PhD · Pretoria, South Africa
University of Pretoria PhD specialising in Creative Writing
The University of Pretoria offers a PhD specialising in Creative Writing through its Unit for Creative Writing in the Faculty of Humanities. The degree combines an original creative work in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, drama, screenwriting, or literary translation with substantial scholarly research. Applicants need a relevant master's degree and a portfolio of creative work, and the minimum full-time study duration is two years.
- Deadline: 2027 intake: International applicants — August 31, 2026; South African applicants — September 30, 2026. Both dates have passed.
- Funding: Fully funded
- Application fee: R300
- 2 years
Funding is not automatically guaranteed. Eligible full-time doctoral students may apply separately for competitive university bursaries, including the UP Doctoral Research Bursary. The 2027 bursary application deadline was September 18, 2026. No fixed annual stipend is guaranteed for this Creative Writing PhD.
Program site: up.ac.za/programmes/postgraduate/phd-specialising-creative-writing/2027. Please confirm the details there before you apply.
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