BA (Hons) Creative Writing

A career in creative writing could see you working in publishing, a literary agency, freelancing or in education — and that’s just the start. Whether you want to create prose, scripts, poetry or nonfiction, we’ll help you turn writing into a career.

With visits from published writers and industry professionals, you’ll be able to explore career opportunities and build contacts. When you graduate, you’ll have a strong portfolio and a professional network to kickstart your career.

Writers rarely work alone, so this course will give you the opportunity to collaborate with other courses. You might write scripts with animators or filmmakers, or explore narratives with illustrators.

All undergraduate courses at AUB offer an optional placement year, to be taken between your second and third years of study.

If you’re unsure about this optional placement, you don’t need to decide now. Once you’re here and studying with us, the course team will discuss the placement options with you, so when the time comes, you can make a decision that’s right for you.

If you’re required to have a Student Visa to study in the UK, it won’t be possible to undertake the one-year placement option; there’ll be other opportunities for you to engage with industry during your study at AUB.

First year allows you to experience different areas of Creative Writing, providing you with a toolkit of fundamental creative and academic skills. A dynamic series of workshops, lectures and seminars, facilitated by staff and visiting industry professionals, are designed to build your competency. You'll read widely throughout this level, gaining a solid knowledge of other authors and their work, and an understanding of how this research can impact on your own practice.

At the core of the course experience will be writing workshops that provide safe environment for you to share your work with lectures and peers, gaining invaluable constructive feedback. These workshops will build confidence in sharing your work with your peers and develop strategies for giving and receiving feedback.

Second year encourages you to apply your developing skills, equipping you with strategies for pushing boundaries, taking risks and experimenting with responsive writing on location.

Through a series of trips, you'll develop a more nuanced understanding of form, genre, and style whilst gaining first-hand experience of the different roles of a writer in today's world.

You'll be paired with a professional writer or editor, where possible, who'll guide you, alongside academic staff, as you undertake a project of your choice.

You'll enter your third year looking to strengthen existing industry links and networks introduced in second year through further practical engagement and experiences. You'll develop an awareness and understanding of publishing options, literary agencies, and other creative arts and literature-based organisations, and will undertake practical community or industry-based live projects that reflect your interests.

You'll actively explore the mechanics of being a professional writer, developing knowledge in the areas of self-promotion, marketing and managing finances.

Concluding the year, you'll work on an extended project in your chosen area of interest.

All students are registered for the award of BA (Hons). However, exit awards are available if you leave the course early, having successfully completed one or two levels. If you successfully complete a level of the course, you'll automatically be entitled to progress to the next level.

For the award of a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE), you must have achieved a minimum of 120 credits at Level 4. This qualification may be awarded if you leave the University following successful completion of the first year of your course.

For the award of a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE), you must have achieved a minimum of 240 credits of which a minimum of 120 must be at Level 5. This qualification may be awarded if you leave the University following successful completion of the second year of your course.

For the award of a BA (Hons) you must have achieved a minimum of 360 credits of which a minimum of 240 must be at Level 5 or above, of which a minimum of 120 credits must be at Level 6. This qualification will be awarded upon successful completion of your course.

A BA without Honours may be awarded if you've achieved 300 credits, at least 180 of which are at Level 5 or above, and at least 60 of which are at Level 6.