creative writing courses in south africa

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Apply now | Centre for Creative Writing

The application process for UCT's Creative Writing programme is highly competitive, with aspiring writers from across Africa and around the world applying for a limited number of places. In general, applicants are required to have completed an undergraduate degree in any field, as well as be able to write fluently in the English language. Below is a step-by-step guide to applying:

How To Apply

Application form.

• Complete the relevant application form online [ http://applyonline.uct.ac.za/ ]
• Prepare a substantial selection of your writing (5,000 to 8,000 words) in the genre in which you wish to enrol (fiction, creative nonfiction or poetry)
• Upload a copy of your portfolio when applying. 
• Email a copy of your portfolio to Prof. Imraan Coovadia: [email protected]

Deadline: End of October for the following year.

Unit for Creative Writing

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The Unit for Creative Writing  is an independent Unit, based in the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Pretoria.

It offers Master's and PhD degrees in Creative Writing. Students may work in any of the following languages: English, Afrikaans, isiZulu, Setswana, isiNdebele, Sepedi, French anhd German.

The M.A. and PhD degrees consist of a creative work (for example, a volume of poetry or short stories, a novel, a dramatic work for the theatre or a screenplay) as well as a scholarly component (a dissertation or thesis).   The Unit fosters creativity, the power of imagination and the skilful use of language; it aims to help students produce publishable or performable work.

If becoming a writer is your dream, this may be where your dream becomes a reality! 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Prospective students should first contact Prof. Medalie, the Director of the Unit, to find out if they have the requisite qualifications. If they do meet the requirements, they should apply online by 30 November of the year preceding the year they wish to study. They should then submit their application (including the writing portfolio) by 15 January. Prof. Medalie will provide feedback on the success of the application by the end of January.

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• Register to study through Unisa

Undergraduate & honours qualifications

• Find your qualification & choose your modules
• All qualifications

Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing

Who can register?

• Applicants (new applicants & Unisa students who applied for admission to a new qualification) may only register if they have received an offer of placement from Unisa and have accepted the offer online. Unisa reserves the right to not process and / or to cancel your registration if it is found that you were incorrectly admitted to a qualification. 
• Re-registering students may register for the 2024 academic year once the registration period opens.

Please note: Should you wish to start a new qualification, please  apply online for the alternative qualification during the prescribed application period.

How to choose your modules

Each Unisa qualification is structured in such a way that you need to pass a certain number of NQF level credits within a  certain amount of time in order to graduate.

• Co-requisite: Module A is a co-requisite for Module B. You want to register for Module B, but have not yet passed Module A. You must then register for both Modules A and B simultaneously. You may NOT cancel your registration for Module A unless Module B is also cancelled.

Pre-requisite: If Module A is a pre-requisite for Module B, you must pass Module A before you may register for Module B.

You may not register for more than the allowed maximum number of credits / modules per academic year and / or semester: 60 credits per semester or 120 credits per academic year.

The maximum number of credits do not include supplementary and / or aegrotat examinations from a previous semester. Modules taken for non-degree / non-diploma purposes also count towards the maximum number of credits allowed.

You must take your available time into consideration when choosing your modules, as this will impact your academic performance. You need approximately

• 6 to 8 hours per week for semester modules.
• 4 to 6 hours per week for year modules.

Click here  for more information on managing your studies.

Curriculum for this qualification

While you are deciding on the modules for which you will be registering, write down the module names and codes so that you have something to refer to when completing your registration.

Please click on the modules below to see further information (eg semester/year module, NQF level)

First level

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Second level

• This is the levelIndex value 2

Students transferred from the previous program (N11) are exempted from this module THL2603. WLL2601 has been replaced by ARH2601, students who have already passed WLL2601 may not register ARH2601. WLL2602 has been replaced by ARH2603, students who have already passed WLL2602 may not register ARH2603.

Third level

• This is the levelIndex value 3

From 2024, AFL3702 has been unbundled into various African Languages, students who have not registered AFL3702 must register for either NDE3702, NSO3702, SSO3702, SWA3702, TSO3702, TSW3702, VEN3702, XHO3702, ZUL3702, etc.

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Creative Writing

Follow your passion for creative writing and explore a range of genres and aesthetic approaches.

Our Honours degree comprises several foundational courses as well as multiple electives, offered by both the Creative Writing Department and other Departments within the School of Literature,Language & Media and the creative arts. Our diverse course options attend closely to questions of form and aesthetics and provide practical skills, while engaging the historical and critical contexts of literary work.

While courses offered may differ from year to year, over the one-year programme all students will take a wide selection, honing their individual visions and practices while experimenting with new forms and subjects.

Career Opportunities

Students will develop critical reading and writing skills that may be used in a variety of careers and professions, such as journalism, theatre writing and script writing. Graduates may also go on to become writers of fiction, nonfiction and poetry.

The Honours degree has five components.

• Working Concepts in Creative Writing (core course)
• A Long Essay
• Two additional writing courses
• One literature course from any of the departments in the School of Literature, Language and Media

It is compulsory to do TWO writing courses and ONE literature course in either semester.

With the approval of the Honours coordinator, students may choose to do one of their optional courses in another programme. In-person attendance at weekly seminars, held on the Wits Braamfontein campus, is compulsory.

• Core Course: Working Concepts in Creative Writing (compulsory)
• Long essay (compulsory, submit at the end of the year)
• Writing for Performance I
• Various literature courses
• Writing: Theory and Praxis
• Writing for Performance II
• Writing Immersion: Special Topic in Creative Writing
• Writing Poetry
• Literature for Writers
• Text & Image

For more information on course options as well as a course description please consult our brochure: Creative Writing Honours Electives 2024

Entry Requirements

To be admitted to the degree programme, you will need:

• A BA degree in literature, languages or a cognate discipline, with a minimum of 65% average in the final year, or 65% average across literary, writing and cognate course praxis.
• A portfolio of creative writing – to be submitted by 15 September to: Phillippa Yaa de Villiers : [email protected] along with a detailed CV and covering letter.*

The portfolio should comprise twenty pages (1.5 spacing, 12 pt) of any combination of the following:

• Part of a creative prose manuscript (fiction or nonfiction).
• A selection of short stories.
• A selection of creative nonfiction essays.
• A selection of poems**

*The covering letter should explain your reasons for applying to this programme, the extent of your own reading of creative work, and what you hope to achieve in this course.

**Students wishing to take the poetry course as one of their electives MUST submit approximately 10 pages of poetry as well as eight or more pages of prose. Students who will not be doing the poetry course may submit poetry in their portfolio, but at least fifteen pages of the portfolio must be prose.

DO NOT submit academic essays written for your degree courses. DO NOT submit newspaper articles, press releases or public relations biographies.

The portfolio should demonstrate a high degree of writing competency, a commitment to wide and varied reading and an interest in using language creatively.

Places in the courses are limited and selection is based on the strength of the candidates’ applications.

Course Application Process

Should you be accepted into the programme, you will be notified to complete your registration and submit a University application. This is only a formality and, once completed, we will accept your application and you will officially be admitted.

• Applications are handled centrally by the Student Enrolment Centre (SEnC).
• Click here to see an overview of the Wits applications process.
• Please apply online .
• Upload the supporting documents required by the University at the time of application, or via the Self Service Portal .
• Applicants can monitor the progress of their application via the Self Service Portal .

International students, please check this section .

For more information, contact the Student Call Centre +27 (0)11 717 1888, or log a query at www.wits.ac.za/askwits .

• Applications are handled centrally by the Student Enrolment Centre (SEnC) . Once your application is complete in terms of requested documentation, your application will be referred to the relevant School for assessment.  Click here to see an overview of the Wits applications process.
• Please apply online . Upload your supporting documents at the time of application, or via the Self Service Portal .
• Applicants can monitor the progress of their applications via the  Self Service Portal .
• Selections for programmes that have a limited intake but attract a large number of applications may only finalise the application at the end of the application cycle.

Please note that the Entry Requirements are a guide. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee a place. Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results and other entry requirements where applicable.

International students , please check this section .

For more information,  contact the Student Call Centre +27 (0)11 717 1888, or log a query at www.wits.ac.za/askwits .

University Fees and Funding

Click here to see the current average tuition fees. The Fees site also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal.

For information about postgraduate funding opportunities, including the postgraduate merit award, click here . Please also check your School website for bursary opportunities.  NRF bursaries: The National Research Foundation (NRF) offers a wide range of opportunities in terms of bursaries and fellowships to students pursuing postgraduate studies.  External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.

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Fully Accredited Degrees and Higher Certificates in Film and Television, Performance, Business  Innovation, and Creative Writing

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2024 Mid-year Intake: Higher Certificate in Film, Television & Entertainment Production

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Campuses - JHB

Still want to study in 2024 but missed out on enrolling in time?  Don't wait for the new year to pursue your dreams! Join AFDA’s 2024 ...

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Higher Certificate in Film, Television & Entertainment Production

Campuses - JHB, CPT, DBN, GQ

The Higher Certificates (HC) courses at AFDA are 1-year NQF level 5 programmes designed to lay a foundation of basic skills and learning to enter the...

Higher Certificate in Performing Arts

Campuses - JHB, CPT, DBN

The Higher Certificates (HC) courses at AFDA are 1-year NQF level 5 programmes designed to lay a foundation of basic skills and learning to enter the creative economy at an assistant level...

Higher Certificate in Radio & Podcasting

Bachelor of Arts in Motion Picture Medium

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The AFDA Bachelor of Arts in Motion Picture Medium is renowned for providing students with a rigorous, well-rounded, comprehensive education in motion picture production...

Bachelor of Arts in Live Performance

The AFDA Bachelor of Arts in Live Performance is renowned for providing students with a rigorous, well-rounded, comprehensive education in live performance...

Bachelor of Creative Writing

Most Creative writing programmes are in the postgraduate domain. The Bachelor of Creative Writing at AFDA is one of the few fully fledged undergraduate degrees in this field on offer in the country...

Bachelor of Commerce in Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship

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The BCom in Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship at AFDA is an project-based degree designed to future-proof, stimulate and build capacity in students to drive digital transformation...

Bachelor of Arts Honours in Motion Picture Medium

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The AFDA Postgraduate school is focused on developing innovative research, origination, production and distribution of entertainment concepts for both local...

Bachelor of Arts Honours in Live Performance

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The AFDA Postgraduate Diploma in Innovation provides students with a rigorous education in convergence of business and technological innovation, equipping students...

Master of Fine Arts in Motion Picture Medium

The MFA offers the mature student an opportunity to master the knowledge to create and monetise high quality, engaging narratives that entertain local audiences...

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COURSES, RETREATS AND COACHING BY SARAH BULLEN

The Writing Room is a hub for aspiring and established writers, led by author and writing coach, Sarah Bullen and her team of book mentors . The Writing Room offers a range of services including in-person writing courses , book coaching and mentoring , writing retreats, as well as manuscript support . We are here to help you develop your craft and publish your work.

At the end of our process, and if you commit to it, you will have a book, an e-course, or a story to share.

Literary agent Sarah Bullen shares her expertise and provides support to writers at all stages of their journeys, from idea conception to publication.

WHAT WE OFFER

SARAH BULLEN

Author, Literary Agent, Speaker & Writing Mentor

Sarah Bullen is an international writing mentor and literary agent who helps writers worldwide bring their stories to life. She founded The Writing Room and Kent Literary and has mentored authors who have published over 180 books. Sarah frequently appears on talk shows, podcasts, and at literary festivals, and has led international writing retreats since 2013.  

Her journey started in hard news journalism, which laid the foundation for her deep understanding of impactful storytelling. Life's challenges, including her husband's battle with brain cancer and her own near-death experience, have profoundly shaped her approach to mentoring. ​ ​

Sarah is the author of several books, including:

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Are you ready to bring your book to life, do you want to write a book.

Since 2007, The Writing Room has been a vital support system for writers. Our group or individual  mentorships  cover novels, memoir, and non-fiction writing and guide you through every stage of your manuscript. Additionally, we host international retreats  and provide ongoing support in our WRITING COMMUNITY GROUP.

At The Writing Room, we offer a range of services to support writers at every stage of their journey. If you have a book in you but prefer not to write it yourself, our professional ghostwriting services will bring your vision to life. Our manuscript appraisals provide detailed feedback to refine your work, and our personalized mentorship programs offer ongoing guidance and support. Our expert team is here to help you bring your stories to life and guide you through the writing process and beyond.

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Build a personal, honest relationship with mentors to support you through your writing journey.

Join fellow writers to share experiences, insights, and camaraderie.

Transparency

Receive clear, straightforward guidance from experienced mentors.

Benefit from tailored, creative guidance from trusted mentors.

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Unleash Your Creativity in Beautiful Destinations

Embark on an inspiring journey with The Writing Room’s writing retreats. Our retreats are designed to provide a supportive and creative environment where writers can focus on their craft. You can look forward to visiting picturesque locations that fuel your creativity and connect with fellow writers. Join us for an unforgettable experience that will elevate your writing and leave you rejuvenated.

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Creative Writing

A vailable on the Potchefstroom Campus

What is Creative Writing?

Creative Writing entails the writing of creative texts such as short stories, poems, children’s stories and drama texts. It is a fully fledged graduate subject and is mainly selected by students majoring in languages. No specific entrance requirements are applicable to enrolment at first-year level. However, entrance to the second- and third-year levels of study is subject to selection processes. Creative Writing can generally be combined with any other language subject. The course covers both creative writing theory and practical creative writing. Approximately half the assessment marks are awarded for a student’s own original writing creations.  Creative Writing is offered in English and Afrikaans and fluency in at least one of these two languages is a requirement. All study materials are made available in both languages, and interpreting services are provided if needed. Students also have the option to submit selected creative assignments in the African language of their choice, provided suitable markers are available.

Why study Creative Writing?

• Creative Writing expands and refines your language and writing skills.
• The skills that you learn while studying Creative Writing can contribute to your employability in a wide range of disciplines, including publishing, education, journalism, creative industries, public relations and marketing, content creation and social media.
• Creative Writing allows you to clarify your thoughts as well as your emotions.
• Creative Writing can lead to publication opportunities and a professional writing career.

Course information

This subject offers wide user applications given our focus on developing creativity and writing skills in various creative genres. We are also with interdisciplinary creative and research projects. With our latest project, Byderhand, we experiment with digital tools to create digital literary works and place-specific digital literature.

Possible Career Opportunities

• Creative writing
• Freelance writing
• Broadcasting industry
• Scriptwriter
• Digital storytelling
• Library and information work
• Language practitioner work
• Academia & research
• Copywriting
• Editorial work
• Advertising
• Teaching (when combined with other languages and postgraduate teaching certificate/diploma)

Interesting links

• http://byderhand.net
• http://www.litnet.co.za
• http://storiewerf.co.za

19 Best universities for Creative Writing in South Africa

Updated: February 29, 2024

• Art & Design
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
• Mathematics

Below is a list of best universities in South Africa ranked based on their research performance in Creative Writing. A graph of 29.9K citations received by 7.25K academic papers made by 19 universities in South Africa was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. University of Cape Town

For Creative Writing

2. University of Pretoria

3. University of South Africa

4. University of the Witwatersrand

5. University of Stellenbosch

6. University of KwaZulu-Natal

7. North-West University

8. University of Johannesburg

9. University of the Western Cape

10. University of the Free State

11. Rhodes University

12. Nelson Mandela University

13. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

14. University of Zululand

15. University of Limpopo

16. University of Fort Hare

17. University of Venda

18. Durban University of Technology

19. Tshwane University of Technology

The best cities to study Creative Writing in South Africa based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cape Town , Pretoria , Johannesburg , and Stellenbosch .

Art & Design subfields in South Africa

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The Scriptwriting Course

Learn how to write a standout script for stage, screen or radio, all the tools for scriptwriting in one course.

The Scriptwriting Course is for anyone who just knows they’re born to tell stories. They also want to see their work produced on screen or on stage in South Africa.

Whether you’re a novice wanting to learn more, or an experienced writer in another genre keen on diversifying, this course guides you through the essential building blocks of scriptwriting, from creating characters and dialogue to understanding structure.

From first idea to final draft, this course will teach you how to write a compelling script.

The Scriptwriting Course Gives You...

No automated marking.

We use traditional methods of assessing work, as editors at publishing houses would. No generic feedback!

A Flexible Schedule

Work wherever and whenever you want. You can easily fit our courses around work and other commitments.

Relevant, Usable Content

Easy-to-digest course notes that capture a lifetime of writing experience, ready for you to apply to your own writing.

Ongoing Assessment

Your writing is assessed continuously as your course progresses.

Expert, Individual Feedback

Get prompt, honest, detailed feedback on every assignment from an award-winning writer. We focus on your unique writing strengths.

No Peer Reviews!

You will only be assessed by your tutor, a leader in their field. No more guessing and wondering how to write; you'll be guided line by line.

Master the Basics of Scriptwriting

A scriptwriter's essential toolkit.

The Scriptwriting Course breaks down the essentials of crafting a script into ten modules. We look at the different elements of scriptwriting in isolation before bringing them all together to create a short script that engages, entertains and is written in your own unique voice.

Created by a writer with experience in all genres, the course highlights what makes scriptwriting unlike any other form of writing.

Natural dialogue, subtext, characters that come to life, how to write visually: it’s all covered here in these ten targeted modules.

‘A great experience. Karen was knowledgeable and incredibly supportive. Fantastic course. Well worth the money!’

Kerryn campion, the scriptwriting course, course overview, price includes vat, number of assignments, the assignments vary in length., number of modules, these modules include around 200 pages of course notes., course duration, work at your own pace – up to a maximum of 12 months., start date: anytime.

Working with an individual tutor means you can start the course at any time.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• Basic writing skills are essential.
• Computer skills, e-mail and Internet access required.
• No previous tertiary qualification required.

Our Graduate Students' Successes

We are proud of our graduates who have achieved success. here are a few among dozens of our creative writing success stories..

Tutors for this Course

Karen jeynes.

Karen has been on our staff for almost a decade. Over the years, she has established herself as a tremendously popular and respected mentor for emerging scriptwriters. She studied drama and linguistics at UCT and obtained her Honours in The Art of Writing from UWC.

Karen has won numerous awards and nominations for her co-writing of TV series, including two Emmy nominations for Best TV Comedy. Currently, she is the head writer for Both Worlds Productions, overseeing ZANews: Puppet Nation (winner of 22 South African Film and Television Awards and two Writer’s Guild of South Africa Awards for Best TV Comedy), as well as Point of Order (SAFTA winner for Best Game Show in 2017), Comedy Central News  and Parlement Parlement .

Before joining Both Worlds Productions, Karen had extensive experience writing and producing in both theatre and television. Her plays include the multi-award winning Everybody Else (is f*cking perfect) (Best Comedy 2005), Kiss Kiss , I’ll Have What She’s Having  and Laying Blame , as well as Vaslav , which was nominated for three Fleur du Cap Awards. She served as head writer for 90 Plein Street, as well as writing for shows like Thabang Thabong , Vaya Mzansi  and Moferefere Lenyalong . She is in demand as a script consultant and advisor, working with local and international production companies and channels. Today she serves on the board of Women Playwrights International and was the president of the International Centre for Women Playwrights for six years.

Her achievements aren’t confined to television and theatre. Her adaptation of Thomas Rapakgadi’s The Purse is Mine aired on Bush Radio. SAfm has featured her excellent series Office Hours , co-written with Nkuli Sibeko, as well as the radio version of Sky Too Big . Her teen novels, Jacques Attack , co-authored with Nkuli Sibeko, and Flipside , co-authored with Eeshaam September, were released by New Africa Books. She also has a children’s story published in the anthology  Metz and Bop and Other Stories .

Karen tutors the Scriptwriting Course and the Advanced Scriptwriting Course. When she isn’t busy, she indulges her deep obsession with reality television, Good Omens , chaos theory and Nutella.

Course Curriculum

• Understanding the role of the scriptwriter in film, theatre and radio
• Exercise: Write a review of a film or a play, focusing on how the script succeeds or fails.
• The dos and don’ts, or the rules and how to break them
• Exercise: Write an anecdote from real life. Then rewrite it with a different structure and see how that changes the story.
• How to create characters, flesh them out, and let them have their way
• Exercise: Create four well-developed characters that grow out of the story structure you created.
• Text and subtext
• The difference between written and spoken text
• Exercise: Analyse the sample scripts. Take two of your characters and write a dialogue between them.
• Scripts as performance material
• Exercise: Using your other two characters, write a scene with little or no dialogue, focusing on action.
• Where to start and how to end
• Exercise: Analyse the examples. Then write two possible beginnings and two possible endings to your story.
• Understanding the strengths and limitations of different mediums
• Exercise: Write a detailed explanation of which medium: Screen (film or TV), Stage, or audio (radio, digital or podcasts)) is best for your script and why.
• Discussion of the local scene
• Exercise: Write a treatment for your script, including characters, a scene breakdown and sample scenes.
• Being brutal and ‘taking it out’ while maintaining the truth
• Exercise: Take a sample scene and cut it down to the minimum. Look at the order of your scene. See if you can change things around and what effect that would have.
• Putting it all together
• Exercise: Write a final script review, taking note of what works and what doesn’t.
• Exercise: Complete your short script.

This course offers an advanced course option

What our students say, get these additional benefits, lifetime course access.

Benefit from free lifetime access to future course updates and access to our writing resources.

Work at Your Own Pace

Our courses work around you. You can pace your course around your busy life.

500+ Bonus Articles on Our Blog

A superb, constantly updated resource with articles on writing and interviews with writers.

Work Opportunities

Top students are invited to join our writers and editors for hire service.

Be the First to Know About Writing Competitions

We'll help you keep up to date with the latest competition announcements

Join a Community of Writers

You will have access to our friendly Facebook community, daily writing tips and writing inspiration.

Risk-Free 100% Money-Back Guarantee

We are so confident that you will love your course that if you’re not 100% satisfied with the quality of our training, simply ask for a refund within 30 days.

Complete the Application Form to Enrol on the Scriptwriting Course

You will receive an approval email and invoice within one working day.

Should your form not submit, please let admin know at [email protected]

Questions? We've Got Answers

Detailed course notes covering the content of each module will be emailed to you. 

At the end of each module, you will be required to complete one or two writing exercises. In total, the course includes ten short writing assignments, all of which count towards your final result. 

Once a writing assignment has been completed and emailed to your tutor, you will receive an assessment and feedback, and the module will be considered complete.

Absolutely. You have direct communication with your tutor for the duration of the course. The more questions you ask, the more you will get out of the course.

You will get lifetime access to the course. You will also benefit from future updates and improvements to the course.

For the majority of our courses, only your tutor will see your work. It will remain completely private unless you get it published. The journalism courses might see your work published in the public domain, but you do have the final say as to whether or not this happens.

You will receive a Writers College Certificate upon successful completion of the course, provided you meet the following conditions: 

• You must have completed all ten assignments. 
• The course must have been completed within 12 months of registration.
• A minimum average of 50% for the course must be achieved.
• Computer skills as well as email and Internet access are required.
• Use of Microsoft Word and the Track Changes function.

Because you will work with an individual tutor, you can start your course as soon as your application has been approved. There are no specific start dates as would be the case with a traditional college.

An application is usually approved within one working day. Once we receive proof of payment, your can start your course.

You could be starting your course today!

• Reading Time: 10 hours
• Writing Time: 30–40 hours
• Research Time: 2–5 hours

Once your application has been approved, you will receive notification of approval and an invoice via email. As soon as we receive proof of payment, the first module as well as your tutor’s email address and your login details will be sent to you. Your tutor will also be in touch to welcome you.

Any work created on our courses is owned by you. We will never make a claim to anything you produce. We follow the rule that copyright subsists with the creator (you).

'Karen (my tutor) was very helpful, I learned a lot from her. This course was so inspiring.'

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If within seven days of starting your course you are not happy on your course, we can either transfer you to a different course or provide a full refund.

If you request a refund after seven days and before 30 days we will charge a 5% administrative fee, as well as any bank fees and tutor fees already incurred.

We do not offer a refund after 30 days on the course.