Although it is difficult to ascertain on what grounds one program is better than another, there is widespread consensus that the School of Literature and creative Writing at the University of East Anglia has a unique position in the academic world. The MA in Creative Writing at the UEA was founded in 1971 by Angus Wilson and Malcom Bradbury and since then it has produced a long list of top award-winning writers like Ian McEwan, Kazuo Ishiguro, Anne Enright or Trezza Azzopardi.

The School of Literature and Creative Writing at the UEA selects the best students to offer them a unique combination of talented guidance (award-winning writers are professors) who, according to professor Giles Foden, help students find the right form for their ideas. In other words, an MA in creative writing at the UEA easily certifies a contract for writing a book with a publishing company.

Other creative writing programs such as those in Bath and London City's University offer good publishing porspects as well and good quality writing but the School of Creative Writing at the UEA fofers a very original practical and critical approach.