Monash University: University Handbooks: Postgraduate handbook 2004: Units indexed by faculty
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Postgraduate handbook 2004
Arts

Master of Arts in Creative Writing*

* Subject to final approval

Course code: 3773 + Course fees: local students - RTS HECS-exempt places available; international students - $A15,500 + Coordinator: Chandani Lokuge

The MA in Creative Writing is offered by 100 per cent research. Candidates will be required to submit a component of their own creative writing of 20,000 to 25,000 words, together with an exegesis of 10,000 to 15,000 words, the combined word total normally not to exceed 40,000 words or be less than 30,000 words. Approval may be given to a candidate to write a creative work component of more than 25,000 words when that greater length is appropriate to the genre. However, in this event, the exegesis must still remain at the prescribed length of 10,000 to 15,000 words. Approval should be sought at the time of the review of candidature.

For the purpose of this course, `a component of creative writing' will be a novel or a novella or a group of short stories or a play or a group of plays or a sequence of poems of a portfolio of creative works of various genres. The creative writing component submitted for examination as part of the thesis must be undertaken during the enrolment in the MA, under supervision. The `exegesis' will constitute a scholarly, self-reflexive critique, based on research into the theory and practice of the creative process focused on the student's creative writing component, the writing of which will itself be considered as an act of research into the nature of literary creativity. The exegesis will involve thoroughly researching the various aspects of the creative writing project: the creative process, the characteristics of the attempted genre, the mechanics of handling language and narrative, the influence of other relevant writers, context, and the shaping elements in a work of art.
The MA will normally be completed in two years; maximum period of candidature: two years; minimum period of candidature: one year.

Entry requirements:

An honours degree with a grade of H2A or above as well as: (a) a representative collection of the candidate's creative work, completed or in progress, published or unpublished, in the genre or genres which the candidate proposes to work in for the purposes of obtaining a degree; (b) a research proposal; (c) a covering letter explaining the candidate's interest in the degree and a curriculum vitae outlining the candidate's current situation, relevant awards and scholarships, professional interests and publications, if any.

Note that work submitted in the portfolio for admission may not be part of the thesis submitted for examination.

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