United Kingdom
1 Fulbright/Manchester Metropolitan University Award in Creative Writing
Accepted Degree Levels
|
Grant PeriodFall StartGrant Length10 Months |
Award Type
Discipline-Specific Awards
Fulbright Graduate Degree Grants
- Yes
Award Profile
The Fulbright Manchester Metropolitan University Award covers one year of a master’s degree in creative writing at the institution.
The Manchester Writing School is based at Manchester Metropolitan University, a University at the heart of a global city, with an international reputation for its creative courses.
Established in 1998, the Manchester Writing School is one of the largest and most successful writing schools in the UK. The School’s Creative Director is Carol Ann Duffy (UK Poet Laureate 2009-2019), and she teaches alongside a team of distinguished writers and critics including Tony Award-winning scriptwriter Simon Stephens and winner of the 2021 Costa Book of the Year Award Monique Roffey.
Our one-year MA and two-year MFA Creative Writing programmes will help students develop their writing skills through a blend of writing workshops and reading units, allowing candidates to explore the techniques and styles of modern and contemporary literature. Taught by practising writers, students will specialise in one of the following routes: Novel (including Short Fiction), Poetry, Writing for Children & Young Adults, Scriptwriting (for stage, screen or radio) or Creative Non-Fiction.
Our school plays a leading role in establishing Manchester as a city of writers. Many of our students and graduates have embarked upon published careers, launching first books, with many more achieving publication in journals and magazines, winning writing awards and prizes, and setting up small presses and anthologies. Our alumni include Yale University Windham-Campbell Prize winner Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, Costa First Book Award winner Andrew Michael Hurley and Forward Poetry Prize winner Kei Miller.
Manchester Writing School is located in the centre of Manchester, a lively and diverse city with a unique arts, culture and music scene. Voted the UK’s best city to live in*, Manchester is surrounded by green space, waterways and the rolling hills of the country’s first national park, The Peak District, which is a short train ride away. Manchester has been designated a UNESCO City of Literature, part of an international network of creative cities, and our School has a strong presence in the city, with links to many of the major cultural and arts organisations.
*Global Liveability Survey 2024 by the Economist Intelligence Unit
Grant Length
Grant Period
Master's programs in the UK typically last a year. Unless otherwise stated, funding is provided for only the first year of the degree - although the grant period is 10 months, tuition waivers cover the entire first year and student visas are not impacted by grant length.
Stipend amounts are set and do not change based on length of the degree.
Orientation
Pre-Departure webinars and in-Country Orientation
Candidate Profile
- Rigor in scholarly enquiry and academic or professional excellence
- Strong reasons for wishing to pursue the proposed project in the UK and at a particular institution
- A desire to gain a better understanding of the peoples and cultures of their host country
- Commitment to the community through volunteer and extra-curricular activities
- Flexibility and dynamism necessary for active involvement in the host country
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Applicants are expected to research their host country. Application materials should indicate a clear commitment to the host country community and a description of how you will engage with it.
The Fulbright Program in the United Kingdom has formed strong bonds between the UK and the US since 1948. From the energy of large metropolitan cities to the charm of quaint towns, daily life as a Fulbright Postgraduate to the United Kingdom offers a wide array of experiences. Our awards unfold across the UK's diverse landscapes throughout England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
Navigating the country is made easy with efficient public transportation networks, allowing scholars to explore cities, countryside, and coastlines. Throughout the year, grantees engage in cultural events and festivals, immersing themselves in the arts, music, and local traditions. To name a few opportunities, previous Fulbrighters have participated in Highland games, organised writing workshops in picturesque locations, and visited National Trust properties across the UK.
With over 160 universities, the UK is home to innovative and globally significant research and teaching projects spanning all disciplines and sectors. Fulbright awards are offered across all 4 nations and the British Virgin Islands, with a range of all disciplines awards and subject-specific awards.
Candidates interested in applying for an award in the United Kingdom are advised to visit the US-UK Fulbright Commission's website for more information on the awards offered by the Commission and to hear from our alumni community.
Explore firsthand accounts from US Postgraduates like Michael Yang, whose Fulbright year led to innovation in food science, Asael Rodriguez, who engaged with his host community of Canterbury through volunteering opportunities, and Katelyn Barnes and Paul Kyumin Lee, who deepened their work in peacebuilding and conflict resolution while researching in Belfast.
Hear about Fulbright experiences from Cesar Cortorreal, 2022-23 Postgraduate Awardee here:
Applicants may also wish to consult Universities UK, Universities Scotland, Universities Wales, and UK Research and Innovation for more information about higher education in the UK.
Applicants may contact the US-UK Fulbright Commission with any queries by emailing fulbrightprogrammes@fulbright.org.uk
Eligibility
6 Months
The following applicants are ineligible for consideration:
- Applicants who have extensive previous experience in the UK
- Applicants whose proposals are to complete any part of a medical degree, including internships or residencies, or applicants who hold a Ph.D. at the time the grant is to begin
- Applicants who have previously spent time at their selected university will be at a competitive disadvantage.
- Applicants who have spent six or more months in the host country in the year prior to the grant are ineligible for consideration unless the applicant is in the UK for an undergraduate study abroad program.
- Applicants are ineligible for the 2027-2028 awards if they are residing or studying in the UK during the 2026-2027 academic year unless the applicant is in the UK for an undergraduate study abroad program.
- Part time and distance learning masters/ research degree courses are ineligible for the Fulbright US Postgraduate awards to the United Kingdom
- Applicants are also recommended to carefully read the eligibility criteria for the United Kingdom on the IIE website before selecting their chosen award.
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
- Doctoral
Special Application Instructions
Eligible Courses:
- MA Creative Writing - https://www.mmu.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/course/ma-creative-writing~
- MFA Creative Writing - https://www.mmu.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/course/mfa-creative-writing
In your Fulbright online application, for Award Name, please select Manchester Metropolitan University from the drop-down menu.
Applicants will complete two applications, the Fulbright application and the university’s application (according to the university’s admissions procedures). Applicants must submit their university applications as early as possible, ideally before January 13, 2027. Applicants who fail to do so may be at a competitive disadvantage. The Fulbright Program does not cover the application fee for the university.
Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) Form
If required, submission of the Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is mandatory, even if you have advanced skills or are a native speaker of the language. Failure to submit the required FLE form may impact your eligibility.
Fulbright Proposal Types
No
Yes
Affiliation
The institution does not provide letters of affiliation/support for master’s degree applicants.
Applicants are responsible for arranging their own letter of affiliation/support and must apply for admission according to the relevant university’s admissions procedures. Applicants are not expected to have a letter of acceptance/admission to the university at time of application, but awards are made conditional upon acceptance by the chosen institution before arrival.
Affiliation Fees/Tuition
Tuition for the first year of study will be waived internally by the host university.
Award Benefits
- A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
- International travel benefits
- Accident & sickness health benefits
- 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
- 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government
Stipend Amount
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
The UK Research and Innovation’s minimum amounts for studentship stipends are used as a guide for the monthly stipend amounts. The figures are based on the monthly amount over a 10-month grant period.
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
For an idea of what to expect with regards to living costs within the UK, please refer to the British Council’s guidance on the cost of study for international students: https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/moving-uk/cost-studying
Dependents
Grant Amount
- Full tuition waiver for the first year of study
- £19,991 living stipend a (contribution towards general maintenance costs)
- £1,500 travel stipend
- A small travel allowance and accommodation to attend required Fulbright Commission enrichment events