookselling
  • Editing
  • Representation by literary agents
  • International and national competition wins
  • Collaborations with comic artists
  • Publication in magazines and anthologies
  • Edinburgh International Book Festival appearances
  • Marketing
  • Paid editing and writing commissions
  • Performances and teaching
  • Publishing
  • Working for national literary organisations
Woman laughing at a table with a book in one hand and a cup in the other hand in The Writers Room at Merchiston.