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Undergraduate

Creative Writing BA (Hons)

University of Gloucestershire

What is Creative Writing BA (Hons)?

Our Creative Writing BA (Hons) course scored 91% for academic support in the National Student Survey 2023. Our English studies courses were ranked 9th in the UK for academic support.

From poetry and playwriting to short stories and novels, you’ll focus on your existing creative passions and experiment with a wide range of styles, modes, and genres. You’ll be mentored by professional authors who can help you find your creative voice. You can see your work performed by actors in a staged reading, and get published in our annual paperback anthology, the New Writing Series, which is produced by our MA writers on our UoG Anthology website.

We’re a close-knit creative writing community and our students benefit from a high level of support from each other and staff. You’ll learn from award-winning lecturers who specialise in a variety of genres, including crime fiction, literary fiction, transgressive writing, and confessional poetry. These include Dr Michael Johnstone, shortlisted for the Bridport Prize and whose fourth novel Disnaeland was enthusiastically reviewed in The Times, among others.

Study style

The course includes a mix of lectures, seminars and one-to-one tutorials – all taught by professional authors. In lectures, you’ll learn the fundamentals of good writing by studying the greats, both classic and contemporary. In workshops, you’ll develop your own stories, plays, novels and poems. Regular writing workshops mean you can share your work with peers and get their feedback.

In your first year you’ll explore the fundamentals of prose, poetry and dramatic writing, before pursuing your chosen strand, (or multiple strands if you’re keen to combine a mix of creative areas). Your final year will have a professional focus to prepare you for your career in the creative industries. You’ll meet with established authors, agents, and editors – understanding the publishing industry, composing your writer’s biography and learning how to submit your work to relevant magazines and markets.

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Entry requirements

    • 96 – 112 UCAS tariff points, CCC – BBC  at A levels, MMM – DMM at BTEC or a Merit in your T-Level.

      Entry can also be gained by portfolio if you can send us some of your writing (prose and/or poetry and/or scripts).

      If you are unsure whether we could make you an offer or you have any questions, just get in touch with our admissions team who will be able to advise you.

    • English Language or Literature and Maths Grade 4/C in GCSE (or equivalent) are normally required.

    • This course is available with an additional integrated foundation year. This four year option has lower entry requirements – see below – than the other study type/s available.

      Typical offers
      48 UCAS tariff points, DD at A levels, PPP at BTEC or a Pass in your T Level.

      GCSEs
      Grade C/4 in English Language/Literature and Mathematics, or equivalent (e.g. Level 2 Functional Skills).

      To apply for the integrated foundation year degree, select the ‘With foundation year’ option from the study types listed at the top of this page before clicking ‘Apply’.

      See course overview for more information about the interated foundation year option.

    • We welcome applications from mature students (aged 21 and over) and do not necessarily require the same academic qualifications as school leaving applicants, although some entry requirements may still apply for Professionally Accredited Courses. We accept Access to Higher Education Diplomas and make offers on an individual basis.

Course modules

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Fees and costs

See the further details of fees and potential extra costs when studying a course at the University of Gloucestershire.
Start date Location UCAS code Fee (UK)
per year
Fee (international)
per year
Sep 2024 Francis Close Hall, Cheltenham W800 £9,250 £16,600
Sep 2025 Francis Close Hall, Cheltenham W800 TBC TBC

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Possible careers

Graduates from this course can go on to work as:

  • Author
  • Playwright
  • Poet
  • Screenwriter
  • Games Writer
  • Editor / Editorial Assistant / Web Editor
  • Copywriter
  • Features Writer
  • Blogger and Content Writer
  • PR
  • Concept Writer / Staff Writer
  • Journalist
  • Publisher.

Industry links

You will have opportunities to present your writing at the Cheltenham Literature Festival and Cheltenham Poetry Festival. Our Creative Writing Anthology may be the first place where you see your work published and your 20-minute play could be performed at the Everyman Theatre as part of our annual student showcase.

In your final year, you will also learn about the publishing industry and how to submit your work to professional magazines and markets, as well as receive general employability support. Throughout your studies, there will be opportunities for work placements and internships which will help you to develop a broad range of skills and experience.

Be taught by published writers

You will learn from published writers, including Dr Michael Johnstone whose fourth novel Disnaeland came out in July 2022, Dr Angela France who has published four poetry collections and whose work has appeared in many anthologies, and Senja Andrejevic whose short stories have appeared in various literary magazines and whose dramatic writing has been produced with funding from Arts Council England. On the English Literature team, staff include Dr Charlotte Beyer who is the author of three scholarly monographs and author/editor of six collections and Professor Arran Stibbe whose innovative work on ecolinguists is sector leading.

Collaborate with professionals

On our dramatic writing modules you can work with Cheltenham’s renowned Everyman Theatre. You’ll develop your play with the artistic director, a playwright and resident actors – leading to a staged reading open to your peers, tutors and the public.

Get your work published

The course offers a range of publishing opportunities such as our annual student paperwork anthology, The New Writing Series.

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Ranked 11th in the UK for student satisfaction

Our creative writing courses are ranked 11th in the UK for student satisfaction by the Complete University Guide 2023.

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Ranked 7th in the UK for career prospects

Our creative writing courses are ranked 7th in the UK for career prospects by the Guardian University Guide 2023.

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Ranked 9th in the UK for academic support - NSS, 2023

Our English studies courses were ranked 9th in the UK for academic support according to the National Student Survey 2023.

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