BA (Honours) Creative Writing

UCAS code

W800

Attendance

Full-time

Three years full-time

At a glance

Prepare for a career as a writer with a course that develops your prose, scriptwriting and poetry, as well as your creative thinking. You are taught by widely performed and published poets, scriptwriters and novelists who give you real insights into essential writing processes.

Key points
ХаPrepare for a career as a writer.
ХаGain from the experience of successful poets, scriptwriters and novelists.
ХаGo on overseas study exchanges to partner universities such as the Sorbonne, Paris.
ХаSupport and develop your writing through the study of language and literature.

What is creative writing?
Creative writing is a distinct academic field within English studies.а It incorporates the practice or craft of writing fiction, poetry, drama, and non-fictional prose, such as memoir or biography. It also develops the critical skills of students as reviewers and develops their knowledge of their literary heritage and the contemporary culture in which their own work is situated.а

About this course

Develop your prose, scriptwriting and poetry, as well as your knowledge of literary culture on a course led by widely performed and published poets, scriptwriters and novelists.

You explore and develop writing skills in prose, drama and verse, and your understanding of what it means to be a writer, through workshops, seminars and tutorials. In your final year you work on a major project in your chosen genre as well as receiving advice on making a living as a writer from authors and industry figures.

We have a well-published and professional writing team whose work includes scriptwriting for prime time soap and drama programmes, short stories, novels, poetry, and memoir.

Learning best practice directly from writers, you
Х explore and extend your style by acquiring the professional habits of drafting and reflection
Х learn to analyse texts and complementary art forms from the writerТs point of view
Х apply the lessons learnt to your own work

Through reading literary texts and developing an English-language toolkit, you enhance your own abilities as a writer and develop transferable skills.

You have the chance to study overseas on one of our creative writing exchanges. These include places at the Sorbonne, Paris and Carnegie-Mellon, in the US. You can also enhance your career prospects as a writer by gaining professional experience on work experience placements with community writing groups, the local press, in-house publishing and working with non-governmental organisations.

Well-trained writers find employment in all sectors and are employed wherever writing is a core requirement, especially in advertising, the media, and education, as well as the wider creative industries.

Key areas of study
Key areas includeаХ making creative use of English language Хаliterature-based modules to help you situate your work within contemporary literary fields Х making a living as a writer.

Internationally acclaimed teaching team
Our internationally acclaimed tutors include
Х novelist, short-story writer and playwright Jane Rogers (Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature; Arthur C. Clarke Award-winner)
Х poet Maurice Riordan (former editor of Poetry London)
Х prize-winning poet and memoirist Conor OТCallaghan
Х award-winning childrenТs writer and performer David Harmer
Х Forward-Prize-nominated poet Chris Jones
Х script-writer and theatre director Mike Harris
Х writer of literary detective fiction, James McCreet
Х environmental poet and editor, Harriet Tarlo
Х award-winning TV dramatist and novelist, John Milne

Together our professional writing team publish and teach in all areas of contemporary literary practice.

Associated careers

Our graduates develop careers in areas including Х teachingаХ freelancingаХ advertisingаХ business writingаХ the mediaаХ publishingаХ editingаХ industryаХ journalism.

Course content

Year one modules

Х introduction to writing Х writing now Х craft and form Х creative language awareness Х writing prose and poetry Х words and images

Year two core modules

Х major genre choice Х language and literature Х what is contemporary? Х prose writing

Year two options

Choose from the following genres Х novel Х verse Х scriptwriting Х literary non-fiction Х life writing Х performance poetry Х short story Х children's literature

You can also choose modules from Х English literature Х English language Х foreign language Х work-based project.

Year three core modules

Х creative writing portfolio or dissertation on your main genre choice Х making a living as a writer

Year three options

Х poetry Х novel Х script Х short story Х professional writing Х writing in the community Х literary editing Х the writer as teacher Х memoir Х literary non-fiction Х experimental writing Х electronic media Х contemporary poetry (critical) Х kiss and tell (creative and critical) Х journalism Х independent study module (work-based learning) Х contemporary fictions (critical) Х literature in the twentieth century Х developing and applying public relations skills

You may also choose modules from Х performing arts Х film Х arts Х media degrees.

Assessment

Х personal written work Х presentations

Entry requirements

2014 entry requirements

GCSE English language at grade C or above. We do not accept GCSE equivalents, plus one of the following

Х 300 points from at least two GCE/VCE A levels or BTEC National qualifications, to include 100 points in A level English language or A level English literature or A level English language and literature. We accept AS levels and general studies and will consider Key Skills.

Х Access - at least 45 credits at level 3 from a relevant Open College Network accredited course.

If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS average score of 7.0 with a minimum score of 5.5 in all skills

We also consider other qualifications from the UCAS tariff. We may consider applicants without standard or formal qualifications via a portfolio of work and an interview. Your commitment to writing would be the most important factor for non-standard entry, and you must demonstrate this through your portfolio. We welcome applications from people of any age. Please contact us for further advice.

Meeting the qualifications on the entry criteria does not guarantee you a place. You should ensure that you submit a personal statement and reference as these will also be considered as part of the selection process. Guidelines on personal statements and references can be found on the UCAS website.

2013 entry requirements

GCSE English language at grade C or above. We do not accept GCSE equivalents, plus one of the following

Fees

International students

2013/14 academic year

Typically г10,680 a year

2014/15 academic year

Typically г11,250 a year

How to apply

You apply for this course through UCAS.

Contact details

For more information or to check the progress of your application phone +44 (0)114 225 5555, fax +44 (0)114 225 2167, e-mail admissions@shu.ac.uk