Why Study / Key Benefits

When available, the Master of Writing was designed to help students refine their writing through theory, research and creative long-form projects. Swinburne describes the course as developing an understanding of professional writing principles and applying those principles through the creation of a broad portfolio. Students also had access to writing materials, mentors and tutors with industry expertise.

Key academic and professional benefits included:

• Development of advanced writing skills
• Critical thinking and analysis of writing theory
• Research and synthesis of complex information
• Development of creative and professional texts
• Experience across different writing genres and styles
• Development of a professional writing portfolio
• Understanding of publishing and creative-content industries
• Development of communication, research and professional-practice skills
• Opportunities to engage with industry-connected writing contexts

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The Master of Writing required 150 credit points across 12 core units. The programme was structured as a nested qualification pathway:

Graduate Certificate stage:

• Critical Friends: The Real and Virtual Support of Writers – PWR60001
• Journalism – PWR60004
• Research for Writers – PWR60003
• Real Life Writing – PWR60002

Graduate Diploma stage:

• Reading and Writing – PWR70001
• Writing History: People, Places and Times – PWR70004
• Scriptwriting – PWR70005
• Writing for Digital Media – PWR70002

Master's stage:

• Writing and Praxis: Publication Folio A – PWR80005
• The Creative Artefact: Publication Folio B – PWR80003
• Creative Industry Enterprise – PWR80006
• Creativity for Practice – PWR80001

Disciplines / Specialisations

There were no separately listed formal specialisations for the Master of Writing.

The programme's main academic areas were:

• Creative writing
• Professional writing
• Journalism
• Scriptwriting
• Digital writing
• Writing research
• Publishing
• Creative industries
• Storytelling and content production

Programme Highlights

The main features of the published Master of Writing included:

• 1.5-year full-time master's qualification
• 150 credit points
• 12 core units
• Fully online study
• Nested Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma pathway
• Creative and professional writing focus
• Journalism and research components
• Scriptwriting and digital-media writing
• Publication-focused projects
• Creative-industry enterprise
• Development of a professional writing portfolio
• Industry connections and mentoring opportunities

Career Outcomes

Swinburne lists career outcomes including:

• Writer
• Journalist
• Editor
• Written content creator
• Media content developer
• Scriptwriter

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The most important current update is that Swinburne has discontinued new applications for this course from Study Period 3, 2024.

Accordingly:

• It is not available for a new 2026 application.
• It is not available for a new 2027 application.
• There are no current course intake dates.
• Historical fees should not be used as a current offer.
• Historical scholarship information should not be interpreted as current eligibility.
• Historical intake months should not be used for a new application.