University of St Andrews

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Creative Writing Summer Programme

Saturday 29th June to Saturday 27th July 2013

Now well established and in its tenth year, the Creative Writing Summer Programme has proved as popular as the successful Scottish Studies Summer Programme and incorporates many of its features. A series of master classes and workshops with leading Scottish writers allows students to develop skills of authoring, oral presentation, editing and analysis. In addition to the stimulating environment of St Andrews there is a full programme of excursions, social and cultural activities to provide additional inspiration for students' poetry and prose.

Come and experience what it is like to live and study in one of the most atmospheric and beautiful universities in the world whilst honing your writing skills.

For more details please download our brochure: International Summer Programmes 2013 (PDF, 2,847 KB) 

• Type of programme: Pre-college academic and cultural enrichment
• Participants: Coeducational - students about to enter 11th, 12th grade or college
• Maximum enrolment: 20
• Programme dates: Saturday 29th June to Saturday 27th July 2013

Background and philosophy

The Creative Writing Programme has been created to satisfy a proven demand from aspiring young writers. It is designed to give high school students a genuine taste of the learning environment at one of the UK's top universities. Full-time faculty at St Andrews plus other leading Scottish writers will give lectures, master classes and workshops. Graduate students will conduct some tutorials and seminars. This approach fosters close relationships between academics and students and provides an intense intellectual environment within which students can develop their literary skills.

The academic programme is enhanced by extensive field trips and cultural enrichment is provided for by visits to art galleries, concerts and plays.

The majority of students attend the Programme in order to broaden their academic skill base and to experience college level teaching and learning in the distinctive Scottish system. 

Programme content

Lectures and readings

• The History and Architecture of St Andrews (walking tour)
• Poetry lectures and workshops
• Introduction to Prose Fiction
• Fiction lectures and workshops
• Play Writing
• 20th Century Scottish Poetry
• Readings by leading Scottish writers
• Admission to UK Universities

Master classes by leading Scottish writers

A number of sessions will be given covering the following topics:

• Prose
• Poetry
• Non-fiction
• Slam Poetry
• Radio Drama

Assessment

Students' writing is monitored and assessed throughout the Programme, culminating in the submission of two poems or a short story.

Classroom teaching is complemented by field trips to a number of sites of historical and cultural importance (see Excursions below)

Students may be invited to draw on some of these experiences in their writing.

Daily schedule

Breakfast is available from 8:00-8:45 and on weekdays is followed, typically, by two or three classroom sessions. Lunch is from 1:00 - 1:45 p.m. and the afternoon is usually given over to excursions, workshops or private study. There are a number of whole day excursions. Dinner is from 6:00 - 7:00 and may be followed by talks of a more general nature, concerts, theatre or movies.

Excursions and additional activities include:

• Scotland's Secret Bunker
• Glamis Castle
• Edinburgh (City and Castle)
• Dundee (Discovery, Verdant Works)
• Ceilidh (Highland Dancing)

On all excursions there is a minimum staff/student ratio of 1:10

There is ample free time built into the Programme to allow students to make use of the extensive sports facilities, explore the town, shop, walk on the beautiful beaches and cliffs or simply to relax with friends.

Facilities

All students are housed in comfortable, single en suite study bedrooms (each with telephone), with daily maid service in a University residence hall. The hall has coin-operated laundry facilities, TV room, library and a spacious common room. Resident staff are on hand to deal with any queries and to ensure students' safety and well-being.

Students have free membership of the University Sports Centre (although there may be a small nominal charge for the use of some facilities).

There is free access to computers and the internet (from your room if you bring a laptop with Ethernet card).

Staff

The course teaching will be directed by Jonathan Falla. Jonathan has published three novels, many stories and essays, and has also written for stage and television. He is an experienced teacher of Creative Writing, and a Fellow of the Royal Literary Fund. You can find full details of his career and work on his website: www.jonathanfalla.co.uk. The assistant directors are senior graduate students. There will be lectures, workshops and master classes taken by full-time faculty members, almost all of whom hold doctorates. Some workshops will be taken by graduate students. There will also be a series of masterclasses with leading Scottish writers, some from the faculty of St Andrews University.  For more information please see School of English

Medical care

Medical care in the case of an emergency is provided through the National Health Service. There is a charge for any medical treatment and therefore we would advise students to ensure that they have adequate medical insurance. There is a comprehensive Health Centre in St Andrews to which students requiring medical attention would be accompanied by a member of staff.

Religious life

Although the programme has no religious affiliation, schedules of services at nearby places of worship can be provided and students afforded the opportunity to visit these at appropriate times.

Costs

The all-inclusive fee for the four-week program will be £2,800, which covers:

• Tuition
• Programme manual
• Trips and Excursions
• Use of sports facilities
• Social and cultural events
• Accommodation (full board, single room)
• Transport between St Andrews and Edinburgh or Glasgow International Airport

A deposit of £250 is payable by May 1st and the balance of £2,550 is then payable by June 1st.

Transportation

The programme fee includes transportation between St Andrews and either Glasgow International or Edinburgh Airport at both the beginning and end of the programme.

Application timetable

Applications should be submitted, together with a registration fee of £15, before May 1st. The programme operates a rolling admissions policy so that early application is strongly advised.  The registration fee can be paid via the University online shop.

WE ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH OUR APPLICATION FORM.  PLEASE SEND US THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION BY EMAIL TO ijm4@st-andrews.ac.uk INSTEAD OF USING THE ONLINE FORM:

Name

Date of birth

Nationality

Gender

Home address

Email address

Telephone number

(Mailing address if different)

Parent's email address

Next of kin (with address and telephone number if different)

Name and email address for teacher from whom you will be requesting recommendation

Who will be paying the fees?

Any disabilities or medical conditions

Name and address of current school

Current GPA

Expected graduation date

Personal statement: Please give a short account of your reasons for wishing to attend the Summer Programme in about 300 words

In support of your application you should send us a recent sample of your creative writing, either a collection of at least four poems or a piece of short fiction of between 1000 and 2000 words. This should NOT be an essay or a piece of expository writing.  Please send your writing sample by email to ijm4@st-andrews.ac.uk

Further information

Please contact:

What previous students and families have said about the Creative Writing Summer Programme

• "I loved pretty much every single second of it, I was not homesick once (too busy!) and I think you have changed the kind of writer I am going to be from mediocre to fantastic." (Melissa, Chester UK)

• "I have grown so much at this program, as a writer and as a person, and I am so incredibly reluctant to leave. Thank you so much for taking the time to write this and also, for organizing such a wonderful program in general. I will never forget my time in Scotland . I miss it already and will return for another visit next summer!" (Krista,   Plano TX)

• "This program not only helped me grow as a writer, but also as an individual, as cheesy as it sounds!  I am much more confident in my writing, meeting people and sharing my work. I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it." (Colette, Edmonds WA)

• "I came here for a writing program, but I also came out of it with a college-type experience.  I loved St Andrews, the town and the university." (Emma,  Montclair NJ)

• "The course exceeded my expectations of both the quality of teaching and the level of my peers.  Students are provided with a stimulating and challenging learning environment.  Well-established guest teachers and tutors challenge pre-conceived assumptions of writing while cultural excursions provide inspiration. " (anon)

• "Best summer program I have ever been to." Ryan, Wellesley MA