NZ · Master's
Victoria University of Wellington
MA in Creative Writing (IIML)
Victoria University of Wellington
Course Overview
The International Institute of Modern Letters is the most consequential creative writing programme in the southern hemisphere by a wide margin — its workshop alumni include Eleanor Catton, who wrote the first draft of The Luminaries here before it won the Booker Prize, along with a long list of New Zealand's working novelists, poets and screenwriters. Admission is by portfolio only, and cohorts are deliberately small: roughly a dozen writers per workshop stream in fiction, poetry, scriptwriting or creative nonfiction.
The year is structured around one thing: finishing a book-length manuscript under weekly workshop scrutiny, supported by a folio supervisor. That is a genuinely different proposition from an academic literature Master's, and it suits Sri Lankan writers who already have a manuscript in progress and want a year of protected time plus an editorial network. Wellington's literary infrastructure — Te Herenga Waka University Press, the National Library, Verb Wellington and a dense small-press scene — is part of what you are buying.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Bachelor's degree in any discipline with a B average — the degree matters far less than the portfolio.
- check_circle Portfolio is decisive: a substantial writing sample in your chosen stream (typically 20-30 pages of fiction or creative nonfiction, 10-15 poems, or a script extract) plus a page describing the project you intend to write during the year.
- check_circle Prior publication in journals, anthologies or literary magazines strengthens an application but is not required.
- check_circle Two referees who can speak to your writing.
- check_circle Places are capped and competitive — apply well before the November portfolio deadline.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 6.5 Overall (no band below 6.0), with a strong writing band expected.
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 90 Overall.
- check_circle Waived if your Bachelor's was taught and assessed entirely in English — standard for Sri Lankan English-medium graduates, and the portfolio itself demonstrates written command.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (NZD) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (12 months) | NZD 43,000 | Rs. 8,170,000 |
| Living Expenses (12 months, Wellington) | NZD 25,000 | Rs. 4,750,000 |
| Health & Travel Insurance (compulsory) | NZD 750 | Rs. 142,500 |
| Books, Readings & Setup | NZD 1,500 | Rs. 285,000 |
| Total Programme Investment | NZD 70,250 | Rs. 13,347,500 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
The measurable outcome of this degree is a finished manuscript and an agent-and-editor network, and IIML folios are routinely picked up by Te Herenga Waka University Press, Penguin Random House NZ and Australian and UK publishers. Graduates work as authors, editors, screenwriters, publishing professionals, content and communications leads, and creative writing teachers. The 3-year Post Study Work Visa gives open work rights, which most graduates use in publishing, media and communications roles while finishing a book. Be realistic about the economics: writing income is uneven, and Sri Lankan graduates typically pair it with editorial, teaching, advertising or communications work at agencies and universities in Colombo.
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ඔබට සුදුසු විශ්වවිද්යාලයක් තේරීම, අයදුම්පත් යොමු කිරීම, SOP සකස් කිරීම සහ වීසා ලබා ගැනීම ඇතුළු සෑම පියවරකදීම, ඔබ වෙනුවෙන් සියලුම වගකීම් විශ්වාසවන්තව අප භාර ගනිමු.