Creative and Critical Writing (Welsh)
Produce an original piece or collection of creative work as well as developing important critical skills.
This unique PhD pathway offers students the opportunity to produce an original piece or collection of creative work as well as a thorough analysis of the work. The creative element can include prose (novel, short story, creative non-fiction or play/film script) or poetry.
The programme includes a compulsory critical element. Students are asked to apply the original creative work to broader critical and cultural contexts as well as evaluating the work’s conceptual and theoretical contribution.
This programme is only available through the medium of Welsh. We also offer a corresponding course available through the medium of English.
Programme aims
- To help students to nurture creative and critical skills.
- To offer knowledge and expertise for a career in the arts, media, government, teaching, management and research. Our School provides training and a high level of support, and the postgraduate community makes a vital contribution to the University's international reputation for research.
Distinctive features
- The opportunity to produce a piece or collection of original creative work as well as a thorough critical analysis of the work.
- Annual series of research seminars and conferences.
- Opportunities to teach in the School and the Welsh Language Teaching Centre (Welsh for Adults).
- Close links with practitioners and national institutions.
"What appealed to me in this degree was the opportunity to explore my field of study from two perspectives: the critical perspective and the creative perspective. For the critical perspective I interviewed playwrights, examined plays and films in archives, and gained a better understanding of theoretical hypotheses as well as other experiences. For the creative element, I was able to learn my craft from experienced drama practitioners. There is no doubt that the two perspectives - the critical and the creative - fed into each other in a way that challenged me at times, but was also very satisfying."
Key facts
| Mode of study | Full-time, part-time |
|---|---|
| Qualification | PhD |
| Full-time duration | PhD 3 years |
| Part-time duration | PhD 5 years |
| Start dates | January, April, July, October |
Skills developed
- Advanced subject knowledge and expertise
- Advanced research skills (theory and application)
- Self-management and motivation
- Analytical and critical thinking
- Research dissemination and engagement
Assessment
This programme is assessed based on the research outcome produced through submission of a thesis and viva voce.
For PhD in Creative and Critical Writing, the submission will take one of the following forms:
- in the case of prose (novel, short story, work of creative non-fiction or play/film script), the creative portion and critical commentary together should not exceed 100,000 words. The critical commentary shall comprise no less than 20,000 words.
- in the case of poetry, a collection of poetry, prose poetry or micro-fiction, the creative portion should amount to around 60 pages, with an accompanying critical commentary of no less than 20,000 words.
- an integrated Creative/Critical submission of no more than 100,000 words.
Our staff research interests include Medieval prose and poetry, the craft of storytelling, folk literature and legends, historiography and literature, the hymn and the ballad, women’s studies, literary theory and criticism, children’s literature, and various aspects of contemporary literature.
A recent example of a PhD project was Iaith y Ddrama / Drama'r Iaith [The Language of Drama / The Drama of the Language]: Critical and Creative PhD submitted by Ceri Elen Morris. Ceri Elen examined to what extent linguistic challenges were a phenomenon in writing drama for Welsh language theatre and television. She produced a thorough analysis to answer this question, and responded to the conclusions through creative work.
Previous graduates in this field have gone on to pursue careers in higher education, research, the arts, media, education, government and publishing.
UK government postgraduate doctoral loans
Candidates for the Professional Doctorate programme may be eligible to apply for a UK government postgraduate doctoral loan.
Find out more about UK government postgraduate doctoral loansFunding
The School offers a limited number of scholarships that include:
Celia Thomas and Glyn and May Ashton Scholarships
These scholarships are available to students (home and international) who wish to study for an MPhil or PhD at the School of Welsh. The size of each scholarship varies from year to year. Scholarships are usually worth up to £3000.
The Islwyn Scholarship
This scholarship is available to students (home and international) who wish to study an MPhil or PhD at the School of Welsh, and who wish to investigate Welsh-language 19th-century literature, the Welsh literary or religious history of Welsh Gwent or the work of Islwyn, the poet. The amount of each scholarship varies from year to year. Scholarships are usually worth up to £ 3000.
To apply for the above opportunities, contact the School of Welsh to receive an application form.
We are also a part of the AHRC-funded South, West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership which means that prospective students are able to apply for scholarships in the field of Celtic Studies. The subjects in this field include Literature and Sociolinguistics and Language Policy.
There is more information about this scholarship on the website above. To discuss making an application, please contact the School’s Director of Postgraduate Research.
See our latest PhD studentships and projects and find out more about other funding opportunities.
Tuition fees
Students from the UK
Get the latest information on postgraduate fees.
Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland
Get the latest information on postgraduate fees.
Students from the rest of the world (international)
Applications should include a research proposal of up to 1,500 words that outlines their intended programme of research. Candidates should contact the School of Welsh to discuss their research interests before making a formal application.
The Director of Postgraduate Research Studies at the School will then advise as to the expertise available and assist candidates as they develop their Research Proposals.
Suitable for graduates in Welsh or other Humanities and Social Science subjects. Students who have not completed an MA or a research methods training course normally follow the research skills module of the taught MA while preparing for their MPhil/PhD thesis.
A 1st or Upper 2nd class UK Honours degree or equivalent is required.
Candidates who wish to submit their PhD dissertation in Welsh, and who have not graduated in Welsh, must satisfy the School as to the standard of their written and oral skills in the language.
English language requirements
IELTS with an overall score of 6.5 with 5.5 in all subskills, or equivalent. Please see our English Language Requirements guidance for more details.
