BA (Honours) Creative Writing

Year of Entry 2025/26
Creative Writing

BA (Honours)

Creative Writing

Full-time English

Join a dynamic creative community and learn how to tell immersive stories through short fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, new media and script – on a course ranked 3rd best in the UK.

Everything you need to know...

  • Pound sign

    What is the fee?

    Home: £9,535 per year
    International/EU: £17,155 per year (£1,200 for placement year)

  • Time

    How long will I study?

    3 / 4 Years

  • Location

    Where will I study?

    City Campus

  • Bookmark

    What are the entry requirements?

    112-120 UCAS points

  • Checkmark

    What is the UCAS code?

    W800

  • Date

    When do I start?

    September 2025

  • Avatar

    Placement year available?

    Yes


3rd best in the UK

We're the 3rd best university in the UK for creative writing in the Guardian University Guide 2024.

Course summary

  • Learn from award-winning staff on one of the top three courses in the UK
  • Experience guest masterclasses from internationally acclaimed writers and creatives
  • Sharpen your writing and editorial skills with work placements and live briefs
  • Network with publishers, build your profile and develop as a professional writer
  • Join Sheffield’s thriving creative community and take part in UK-leading literature events

This BA Creative Writing course is for those who want to harness the power of the written word and hone creative skills to connect with audiences. You’ll develop your individual writing style and understand the fundamentals of good style, structure and character development, in both traditional and future-facing writing formats. 

You’ll graduate with the skills, confidence and contacts you need to thrive as a writer in all its professional forms.


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Watch student Lauren O'Donoghue talk about what it’s like to study this course.

How you learn

You’ll join a dynamic and collaborative writing community, working alongside illustrators, graphic designers and filmmakers to explore possibilities and challenge conventions.   

Our team of award-winning writers will help you become confident and skilled in everything from prose fiction to publishing. You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our professional partners, so you can gain real-world experience of the creative industries and make the most of Sheffield’s vibrant cultural scene.

You learn through:

  • Lectures, seminars and individual tutorials
  • Workshopping your writing
  • Modules focused on specific forms and styles
  • Working with different organisations and audiences
  • Generating and pitching ideas
  • Live readings and performances
  • Masterclasses from guest writers
  • Writing trips and retreats

Course topics

In your first year you’ll learn the basics of a variety of forms – from poetry and fiction to script and creative non-fiction. You’ll think about what it means to be a writer and start to connect your writing with the real world by responding to a live brief from a publisher. 

In your second year, you’ll continue to hone your skills across all the main forms of writing, developing your style as you find your audience and explore genres. During this time, you’ll workshop your writing with students and academics to develop essential skills in drafting and revising your work.

The final year of your course is your opportunity to focus on your creative future. In addition to refining your craft and developing your creative voice, you’ll explore different audiences and purposes for creative work. You’ll also develop and carry out a creative project that brings your passions and creativity together. 

Course support

You’ll be supported at every step of your student journey, with:

  • Access to specialist support services to help with your personal, academic and career development
  • Access to our Skills Centre with one-to-ones, webinars and online resources
  • Student-led social initiatives and feedback
  • Career support for up to five years after graduating

Course leaders and tutors

Dr Shelley Roche-Jacques
Dr Shelley Roche-Jacques
Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing

I bring to my teaching my interest in dramatic action and the spatio-temporal elements of texts. This approach often helps students unpick ideas around genre, narrat … Read more

Applied learning

We think the best way to learn something is to do it in the real world. Studying in Sheffield puts you at the heart of a vibrant cultural scene, where you can put learning into practice through placements and live projects with our rich community of publishers and creatives.

Work placements

You’ll have the opportunity to complete a placement year between your second and third years – either a 25-week placement or multiple shorter placements. These give you valuable work experience to prepare you for your future career – as well as an Applied Professional Diploma to add to your CV. You could also take the time to collaborate with external partners or develop your own creative enterprise.

Previous students have taken the chance to work at children's literacy charity Grimm and Co, exhibit work at Sheffield Museums, and create their own digital magazines.

Field trips

We run regular local, regional and international field trips – from writing retreats to festivals and theatre visits. There’s also an opportunity to experience a writing retreat closer to home. Previously, this has included a residential in the Peak District – the stunning national park right on the border of Sheffield.

Networking opportunities

We work with renowned festivals held in the city, such as Off the Shelf literary festival and Doc/Fest, an international documentary film festival. 

These events attract literary agents, publishers and high-profile writers. Past students have volunteered as delegates – gaining experience working at the festivals while growing their professional network. Plus our innovative Masterclasses and alumni network will give you a headstart in the writing and publishing industries.

Competitions and galleries

Take advantage of regular opportunities to showcase your knowledge and skills to our industry and community partners – such as schools, museums, theatre companies and charities. You’ll work independently and in groups, bringing your ideas to life in response to real-world briefs. 

In a recent exhibition at Sheffield’s Millenium Galleries, students on the BA and MA Creative Writing courses worked together to curate an exhibition that more than 30,000 people attended.

Some of our students have also taken part in the Festival of Debate and we encourage students to enter competitions like Sheffield’s New Poet’s Prize and the Hive Young Writers Competition. 


Future careers

As well as written and spoken communication skills, you’ll develop the skills to understand different audiences and frame a persuasive argument.

Our students have gone on to exciting careers in:

  • Creative industries, such as theatre and media
  • Teaching and education
  • Journalism
  • The charity sector
  • Arts organisations
  • Marketing, PR and communications
  • Local and regional government
  • Social work
  • Postgraduate study and academia 

Our famous Hallam graduates include:

  • Marina Lewycka – author of the prize-winning novel, A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian 
  • Ben Wilkinson – renowned poet, critic and freelance writer
  • Frances Leviston – award-winning poet and novelist
  • Cherie Jones – author of How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House (shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, 2021)
Student's success story
Abi Milner

Abi Milner, a BA Creative Writing student, has always loved to use words and language in a creative way. Find out how she used poetry to reimagine the past and raise awareness about the future climate crisis. Read more

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 


City Campus map
Location

Howard Street
Sheffield
S1 1WB

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Equipment and facilities

You’ll study in world-class learning facilities across the university campuses – including a 24-hour learning centre, Students’ Union, cafes and eateries, lecture theatres, exhibition spaces and more.  

You’ll have access to specialist facilities, such as:

  • The Culture and Media Lounge – an open space with flexible desks, large screens, laptop library, individual and collaborative workspaces, and a shared kitchen
  • An extensive collection of specialist books, databases and journals
  • Our award-winning iLab enterprise centre, with free studio and office space, freelance opportunities and a vast business network ready for you to tap into

Media Gallery

Entry requirements

All students

UCAS points

  • 112 - 120

This must include at least 2 A Levels or equivalent BTEC qualifications. For example:

  • BBC-BBB at A Level.
  • DDM in BTEC Extended Diploma.
  • Merit overall from a T level qualification
  • A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels, EPQ and general studies.

GCSE

  • English Language or English Literature at grade C or 4

• Access - at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2 from a relevant Open College Network accredited course.

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

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.

We welcome applications from people of any age.

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

Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

Year 1

Compulsory modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Becoming A Writer
Credits 40
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Creative Sheffield
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
The Narrative Arc
Credits 40
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Words In The World
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Year 2

Compulsory modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Experimenting With Short Forms
Credits 40
Assessment Coursework(100%)
The Writers’ Workshop
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Writing Genre
Credits 40
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Writing To Commission
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)

Elective modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Study Abroad - Creative Industries
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Year 3

Optional modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Placement Year
Credits -
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Final year

Compulsory modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Collaboration And Audience
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Creative Innovations
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Creative Writing Portfolio
Credits 60
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Environmental Writing
Credits 20
Assessment Coursework(100%)

Fees and funding

Home students

Our tuition fee for UK students on full-time undergraduate courses in 2025/26 is £9,535 per year (capped at a maximum of 20% of this during your placement year). These fees are regulated by the UK government and therefore subject to change in future years.

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 2025/26 is £17,155 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.

Additional course costs

The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.

General course additional costs

Additional costs for Sheffield Creative Industries Institute (PDF, 153.7KB)

Legal information

Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.

 

How do I apply?

Apply now via UCAS

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Why not come to our next open day? Open days are the perfect place to talk to staff and students, visit our campuses and get all the information you need. Alternatively, feel free to ask us a question.

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Why choose us?

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Teaching

We are Gold rated in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) for the outstanding quality of our teaching and student outcomes

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Accommodation

We guarantee to find you an affordable place to live that’s close to campus and comes with all bills included

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Employment

95% of our UK graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating (2021/22 Graduate Outcomes Survey)

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