Creative Writing BA (Hons)
BA Hons Creative Writing
Overview
If you’re an aspiring writer, there’s no better place to hone your craft than the home of literary greats, Charles Dickens and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
On this BA (Hons) Creative Writing degree course, you’ll learn to write across various mediums. From stories to scripts and plays to poetry, you’ll develop your writing voice and improve your technique under the guidance of professional novelists, poets and playwrights.
The course develops your talent and prepares you for a career in writing. You’ll learn the skills to succeed in many creative and professional industries, from print and online media to film and television, as well as public relations, advertising and teaching.
100% graduates in work or further study (DLHE, 2017)
71% overall student satisfaction (NSS, 2018)
What you'll experience
On this Creative Writing course, you'll:
- Get to grips with techniques that writers have used for centuries and study contemporary skills to inspire and entertain your audience through the power of written word
- Learn from published authors, scriptwriters and media specialists who'll help you bring your ideas to life in creative workshops
- Share your work with fellow writers who are buzzing with fresh ideas
- Learn to write across a variety of mediums and genres including magazine articles, television dramas, stage plays, autobiography, travel writing, fan fiction and publicity campaigns
- Have the chance to publish your work in our annual anthology and course blog
- Glean tips and tricks from visiting professional writers like Andy McNab, Francesca Beard and Suzi Feay
- Get the opportunity to shadow theatre professionals and have your work performed on stage thanks to our links with Portsmouth's New Theatre Royal and other local theatres
Careers and opportunities
You’ll graduate from this Creative Writing degree course with the knowledge, skills and market awareness to succeed wherever your writing takes you, in whatever industry you choose.
With the ability to take on roles in a variety of professional and creative sectors, previous graduates have gone on to become copywriters, journalists, theatre managers and editorial assistants in areas such as:
- creative writing (prose, poetry, script)
- advertising and marketing
- arts and events management
- local and community broadcasting
- teaching
You could also go on to postgraduate study or research.
You'll get help and support from our Careers and Employability service in finding your first role and for 5 years after you graduate.
The creative writing course has interesting units that stand out from similar courses. My communication and team working skills have flourished, which has enabled me to make new friends and colleagues.
What you'll study on this BA (Hons) Creative Writing degree
Each unit on this course is worth a certain number of credits.
In each year, you need to study units worth a total of 120 credits. For example, 4 units worth 20 credits and 1 unit worth 40 credits.
Core units in this year include:
- True Stories
- Telling Tales
- Tips, Tricks and Techniques
- Professional Writing
- Media Writing: Critical Reviews and Features
- Writing for the Film Industries
There are no optional units in this year.
Core units in this year include:
- Creative Writing and Critical Thinking
- Print Media
- The Short Story
Options to choose from in this year currently include:
- Approaches to Popular Culture
- Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults
- Media Writing for the Press
- Media Writing for the Screen and Radio
- Professional Experience
- Researching Genre in Film and Television
- Student Enterprise
- The Magazine
- The Media and Propaganda
- The Script
- Transmedia Narratives and Strategies
On this course, you can do an optional work placement year between your 2nd and 3rd years to get valuable experience working in industry.
We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your situation and ambitions. You’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year.
Options to choose from in this year currently include:
- British TV Drama and Society
- Comedy Culture and Form
- Creative Writing Dissertation
- Fact and Fiction
- Film and Media Dissertation
- Media Fan Cultures
- Media Writing Project
- Researching Animation
- The Literary Journalist
- Writing Project (With Publishing)
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional units may not run every year. If a unit doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative unit.
Placement year
After your second year, you can spend a year putting your writing skills into practice on an optional placement. This gives you valuable workplace skills and builds your CV.
Previous students have worked in:
- Red Apple Creative's audio book production team
- Debenhams' editorial team
- Dolby's field marketing team
Interested in running your own business on your placement year instead? You can start up and run your own company for a year as an alternative to a work-based placement. You'll work with fellow students to build and launch a successful venture.
However you spend the year, we’ll give you plenty of support and mentoring to make sure you’re getting the most out of your placement.
Work experience and career planning
To give you the best chance of securing a great job when you graduate, our Careers and Employability service can help you find relevant work experience during your course.
We can help you identify placements, internships, voluntary roles and freelancing opportunities that will complement your studies and add to your portfolio.
Learning support
As well as support by faculty teaching staff and your personal tutor, you can use the University’s Academic Skills Unit (ASK).
ASK provides one-to-one support in areas such as:
- academic writing
- note taking
- time management
- critical thinking
- presentation skills
- referencing
- working in groups
- revision, memory and exam techniques
If you have a mental or physical disability, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) can give you help, support and advice so you can reach your potential.
Teaching
Teaching methods on this course include:
- lectures
- workshops
- seminars
- one-to-one tutorials
How you'll spend your time
Each academic year is divided into 2 teaching blocks and 2 assessment periods:
- September to December – teaching block 1
- January – assessment period 1
- January to May – teaching block 2 (includes Easter break)
- May to June – assessment period 2
Most teaching takes place during the day, Monday to Friday. There’s no teaching on Wednesday afternoons.
How you're assessed
You’ll be assessed through:
- short stories
- a novel in progress
- a screenplay
- a collection of poems
- a magazine pitch
- public relations campaign
- reports
- a research portfolio
- examinations
- dissertation/project
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.
You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.
The way you’re assessed may depend on the units you select. As a guide, students on this course last year were typically assessed as follows:
- Year 1 students: 100% by coursework
- Year 2 students: 12% by written exams, 5% by practical exams and 83% by coursework
- Year 3 students: 100% by coursework
Entry requirements
Qualifications or experience
- 104-112 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent.
See the other qualifications we accept
English language requirements
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
See alternative English language qualifications
Selection process
- Applicants may be required to submit a portfolio of written work.
Qualifications or experience
- 104-112 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent.
See the other qualifications we accept
English language requirements
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
See alternative English language qualifications
Selection process
- Applicants may be required to submit a portfolio of written work.
Course costs
Tuition fees (2019 start)
- UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,250 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
- International students – £13,900 per year (subject to annual increase)
Additional course costs
These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.
Our accommodation section shows your accommodation options and highlights how much it costs to live in Portsmouth.
You’ll study up to 6 units a year. You may have to read several recommended books or textbooks for each unit.
You can borrow most of these from the Library. If you buy these, they may cost up to £60 each.
We recommend that you budget £75 a year for photocopying, memory sticks, DVDs and CDs, printing charges, binding and specialist printing.
If your final year includes a major project, there could be cost for transport or accommodation related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.
You may need to buy items such as DVDs and MiniDV tapes to use on practical units, which cost approximately £20– £30.
You’ll need to cover the material costs for individual project work, which usually costs £50–£100.
Apply
To start in 2019 you need to apply through UCAS. You can start your application now and submit it from 5 September. You’ll need:
- the UCAS course code – WW80
- our institution code – P80
You can start your application now and submit it later if you want.
Not quite ready to apply?
Come to an Open Day to explore our course facilities, tour the campus and have a look around our halls of residence.
If you’re new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.
To start in 2020 you need to apply through UCAS. You can register and start your application from 21 May 2019 and submit it from 5 September 2019.
In the meantime, sign up to an Open Day to explore our course facilities, tour the campus and have a look around our halls of residence.
If you’re new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.
When you apply, you'll need:
- the UCAS course code – WW80
- our institution code – P80
If you're from outside of the UK, you can apply for this course through UCAS (see the 'How to apply' section above for details). You can also apply directly to us or you can get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region.
To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to our terms and conditions as well as the University’s policies, rules and regulations. You should read and consider these before you apply.
- Subject area
- English and Creative Writing
- Media and Journalism
