BA (Hons) Creative and Professional Writing
Course overview
Start date
September 2021
Subject area
Media and Journalism
Attendance
Full-time, 3 years
Full-time, 4 years
Part-time
Learning
On campus, dual delivery
Course summary
Prepare to enter a world without limits, where the power of words and the potential of your imagination combine.
There has never been a more exciting time to be a writer. The internet has changed the world, increasing the scope for writers and their work. Our course recognises and embraces these opportunities. At UEL, we’re building a community of writers and artists with something to say about themselves, and about the world.
Our unique programme invites you to experiment and dare to challenge traditional ways of looking at ‘genre’ in writing. We encourage you to explore multi-media approaches to your work and to experiment with poetry, prose, drama and different media.
We’ll help you find your own path as a writer. You’ll be introduced to various types of writing across a range of disciplines, paving your way for employment in many different areas where your skills will be highly valued.
If you don’t meet the entry requirements for a BA, you can study this course as an ‘extended’, four-year programme . You'll begin by taking a foundation year which prepares you for a successful transition to the BA degree.
Return to campus: dual delivery
In a Covid-secure environment, enjoy learning on our state-of-the-art campuses and flex between online delivery
Find out more1st
Our Creative Writing course was ranked 1st in the country for student satisfaction by The Complete University Guide 2018.
Writing centre
In The Writing Centre, the hub of UEL’s writing events and activities, you can write for our acclaimed student-run literary e-zone, The Gallion, and see your work published.
Career prospects
You can follow our graduates who’ve made their names in a variety of fields. One is now writing storylines for Coronation Street. Another has become a noted playwright.
Naida Redgrave
Creative and Professional Writing, BA (Hons)
The course allows you the space to really explore your writer's voice. There is encouragement to push yourself creatively, while also exploring critical theory to understand fully where your writing fits within the literary canon. It gives you a deeper understanding of who you are as a writer and how you can achieve the work you wish to create.
Fees and funding
Tuition Fee Loan
You can apply for a loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees, which will be paid directly to UEL. There are no up-front fees required. Repayment only starts after you finish your course and are earning over £25,000. If you haven’t finished repaying your loan after 30 years it will be automatically cancelled.
To apply visit gov.uk/student-finance
Maintenance Loan
You can apply for a loan to help with living costs such as food, travel and accommodation. How much you can borrow depends on where you live and study, and whether you are currently on welfare benefits. The maximum loan you can apply for is £12,382.
To apply visit gov.uk/student-finance
Supplementary Grants
The government also offer the following additional support:
- Parent’s Learning Allowance
- Adult Dependants' Grant
- Childcare Grant
- Disabled Students’ Allowance
For further information visit gov.uk/student-finance
All students will receive:
Bursaries Schemes for which you can apply
- Care Leaver and Foyer Bursary - up to £1,500
- Progression Bursary - up to £2,000
- Engagement Bursary - up to £2,000
- Hardship Bursary - up to £2,000
- Helena Kennedy Foundation - £1,500
- Going Global – awards range from £300 - £700
Scholarships Schemes for which you can apply
- Vice Chancellor Scholarship - up to £27,750 over three years
- Dean Scholarship - up to £13,500 over three years
- Civic Engagement Scholarship - £1,000
- EU Scholarship (EU Only) - £1,000
- ELSEF Scholarship - £1,000
- UTC Scholarship - £1,500
- Sports Scholarships - up to £6,000
There are a number of external organisations that offer financial help to
students. Please see the below list to view additional support options.
Alternatively, you can visit the Scholarship Search website.
Please note that the University of East London is not responsible for
the content of these external sites and is not associated in any way
with the funding schemes and their application processes.
Bank Of England Scholarship Programme
European Funding GuideThe Student Disability Association Fund
Some courses offer the option of a placement year, giving you the chance to gain valuable work experience in a relevant industry between your second and third years. If you are an international student on a Tier 4 visa, you are able to undertake a placement if it is an integral and assessed part of your course.
In 2018/19 placement year tuition fees are set at £1,060.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate your finances while you're a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
Tuition Fee Loan
You can apply for a loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees, which will be paid directly to UEL. There are no up-front fees required. Repayment only starts after you finish your course and are earning over £25,000. If you haven’t finished repaying your loan after 30 years it will automatically be cancelled.
For information visit gov.uk/student-finance
Please note EU students can only apply for their funding using a paper application form.
To download a form visit www.gov.uk/student-finance-forms
All students will receive:
Bursaries Schemes for which you can apply
- Care Leaver and Foyer Bursary - up to £1,500
- Progression Bursary - up to £2,000
- Engagement Bursary - up to £2,000
- Hardship Bursary - up to £2,000
- Helena Kennedy Foundation - £1,500
- Going Global – awards range from £300 - £700
Scholarships Schemes for which you can apply
- Vice Chancellor Scholarship - up to £27,750 over three years
- Dean Scholarship - up to £13,500 over three years
- Civic Engagement Scholarship - £1,000
- EU Scholarship (EU Only) - £1,000
- ELSEF Scholarship - £1,000
- UTC Scholarship - £1,500
- Sports Scholarships - up to £6,000
There are a number of external organisations that offer financial help to
students. Please see the below list to view additional support options.
Alternatively, you can visit the Scholarship Search website.
Please note that the University of East London is not responsible for
the content of these external sites and is not associated in any way
with the funding schemes and their application processes.
Bank Of England Scholarship Programme
European Funding GuideThe Student Disability Association Fund
Some courses offer the option of a placement year, giving you the chance to gain valuable work experience in a relevant industry between your second and third years. If you are an international student on a Tier 4 visa, you are able to undertake a placement if it is an integral and assessed part of your course.
In 2018/19 placement year tuition fees are set at £1,060.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate your finances while you're a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
At UEL, we understand that studying in another country is a big financial commitment. If you apply early for an undergraduate, you may be entitled to a scholarship of up to £3,000.You can find out more about the international scholarships here.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) also run an Emergency International Fund to assist international students in hardship.
You can contact our SMART team on 02082233333 or study@uel.ac.uk
As part of the Tier 4 student visa requirements, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) estimate that you will need £1,265* per month to cover your living costs. It includes expenses for accommodation, food and drink, travel within London, text books, entertainment, clothing, toiletries and laundry. Most Tier 4 students are required to show they have sufficient funds to cover the first nine months of the course before they start- a total of £11,385- in addition to the tuition fees. You can find more information about the specific requirements of the Tier 4 student visa here. The amount that you will spend can vary depending on your lifestyle. The UKCISA International Student Calculator can help you plan and manage your money.
* Please note the Immigration Rules are subject to change and this figure is likely to be increased by UKVI year on year. Please therefore check our ISA pages (www.uel.ac.uk/isa) for more information at the time of preparing your visa application.
Deposits and paying by instalments
International students are required to pay a deposit prior to being issued a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
Your remaining balance will be paid in five monthly instalments over your first term. The first of these instalments must be paid when completing your enrolment on arrival at UEL. Please follow the payment instructions here.
After the required payment has been made, you will be asked to complete the online International Student Reply Form to confirm your acceptance of our offer and of our terms of admittance and fees policy.
Our International team at UEL are available for advice and guidance on studying in London, fees, scholarships and visa requirements.
Email: international@uel.ac.uk
Entry requirements
- September 2021
-
Degree
112
New UCAS Points
Applicants who do not hold an A2 in English Language or English Literature will be required to submit a Writing sample.
Access to HE Diploma (QAA approved) with 60 credits overall and 45 credits at Level 3
We will also consider the UEL New Beginnings pre-entry course
If you do not meet the academic English language requirements for your course, you may be eligible to enrol onto a pre-sessional English programme. The length of the course will depend on your current level of English and the requirements for your degree programme. We offer a 5-week and an 11-week pre-sessional course. Find out more.
Level 2 equivalences such as Level 2 Functional Skills in English / Maths, Level 2 Key Skills in Communication / Application of Number and Level 2 Adult Literacy / Adult Numeracy
Please note that some courses require applicants to meet the entry requirements outlined on the course page. Our pre-entry Information Advice and Guidance Team are able to provide further advice on entry requirements and suitability for study.
What you'll learn
One of the key concepts in creative writing is ‘show, don’t tell’. That applies to both our teaching philosophy as well as our approach to writing. So at UEL we will show you how to become the writer you want to be.
How? By providing you during your three-year course with a programme that offers stimulating readings, group discussions, lectures and creative assignments. You’ll learn all about fiction writing, poetry, screenwriting and creative non-fiction in a dynamic progression.
“It's about getting your feet wet in year one, experimenting in year two and, in your final year, working to professional standards,” says lecturer and internationally published author Tessa McWatt.
The core modules examine different contexts of writing and analyse literary forms and structures. You’ll learn how to write effectively in a host of different genres.
It’s a course that allows for specialisation, too. Optional workshops include hybrid genres and screenwriting. In your final year, for your dissertation, you can develop an extended piece of creative writing which particularly interests you.
What you'll study and when
We consistently review our courses to ensure we are up-to-date with industry changes and requirements from our graduates. As a result, our modules are subject to change.
- Academic Development
- Creative Project
- Creative Writing Portfolio
- Narrative and Creativity
- Group Film Project
- Professional Development (Mental Wealth)
- Critical Approaches to Creative Writing (core)
- Creative Practice 1 (core)
- Media Lab (core)
- Literature: Form & Theory (optional)
- Tradition & Change in Western Literature (optional)
- The Writer’s World (core)
- Creative Practice 2 (core)
- Story & Myth (core)
- Adaptation: Form & Practice (optional)
- American Literature (Optional)
- Dissertation for Creative Writing (core)
- Creative Practice 3 (core)
- Life Writing (core)
- Copywriting (core)
- Research Methods (core)
How you’ll be assessed
We use different forms of teaching and assessment on this course, including formal lectures, small group workshops, research exercises, individual portfolios and extended pieces of written work. In some modules, you have the opportunity to produce and present your work in groups.
You also have the opportunity to engage in digital production and presentation of textual material in MediaLab. In your final year, you’ll carry out a dissertation project that will allow you to develop an extended piece of creative writing based on your own area of interest and research.
We assess modules at the end of the semester. We use a range of different modes of assessment, including portfolios, short and extended creative writing assignments, essays and presentations.
The approximate percentages for this course are:
Year 1: 50% coursework, 20% practical, 30% exams
Year 2: 50% coursework, 20% practical, 30% exams
Year 3: 50% coursework, 20% practical, 30% exams
You’ll always receive written or audio feedback, outlining your strengths and how you can improve. We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.
How you'll learn
You'll be taught by a range of staff, many of whom are practitioners in the area they teach. Many of the assessments focus on practical skills that ensure that the practice-led teaching is relevant to industry and practice. Our staff are well placed to take advantage of a range of professional networks and industry contact. Each module is designed with practical components and a reflective component, with the intention that students develop an ability to comment on and justify their creative process.
When not attending timetabled lectures or workshops, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This will typically involve skills development through online study, reading books and articles, working on individual and group projects and preparing coursework assignments and presentations. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, specialist facilities, such as edit suites, the library, the full Microsoft Office software, including MS Teams, and Moodle: our Virtual Learning Environment.
Our academic support team provides help in a range of areas – including learning and disability support.
When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of the academic course team who will provide academic guidance, be a support throughout your time at UEL and who will show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer.
Each year you will spend around 300 hours of timetabled learning and teaching activities. These may be lectures, workshops, seminars and individual and group tutorials or a combination. Contact hours may vary depending on each module.
The approximate percentages for this course are:
Year 1: scheduled teaching – 300 hours; guided independent study – 900 hours.
Year 2: scheduled teaching – 300 hours; guided independent study – 900 hours.
Year 3: scheduled teaching – 300 hours; guided independent study – 900 hours.
Your individualised timetable is normally available within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9.00am and 6.00pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.
For most modules, class sizes will be up to 20 students. For some modules, which may be shared with another course, it may be up to 50.
Who will teach on this course
Terry Bailey
Henela Blakemore
Ravinder Basra
Roberta Garrett
Wes Brown
Martin Clarke
Your future career
Danielle Jawando, who studied here for both her BA and MA, has recently been writing for major TV soap operas, while talented young playwright Jonny O’Neill had his first EastEnders episode screened in September 2014.
Jawando attributes much of her success to the support she received from her tutors here. “I developed the confidence to try new things and most importantly, to send my work out,” she recalls.
As a result, she was shortlisted to write for Emmerdale and had a short story published while still studying at UEL. O’Neill, meanwhile, has seen his debut play, The Royal Duchess Superstore, open on the professional stage in London.
Our course can open all sorts of other workplace doors, too, because it hones and enhances so many transferable skills suitable for different professions.
Employers want applicants with the sort of communication and writing skills you’ll learn here. Our students have gone on to work in areas such as screenwriting, copywriting, teaching and journalism.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal
