Everything you need to know...
International/EU: £15,860 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
Teaching Quality
Sheffield Hallam University is ranked 4th amongst UK providers for creative writing in the Guardian University Guide 2023 league table.
Come to an open day
Find out more at our undergraduate open days. Book now for your place.
Course summary
- Experiment with fiction, non-fiction, poetry, new media and script.
- Learn how the creative arts can help to make a difference across the world.
- Connect with diverse audiences through your writing.
- Kick-start your career with accredited work placements.
- Join at the foundation year and develop your personal skills, awareness of resources and commitment to the subject
On this course, you’ll focus on your development as a writer and content creator. You’ll be supported by a network of leading practitioners, editors and publishers, graduating with the skills and real-world contacts you need to work as a writer.
How you learn
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
In the foundation year, you will start by developing a good foundation of knowledge but also the personal skills and awareness of resources that will help you manage your studies effectively and be self-motivated. Throughout the degree, our team of novelists, poets, scriptwriters and editors will help you become a confident writer skilled in everything from prose fiction to publishing.
Our external networks create opportunities for you to connect with professional partners, gaining valuable real-world experience of the creative industries and the vibrant Sheffield creative scene.
You learn through
- generating and pitching ideas
- workshopping your writing
- working with different audiences
- live readings and performances
- writing and sharing your work online and offline
- specialist workshops, lectures, seminars and tutorials
- live projects
- writing retreats
Course leaders and tutors
Fraser Stevens
Lecturer in Acting and PerformanceFraser is artist/scholar and lecturer in Acting and Performance.
Applied learning
Live projects
You’ll get regular opportunities to showcase your knowledge and skills to our industry and community partners. You’ll work independently and in groups throughout your studies, bringing your ideas to life in response to real briefs.
In the foundation year, you will undertake a series of projects that respond to real world debates.
Work placements
In the second year of the full degree, you’ll raise your professional profile through a placement module. You’ll have the chance to collaborate with external partners, undertake a work placement or develop your own enterprise.
Previous students on this course have worked with local schools and local children’s charities to develop materials and resources. Many have also gained experience in industries such as publishing, event design and public relations, and some have even started their own businesses.
Field trips
We run regular local, regional and international field trips at no additional cost such as writing retreats, festivals and theatre visits. These start right from the beginning of the foundation year and continue throughout your studies. Students in previous years have visited London Book Fair, as well as events in Montreal, Canada and Zagreb, Croatia. They also took part in the Festival of Debate, Doc/Fest film festival and Off the Shelf literature festival, and attended the ZEE-Jaipur Literature Festival in London.
Networking opportunities
We work with renowned festivals such as Off the Shelf and Doc/Fest and bring literary agents, publishers, and high profile writers to Sheffield to work with our students. You can take part in networking events and masterclasses, giving you a head start in the writing and publishing industries.
You’ll also have the opportunity to work with leading researchers. We have a strong alumni network and will encourage you to connect with partners outside of the University to give you the best career opportunities possible.
Future careers
Our students have gone on to exciting careers in
- the creative industries
- marketing, communications and media
- local and regional government
- the charity sector
- education
- social work
- postgraduate study and academia
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour | Keeping safe on Campus
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
On this course you’ll have access to our dedicated humanities suite, including
- co-working spaces with flexible desks, large screens, laptop library, comfy seating, and a shared kitchen
- a specialist cinema equipped with state-of-the-art 4K digital projection and twin 35mm film projectors
- a learning centre holds an extensive collection of subject-specific books, journals, and databases
- a Skills Centre offering specialist advice to hone essential skills and provide feedback on your academic writing
Entry requirements
All students
48 UCAS points, including 24 points from one A Level, BTEC or equivalent; prior learning options available for students that have been out of education for a number of years, but can show some commitment to the subject (e.g. evidence of some creative writing when applying to Creative Writing course). GCSEs – English Language at C, but no requirement for Maths.
If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Talent Accelerator | Credits: 120 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Year 2
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Being A Writer | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Craft And Form | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Writing For The Screen | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Writing Live | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Year 3
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: A Fine Line: Poetry And Poetics | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Half Hour Script | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Ideas Into Action | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Truth, Half-Truth And Lies: Creative Non-Fiction | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: What's The Story? Long And Short Fiction | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Year 4
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Placement Year | Credits: - |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Final year
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Creative Writing Major Project | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Counter-Culture And Creativity | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Games Narratives | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Life On Earth: Writing And Environment | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Make It New: Experimental Writing | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Writing For Change: Writing And Advocacy | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Writing For Young People | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2023/24 is £9,250 per year. These fees are regulated by the UK government and are therefore subject to changes in government policy. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
† If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2023/24 is £15,860 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
Additional costs for English courses (PDF, 218.6KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
