Creative Writing BA Hons | University of Chester

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Course Summary

On our Creative Writing degree, you’ll embark on a transformative journey as a writer, guided and inspired by our team of professional authors, poets, and playwrights. Chester’s rich cultural and historical backdrop, paired with our dedicated tuition, creates the ideal environment for your creative growth.

In your first year, you’ll lay the foundations of your craft, exploring the essential principles of Creative Writing. Through a dynamic blend of seminars, lectures, and workshops, you’ll experiment with poetry, prose fiction, and drama, developing your voice and confidence as a writer.

Building on this in year two, you’ll expand your skills with more focused learning, including the intricacies of flash fiction and professional writing. You’ll be encouraged to refine your techniques and embrace new challenges, pushing the boundaries of your creative expression.

In your final year, you’ll take your writing to the next level, delving into advanced scriptwriting, poetry, and longer fiction. Under the expert supervision of our experienced staff, you’ll tackle a large-scale writing project—your chance to showcase your growth and create work you’re truly proud of.

With guidance from industry professionals, supportive peers, and an inspiring city to call home, you’ll leave Chester with the skills, experience, and confidence to thrive in the literary world.

Why You'll Love It

We prioritise your development as a writer

Supportive and friendly writing groups

One-to-one professional writing advice

Student attending a library one-to-one session

What You'll Study

The Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Foundation Year route offers you an important preparation year as part of your four-year degree.

Humanities and Social Science subjects, you will explore people and societies and their beliefs, cultures, power structures, stories and narratives, as well as critical inquiry into societal issues and global affairs with contemporary and historical perspectives.

Term 1: Introduction to Humanities & Social Sciences
Term 2: Global Issues, Cultures & Texts
Term 3: Originating a Creative Project

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

BA Creative Writing contains core modules at each level of study.

At level 4 (year 1), students are introduced to basic principles of creative writing, with seminars and lectures on writing poetry, prose fiction and drama.

Modules

This module offers an interdisciplinary exploration of English language, literature, and creative writing, focusing on the rich historical and cultural tapestry of the city of Chester. You will explore the structure and grammar of the English language, including the accent and dialect of Chester; engage with literary texts inspired by or set in Chester; and craft your own creative writing pieces rooted in and inspired by the city’s heritage.

Through a blend of analytical and practical activities, you will consider how place shapes language, literature and storytelling. Chester, a city which has evolved from its Roman foundations to its vibrant modern identity, is the perfect setting for such study.

Field trips, writing workshops, and input from experts in the field will enrich your learning experience, providing opportunities to connect academic skills with real-world applications. By the end of the module, you will have honed your knowledge of the structure of English, developed your writing expertise, deepened your appreciation of literature and place, and developed transferable skills in research, storytelling, and communication, preparing you for study at Level 5 and for potential careers in writing, teaching, heritage, and beyond.

Coursework may include detailed language analysis, critical readings of literary works, and creative projects/podcasts that integrate Chester’s landmarks, archives, and history.

Writing – both other people’s writing and the writing you do yourself – will be central to your university degree and your future life, whether that is in your career, in further study, or in the lifelong love of learning we hope to inspire. ‘Writing for Your Life’ will help you develop key skills in effective reading, note-taking and time-management; cognitive skills such as critical and analytical thinking, problem solving and creativity; and enhanced communication skills such as the ability to listen carefully, write clearly and persuasively, and discuss confidently and with authority.

You will also explore different types and modes of writing, the intersections of language, literature and technology, and various platforms for disseminating your writing. The module will allow you to build relationships with others who share your love of English language, literature, and creative writing including your fellow students and tutors, allowing you to work successfully as part of a team as well as independently.

You now have the opportunity to pick an optional module to learn a new language or build on your existing language skills as part of your degree. You can choose:

Subsidiary Language for Beginners (choice of German, Italian or Spanish)
French: Intermediate Language Development
Spanish: Intermediate Language Development
Chinese: Intermediate Language Development
German: Communication in Practice
French: Communication in Practice
Spanish: Communication in Practice

Level 5 (year 2) builds upon this foundation with more complex learning and writing in flash fiction and poetry.

Modules

This module takes you on a journey through the history and development of the English language, exploring its evolution alongside the literary and creative works that have shaped and reflected its development. Blending English language, literature, and creative writing, the module examines key milestones in the history of English, from Old English poetry to contemporary writing, highlighting how language, culture, and society influence one another, and how the language and texts of the present day have emerged.

You will analyse the grammar, vocabulary, and stylistic changes in English over time, applying knowledge and skills developed on the "Studying English" module at level 4 to investigate texts ranging from medieval manuscripts and Shakespearean drama to Victorian novels and modern digital storytelling. Sessions will encourage students to experiment with historical and present-day linguistic features and literary styles, analysing and/or crafting pieces that echo or challenge traditions from different eras.

The module fosters a nuanced understanding of how English has adapted to historical, social, and cultural contexts. It also develops skills in linguistic analysis, close reading, and creative expression. By engaging with English across centuries, you will gain a deeper appreciation of the language’s richness and versatility while cultivating critical and creative abilities relevant to academic and professional pathways. This will prepare you for the level 6 module "Beyond the Page", in which you will investigate how this kind of knowledge is relevant to life beyond university.

A number of methodological approaches to the study of English will also be introduced in this module, helping to develop your knowledge of a range of ways in which language and texts can be analysed and understood. By working with data, possibly including that which is relevant to the "Voicing the Past" and "Cestrian English" projects, students will explore how data from different periods can be analysed through established approaches, as well as approaches which are new and emerging, possibly including the application of AI tools. Through applying and reflecting on the application of these methods, you will be provided with a valuable skillset that is likely to appeal to a range of future employers.

The module provides students with an opportunity to undertake a 140-hour work placement*. This placement is complemented by a number of school-delivered sessions designed to develop their employability, professional practice, and students' understanding of their career options. Students learn to reflect on the nature of creativity within their studies, and gain awareness of how this is valued and relevant in modern workplaces.

*in some cases, evidence of considerable relevant graduate-level work experience may be accepted as an alternative to completion of the stipulated placement.

This module offers a stimulating and practical introduction to the contemporary book-publishing industry. Its purpose is: (1) to equip aspiring writers with knowledge that will help them to get their own work published and potentially to earn income as a writer; (2) to provide insight that will advantage those considering a career or freelance work in publishing; and (3) to develop relevant professional writing skills that are also transferable to other occupations.

This module is designed to provide you with a detailed understanding of flash fiction - short-short stories of no more than 360 words. You will look at a wide range of flashes: 13-worders, 55-worders, 100-worders, 150-worders, and 360-worders. In seminars, you will present your own flashes for workshopping, with a view to you compiling your own original collection. You will also learn about publishing your flashes in online and print magazines.

This module provides a structured, university-level work placement for 4, 5 or 7 weeks as one continuous block / period with a placement provider (i.e. industry apprioprate sector). It is designed to enhance your professional skills in a real-world job setting.

The placement can either be organised by you or with support from university staff.

All work placements within this module must be university-level; this means:

Undertaking high-skilled work commensurate with level 5 study (e.g. report writing, attending meetings, delivering presentations, producing spreadsheets, writing content on webpages, social media, marketing services/products etc)
Physically placed (albeit part of it can be hybrid) within an employer setting in one continuous block / period for 4, 5 or 7 weeks for a minimum of 140-147 hours over the course of the entire work placement

Where applicable, your existing part-time employer can be approached/used as the placement provider, if the high-skilled work.

criterion above is fulfilled for the full duration of the placement.
All quality assurances/agreements provided by the University are adhered to, by you and the employer.

The work placement context may not necessarily, reflect your degree discipline per se, but rather, it will give you an enriched experience to enhance your professional skills in a real-world job setting.

The Level 5, 40-credit modules require a basic foundation of knowledge of your chosen language e.g. GCSE or equivalent, a Level 4 module in the same language or equivalent previous learning. This module includes an optional placement abroad, such as an intensive course at a partner university. You can choose:

Advanced Language Development and Global Sustainability (choice of German, French or Spanish)
Upper Intermediate Language Development and Global Employability (choice of Chinese, French or Spanish)
Post Beginner Language Development and Global Cultures (choice of German, Italian or Spanish)

This module will provide you with the practical and theoretical underpinning of professional practice in your specific subject, enabling you to identify and develop key employability attributes and skills in preparation for your future career.

You will spend several weeks working collaboratively with other students across the School for the Creative Industries on one major project or several smaller projects in a professional ‘simulated real world’ working environment. Projects will be contemporary, topical, externally focussed and often involve partnership with outside agencies. The module will provide you with opportunities for immersive learning and the chance to apply your knowledge in real-world contexts.

This is an experiential learning opportunity that incorporates, 20 teaching contact hours/lectures to prepare for the150 contract hours where L5 students can use all their skills learned to date on an actual real-world (external business) client driven project, working in teams and produce an artefact.

Students are also expected to undertake around 30 hours of self study.

This module not only gives them enhanced skills but the opportunity to work for a real client thus giving them a valuable CV and LInkedIn entry as work experience that can contribute to their employability portfolio.

Students will collaborate in teams and produce full client documentation alongside a reflection of their expereince and this all give some much needed contemplation of their skills to date and how to use them.

At Level 6 (year 3), students are able to develop further their scriptwriting and longer fiction writing. They will tackle a large-scale writing project under supervision.

Modules

This final-year module integrates English language, literature, and creative writing to prepare you for life beyond university, blending academic study with practical skill development and career-focused applications. You will refine your expertise in linguistic analysis, critical interpretation, and creative expression, while exploring how these core skills translate into diverse professional environments.

Through engaging with a wide range of texts—from classic literature to contemporary media—you will deepen your understanding of storytelling, language use, and audience engagement. Creative writing workshops will encourage the development of original, polished works, while employability-focused sessions will highlight transferable skills such as communication, research, editing, and project management.

The module includes practical tasks like producing professional portfolios, writing for public audiences, and exploring roles in industries such as publishing, education, media, and heritage. Insight from industry professionals will provide information about career opportunities, and you will be encouraged to reflect on your academic experiences to articulate your strengths in professional contexts. Knowledge from Level 5 core and specialist modules will be consolidated, extended and contextualised in terms of the relationship between your academic studies and the developments of transferable skills valued in a range of modern workplaces.

By combining advanced study with hands-on practice, this module equips you with the tools and confidence to excel in the workplace, demonstrating the value and versatility of an English degree.

This module is designed to give you a detailed understanding of the process of planning, writing and editing a novel. You will consider issues such as character, setting, story, plot and genre. In seminars, you will present your own writing for workshopping with a view to producing the opening chapter(s) of your novel. You will also learn about approaching literary agents and publishers.

This module is designed to give you a detailed understanding of the process of planning, writing, editing and submitting a script. You will explore a range of scripts and books on script writing to gain an understanding of developing character through action and conflict, and you will learn how to write convincing dialogue. In seminars, you will present scenes for reading through, to receive feedback that you can use to improve your script. You will also learn about the correct formatting for stage and screenplays, with a view to submitting your script to a producer.

This self-directed module allows students to initiate and develop their own major project ideas appropriate to their discipline of study. Students at this point in their studies are often very focussed on their ultimate work aspirations, and this module helps them to gain 'graduate trajectory' to enable them to better move into their chosen profession as seamlessly as possible when they have finished their studies.

This course is delivered in three terms of ten weeks each. In each term students study up to 40 credits.

If studied, the Foundation Year, as with the following years of study, will be taught in three 10-week blocks across an academic year. Each block will comprise of a large 40-credit subject-specific module that includes a breadth of topics and subject skills. You will have on average 12-14 hours of contact time per week during the Foundation Year. There may be variations to this where subject practical or specialist space teaching is included.

Students should expect to spend an average of 40 hours per week on their studies which is made up of a mix of lectures, workshops, peer-led seminars, asynchronous learning, tutorial time with staff, using the University’s library, working with peers and preparing work for assessment and independent study.

Teaching will be delivered by experienced academics and practitioners in the subject. This will be supplemented by occasional guest lecturers and speakers.

There will be a broad range of assessment methods so that students are exposed to the different types of task they might encounter in subsequent studies or future career development. These will include coursework in the form of written essays, performed and pre-recorded performances. portfolios of writing, creative and reflective pieces (both long and short form) and artifact manufacture. We continuously review the assessment methods used in order that they adequately prepare students for graduate-level employment.

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees.

If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.

All teaching is delivered by experienced academics and practitioners, with the fundamental principles of the Chester Future Skills Curriculum at its core - building your subject competence, confidence, and key transferable skills to shape you into a world-ready Chester graduate.

Entry Requirements

112UCAS points

UCAS Tariff	112 points
GCE A Level	Typical offer – BCC-BBC
BTEC	BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM
International Baccalaureate	28 points
Irish / Scottish Highers	Irish Highers: H3 H3 H3 H3 H4 Scottish Highers: BBBB
Access requirements	Access to HE Diploma, to include 45 credits at Level 3, of which 30 must be at Merit or above
T Level	Merit
OCR Cambridge Technicals	OCR Extended Diploma: DMM
Extra Information	GCSE English at grade C/4 or above is required. Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A Level General Studies will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs.

Students from countries outside the UK are expected to have entry qualifications roughly equivalent to UK A Level for undergraduate study and British Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) for postgraduate study. To help you to interpret these equivalents, please click on your country of residence to see the corresponding entry qualifications, along with information about your local representatives, events, information and contacts.

We accept a wide range of qualifications and consider all applications individually on merit. We may also consider appropriate work experience.

English Language Requirements

IELTS Academic: Undergraduate: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each band)
Postgraduate: 6.5 (minimum 5.5 in each band)

For more information on our entry requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.

72UCAS points

UCAS Tariff	72 points
GCE A level	72 points overall, including grade D in A level GCSE English grade C/4 or above is also required
BTEC	BTEC Extended Diploma: MMP
International Baccalaureate	24 points
Irish / Scottish Highers	Irish Highers: H4 H4 H4 H4 H4 Scottish Highers: CCDD
Access requirements	Access to HE Diploma – Pass overall
T Level	T Level: Pass (D or E on the core)
OCR Cambridge Technicals	OCR Extended Diploma: MMP
Extra Information	Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs. If you are a mature student (21 or over) and have been out of education for a while or do not have experience or qualifications at Level 3 (equivalent to A Levels), then our Foundation Year courses will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you will need to succeed in your chosen degree.

Study the final year of an undergraduate degree

If you have successfully completed a Level 5 qualification, e.g. a Higher National Diploma (HND) or Foundation Degree in a relevant subject, then we may be able to consider you for the final year (Level 6) of one of our degrees. Topping up your HND or Foundation Degree will typically take one further year of study and will lead to a full BA (Honours) degree.

To apply for the final year of a degree on a full-time basis you will need to submit an application through UCAS.

For international applicants, please refer to the entry requirements listed on the "Your Country/Region" pages. To be considered for advanced entry into relevant degree programmes, you must have completed a qualification equivalent to a Level 5 or Level 6 in the UK, in a related subject area

Fees and Funding

£9,535per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

Our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for Home students entering University in 2025/26 are £9,535 a year, or £1,590 per 20-credit module for part-time study.

You can find more information about undergraduate fees on our Fees and Finance pages.

Students from the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey and the Republic of Ireland are treated as Home students for tuition fee purposes.

Students from countries in the European Economic Area and the EU will pay International Tuition Fees.

Students who have been granted Settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans.

Students who have been granted Pre-settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans.

£14,450*per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

The tuition fees for international students studying Undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 are £14,450 per year for a full-time course. This fee is set for each year of study.

The University of Chester offers generous international and merit-based scholarships, providing a significant reduction to the published headline tuition fee. You will automatically be considered for these scholarships when your application is reviewed, and any award given will be stated on your offer letter.

For courses with a Foundation Year, the tuition fees for Year 1 are £10,750 and £14,200 for Years 2-4 in 2025/26.

For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes.

In November 2024, as part of the government’s Autumn Budget, it was confirmed that some foundation years from September 2025 will have a fee of £5,760 for the first foundation year of a four-year course. This is mainly for courses in the Humanities, Business, and Social Sciences disciplines. The following three years of these courses will be the standard fee of £9,535 per annum.

	Foundation (First) Year	Second Year onwards per year
Home Students	£5,760 for the first foundation year (2025/26)	£9,535 per year from the second year onwards (2025/26)
International Students *	£10,750 for the first foundation year (2025/26)	£14,450 per year from the second year onwards (2025/26)

* For courses which accept applications from International Students

If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.

The University of Chester supports fair access for students who may need additional support through a range of bursaries and scholarships.

Full details, as well as terms and conditions for all bursaries and scholarships can be found on the Fees and Finance section of our website.

Where You'll Study Exton Park, Chester

The location

Modern learning resources and library

Seaborne library, seating and reception area.

Fitness facilities

A male student wearing goggles is swimming in the training pool between the red rope lane marker lines.

Student Services

Chapel, chaplaincy and multi-faith spaces

Accommodation

Catering

Your Future Career

Job Prospects

A degree in Creative Writing, with its focus on imagination, initiative, curiosity and the transformative power of language can help you find a career in teaching, editing, community arts work, arts management and administration, journalism, feature-writing, communications and social media, or within other areas of the creative industries.

Careers service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.

Creative Writing BA (Hons)

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Course Summary

Why You'll Love It