Konstfack Writers is an advanced course in creative writing. The focus is on writing as a literary and artistic practice. The course is aimed at those who want to deepen and develop their writing as a craft and as an artistic practice, as well as pursuing a longer writing project.
Course director: Professor Mara Lee, Department of Fine Art
Konstfack Writers is a course in creative writing where we approach and teach literature from the writer’s perspective; from within the very practice itself.
In this course, students will deepen their knowledge of literary writing in a program where all teachers are professional and prolific writers of poetry and novels. The course is aimed at applicants who already have a writing practice (in fiction, art, theater, journalism, etc.) and who want to deepen their knowledge in dialogue with other writers. As a participant in the course, you can write in English, Swedish, Danish or Norwegian. In the course, we meet each participant where they are in their writing, and our goal is to give each student the tools needed to develop the craft and art of writing.
The course is taught at half (50%) time, and the group meets regularly for 7-8 intense workshop-weeks during the academic year. During the workshop-week, course participants convene for writing workshops where we assemble to read and comment on each other’s work. These weeks also include seminars, poetry craft classes, prose craft classes, master classes, supervision, author visits, lectures, and excursions. During the intervals between the workshop-weeks, course participants are pursuing their own individual projects as well as reading and writing assignments and focused courses studies.
This means that students are expected to have worked on individual artistic projects before and that they will have the ability to complete writing and reading assignments as well as working on their writing projects and preparations between the workshop-weeks.
Our teachers have extensive experience in teaching creative writing and fine arts, and we have work experience from the most renowned writing schools in Sweden and Scandinavia, including Biskops-Arnö, Forfatterskolen in Copenhagen and Literary composition at Valand Academy, Gothenburg.
The course also aims to provide knowledge in artistic research and writing pedagogy.
Target group
The course is aimed at writers and artists within the field of text, performance, film, sculpture, painting, dance, choreography, etc., but also at journalists, critics, editors, designers and others who are active in creative and artistic professions and want to develop their own literary or text-based artistic project. The course is also aimed at those interested in developing their knowledge of artistic research and writing pedagogy.
Learning objectives
After completing the course the student shall have the abilitiy to:
-account for and analyze literary and artistic texts
-present, discuss and critically evaluate their own practice and working methods
-creatively interpret a literary and/or artistic work.
-develop their artistic and writing practice independently.
-understand and orient themselves in artistic research.
-understand and orient themselves in writing pedagogy.
-place their creative and artistic practice in a larger social and aesthetic context.
-critically reflect on the place of writing in society.
Entry requirements
Specific requirements.
Bachelor’s degree of 180 credits in fine arts or literary composition or in another subject relevant to the course, or equivalent.
And proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary school course English 6.
Selection
The selection is based on artistic merits through assessment of the applicant's work samples and letter of motivation. Read the instructions below on how to submit the file.
Study start and end, study pace, study format
Study start: 2 September - 8 June 2025
Study pace: 50%
Study format: At Konstfack campus
Workshops at campus:
Workshop 1. 3-5 September
Workshop 2. 30 September - 3 October
Workshop 3. 18-21 November
Workshop 4. 13-16 January
Workshop 5. 17-20 February
Workshop 6. 24-27 March
Workshop 7. 5-8 May
Course syllabus: KOY040
Study places: 12
Main language of instruction: English (and Swedish, applicants can write in Swedish, Danish or Norwegian within the course).
Teaching level: Advanced level
How to apply
1. Apply at universityadmissions.se (15 March -15 April 2024 )
When applying to Konstfack you submit an online application to the Swedish central application website www.universityadmissions.se
2. Certify the entry requiremens and upload files for the selection (15 March - 2 May 2024)
Make sure that your academic qualifications are submitted to your account at universityadmissions / antagning.se. If your qualifications are not found under your account, make sure to upload files to certify the entry requirements (see under entry requirements above). Furthermore, you need to upload a file for the selection between eligible applicants.
Note that the file for selection must be uploaded to current application round in order to be assessed.
For the selection, submit one (1) PDF file including
1. Work Samples (max 5 A4)
2. Letter of motivation (max 1 A4)
Attach the work samples and letter of motivation a one (1) PDF.
Name your PDF file 'Konstfack Writers' and upload to your account at universityadmissions.se / antagning.se
Note that once you have uploaded a file it is not possible to erase it.
Do not submit any embedded links in the PDF.
Accepted file format: PDF
Application and tuition fees for students outside of EU/EEA