Marking 20 years of Oxford’s MSt in Creative Writing

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Oxford’s Master of Studies (MSt) in Creative Writing, a milestone that highlights the programme’s role in nurturing a new generation of Oxford writers.

Founded in 2005 by Dr Clare Morgan, the MSt in Creative Writing has grown into an internationally recognised hub for creativity. The programme has supported writers who have gone on to win literary prizes, secure publishing contracts, and make significant contributions across prose, poetry, and drama.

Celebrating Oxford writers

The importance of the MSt and its impact on the Oxford community was recently highlighted in the latest Connect, Kellogg’s alumni magazine. Reflecting on the programme’s successes over the past 20 years, from six-figure publishing deals and Booker Prize shortlisting to Netflix collaborations, prize-winning poetry, and debut novels. More than 470 writers have completed the MSt since 2005, with many alumni remaining part of an active and supportive writerly community.

Distinct from the MSt in Creative Writing, Kellogg’s Centre for Creative Writing fosters a vibrant community of writers and researchers working across genres and cultures. It hosts a masterclass series and twice-termly research seminars on topics of contemporary interest, while also holding the annual Creative Writing Competition.

Back in July, we held the fifth annual Creative Writing Competition, held in association with the Centre for Creative Writing. This year’s theme was ‘Celebration’, open to broad interpretation, and submissions were welcomed across a range of genres, including poetry, short fiction, flash fiction, drama and non-fiction.

Read more about the 2025 Annual Writing Competition.