Creative and Professional Writing BA Honours

Course summary

Writing is everywhere. From the films we watch, the TV we stream and the books we read, to the social media posts we write, the marketing pitches that surround us and the news stories we receive across print and digital formats. Increasingly too, that writing is not produced by people, but by AI.

Our Creative and Professional Writing BA embraces the interconnected nature of these forms in today’s world, as well as the challenges and opportunities brought by AI generated content. The course will help you to translate your love of writing into a career, equipping you with the skills needed to develop your own creative work and a distinctive voice, whilst simultaneously preparing you for the huge range of employment opportunities for which enhanced communication skills are essential.

This course is built on authentic learning and ensures you’ll continually engage with visiting professionals from a range of creative industries. You’ll gain expertise in evaluating, critiquing and enhancing communications produced by others as well as generated by new technologies like AI.

Alongside traditional forms of creative writing, you’ll explore new opportunities such as Instagram poetry, flash fiction, extended series for streaming platforms, podcasts and immersive performances. Your studies will also focus on routes into the creative and communication industries via a practical understanding of publishing, production and curation across digital and offline platforms.

Professional Writing encompasses the wide range of styles and practices of writing used across businesses for purposes such as effective communication, content production, persuasion and promotion. This underpins careers in areas such as journalism, advertising, marketing and communications, production of educational guides and handbooks, public policy-making and content creation.

Top reasons to study with us

• Employing Humanities Programme – Prepare for your career with our Employing Humanities Programme which develops work readiness, including activities like the Hackathon, where you’ll produce work in response to live employer briefs
• Study in the heart of London, a global city and major creative, intellectual and technology hub
• Gain workplace or international experience – Optional years of work or study abroad or in a UK placement are available, providing the opportunity to extend your learning and gain insight into possible future careers
• Writer-led workshops – All of our creative writing tutors are practising poets, dramatists or novelists
• Gain valuable industry contacts – You’ll have the opportunity to make writing contacts through our talented creative writing tutors, our expert guest speakers and our industry links
• Personalised support – You’ll get individually focused academic support and career planning through our tutorials

Course structure

This course focuses on your writing practice, so you’ll learn continuously through the processes of drafting and redrafting your work. Your core modules dedicate time to tutorials where you’ll meet your module teacher to discuss your work in progress. You’ll also learn from your peers as you share your work in seminars or writing workshops.

In each year of the course, you’ll have a tutorial module, where you take part in weekly timetabled meetings in a small group with your Academic Tutor. This allows you to bring together learning from your different modules, develop projects, work through assessment preparation and feedback, and personalise your learning experience.

In your third year, you’ll choose between the creative writing or professional writing project, designing your own extended piece of work according to your areas of interest. 

The following subjects are indicative of what you will study on this course.

• Level 4
• Level 5
• Placement Year
• Level 6