CREATIVE WRITING AT UCT
UCT’s Centre for Creative Writing offers a 2-year-long workshop- and supervision-based masters’ programme for writers, including writers of creative non-fiction, and poets. It is the most prestigious on the continent and is entwined with the rich intellectual and cultural life of the university and the city. The programme has a strong tradition of local and international visitors, readings, and formal and informal connections with other members of the arts community, including script and television writers, documentary makers, literary journalists, and publishers.
RECENT BOOKS
By Staff, Graduates, and Associates
Former staff and associates of creative writing include: J.M. Coetzee, Stephen Watson, Breyten Breytenbach, Andre Brink, Damon Galgut, Mike Nicol, Justin Fox, Rayda Jacobs, and Christopher Hope.
Writers like Zakes Mda, Zoe Wicomb, Willy Kgotsitsile, Justin Cartwright, Antjie Krog, Deon Meyer, Ingrid Winterbach, Jean McNeil, Jenefer Shute, and Gabeba Baderoon have visited the programme.
Recent graduates, like Henrietta Rose-Innes, Ceridwen Dovey, Susan Mann, Femi Terry, Ellen Aaku, Lauren Beukes, Diane Awerbuck, William Dicey, Alastair Bruce, Ben Williams, Nape ‘a Motana, Nicole Strauss, Toast Coetzer, Alastair Bruce, Tom Dreyer, Alastair Morgan, Tania van Schalkwyk, and Tom Eaton are among the brightest of the new generation of writers in South Africa and around the world.
In recent years associates and graduates of the programme have won and been shortlisted for many significant local and international literary prizes, including the Nobel, Booker, Caine, Herzog, University of Johannesburg, M-Net, Sunday Times, Ingrid Jonker, Penguin Prize for African Writing, Eugene Marais, CNA, Paris Review’s Plimpton Prize, the Canadian Governor General’s Award. Lauren Beukes has just won the Arthur C. Clarke Award.
STAFF
Etienne van Heerden 
Imraan Coovadia 
Joan Hambidge
Visit Etienne’s website ******** Read Imraan’s fiction ******** Watch Joan reading
APPLICATIONS
Applicants are generally required to have honours degrees or the equivalent. Most apply in November for admission in the following year although some apply for mid-year admission. Along with the standard UCT post-grad application, candidates must submit a substantial selection of their work (around 40 pages) in the genre in which they wish to enroll (poetry, creative non-fiction, or fiction). They should also include a brief letter outlining their writing plans and experience. Further information is available from Isa Mkoka in the English Department, Arts Block, Upper Campus, University of Cape Town, Private Bag Rondebosch.
Where to Apply
UCT Postgraduate Funding
Email Us
Telephone: 021 650 2836/5472
Useful Links:
MA Curriculum
UCT Graduate Handbook
BOOKSA
LITNET
BOOK LOUNGE
OPEN BOOK Literary Festival (September)
FRANSCHOEK Literary Festival (May)
MAIL AND GUARDIAN Books Page
GREAT TEXTS/BIG QUESTIONS Lectures run by Creative Writing and the Gordon Institute
NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL grants