Skip Navigation

Creative Writing BA (Hons)

UCAS code: W800

Push your creative limits. Build your literary skills. Join practice-led workshops and readings with contemporary writers. Make connections as publishing and broadcasting professionals share insights. Find your voice with a creative writing degree that fires your imagination.

Overview

Course length: 3 years full-time
6 years part-time
Start dates: September 2024
September 2025
Location: Edge Hill University
Example offers: BBC-BBB (A Level) or DMM (BTEC) View full entry criteria
Subject(s): Creative Writing
Faculty: Arts and Sciences
Department: English and Creative Arts
Creative writing students sat in pairs around a table, working on their laptops and taking notes.

As a writer, you are an artist and a craftsperson. Our creative writing degree gives you the tools and skills you need to grow into the best writer you can be.

During the course, you experiment with different kinds of writing. You’ll create original poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. We’ll help send your imagination soaring in writing scripts and narratives for stage, screen and games.

We encourage you to challenge yourself. You’ll learn to analyse and edit your own work to make your writing better: an ability every good writer must develop.

We are proud of our supportive Edge Hill writing community. It has helped students like you achieve their potential for over 30 years. Our teaching team consists entirely of published writers, so understand what it takes to launch a writing career. Our visiting professionals – writers, producers, editors, poets, dramatists – love to share their knowledge. We all work together so you can succeed.

Course features

  • International students can apply

  • Learn a language option available

  • Sandwich year option available

  • Studying abroad option available

Student Caitlyn Fell, standing with Jacqueline Wilson at a writing workshop set up by the care leaver covenant

It was great to hear someone talk about their experience in the industry.

Caitlyn Fell

BA Hons Creative Writing

View student profile

What you'll study

Your writing journey begins by exploring key ideas in poetry, fiction, writing for games, and script writing. We encourage you to start a writer’s journal as you develop the foundations of your writing ability. You’ll develop skills in constructing your own fictional worlds and learn to read as a writer. Year 1 also introduces the business of writing, and the art of leading a writer’s life.

Compulsory modules:

Expand all
Introduction to Fiction
Introduction to Poetry
Introduction to Scriptwriting
Reading the World and the Business of Writing
The Studio

One of:

Expand all
Introduction to Writing for Narrative Games
Language 1

In Year 2 the emphasis is on developing a professional approach to your writing. Write contemporary poetry, short fiction and a one-act play, then analyse and edit your work to make it better. Find out about opportunities in publishing. Gain a greater understanding of professional creative writing and the writer’s life by taking a placement, or creating a culturally relevant piece of group work. Your growth in confidence and experience will set you up for greater creative freedom in Year 3.

Compulsory modules:

Expand all
Inside the Publishing Industry
The Art of Poetry
The Writer’s Life
Writing Short Stories

One of:

Expand all
The Art of Creative Non-Fiction
Writing for Roleplaying Games

One of:

Expand all
The Art of Scriptwriting
Language 2

Develop confidence as an autonomous writer. You’ll create a substantial project in your chosen medium, whether it be poetry, non-fiction, short story, the start of a novel, a script for the stage, screen, radio or graphic novel, or an immersive games narrative. You also have four optional modules to develop your skills in a particular area like fiction, screenwriting or digital adventure games. Or choose to throw yourself into experimental creative practice and analyse contemporary writers’ work.

Compulsory modules:

Expand all
The Writer’s Workshop

Four of:

Expand all
Advanced Fiction
The Art of Screenwriting
Experiments in Writing
Poetry and Innovative Form
The Writer at Work
Writing for Digital Adventure Games
Language 3

Optional modules provide an element of choice within the course curriculum. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by timetabling requirements. Some restrictions on optional module choice or combinations of optional modules may apply. In addition to the optional module choices listed, it may also be possible to apply to study an alternative 20-credit module in Year 2 and/or Year 3, chosen from outside the course curriculum. Some restrictions on this elective module choice may apply.

How you'll study

Teaching and learning is centred on the writer’s workshop, where your writing will improve through practical exercises and the analysis of existing work. The workshop is a vital element in your development as a writer and your participation through self and peer appraisal will provide opportunities for improving your work and commenting constructively on that of fellow writers.

Working individually, in pairs and in larger groups, you will analyse your own and other writers’ creative practice. You will learn the habits and methods of a professional writer through activities such as keeping a writer’s journal, research and observation, re-drafting and editing, and presenting work to a high standard.

There are also opportunities to undertake work-based learning through independent and employability-focused projects. Past projects have included setting up and running an online literary magazine, writing and producing a play, and developing and delivering a series of creative writing workshops in schools.

Timetables for your first week are normally available at the end of August prior to enrolment in September. You can expect to receive your timetable for the rest of the academic year during your first week. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week. Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities.

How you'll be assessed

All modules are assessed by coursework, which includes creative practice, critical practice, essays, presentations, and a reflection on the creative process.

There are no formal written examinations as part of the current assessment methods on this degree.

Who will be teaching you

You’ll be taught by tutors who are practising professional writers. They include published short story writers, poets, dramatists and games writers. The programme team are also active researchers and scholars, publishing work in a variety of academic and literary journals. This means that you’ll be taught by people who know how to succeed in both the creative industries and academia.

As a Creative Writing student at Edge Hill University, you’ll also have the opportunity to attend workshops and readings with a variety of guest writers at the Arts Centre. Close links have also been established with Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre, as well as other live venues across Merseyside.

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

Typical offer 112-120 UCAS Tariff points. No specific subjects are required but the study or experience of English Language, English Literature, Drama or Media would be preferred.

You will be asked to submit a sample of your writing.

Example offers

Qualification Requirement
A Level BBC-BBB.
BTEC Extended Diploma (or combination of BTEC QCF qualifications) Distinction, Merit, Merit (DMM).
T Level Overall grade of Merit.
International Baccalaureate (IB) We are happy to accept IB qualifications which achieve the required number of UCAS Tariff points. Subject-specific requirements at Higher Level (HL) Grade 5 may apply.
Access to Higher Education Diploma 45 credits at Level 3, for example 15 credits at Distinction and 30 credits at Merit or 24 credits at Distinction and 21 credits at Merit. The required total can be attained from various credit combinations.

Please note, the above examples may differ from actual offers made. A combination of A Level and BTEC awards may also be accepted.

If you have a minimum of two A Levels (or equivalent), there is no maximum number of qualifications that we will accept UCAS points from. This includes additional qualifications such as Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), AS Levels that haven't been continued to A Level, and General Studies AS or A Level awards.

English language requirements

International students require IELTS 6.0, with a score no lower than 5.5 in each individual component, or an equivalent English language qualification.

If your current level of English is half a band, one band, or one-and-a-half bands lower, either overall or in one or two elements, you may want to consider our Pre-Sessional English course.

How to apply

Apply full-time

Apply online through UCAS

Read our guide to applying through UCAS to find out more about the application process.

International

Apply as an international student

Please see our international student pages for further information about how to apply as a prospective international student.

Part-time applications require a direct application to Edge Hill. Please select the year of entry that you wish to apply for.

Apply for September 2024 part-time.

Apply for September 2025 part-time.

Should you accept an offer of a place to study with us and formally enrol as a student, you will be subject to the provisions of the regulations, rules, codes, conditions and policies which apply to our students. These are available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/studentterms.

Did you know?

If you join a full time undergraduate degree at Edge Hill University, we will guarantee you the offer of a room in our halls of residence for the first year of your course.

Discover our accommodation

Facilities

Creative EdgeThe Department of English and Creative Arts is based in Creative Edge, a state-of-the-art £17million building offering highly contemporary facilities.

The £17 million Creative Edge building features a lecture theatre, seminar rooms, IT facilities and smaller tutorial spaces. It has everything you need to become a capable, versatile, creative writer and thinker. Creative Edge’s social learning spaces are ideal for passionate discussion with like-minded creatives.

You’ll develop the practical skills, analytical tools and confidence for wherever your creative flair and insight takes you.

Where you'll study

Creative Edge

Finance

Tuition fees

UK Full-Time

£9,250

a year

UK Part-Time

£77 per credit

for 360 credits

International

£16,500

a year

EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as Irish nationals, may be eligible for the UK tuition fee rate.

Financial support

Subject to eligibility, UK students joining this course can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the Government to cover the full cost of tuition fees. UK students enrolling on the course may also be eligible to apply for additional maintenance loan funding to help with living costs. Please view the relevant Money Matters guide for comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK students, together with details of how to apply for potential funding.

EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may be eligible to apply for financial support. Irish nationals can ordinarily apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). If you are an EU student who does not have settled or pre-settled status, or are an international student from a non-EU country, please see our international student finance pages.

Your future career

What can you do with a BA (Hons) Creative Writing? Some graduates launch freelance writing careers. Others find jobs in publishing, content creation, game design and teaching. Here are some names you might know:

  • Oxford University Press
  • Dead Ink Books
  • Crooked Dice
  • DC Thomson Media
  • Southport College
  • NHS Leadership Academy
  • War Games Illustrated
  • Superdry

Your future and employability matter to us. Our dedicated Placement Officer can help you find industry opportunities to add to your CV.

We also have an exciting games company partnership. Crooked Dice offer internships to our students, who form a team to design, market and launch a tabletop roleplay game. Students have launched successful freelance games industry careers this way.

As well as sharing external opportunities, we offer a range of scholarships, including the Dame Janet Suzman Playwriting Award. This is open to 3rd years and MA students, like Hywel Wilkie who won in 2018 and went on to become a Liverpool Everyman Young Writer.

The creative writing team also run The Edge Hill Press, where students can intern on real-world publications, partnering with publishers like Pluto Press and Galley Beggar. The Edge Hill Prize is one of the biggest literary prizes in the UK, with opportunities for students to intern or become part of the reading panel.

Course changes

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, however our courses are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may necessitate alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses.

Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of professional bodies, revisions to subject benchmarks statements, to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

Track changes to this course

Discover Uni: Full-Time Study

Discover Uni: Part-Time Study

Download our course leaflet