Rhodes University's MA in Creative Writing is now accepting full time applications for 2015, with a closing date of 30 October 2014.

The programme is committed to innovative work that expands the possibilities of writing. It is open to students working in all forms of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and playwriting, and welcomes writing that challenges the boundaries of existing genres and literary modes, including flash fiction, prose poetry, and genre fiction (such as science fiction, fantasy, crime writing etc).

The teachers, all of whom are practising writers, include Lesego Rampolokeng, Joan Metelerkamp, Mxolisi Nyezwa, Kgebetli Moele, Paul Wessels, Anton Krueger, Ingrid Winterbach, Rian Malan, Eben Venter, Vonani Bila, Stacy Hardy and Robert Berold.

Students also have the opportunity to interact with the Mellon Writers in Residence attached to the MACW and visiting writers and teachers from around the world. In addition, the programme features innovative literary community outreach sessions, an exciting student public reading series, special literary seminars, workshops and colloquiums and the production of an annual anthology of student writing.

Recent events have included Teaching Creative Writing (September, 2014), the first conference focused exclusively on teaching Creative Writing in South Africa; readings and workshops by acclaimed writers Lance Olsen (University of Utah, USA), Denis Hirson (École Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France) and Noy Holland(UMass Amherst, USA), as well as a reading to honour the poet Mafika Gwala, presented as part of the Wordfest at the National Arts Festival (July 2014). Gwala, who attended the event, passed away on 8 September 2014.

Rhodes University's MA programme in Creative Writing runs over one year for full time students based in Grahamstown and two years for part time students living elsewhere. The next part time intake is for 2016, with applications accepted during October 2015. For 2015, only full time applications are being accepted, with a closing date of 30 October 2014.

Visit the MA programme in Creative Writing website www.ru.ac.za/isea/maincreativewriting for more information and application forms.