Creative Writing degree - BA (Hons)

Program Overview

This three-year Creative Writing program at ARU provides comprehensive training in various writing forms and genres, fostering critical self-assessment and peer feedback. Students develop their writing skills through a unique blend of classroom instruction, workshops, and independent work, preparing them for a wide range of careers in writing, editing, publishing, and related fields. The program emphasizes employability through live briefs, guest lectures from industry professionals, and the development of a digital anthology for publication.

Program Outline

Outline:

• Year 1:
• Introductory modules to bring all students to a similar level of subject knowledge and competence.
• Learn how to reflect on own practice and assess own writing work, developing skills around self-concept and personal narrative.
• Explore storytelling in many forms, both classic and contemporary.
• Study how writers craft narratives for different media and platforms, such as television, radio and comic scripts, podcasts, poetry, interactive fiction and writing for games.
• Participate in peer workshopping and feedback, with tutor comments recreating the feedback cycle between writers and editors/publishers.
• Take part in class exercises on different roles in publishing, such as design and marketing campaigns.
• Research and present on an aspect of publishing via a case study.
• Deliver first live brief, responding to a real-world task provided by an employer or professional body.
• Year 2:
• Further develop and deepen reflective practice and self-assessment.
• Concentrate largely on short fiction.
• Participate in peer workshopping/feedback.
• Investigate online methods of finding markets and literary agents.
• Develop individual specialisms with optional modules covering film criticism, online journalism, drama scenes and shorts, and modern science fiction.
• Build employability skills with another live brief.
• Focus on roles and tasks of editors and copywriters in professional industries.
• Year 3:
• Involve mostly independent, self-directed work.
• Focus largely on major project, in which students will research, draft, edit, redraft and finally reflect on and critically evaluate a longer piece of writing or coherent set of shorter pieces in a genre of own choosing.
• Develop understanding of genre and experimentation within specific traditions in the Worldbuilding module.
• Enhance employability skills and build research skills using library resources, online databases, archival visits, object-based learning, and location research.
• Learn to present as a professional writer, creating a strong CV/biography and an application package for placements on residencies or in employment.
• Explore new, or further develop, specialisms in areas such as screenwriting, film journalism, and novel writing.
• Seek a relevant work placement.
• Focus more on publishing by building, designing and marketing a digital anthology, produced collaboratively with fellow students to a professional standard as a publishing ‘house’.

Assessment:

• Many assessment methods mirror the process for writers working with editors and others in the publishing industry.
• High level of feedback through workshops and individual attention, in both written and oral forms.
• Engage with assessment as part of learning rather than simply as an evaluation of the successful completion of tasks.
• Feedback is central to this idea, both in own critical self-evaluation of writing and professional progression, and feedback on the work of fellow students in peer evaluation.
• Final assessment in each module usually consists of a creative piece or pieces, as well as an accompanying critical/reflective commentary, in which students will discuss the context, influences, and processes of their writing.
• No examinations on this course, as they do not test the kind of skills needed for professional practice as a writer.

Teaching:

• Face-to-face campus teaching (with the exception of distance learning courses).
• Supported by established online learning systems, which provide additional support for individual study and engagement.
• Number of contact hours varies course by course.

Careers:

• Careers in teaching, editing, community arts, arts management, journalism, publishing, copywriting, and in related fields of advertising, film, video production and computer game production.

Other:

• Students will be part of a vibrant ARU writing community, including postgraduates and alumni, who will support in building own professional networks and the entrepreneurial skills required for freelancing and portfolio careers.
• Guest lectures include visiting authors, editors, agents, and other writing-industry professionals, giving key insights and networking opportunities.
• Attend events organised by Cambridge Writing Centre, including guest talks and live lit jams, where students can showcase own creative writing and make new contacts in the industry.

• UK students starting 2024/25 (full-time, per year): £9,250
• International students starting 2024/25 (full-time, per year): £15,900
• You can pay your fees upfront, in full or in two instalments.
• We will ask for a deposit of £4,000 or a sponsorship letter.