creative writing course hereford

• Creative writing

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Tell your story with the WEA

Whether you are just starting out as a budding writer, or already have lots of experience expressing yourself through writing, our creative writing courses will provide you with a platform to develop your talent. All our creative writing courses look at different audiences and genres such as scriptwriting, non-fiction and poetry. 

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You can choose to tap into your storytelling abilities alongside other creative writers in a fun and supportive environment, telling your story through your very own writing style. You’ll have the opportunity to explore what it is that you want to write about as well as time to investigate how to find your own voice and the style that you want to write in. 

Our poetry courses immerse you in the works of famous poets and literary greats, exploring the techniques they use and their famous pieces of work. All this acts as the perfect inspiration for when you craft your own style. This learning style means you build the core foundations to progress further, becoming a better writer in the process. 

A creative writing class near you 

Whether you prefer online creative classes or learning face to face in a venue, we have something for everyone to choose from. Our learning experience is one of the things that sets us apart, with many of our learners going on to achieve incredible things.  

The support you’ll receive on your creative writing course 

You'll get support from your tutor whichever option you choose, as well as the opportunity to build a network of peers who have a passion for creative writing just like you.  

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Creative writing weekend bootcamp: essentials of story, creative writing: stop frame animation, creative writing: return of the writers roulette workshops, creative writing: take a picture, tell its story, creative writing: creating and developing characters, creative writing for beginners.

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Creative Writing in the Highlands and Islands BA (Hons)

Course code W830

Fees/funding

What is special about this course.

The innovative BA (Hons) Creative Writing in the Highlands and Islands is designed to give you a solid grounding in the creative principles, in both form and structure of four of the main areas of creative writing: poetry, prose, playwriting and the screenplay. You will be encouraged to explore how these can inform and support other areas of professional writing in gaming, advertising, marketing, vlogs etc. 

You will have the opportunity to present your work using traditional methods as well as using new technologies and publishing platforms. The course aims to place creative disciplines within the cultural, social, political, geographical and historical context of Scotland, and to show how they make the area culturally unique but connect it to the literature, cultural traditions and histories of its geographical neighbours.

You will be encouraged to pursue your individual creativity, along with both the necessary intellectual stimulation and understanding of the professionalism required to be a successful writer in your chosen field.

The degree capitalises on the popularity of books and series set in Scotland and beyond, and will encourage you to realise the potential opportunity these existing and developing markets represent for your work.

Special features

• Unique residential experiences and writers' retreats experiences
• Study online to fit around your work or other responsibilities
• Forge important links with local communities
• Opportunities to meet and interact with local and national writers, and other industry professionals
• Undertake a blend of creative, critical and practical project-based learning
• Work towards publishing your own work
• The honours year features anthology publication of your original work
• Lecturing staff from a variety of creative and professional backgrounds

Entry requirements

• 3 Highers at grade BCC or above OR
• 2 A levels at grade BC
• You must have Higher or A level English at grade B or above
• You will also be required to submit a portfolio of examples of creative writing (up to 3,000 words)
• You will also be required to attend an interview, which can be conducted online

Access routes

SWAP Access courses If you are eligible to undertake Scottish Wider Access Programmes (SWAP) , please visit our SWAP access list for further information on grade profiles and available subjects.

Year 1 - CertHE

You will study the following modules:

• First draft: proposal (S1)
• First draft: reflection (S2)
• Introduction to creative writing skills: journals (S1)
• Reading as a writer (S2)
• Writing for film: Introduction to screenplay (S1)
• Writing poetry (S2)

Year 2 - DipHE

• Creative project: literary competitions (S1)
• Creative project: peer assessment (S2)
• Developing creative writing skills (S1)
• Introduction to publishing (S2)
• Writing from the north: context and criticism (S1)

You will also choose one of the following modules:

• Heroic literature: epic from classical to contemporary (S2)
• Writing for children and young people (S2)
• Writing for film: writing a screenplay (S2)  

Year 3 - BA

• Authors and audience (S1)
• Creative non-fiction (S2)
• Creative project: researching your writing (S1)
• Creative project: writing what you know (S2)
• Writing experience placement (S2)

You may also choose one of the following modules:

• Branching narratives for interactive content development (S1)
• Scottish writing (S1)

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

• Crime pays (S1)
• Final creative project: literary anthology (double credit) (SC)
• Publishing practice (S1)
• Social media skills for writers (S2)
• Writing in the marketplace (S2)

How will I study my course?

•  Full-time
•  Part-time (structured)
•  Part-time (unstructured)
• You will learn through a combination of tutor-supported study, video-based seminars, residentials and self-directed study using the university's virtual learning environment
• Residentials will take place twice each academic year. Student are required to self-fund any travel to the residentials and cover accommodation and subsistence costs. International students are welcome to attend these in person, subject to visa restrictions, or online at no additional cost, if time-zones allow

How long will my course last?

• Full-time: 4 years @ 40 hours per week 
• Part-time (structured): 8 years @ 20 hours per week

Number of hours per week indicates the total number of hours you should dedicate to the course, which includes time spent in lectures and your own time spent on individual study and research.

Where can I study my course?

• North, West and Hebrides

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

• EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
• EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
• EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Rest of the UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland) or assessed as rest of the UK for fee status the following fees apply:

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK studying online from their home country, or living in the UK but assessed as international for fee status, the following fees apply:

This includes EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled status in the UK and EEA and Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK and international undergraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.

Additional costs

• Residentials will take place twice each academic year. Student are required to self-fund any travel to the residentials and cover accommodation and subsistence costs

What can I do on completion of my course?

Once you have successfully completed this degree, you might like to consider careers in:

• Creative writing
• Marketing, advertising, media
• Writing for games
• Website development

Can I progress into further study?

You may progress from BA (Hons) Creative Writing in the Highlands and Islands to the following postgraduate courses at the university:

• MLitt Highlands and Islands Literature
• MLitt Orkney and Shetland Studies
• MRes Creative Practice
• MRes Literature

Is there more information available online?

You can use the above QR code to connect directly to the course details.

Apply for Creative Writing in the Highlands and Islands BA (Hons)

• Apply for FULL TIME through UCAS: Use UHI to search for us in the institution choice list

We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.

Hereford Writer's Circle

A monthly meeting of writing enthusiasts

Hereford Writers Circle meets the 1st Friday of each month from 7.30-9.30pm. We are based at the Kindle Centre (next to Asda) with parking available in the Asda car park near the centre. We welcome new members who would like to join this friendly group

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Creative Writing courses

Whether you’re looking to develop your own writing skills and editorial practice for your profession or for purely personal interest, our creative writing courses have much to offer you. Choose below from our range of qualifications.

Creative Writing Degrees  Degrees Also known as an undergraduate or bachelors degree. Internationally respected, universally understood. An essential requirement for many high-level jobs. Gain a thorough understanding of your subject – and the tools to investigate, think critically, form reasoned arguments, solve problems and communicate effectively in new contexts. Progress to higher level study, such as a postgraduate diploma or masters degree.

• Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
• One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
• You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
• For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.

How long will it take?

Creative Writing Diplomas  Diplomas Widely recognised qualification. Equivalent to the first two thirds of an honours degree. Enhance your professional and technical skills or extend your knowledge and understanding of a subject. Study for interest or career development. Top up to a full honours degree in just two years.

Creative writing certificates  certificates widely recognised qualification. equivalent to the first third of an honours degree. study for interest or career development. shows that you can study successfully at university level. count it towards further qualifications such as a diphe or honours degree., why study creative writing with the open university.

Since 2003, over 50,000 students have completed one of our critically acclaimed creative writing modules. 

The benefits of studying creative writing with us are:

• Develops your writing skills in several genres including fiction, poetry, life writing and scriptwriting.
• Introduces you to the world of publishing and the requirements of professionally presenting manuscripts.
• Online tutor-group forums enable you to be part of an interactive writing community.
• Module workbooks are widely praised and used by other universities and have attracted worldwide sales.

Careers in Creative Writing

Studying creative writing will equip you with an adaptable set of skills that can give entry to a vast range of occupations. You’ll learn to evaluate and assimilate information in constructing an argument as well as acquiring the skills of creative and critical thinking that are much in demand in the workplace.

Our range of courses in creative writing can help you start or progress your career in:

• Arts, creative industries, culture and heritage
• Advertising, marketing, communications and public relations
• Journalism and publishing
• Public administration, civil service and local government

Looking for something other than a qualification?

The majority of our modules can be studied by themselves, on a stand-alone basis. If you later choose to work towards a qualification, you may be able to count your study towards it.

See our full list of Creative Writing modules

All Creative Writing courses

Browse all the Creative Writing courses we offer – certificates, diplomas and degrees.

See our full list of Creative Writing courses

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Creative writing courses in Hereford St. Martins

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• Creative Writing

The vital presence of creative writing in the English Department is reflected by our many distinguished authors who teach our workshops. We offer courses each term in fiction, poetry, nonfiction, screenwriting, playwriting, and television writing. Our workshops are small, usually no more than twelve students, and offer writers an opportunity to focus intensively on one genre. 

Apply to Creative Writing Workshops

Workshops are open by application to Harvard College undergraduates, graduate students, staff, and students from other institutions eligible for cross registration. Submission guidelines for workshops can be found under individual course listings; please do not query instructors.  Review all departmental rules and application instructions before applying.  

Fall 2024 First Application Deadline: 11:59 pm ET on Sunday, April 7

Fall 2024 Second Application Deadline: 11:59 pm ET on Thursday, August 22 (Not all workshops will be reopen to applications. First-year students, incoming transfer students, and incoming graduate students - who could not participate in April registration processes - will be given priority during the August application review cycle. Returning students who did not submit workshop applications in April may apply in August. Students who applied in April and were not offered a seat in a workshop will automatically be reconsidered and need not submit a new application.) Spring 2025 Application Deadline: October-November 2024, TBA

Please visit our course listings for all the Fall 2024 workshops.

Our online submission manager (link below) will open for Fall 2024 applications on Thursday, August 15 .  

Students who have questions about the creative writing workshop application process should contact Case Q. Kerns at [email protected] .

Featured Faculty

Teju Cole  is a novelist, critic, and essayist, and is the first Gore Vidal Professor of the Practice. "Among other works, the boundary-crossing author is known for his debut novel “Open City” (2011), whose early admirers included Harvard professor and New Yorker critic James Wood." 

Faculty Bookshelf

Sea change by jorie graham.

The Last Shot: City Streets, Basketball Dream by Darcy Frey (2004)

Place: New Poems by Jorie Graham (2012)

The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan (2006)

Creative Writing Workshops

• Spring 2024

English CACD. The Art of Criticism

Instructor: Maggie Doherty Wednesday, 12:00-2:45pm | Location: TBD Enrollment: Limited to 12 students Course Site

This course will consider critical writing about art–literary, visual, cinematic, musical, etc.—as an art in its own right. We will read and discuss criticism from a wide variety of publications, paying attention to the ways outlets and audience shape critical work. The majority of our readings will be from the last few years and will include pieces by Joan Acocella, Andrea Long Chu, Jason Farago, and Carina del Valle Schorske. Students will write several short writing assignments (500-1000 words), including a straight review, during the first half of the semester and share them with peers. During the second half of the semester, each student will write and workshop a longer piece of criticism about a work of art or an artist of their choosing. Students will be expected to read and provide detailed feedback on the work of their peers. Students will revise their longer pieces based on workshop feedback and submit them for the final assignment of the class. Apply via Submittable  (deadline: 11:59pm EDT on Thursday, August 22) Supplemental Application Information:  Please write a letter of introduction (1-2 pages) giving a sense of who you are, your writing experience, and your current goals for your writing. Please also describe your relationship to the art forms and/or genres you're interested in engaging in the course. You may also list any writers or publications whose criticism you enjoy reading. Please also include a 3-5-page writing sample of any kind of prose writing. This could be an academic paper or it could be creative fiction or nonfiction.

English CACW. Advanced Fiction Workshop

Instructor: Paul Yoon TBD | Location: TBD Enrollment: Limited to 12 students Advanced fiction workshop for students who have already taken a workshop at Harvard or elsewhere. The goal of the class is to continue your journey as a writer. You will be responsible for participating in discussions on the assigned texts, the workshop, engaging with the work of your colleagues, and revising your work. Supplemental Application Information:   * Please note: previous creative writing workshop experience required. * Please submit ONLY a cover letter telling me your previous creative writing workshop experience, either at Harvard or elsewhere; then tell me something you are passionate about and something you want to be better at; and, lastly, tell me why of all classes you want to take this one this semester. Again, please no writing samples.

English CBBR. Intermediate Poetry: Workshop

Instructor:  Josh Bell   Monday, 12:00-2:45pm | Location: Barker 018 Enrollment: Limited to 12 students Course Site

Initially, students can expect to read, discuss, and imitate the strategies of a wide range of poets writing in English; to investigate and reproduce prescribed forms and poetic structures; and to engage in writing exercises meant to expand the conception of what a poem is and can be. As the course progresses, reading assignments will be tailored on an individual basis, and an increasing amount of time will be spent in discussion of student work. Apply via Submittable  (deadline: 11:59pm EDT on Thursday, August 22)

Supplemental Application Information:  Please submit a portfolio including a letter of interest, ten poems, and a list of classes (taken at Harvard or elsewhere) that seem to have bearing on your enterprise.

English CCEP. Ekphrastic Poetry: Workshop

Instructor: Tracy K. Smith Wednesday, 3:00-5:45 pm | Location: Lamont 401 Enrollment: Limited to 12 students Course Site What can a poem achieve when it contemplates or even emulates a work of art in another medium? In this workshop, we'll read and write poems that engage with other art forms--and we'll test out what a foray into another artistic practice allows us to carry back over into the formal methods and behaviors of poetry. With poems by Keats, Rilke, Auden, Hughes, and Brooks, as well as Kevin Young, Evie Shockley, Ama Codjoe and other contemporary voices. Apply via Submittable  (deadline: 11:59pm EDT on Saturday, August 26) Supplemental Application Information:  Please submit a writing sample of 5-10 poems and an application letter explaining your interest in this course.

English CCFC. Poetry Workshop: Form & Content

Instructor: Tracy K. Smith Tuesday, 12:00-2:45pm | Location: Sever 112 Enrollment: Limited to 12 students Course Site

In this workshop, we’ll look closely at the craft-based choices poets make, and track the effects they have upon what we as readers are made to think and feel. How can implementing similar strategies better prepare us to engage the questions making up our own poetic material? We’ll also talk about content. What can poetry reveal about the ways our interior selves are shaped by public realities like race, class, sexuality, injustice and more? Apply via Submittable  (deadline: 11:59pm EDT on Saturday, August 26)   

Supplemental Application Information:  Please submit a writing sample of 5-10 poems and an application letter explaining your interest in this course.

English CCIJ. Intermediate Fiction Workshop

Instructor: Jesse McCarthy Thursday, 3:00-5:45 pm | Location: Barker 269 Enrollment: Limited to 12 students Course Site This is an intermediate course in the art of writing literary fiction. Previous experience with workshopping writing is encouraged but not required. The emphasis of the course will be learning how to read literature as a writer, with special attention given to the short story, novella, or short novel. We will read these works from the perspective of the writer as craftsperson and of the critic seeking in good faith to understand and describe a new aesthetic experience. We will be concerned foremost with how literary language works, with describing the effects of different kinds of sentences, different uses of genre, tone, and other rhetorical strategies. Together, we will explore our responses to examples of literature from around the world and from all periods, as well as to the writing you will produce and share with the class. As a member of a writing community, you should be prepared to respectfully read and respond to the work of others—both the work of your peers and that of the published writers that we will explore together. Apply via Submittable  (deadline: 11:59pm EDT on Saturday, August 26) Supplemental Application Information:  This course is by application only but there are no prerequisites for this course and previous experience in a writing workshop is not required . In your application please submit a short letter explaining why you are interested in this class. You might tell me a bit about your relationship to literature, your encounter with a specific author, book, or even a scene or character from a story or novel. Please also include a writing sample of 2-5 pages (5 pages max!) of narrative prose fiction.

English CCFS. Fiction Workshop

Instructor: Teju Cole Spring 2024: Tuesday, 6:00-8:45pm | Location: TBD Enrollment: Limited to 12 students Course Site Spring 2025: TBD This reading and writing intensive workshop is for students who want to learn to write literary fiction. The goal of the course would be for each student to produce two polished short stories. Authors on the syllabus will probably include James Joyce, Eudora Welty, Toni Morrison, Alice Munro, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Diane Williams.

Supplemental Application Information:   Please submit a cover letter saying what you hope to get out of the workshop. In the cover letter, mention three works of fiction that matter to you and why. In addition, submit a 400–500 word sample of your fiction; the sample can be self-contained or a section of a longer work.

English CLPG. Art of Sportswriting

Instructor: Louisa Thomas Spring 2024: Tuesday, 9:00-11:45am | Location: TBD Enrollment: Limited to 12 students Course Site Spring 2025: TBD

In newsrooms, the sports section is sometimes referred to as the “toy department” -- frivolous and unserious, unlike the stuff of politics, business, and war. In this course, we will take the toys seriously. After all, for millions of people, sports and other so-called trivial pursuits (video games, chess, children’s games, and so on) are a source of endless fascination. For us, they will be a source of stories about human achievements and frustrations. These stories can involve economic, social, and political issues. They can draw upon history, statistics, psychology, and philosophy. They can be reported or ruminative, formally experimental or straightforward, richly descriptive or tense and spare. They can be fun. Over the course of the semester, students will read and discuss exemplary profiles, essays, articles, and blog posts, while also writing and discussing their own. While much (but not all) of the reading will come from the world of sports, no interest in or knowledge about sports is required; our focus will be on writing for a broad audience.  Supplemental Application Information:  To apply, please write a letter describing why you want to take the course and what you hope to get out of it. Include a few examples of websites or magazines you like to read, and tell me briefly about one pursuit -- football, chess, basketball, ballet, Othello, crosswords, soccer, whatever -- that interests you and why.

English CALR. Advanced Screenwriting: Workshop

Instructor: Musa Syeed Spring 2024: Wednesday, 12:00-2:45pm | Location: TBA Enrollment: Limited to 12 students Course Site Spring 2025: TBD

The feature-length script is an opportunity to tell a story on a larger scale, and, therefore, requires additional preparation. In this class, we will move from writing a pitch, to a synopsis, to a treatment/outline, to the first 10 pages, to the first act of a feature screenplay. We will analyze produced scripts and discuss various elements of craft, including research, writing layered dialogue, world-building, creating an engaging cast of characters. As an advanced class, we will also look at ways both mainstream and independent films attempt to subvert genre and structure. Students will end the semester with a first act (20-30 pages) of their feature, an outline, and strategy to complete the full script.

Supplemental Application Information:  Please submit a 3-5 page writing sample. Screenplays are preferred, but fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, and plays are acceptable as well. Also, please write a short note to introduce yourself. Include a couple films/filmmakers that have inspired you, your goals for the class, as well as any themes/subject matter/ideas you might be interested in exploring in your writing for film.

English CNFR. Creative Nonfiction: Workshop

Instructor: Darcy Frey Fall 2024: Wednesday, 3:00-5:45 pm | Location: TBD Enrollment: Limited to 12 students. Course Site Spring 2025: TBD

Whether it takes the form of literary journalism, essay, memoir, or environmental writing, creative nonfiction is a powerful genre that allows writers to break free from the constraints commonly associated with nonfiction prose and reach for the breadth of thought and feeling usually accomplished only in fiction: the narration of a vivid story, the probing of a complex character, the argument of an idea, or the evocation of a place. Students will work on several short assignments to hone their mastery of the craft, then write a longer piece that will be workshopped in class and revised at the end of the term. We will take instruction and inspiration from published authors such as Joan Didion, James Baldwin, Ariel Levy, Alexander Chee, and Virginia Woolf. This is a workshop-style class intended for undergraduate and graduate students at all levels of experience. No previous experience in English Department courses is required. Apply via Submittable  (deadline: 11:59pm ET on Thursday, August 22)

Supplemental Application Information:   Please write a substantive letter of introduction describing who you are as writer at the moment and where you hope to take your writing; what experience you may have had with creative/literary nonfiction; what excites you about nonfiction in particular; and what you consider to be your strengths and weaknesses as a writer. Additionally, please submit 3-5 pages of creative/literary nonfiction (essay, memoir, narrative journalism, etc, but NOT academic writing) or, if you have not yet written much nonfiction, an equal number of pages of narrative fiction.

English CLAR. Getting the Words Right: The Art of Revision

Instructor: Laura van den Berg TBD | Location: TBD Enrollment: Limited to 12 students A promising draft is of little use to us as writers if we have no idea what to do next, of how to begin again. This course aims to illuminate how revision can be every bit as creative and exhilarating as getting the first draft down—and how time spent re-imagining our early drafts is the ultimate show of faith in our work. We will explore the art of revision—of realizing the promise of that first draft—through reading, craft discussion, exercises, and workshop. Students can expect to leave the semester with two polished short stories (or 40-50 polished novel pages), a keener understanding of their own writing process, and a plan for where to take their work next. Texts will include  How to Write an Autobiographical Novel  by Alexander Chee,  Refuse to by Done  by Matt Bell, and  Craft in the Real World  by Matthew Salesses. It will be helpful to enter into the semester with some pre-existing material that you wish to revise (a short story, several chapters of a novel). Previous experience with workshopping writing is encouraged but not required. Supplemental Application Information:   Please submit a brief letter—1-2 pages—that discusses your interest in the course and in writing more broadly. What are you interested in working on and learning more about, at this point in your practice? Please also submit a short—2-3 page—writing sample (the first 2 pages of a short story or novel, for example).

English CACF. Get Real: The Art of Community-Based Film

Instructor: Musa Syeed Wednesday, 12:00-2:45pm | Location: TBD Enrollment: Limited to 12 student Course Site

“I’ve often noticed that we are not able to look at what we have in front of us,” the Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami said, “unless it’s inside a frame.” For our communities confronting invisibility and erasure, there’s an urgent need for new frames. In this workshop, we’ll explore a community-engaged approach to documentary and fiction filmmaking, as we seek to see our world more deeply. We’ll begin with screenings, craft exercises, and discussions around authorship and social impact. Then we each will write, develop, and shoot a short film over the rest of the semester, building off of intentional community engagement. Students will end the class with written and recorded materials for a rough cut. Basic equipment and technical training will be provided.

Apply via Submittable  (deadline: 11:59pm EDT on Thursday, August 22)

Supplemental Application Information:  Please submit a brief letter explaining why you're interested to take this class. Please also discuss what participants/communities you might be interested in engaging with for your filmmaking projects. For your writing sample, please submit 3-5 pages of your creative work from any genre (screenwriting, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, etc.)

English CAFR. Advanced Fiction Workshop: Writing this Present Life

Instructor: Claire Messud Thursday, 3:00-5:45 pm | Location: TBD Enrollment: Limited to 12 students Course Site Intended for students with prior fiction-writing and workshop experience, this course will concentrate on structure, execution and revision. Exploring various strands of contemporary and recent literary fiction – writers such as Karl Ove Knausgaard, Rachel Cusk, Chimamanda Adichie, Douglas Stuart, Ocean Vuong, etc – we will consider how fiction works in our present moment, with emphasis on a craft perspective. Each student will present to the class a published fiction that has influenced them. The course is primarily focused on the discussion of original student work, with the aim of improving both writerly skills and critical analysis. Revision is an important component of this class: students will workshop two stories and a revision of one of these. Apply via Submittable  (deadline: 11:59pm ET on Thursday, August 22)

Supplemental Application Information:  Please submit 3-5 pages of prose fiction, along with a substantive letter of introduction. I’d like to know why you’re interested in the course; what experience you’ve had writing, both in previous workshops and independently; what your literary goals and ambitions are. Please tell me about some of your favorite narratives – fiction, non-fiction, film, etc: why they move you, and what you learn from them.

English CAKV. Fiction Workshop: Writing from the First-Person Point of View

Instructor:  Andrew Krivak Tuesday, 9:00-11:45 1m | Location: TBD Enrollment: Limited to 12 students Course Site This course is a workshop intended for students who are interested in writing longer form narratives from the first-person point of view. The “I” at the center of any novel poses a perspective that is all at once imaginatively powerful and narratively problematic, uniquely insightful and necessarily unreliable. We will read from roughly twelve novels written in the first-person, from Marilynne Robinson and W.G. Sebald, to Valeria Luiselli and Teju Cole, and ask questions (among others) of why this form, why this style? And, as a result, what is lost and what is realized in the telling? Primarily, however, students will write. Our goal will be to have a student’s work read and discussed twice in class during the semester. I am hoping to see at least 35-40 pages of a project —at any level of completion—at the end of term.  Apply via Submittable  (deadline: 11:59pm EDT on Thursday, August 22) Supplemental Application Information:  Please write a substantive letter telling me why you’re interested in taking this class, what writers (classical and contemporary) you admire and why, and if there’s a book you have read more than once, a movie you have seen more than once, a piece of music you listen to over and over, not because you have to but because you want to. Students of creative nonfiction are also welcome to apply.

English CCSS. Fiction Workshop: The Art of the Short Story

Instructor: Laura van den Berg Tuesday, 12:00-2:45 pm | Location: TBD Enrollment: Limited to 12 students Course Site This course will serve as an introduction to the fundamentals of writing fiction, with an emphasis on the contemporary short story. How can we set about creating “big” worlds in compact spaces? What unique doors can the form of the short story open? The initial weeks will focus on exploratory exercises and the study of published short stories and craft essays. Later, student work will become the primary text as the focus shifts to workshop discussion. Authors on the syllabus will likely include Ted Chiang, Lauren Groff, Carmen Maria Machado, and Octavia Butler. This workshop welcomes writers of all levels of experience. Apply via Submittable  (deadline: 11:59pm EDT on Thursday, August 22) Supplemental Application Information:  Please submit a letter of introduction. I’d like to know a little about why you are drawn to studying fiction; what you hope to get out of the workshop and what you hope to contribute; and one thing you are passionate about outside writing / school. Please also include a very brief writing sample (2-3 pages). The sample can be in any genre (it does not have to be from a work of fiction). 

Write an Honors Creative Thesis

Students may apply to write a senior thesis or senior project in creative writing, although only English concentrators can be considered. Students submit applications in early March of their junior year, including first-term juniors who are out of phase. The creative writing faculty considers the proposal, along with the student's overall performance in creative writing and other English courses, and notifies students about its decision in early mid-late March. Those applications are due, this coming year, on TBA . 

Students applying for a creative writing thesis or project must have completed at least one course in creative writing at Harvard before they apply. No student is guaranteed acceptance. It is strongly suggested that students acquaint themselves with the requirements and guidelines well before the thesis application is due. The creative writing director must approve any exceptions to the requirements, which must be made in writing by Monday, February 7, 2022. Since the creative writing thesis and project are part of the English honors program, acceptance to write a creative thesis is conditional upon the student continuing to maintain a 3.40 concentration GPA. If a student’s concentration GPA drops below 3.40 after the spring of the junior year, the student may not be permitted to continue in the honors program.

Joint concentrators may apply to write creative theses, but we suggest students discuss the feasibility of the project well before applications are due. Not all departments are open to joint creative theses.

Students who have questions about the creative writing thesis should contact the program’s Director, Sam Marks .

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English with Creative Writing BA (Hons)

Undergraduate degree

Discover what it's like to study the BA (hons) English degree at City, University of London.

Key information

This programme allows you to take a range of innovative creative writing modules – including screenwriting and writing for gaming - to complement the study of English writing throughout the world. You will graduate with a wide range of creative and applied professional skills.

• 3 years full-time
• 4 years with placement or study abroad year

Institution

City, University of London

Northampton Square

Entry requirements

Below is a list of countries with information on each about which qualifications we accept. If your country is not listed please email [email protected] .

Contextual offers

We apply a contextual admissions process for UK undergraduate applicants who have been in care, attend a low performing school, live in an area where few students go to university, or are the first generation of their family to enter Higher Education.

Those who are eligible may receive a conditional offer with reduced entry requirements, typically up to two grades lower for A-levels and one grade (or eight tariff points) for BTEC or mixed qualifications.

Mixed qualifications

Typically the only scenario where we make conditional offers expressed as UCAS tariff points is when an applicant presents mixed qualifications, most typically a combination of A Levels and a BTEC qualification.

In this instance, we may make a tariff point offer to present the applicant with more flexibility on equivalencies. In this case, please be aware that we may still ask for a specific score across certain qualifications and subjects. E.g. 'This offer is conditional on you achieving 128 tariff points. This must include A Level Mathematics at grade B.'

Subject exclusions

We do not accept General Studies and Critical Thinking. These subjects will not be included in any conditional offer we make.

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

We welcome applications from students who are completing relevant EPQ Projects. Whilst we recognise the value of these projects in preparing students for independent learning at university, the EPQ is unlikely to form part of any conditional offer we make.

The EPQ will also not lower the specifics of any conditional offer we choose to make. We will consider the EPQ as part of the holistic assessment of the application and it could be used to form part of our final decision at Confirmation stage.

We recognise that there will be differences of opportunity varying by school and college. As not all students will have the opportunity to sit AS Level exams, it is unlikely we will include AS Level grades in any offer we choose to make. Where students have completed an AS Level subject, we will consider this as part of the holistic assessment of the application and it could be used to form part of our final decision at Confirmation stage.

University preparation programmes

If you do not qualify for direct entry, you may wish to take a foundation programme first. These programmes are designed to prepare students for entry to City's undergraduate courses.

Access to Higher Education

We welcome Access course applications from 'mature' students. These applicants will be considered on the basis of their own merits. Please be aware that Access students are often asked for further information to supplement their application, this is normally in the form of a questionnaire.

A typical offer for an Access applicant would be:

• Access to HE course with 60 credits overall to include 45 credits at Level 3 with 24 Level 3 credits at Distinction and 21 Level 3 credits at Merit.
• The Access qualification should be supplemented by at least a grade 6 (B) in Mathematics and grade 4 (C) in English Language at GCSE.

The Zimbabwe GCE A Level is considered on a grade for grade basis with GCE A Levels.

Visa requirements

International Students coming to study in the UK may need to apply for a visa or entry clearance to come to the UK to study. The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course. There are different rules for:

• Students on courses of more than six months
• Students on courses of less than six months

For more information see our main Visa page .

The School Certificate / General Certificate of Education.

Students must successfully complete a recognised foundation course.

Tot Nghiep Pho Thong Trung Hoc (Upper Secondary School Graduation Certificate) students must successfully complete a recognised foundation course.

Uzbekistan Certificate of Secondary Education.

Certificate of Complete General Secondary Education.

Advanced Certificate in Education (UACE) is considered on a grade for grade basis with GCE A Levels.

Advanced Placements.

Please refer to the UK entry requirements for this course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the US equivalent required.

The equivalents provided are intended as a guide only and individual applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

The following A-level equivalences to Advanced Placements will typically be applied:

• A-level AAA = Advanced Placements 555
• A-level AAB = Advanced Placements 554
• A-level ABB = Advanced Placements 544
• A-level BBB = Advanced Placements 444
• A-level BBC = Advanced Placements 443
• A-level BCC = Advanced Placements 433.

Thanawaya (General Secondary Education Certificate Examination)- students must successfully complete a recognised foundation course.

Secondary certificate.

Mathayom Suksa 6 (Senior High School Leaving Certificate) students must successfully complete a recognised foundation course.

Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE)

Senior High School Leaving Certificate students must successfully complete a recognised foundation course.

Junior College Diploma

The exact requirements from the above qualification differ between courses. Please contact Admissions to confirm the requirements for your course of interest.

Switzerland

Federal Maturity Certificate/Maturitatzeugnis/Cantonal Maturity Certificate. The exact requirements from the above qualification differ between courses. Please contact Admissions to confirm the requirements for your course of interest.

International Students from within the European Economic Area (EEA) may need to apply for a Student visa or entry clearance to come to the UK to study if they do not have EU Settlement Status.

• Students on courses of less than six months.

Avgångsbetyg / Slutbetyg från Gymnasieskola. The exact requirements from the above qualification differ between courses. Please contact Admissions to confirm the requirements for your course of interest.

Sri Lankan General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level).

Considered equivalent to UK A-levels on a like for like basis.

Título de Bachillerato (LOGSE)

Please refer to the UK entry requirements for this course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Polish equivalent required.

The following A-level equivalences to Título de Bachillerato (LOGSE) will typically be applied:

• A-level AAA = 8
• A-level AAB = 7.8
• A-level ABB = 7.6
• A-level BBB = 7.4
• A-level BBC = 7.2
• A-level BCC = 7.

Please contact Admissions to confirm the requirements for your course of interest.

South Korea

Korean High School Diploma students must successfully complete a recognised foundation course.

South Africa

The National Senior Certificate will be accepted for direct entry to certain undergraduate courses normally

Maturitetno spričevalo (Matura Certificate). The exact requirements from the above qualification differ between courses. Please contact Admissions to confirm the requirements for your course of interest.

Vysvedčenie o maturitnej skúške (Secondary School Leaving Certificate). The exact requirements from the above qualification differ between courses. Please contact Admissions to confirm the requirements for your course of interest.

Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-levels considered equivalent to UK A-levels on a like-for-like basis.

Polytechnic Diploma students considered for year 1 or year 2 entry on a case-by-case basis depending on subjects taken and CGPA.

Please contact Admissions to confirm your eligibility and the requirements for your course of interest.

Secondary School Leaving Diploma/Matura. The exact requirements from the above qualification differ between courses. Please contact Admissions to confirm the requirements for your course of interest.

Saudi Arabia

Thanawaya (General Secondary Education Certificate) - students must successfully complete a recognised foundation course.

The Rwanda Advanced Certificate of Education (A-level)

The Attestat o Srednam Obrazov

Diplomă de Bacalaureat. The exact requirements from the above qualification differ between courses. Please contact Admissions to confirm the requirements for your course of interest.

Diploma/Certificado Nível Secundário de Educação. The exact requirements from the above qualification differ between courses. Please contact Admissions to confirm the rquirements for your course of interest.

Swiadectwo Dojrzałości / Matura.

The following A-level equivalences to Swiadectwo Dojrzałości / Matura will typically be applied:

• A-level AAA = Swiadectwo Dojrzałości / Matura 80% average from 3 extended subjects
• A-level AAB = Swiadectwo Dojrzałości / Matura 78% average from 3 extended subjects
• A-level ABB = Swiadectwo Dojrzałości / Matura 76% average from 3 extended subjects
• A-level BBB = Swiadectwo Dojrzałości / Matura 74% average from 3 extended subjects
• A-level BBC = Swiadectwo Dojrzałości / Matura 72% average from 3 extended subjects
• A-level BCC = Swiadectwo Dojrzałości / Matura 70% average from 3 extended subjects.

Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC).

Thanawaya (General Education Diploma) - students must successfully complete a recognised foundation course.

Vitnemål fra den Videregående Skole (VVO). The exact requirements MAY differ between courses.

Please refer to the UK entry requirements for this course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Norwegian equivalent required.

The following A-level equivalences to Vitnemal will typically be applied:

• A-level AAA = 5
• A-level AAB = 4.5
• A-level ABB = 4.5
• A-level BBB = 4
• A-level BBC = 4
• A-level BCC = 3.5

Senior School Certificate/West African Senior School Certificate

Netherlands

Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO). The exact requirements from the above qualification differ between courses. Please contact Admissions to confirm the requirements for your course of interest.

The Moroccan Diplôme du Baccalauréat/Attestation du Baccalauréat

Titulo Académico de Bachiller / Diploma de Bachiller / Bachillerato General - students must successfully complete a recognised foundation course.

The CIE A Level sat in Mauritius is considered on a grade for grade basis with GCE A Levels sat in the UK.

Advanced Matriculation and Matriculation Certificate Examination are comparable to A Levels with the same grading system as UK A levels.

STPM / UEC.

Please refer to the UK entry requirements for this course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Malaysian equivalent required.

The following A-level equivalences to STPM will typically be applied:

• A-level AAA = STPM AAA
• A-level AAB = STPM AAB
• A-level ABB = STPM ABB
• A-level BBB = STPM BBB
• A-level BBC = STPM BBC
• A-level BCC = STPM BCC.

The following A-level equivalences to UEC will typically be applied:

• A-level AAA = UEC AAAAAA
• A-level AAB = UEC AAAABB
• A-level ABB = UEC AABBBB
• A-level BBB = UEC BBBBBB
• A-level BBC = UEC BBBBCC
• A-level BCC = UEC BBCCCC.

Diplôme de Fin d'Etudes Secondaires. The exact requirements from the above qualification differ between courses. Please contact Admissions to confirm the requirements for your course of interest.

Brandos Atestatas (Certificate of Maturity). The exact requirements from the above qualification differ between courses. Please contact Admissions to confirm the requirements for your course of interest.

Lebanese Baccalaureate - students must successfully complete a recognised foundation course.

Atestats par visparejo videjo izglitibu (Certificate of General Secondary Education). The exact requirements from the above qualification differ between courses.

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE)

Certificate of Completed Secondary Education.

Thanawaya (Certificate of General Secondary Education) - students must successfully complete a recognised foundation course.

Kotogakko Sotsugyo Shomeisho (Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate) students must successfully complete a recognised foundation course.

Senmonshi (vocational degree), Jun-Gakushi (associate degree) and Tanki Daigaku Shuryo Shoshois (Junior College Certificate of Graduation) considered for direct entry on a case-by-case basis. Please contact Admissions to confirm the requirements for your course of interest.

Diploma di Esame di Stato.

Please refer to the UK entry requirements for this course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Italian equivalent required.

The following A-level equivalences to Diploma di Esame di Stato will typically be applied:

• A-level AAA = Diploma di Esame di Stato 85%
• A-level AAB = Diploma di Esame di Stato 84%
• A-level ABB = Diploma di Esame di Stato 80%
• A-level BBB = Diploma di Esame di Stato 78%
• A-level BBC = Diploma di Esame di Stato 76%
• A-level BCC = Diploma di Esame di Stato 74%.

Irish Leaving Certificate. The exact requirements from the above qualification differ between courses. Please contact Admissions to confirm the requirements for your course of interest.

Surat Tanda Tamat Belajar Sekolah Menengah Umum Tingkat Atas (Senior Secondary School Certificate of Completion) students must successfully complete a recognised foundation course.

Diploma III & IV students considered for year 1 entry on a case-by-case basis. Please contact Admissions to confirm the requirements for your course of interest.

Please refer to the UK entry requirements for this course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Indian equivalent required.

The following A-level equivalences to HSC XII will typically be applied:

• A-level AAA = CBSE & ICSE Exam Board HSC XII 80%
• A-level AAB = CBSE & ICSE Exam Board HSC XII 78%
• A-level ABB = CBSE & ICSE Exam Board HSC XII 76%
• A-level BBB = CBSE & ICSE Exam Board HSC XII 74%
• A-level BBC = CBSE & ICSE Exam Board HSC XII 72%
• A-level BCC = CBSE & ICSE Exam Board HSC XII 70%

Stúdentspróf. The exact requirements from the above qualification differ between courses. Please contact Admissions to confirm the requirements for your course of interest.

Érettségi. The exact requirements from the above qualification differ between courses. Please contact Admissions to confirm the requirements for your course of interest.

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education.

Please refer to the UK entry requirements for this course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Hong Kong equivalent required.

The following A-level equivalences to HKDSE will typically be applied:

• A-level AAA = HKSDE 555 (excluding Liberal Studies and Chinese)
• A-level AAB = HKSDE 555 (excluding Liberal Studies and Chinese)
• A-level ABB = HKSDE 554 (excluding Liberal Studies and Chinese)
• A-level BBB = HKSDE 554 (excluding Liberal Studies and Chinese)
• A-level BBC = HKSDE 544 (excluding Liberal Studies and Chinese)
• A-level BCC = HKSDE 544 (excluding Liberal Studies and Chinese).

Greek Apolytirion. Please note that exact requirements may differ between courses.

Please refer to the UK entry requirements for this course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Greek equivalent required.

The following A-level equivalences to Greek Apolytirion will typically be applied:

• A-level AAA = 18/20 plus; 18/20 in two PanHellenics
• A-level AAB = 18/20 plus; 17/20 in two PanHellenics

German Abitur.

Please refer to the UK entry requirements for this course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the German equivalent required.

The following A-level equivalences to Abitur will typically be applied:

• A-level AAA = Abitur 1.8
• A-level AAB = Abitur 2.0
• A-level ABB = Abitur 2.2
• A-level BBB = Abitur 2.4
• A-level BBC = Abitur 2.6
• A-level BCC = Abitur 2.8.

French Baccalaureate.

Please refer to the UK entry requirements for this course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the French equivalent required.

The following A-level equivalences to French Baccalaureate will typically be applied:

• A-level AAA = French Baccalaureate 15/20
• A-level AAB = French Baccalaureate 14/20
• A-level ABB = French Baccalaureate 13/20
• A-level BBB = French Baccalaureate 12.5/20
• A-level BBC = French Baccalaureate 12/20
• A-level BCC = French Baccalaureate 11.5/20.

Gümnaasiumi loputunnistus with the Riigieksamitunnistus (Secondary School Leaving Certificate with the State Examination Certificate).

Certificate of Nile International Secondary Education

Hojere Forberedelseseksamen (HF). The exact requirements from the above qualification differ between courses. Please contact Admissions to confirm the requirements for your course of interest.

Czech Republic

Vysvědčení o maturitní zkoušce / Maturita (Secondary School Leaving Certificate). The exact requirements from the above qualification differ between courses.

Apolytirion. The exact requirements from the above qualification differ between courses. Please contact Admissions to confirm the requirements for your course of interest.

The following A-level equivalences to Apolytirion will typically be applied:

• A-level AAA = 19 (91 – 95)
• A-level AAB = 18.5 (88 – 90)
• A-level ABB = 18 (86 – 90)
• A-level BBB = 18 (86 – 90)
• A-level BBC = 17.5 (83 – 85).

Maturalna svjedodzba (Matura Certificate). The exact requirements from the above qualification differ between courses. Please contact Admissions to confirm the requirements for your course of interest.

Bachiller Académico/Technico

Senior High School Certificate students must successfully complete a recognised foundation course.

Gaokao students with exceptional grades considered for direct entry on a case-by-case basis. Please contact Admissions to confirm the requirements for your course of interest.

Grade 12 high school graduation certificate / diploma. Please note that exact requirements may differ between provinces.

Please refer to the UK entry requirements for this course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Canadian equivalent required.

The following A-level equivalences to Canadian year 12 Diplomas will typically be applied:

• A-level AAA = 85% average across 5 best Grade 12 subjects
• A-level AAB = 80% average across 5 best Grade 12 subjects
• A-level ABB = 77% average across 5 best Grade 12 subjects
• A-level BBB = 75% average across 5 best Grade 12 subjects
• A-level BBC = 72% average across 5 best Grade 12 subjects
• A-level BCC = 70% average across 5 best Grade 12 subjects.

The Cameroonian GGCE is normally considered like for like with UK A levels.

Diploma Za Sredno Obrazovanie.

Please refer to the UK entry requirements for this course, check for any prerequisites such as compulsory or preferred subject areas, and use the following as an indication of the Bulgarian equivalent required.

The following A-level equivalences to Diploma Za Sredno Obrazovanie will typically be applied:

• A-level ABB = Diploma Za Sredno Obrazovanie 5.3 average and 5 in state exams
• A-level BBB = Diploma Za Sredno Obrazovanie 5.0 average and 4 in state exams
• A-level BBC = Diploma Za Sredno Obrazovanie 4.5 average and 4 in state exams
• A-level BCC = Diploma Za Sredno Obrazovanie 4.0 average and 4 in state exams
• A-level CCC = Diploma Za Sredno Obrazovanie 4.0 average and 4 in state exams.

Brunei-Cambridge GCE A-levels considered equivalent to UK A-levels on a like for like basis.

• Certificado de Conclusao de Ensino Médio
• Certificado de Conclusao de Segundo Grau

Botswana National qualifications

Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs/Certificat d'Enseignement Secondaire Supérieur.

General Secondary Education Certificate.

Reifeprufungszeugnis/Maturazeugnis. The exact requirements from the above qualification differ between courses. Please contact Admissions to confirm the requirements for your course of interest.

Titulo de Bachiller.

The Baccalaureat de l'Enseignement Secondaire

Diplome e Matures Shteterore (Diploma of State Matura). Students must successfully complete a recognised foundation course. Alternatively, IB, A Levels, or other European system will be considered.

If you are unable to find your country equivalents in the above list, City will consider other international qualifications on a case by case basis.

Please contact the Admissions team for more details.

English language requirements

If your first language is not English, we will require evidence of English language proficiency. Minimum requirements are:

English language programmes

Don’t meet the English language requirements? INTO City, University of London offers English language programmes to help prepare you for study at university. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to degree courses.

Why choose this course?

in London for student satisfaction in English studies three years in a row (NSS Survey 2022-2024)

Study in the heart of London, a global hub of literary creativity.

Explore your artistic side and learn how to write fiction and creative non-fiction, and for films, television and games.

• Course overview

Teaching and assessment

Fees and funding, how to apply, english with creative writing ba (hons) degree course overview.

This course is subject to approval for 2025 entry.

This programme builds on our international reputation in creative writing, media and the creative industries.

Your first year is shared with BA English. Throughout your degree you will study the written word across time and space, from Shakespeare to popular music, comic books to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

By the end of your studies, you will be able to communicate in different professional and critical forms, using the written and spoken word.

You will also develop a set of specialised and applied skills in contemporary forms of creative writing, from short stories and literary journalism to screenplays and game dialogue. You’ll graduate with a compelling portfolio of sample writings.

• Immerse yourself in world literature and study in Central London, which has inspired so many iconic stories.
• Learn how to write in a range of genres and voices, including screenplays, poetry, short stories, narrative non-fiction and gaming narrative.
• Develop applied creative skills in communication, persuasion, individuality, writing for different audiences, and awareness of different creative industry markets.
• Learn from a team of expert lecturers who are passionate about creativity and the written word.

Course content

Develop your own creative and professional skills while immersing yourself in the study of English in this three year-degree.

Year 1: Develop a thorough grounding in reading, writing, academic and creative skills. Encounter a range of texts from around the world, explore how creative writing represents issues like social justice, and develop your own skills in storytelling.

Year2: Take core modules in creative short fiction and screenplay writing. Deepen your understanding of writing in English by choosing from a range of modules focusing on global and English literature, publishing, writing for media and communications, and advertising.

Year 3: Take core modules in writing for gaming and long-form journalism. Choose from a range of options including contemporary approaches to writing in English, media, marketing and publishing. Cap your degree with an optional creative writing project.

Study abroad

As an Undergraduate student you can undertake a period of study abroad whilst completing the programme.

This is possible through the Exchange Programme, a year of study at one of our European and/or international partner universities via a sandwich year, which is undertaken between completing Programme Stage 2 and entering Programme Stage 3, extending the degree to four years.

The resulting degree title awarded would be: BA English with Study Abroad.

We have strong links with Universities such as:

• Curtin University
• University of Queensland
• Queensland University of Technology.

North America

• University of British Columbia
• Concordia University
• Northeastern University
• Toronto Metropolitan University.
• Koç University.

Your modules will be delivered using a combination of:

• Practical workshops
• Interactive sessions
• Small seminars
• Personal tutorials

Lectures will provide you with commentary and explanation of key content areas. Most modules also offer small seminars and workshops, where you can develop your understanding of key texts and ideas through discussion and debate as well as hone your practical and professional skills. This versatility of approach will not only facilitate discussion but allow you to generate your own content, with different readerships, forms and functions in mind.

Assessment methods

Your programme will be assessed via a range of coursework and practical assignments, which may include:

• Professional, reflective, and creative assignments and portfolios
• Group assignments, including projects, performances, and presentations
• Live showcase events.

Fees for year 2025/26

To be confirmed

International

The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2025/26 academic year only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase in the region of 5%.

Funding options

Explore up-to-date information about funding options, available financial support and typical living costs .

• Fee waivers are available for this course.
• Means tested support is available for 2025/26 entry.

Additional expenses

Some of our degrees may involve additional expenses which are not covered by your tuition fees.  Find out more about additional expenses .

You will graduate with a unique blend of intellectual and creative skills.

Our employability-focused curriculum strongly emphasises the practical application of your skills in a professional context. You’ll have the opportunity to take a work placement module or year, apply for a year’s study abroad, or undertake shorter and intensive work placements.

Delivered through world-class teaching dedicated to enhancing your job prospects, this course prepares you for a range of possible career options, including:

• creative writing
• writing for film, television and other media including games
• advertising and marketing
• library and archival professions
• civil service.

More information on the Careers support available at City is available on our website.

Placement opportunities

As an English student at City, you will have the opportunity to take a second-year elective module, ‘Work Placement’. You may also apply to take a sandwich year between years two and three of your degree. Our careers team will help you secure a placement in the areas that meet your future ambitions.

Previous students have taken their placements in a wide range of sectors, including:

• Publishing (Penguin)
• Teaching Assistant (Secondary)
• Marketing (Intern at 11 Investors recruitment group)
• Theatre work (Chickenshed)
• Charity work (Oxfam books).

Applications for degree courses must be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

You can apply through your school or college using the Apply system, which enables you to submit your application directly to the  UCAS website .

You can apply to up to five universities or institutions on the form. The UCAS code for City, University of London is C60 .

Please take care to enter the correct course code when applying, particularly for subjects with a Foundation year or with BEng (Hons) and MEng (Hons) or BSc (Hons) and MSci (Hons) options.

UCAS has implemented an 'invisibility of choices' policy so that, on the initial application and while you are receiving decisions, each institution can see only their entry and not those of other institutions you have chosen. This ensures that your application for a course at City is considered solely on your academic and personal qualities.

You should submit your completed application form to UCAS with a £27.50 application fee.

For enquiries about the admissions process at City, please contact our Admissions Office

Complete the Admissions enquiry form .

Call: +44 (0)20 7040 8716.

When to apply

Your application for entry in September 2025 should arrive at UCAS between September 2024 and 31 January 2025. Applications that arrive after 31 January 2025 will be considered only at City's discretion.

Contacting UCAS

Website: www.ucas.com

Address: Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), Rosehill, New Barn Lane, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL52 3LZ

• from inside the UK 0871 468 0468
• from outside the UK +44 (0)871 468 0468

For callers with hearing difficulties:

• from inside the UK use the Text Relay service on 18001 0871 468 0468
• from outside the UK dial +44 151 494 1260 (text phone) and then ask the operator to dial 0871 468 0468.

Our students

BA (Hons) English student Ruth’s insights

Ask a student

Want to find out more about student life? Chat with our student ambassadors and ask any question you have

Your studies are supported by a team of committed and enthusiastic teachers and researchers, experts in their chosen field. On occasion we also work with external professionals to enhance your learning and appreciation of the wider subject.

Dr Hetta Howes

Senior Lecturer in Medieval and Early Modern Literature

• Department of Media, Culture and Creative Industries

Dr Minna Vuohelainen

Dr Sarah Jilani

Lecturer in English

What's happening

Nov  06

Postgraduate Open Evening

Join us at our Postgraduate Open Evening to learn more about our postgraduate courses and discover all the benefits of studying at City, University of London.

Wednesday, 6 th November 2024 , 17:00 – 19:00

Location: Northampton Square

Audience: Prospective students

Wednesday, 10 th January 2024

Stories shape our world as concretely as infrastructure

Dr Dominic Davies publishes new book The Broken Promise of Infrastructure, which investigates the cultural politics of infrastructure in Britain.

Friday, 10 th March 2023

‘Working with Words’ opens up career possibilities for English students

Careers-focused module boosts BA English students’ employability at City.

Related courses

Journalism ba (hons).

Train for a career in journalism with this hands on degree. Develop the skills you need to become a print, broadcast or online journalist, alongside research and critical thinking skills.

Award: Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

Duration: 3 years (4 years with placement or study abroad year)

History BA (Hons)

Our fascinating three-year History BA Hons degree invites you to explore the events, force and ideas that have shaped modern and international history.

Useful links

• School of Communication & Creativity
• Creative writing and publishing at City, University of London
• English at City, University of London

Contact details

Undergraduate enquiries.

+44 (0)20 7040 8716

Admissions enquiries

The Top 12 Free Online Creative Writing Courses for Budding Authors

• riazul-islam
• September 1, 2024

Table of Contents

E-learning has opened new doors for aspiring creative talent around the globe. Over the past decade, free massive open online courses (MOOCs) have made instruction by top professors at Ivy League schools accessible to anyone with wifi. Fields like creative writing have especially benefited. Today‘s writers can systematically build literary techniques without paying tuition or leaving home.

"Online courses create welcoming communities where emerging authors support each other‘s development," says Dr. Hannah Stevens, a poetry lecturer with over 20 years of teaching experience. "Seeing fellow students from totally different backgrounds thrive gives people confidence to find their own voice."

Completion rates for virtual creative writing courses can rival traditional college classes, with 60% to 70% of enrollees finishing all assignments. Learners also report high satisfaction—92% say online writing workshops positively impacted their craft.

So which courses will unlock your storytelling potential without draining your bank account? I‘ve compiled reviews of 12 top-notch free writing classes covering fiction, poetry, scripts, songs, and memoirs. Whether you‘re starting from scratch or preparing to publish, these will sharpen your skills.

1. Introduction to Creative Writing

Offered By : University of East Anglia/FutureLearn Duration : 2 weeks at 2 hours per week

This Popular Class gives aspiring authors an overview of key aspects of creative writing, from generating ideas to composing compelling fiction. Through video lessons and writing exercises, you‘ll practice essential skills like character development, structuring a scene, and editing your work. An active online community also allows you to share drafts and offer constructive feedback on fellow students’ writing.

Key topics :

• Finding inspiration
• Creating authentic characters
• Plot and narrative structure
• Point of view and voice
• Revising your work critically

My Take : This course offers a nicely condensed introduction for writing newcomers. The discussing drafts forum helps writers workshop stories organically. One downside—I wish the certificate recognized completion with more than a digital badge.

2. Writing Your First Novel

Offered By : Open University via FutureLearn Duration : 3 weeks at 3 hours per week

Taught by bestselling authors like Peter James pictured here, this free online creative writing course provides expert guidance on planning, writing, editing, and publishing a novel. You‘ll map out plot and characters for your book, analyze scenes from famous published works, complete weekly milestones for drafts, and learn to take feedback from fellow writers.

• Developing an idea into a novel
• Structuring your book effectively
• Writing convincing dialogue
• Handling multiple storylines
• Preparing your manuscript for submission

My Take : Budding novelists should definitely consider this course. Having published authors for teachers allows you to model your work after writers who‘ve navigated the submission process successfully. My only complaint is that three weeks feels short—I could have used a couple more lessons.

3. Creative Writing: Start Writing Fiction

Offered By : University of British Columbia via edX Duration : 5 weeks at 2-4 hours per week

This hands-on creative writing workshop focuses on the key elements of compelling short fiction. You‘ll dig into aspects like establishing a narrative voice, bringing settings and characters to life, and structuring events into meaningful arcs. By the end, you’ll produce one complete short story and refine your overall approach to fictional writing.

• Fundamentals of fiction writing
• Building realistic characters
• Immersive worldbuilding
• Outlining stories

My Take : The full short story workshop process in this course is invaluable. Having your draft critiqued by a group of 15 fellow writers showed me how readers perceive my work. I also appreciated studying voice and characters in depth before attempting a full narrative.

4. Writing Young Adult Fiction

Offered By : Michigan State University via Coursera Duration : 5 weeks at 3 hours per week

Specifically developed for aspiring authors of young adult novels, this hands-on course expertly breaks down believable teen fiction. You‘ll learn how to craft coming-of-age stories, voice relatable protagonists, develop supporting characters, incorporate relevant themes, and structure compelling arcs.

• Understanding the YA genre and audience
• Building complex teen characters
• Addressing adolescent realities
• Pacing/tension in YA storytelling
• Revising with young readers in mind

My Take : If you‘re considering YA seriously, this course delivers. The weekly peer workshops and editing practice using instructor John Smolens‘ feedback honed my POV shifts and dialogue enormously. My only nitpick is that lessons sometimes felt rushed packing so much quality content into five weeks.

5. Write Your First Screenplay

Offered By : University of East Anglia via FutureLearn Duration : 3 weeks at 1-3 hours per week

Film and television screenwriting requires mastery of key dramatic elements like conflict, act structure, scenes, and dialogue. This introductory course outlines the skills needed to develop and script stories for the screen. Weekly modules walk you through conceptualizing ideas, plotting major events, writing effective sequences, sculpting characters, and polishing scenes.

• Powerful drama dynamics
• Conceptualizing cinematic stories
• Script formatting basics
• Three act plot architecture
• Snappy, compelling dialogue
• Layered, interesting characters

My Take : This course surveys screenwriting at a brisk pace. The assignments and peer discussions reignited my stalled attempt at drafting a pilot. My advice is to give yourself extra time for readings, video lectures, revisions, and workshopping each week.

6. Write Like Mozart: Classical Music Composition

Offered By : National University of Singapore via Coursera Duration : 4 weeks at 4 hours per week

While notation software has enabled more composing access than ever, writing captivating classical pieces requires creativity per greats like Mozart. This course reveals the foundational principles behind enduring melodies, harmonies, and structures. You‘ll gain universal skills applicable to all styles—from pop songs to film scores.

• Rhythm, melody, harmony and form
• Music notation basics
• Analyzing classical masterpieces
• Writing simple piano pieces
• Expanding your melodic/harmonic palette

My Take : As an instrumentalist with zero composition background, this course unlocked a whole new creative realm for me. Analyzing the theoretical nuances behind my favorite piano and orchestral selections was hugely inspiring. The only downside was that 4 weeks flew by—I could have spent all year studying classical architecture.

7. The Craft of Poetic Form

Offered By : California Institute of the Arts via Kadenze Duration : 7 weeks at 2-4 hours per week

Many budding poets feel restricted by fixed structures and meters. But form can spur creativity while connecting you to literary heritage. This course examines styles like sonnets, villanelles, and pantoums to ignite your writing. Through poem analysis and virtual workshops, you’ll gain skills to wrangle life’s chaos into poetic order.

• Rhythm and meter
• Sonnets and villanelles
• Pantoums and nonce structures
• Language precision

My Take : As a longtime journal-writer intimidated by formal poetry, this course opened my eyes to a new mode of expression. Learning the history and structural nuances behind different closed forms has already improved my free verse through better rhythm and concision. My workshop poem even won an editor‘s prize contest!

8. Dynamic Dialogue for Screenwriters

Offered By : Emerson College via edX Duration : 8 weeks at 2-4 hours per week

Sizzling dialogue elevates good scripts into great films. Using vivid movie clips, this course unpacks how masters like Tarantino, Sorkin and Kaufman write lively exchanges that drive plot and reveal character. You‘ll study and practice techniques for developing authentic voices for all characters through dialogue.

• Formatting dialogue correctly
• Making dialogue flow naturally
• Crafting unique character voices
• Maximizing subtext
• Impactful pacing

My Take : I‘m 200 pages into my first TV pilot attempt, and this class showed me how much I still need to evolve dialogue-wise. Watching legend Walter Hill break down the verbal choreography behind his shootout sequences was hugely illuminating regarding pacing, power dynamics and more. My advice: take pages of notes!

9. Overcoming Fear of Failure for Writers

Offered By : Northwestern University via Coursera Duration : 4 weeks at 2-5 hours per week

Even talented scribes wrestle with self-doubt. This supportive course offers psychology-backed techniques to help writers defeat creative paralysis for good. You’ll identify critic myths, reframe perfectionism through journaling, and build resilience through small milestones.

• Silencing your inner critic
• Reframing failure as growth
• Fostering resilience through small wins
• Organizing writing goals using SMART criteria
• Meeting deadlines consistently

My Take : This encouraging class provided a game-changing mental reset regarding my writing hang-ups. The SMART goal setting framework enabled me to finally start the graphic novel script I‘ve been procrastinating on for years. Bonus: lessons incorporate research-backed strategies for sustaining motivation.

10. Scriptwriting: Write a TV Pilot

Offered By : UC Irvine via Coursera Duration : 5 weeks at 1-2 hours per week

Aspiring television scribes: this course guides you to conceive and write a complete 30-page pilot episode for an original series. Using lively video lessons, you’ll learn how to design memorable characters, snappy dialogue, compelling conflicts, cliffhangers, and episode structure.

• Developing original show concepts
• TV formatting rules
• Character relationships
• Scene-by-scene plotting
• Cliffhangers and mid-point breaks
• Polishing action and dialogue

My Take : Of the dozen plus television writing classes I‘ve taken online, this course stands above the rest. Combining lectures, writing exercises, and peer feedback workshops motivated me to deliver the most polished pilot draft yet on my sci-fi comedy concept. My completed script even earned me a meeting with a producer!

11. Write and Publish Poetry

Offered By : Wesleyan University via Coursera Duration : 4 weeks at 3-5 hours per week

Many aspiring poets get lost between initial inspiration and seeing their name in print. Guided by award-winning Wesleyan Press authors, this workshop provides a clear roadmap for taking verse from draft to published poem. You‘ll analyze top literary journals, select targeted submission outlets, craft compelling cover letters, and promote published pieces.

Key topics:

• Researching literary journals
• Writing killer cover letters
• Developing an online platform
• Handling rejection and feedback
• Promoting published poems

My Take : I landed my first litmag publication thanks to this course de-mystifying peer journal culture and process. Wesleyan also connects students directly with editors seeking work, which led me to coordinate a virtual magazine feature on my experimental Instagram poets collective.

12. Memoir Writing for Beginners

Offered By : Brown University via edX Duration : 7 weeks at 2-4 hours per week

Memoirs distill pivotal life stories into personal yet universal literature. This course helps novices recount their journeys with humor, resilience and redemption. Through supported recollections centered around a focused event, receive guidance on braiding narrative threads into one cohesive, cathartic whole.

• Identifying your seminal experience
• Conducting background research
• Mapping memories into chapters
• Tempering painful subjects with levity
• Submitting polished manuscripts

My Take : As a lifelong journaler finally attempting a memoir at age 65, this class taught me to curate ideas thematically. I assumed my project would center around career. But the writing prompts helped me realize my trailblazing experience integrating Southern schools at age 15 actually marks my origin story.

So which course speaks to your creative spirit? The options span dramatic writing, verse, lyrics, and more from major universities. With guidance from award-winning instructors and supportive fellow learners, these classes can launch the next chapter of your artistic journey.

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WriteForTheStage

Go from Page to Stage in 10 Weeks

Our New Production – Faith, by Mike Heath

Mon 1 – Wed 3 July, HOME Theatre 2

Learn how to write a play from an experienced playwright and trained teacher.

How to write a play.

Mike Heath (MA/PGCE) is an acclaimed playwright with 20 years of experience of writing for the stage, radio, and screen.

He has a distinction MA in Creative Writing (Playwriting) and nearly 30 years of teaching experience. He teaches playwriting and screenwriting at degree level and has helped many first-time playwrights establish a career in theatre, TV, and radio.

The WriteForTheStage online playwriting courses offer:

• Structured teaching and learning
• A public reading of your work after 10 weeks
• Intensive feedback and group learning
• One-to-one support

Courses for all levels

Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced playwright, our online playwriting courses are designed to offer support and guidance from spark to first draft (and beyond).

Learn how to write a play at your own rate, in a supportive environment with other playwrights at various stages of their playwriting journey.

Take your script from page to stage with a public sharing online and in-person at our home, The Kings Arms Theatre in Salford, England.

Testimonials

“The WriteForTheStage courses were my very first experience of writing for theatre.  Previously my creative writing was limited to blogging and a few failed attempts at putting together short stories and poems.   The playwriting courses taught me how to structure my writing for best effect and how to really develop robust and believable characters.  Once established the characters practically wrote their own lines and the story came to life.   The tutoring style was relaxed, supportive and really allowed for creativity to flow in an environment which nurtured new ideas without ever making me feel that my ideas were wrong or silly.   Particularly useful when writing such a far-fetched comedy!   Without the WriteForTheStage courses  Barbara the Zoo Keeper  would never have made it.”

Richard Douglas Events & Training Manager

“I signed up to do the WriteForTheStage Advanced course because I wanted to write a longer piece of theatre and one of the aims of the course was to write a 60 minute play. Up to then I had only written “shorts” of up to fifteen minutes but had some success, winning several local competitions and having work performed at Oldham Coliseum’s First Break Festival 2013 and Hebden Bridge Arts Festival in June 2013.

In the first few weeks of the course, Mike did a lot of exercises to generate ideas and encourage us to get something down on the page without censoring ourselves. We did a lot of work around structure, and I think this work really paid off when it came to the feedback I received.

Mike was so supportive and generous with his time, giving individual feedback via one-to-ones outside the weekly classes and writing detailed notes on numerous drafts. It was fantastic (and a bit scary) to have our work read by professional actors and hear their feedback, plus get the audience’s perspective at Development week.

I feel I have become a more skilled and confident playwright!”

Naomi Sumner Playwright/screenrwriter

WriteForTheStage has been training fledgling and professional playwrights since 2013. Don’t forget to follow us on:

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Courses Short Courses

• Daytime & Evening
• One & Two Day Workshops
• Short Courses

Welcome to HCA Short Course, Workshops and Masterclasses Programme. At HCA, our mission is to empower creativity and this programme has been designed to help you unlock or enhance your creative talents.

Our experienced tutors will encourage you to progress skills, knowledge and confidence in a relaxed, yet informative environment. There are no entry requirements for any of our courses and they are fantastic for both professional and personal development.

Short Course

21st Century Maker

Access ceramics – two day workshop, access ceramics: beginners, access ceramics: intermediate, beginners letterpress, building a basic website, creative writing, digital imagery with adobe photoshop, free go digital taster days, glass fusing, life drawing, printmaking, silversmithing – two day workshop, silversmithing: beginners, silversmithing: intermediate, traditional animation, wanna be a sewing bee make me sew.

The Continuing Studies office will be closed for the Labor Day holiday through Monday, September 2. Course registration remains open online.

Fall Quarter

• Student Login Username Password Remember my password --> Submit Forgotten Username/Password New Student Account Setup Existing Student Account Setup ? Close This form is for current or former Stanford Continuing Studies students who do NOT already have a student login. Click here if you already have a student login account and have forgotten your username or password.

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Online Courses

Online courses: creative writing.

Stanford Continuing Studies' online creative writing courses make it easy to take courses taught by instructors from Stanford’s writing community. Thanks to the flexibility of the online format, these courses can be taken anywhere, anytime—a plus for students who lead busy lives or for whom regular travel to the Stanford campus is not possible. These courses are open to all adults, and we encourage all levels of writers to enroll.

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Workshops & courses in herefordshire.

September 2024

Drovers Rest Foraging Courses 08 sep 12:00 pm 3:30 pm 12:00 pm - 3:30 pm Drovers Rest , Off Watery Lane, Hay-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HT3 6AG, UK Workshop

Drovers Rest Foraging Courses 27 sep 12:00 pm 3:30 pm 12:00 pm - 3:30 pm Drovers Rest , Off Watery Lane, Hay-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HT3 6AG, UK Workshop

October 2024

Drovers Rest Foraging Courses 13 oct 12:00 pm 3:30 pm 12:00 pm - 3:30 pm Drovers Rest , Off Watery Lane, Hay-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HT3 6AG, UK Workshop

Drovers Rest Foraging Courses 27 oct 12:00 pm 3:30 pm 12:00 pm - 3:30 pm Drovers Rest , Off Watery Lane, Hay-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HT3 6AG, UK Workshop

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Artist Blacksmithing

Hereford College of Arts

BA (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Hereford · 2025

Tariff points: 96/112

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Tariff points: 80/80

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Contemporary Design Crafts (Top Up)

BA (Hons) · 1 Year · Full-time · Hereford · 2025

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BA (Hons) · 1 Year · Full-time · Hereford · 2024

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Writing Trauma

Writing about trauma allows us to process and give voice to our most challenging experiences, fostering healing and personal growth through creative expression. In this class, we’ll engage in writing prompts, live…

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‘It was like we were garbage’: Stanford to ‘cycle out’ creative writing lecturers

One creative writing lecturer requested anonymity due to fears of professional retaliation. Pseudonyms and gender neutral pronouns were used to protect sources’ identities and improve readability.

Many of Stanford’s creative writing lecturers will be phased out over the next two years, as the University restores the Jones Lectureship’s term limit as part of the restructuring of the Creative Writing Program.

The restructuring, executed under the recommendation of a working group formed after the lecturers secured pay raises last September, was announced in a Zoom meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 21 by Humanities and Sciences dean Debra Satz, Humanities and Arts senior associate dean Gabriella Safran and Creative Writing Program co-director Nicholas Jenkins. The working group was composed of creative writing faculty members but no Jones Lecturers. 

The Jones Lectureship came with a four-year cap that only began to be enforced on fellows hired after 2019, but over the course of the years, some lecturers have stayed longer than the terms of the program. With the restoration of the original term-limited appointments, however, all current Jones Lecturers — including those hired prior to 2019 — will be let go within the next two years.

Some lecturers have already been affected; for instance, Rose Whitmore was dismissed in 2023 after winning that year’s Phi Beta Kappa Teaching Prize.

For Casey, a lecturer who requested the use of a pseudonym due to fear of professional retaliation, the Wednesday meeting felt cold and awkward.

“It was like we were garbage,” Casey said. “They didn’t even acknowledge how difficult this news would be, and when they did give us time to ask questions, the way they fielded the questions, particularly [Jenkins], it was just very cold and very dismissive.”

Safran disagreed with Casey’s characterization in a statement on behalf of the Creative Writing Program and the School of Humanities and Sciences. The Daily also reached out to the University for comment but has not obtained a response.

During the Wednesday meeting, the deans told the lecturers that they would be “cycled out.” They clarified that it meant the lecturers’ jobs would be “terminated,” Jones Lecturer Tom Kealey told The Daily. Some lecturers will be teaching for an additional year, while others will be teaching for two more years. Kealey called the situation a “future fire.” 

“We were brought in to discuss the ‘restructuring’ of the overall program, and then we were all fired,” Kealey said. One lecturer even told him the meeting felt like the Red Wedding from Game of Thrones. 

Five minutes after the meeting, an email from Christina Ablaza, the administrative director of the Creative Writing Program, informed the lecturers that they could sign up for one-on-one meetings to discuss their individual situations. 

Lecturers to be affected by the decision were frustrated that they had no say in the phase-out. But Satz and Safran do not have voting power in the working group either — only the faculty members do. The faculty members made the decision “to fire all 23 of their junior colleagues” in what Kealey called a “secret meeting.” 

“I got the impression that the deans themselves were confused as to why the professors had voted to fire them,” Kealey said.

Kealey believed that 10 out of all the creative writing faculty members on the working group only taught 13 undergraduate classes last year, while the same number of Jones Lecturers would have taught 50 classes. Lecturers also advise about 90% of students in the Creative Writing Program and 50% of students in Department of English, he estimated.

Many students expressed concerns that they will lose a strong community of creative writing peers and classes. They are also confused as to what the program will look like in the future. 

Students are receiving information from each other, lecturers, a recently created Instagram page called “ripstanfordcw” (which stands for rest in peace, Stanford creative writing) and even from Fizz, an anonymous social media platform. The confusion comes a week before course enrollment is set to begin on Sept. 5.

Students have tried to voice their displeasure with the current decision. A petition , started by Kyle Wang ’22 M.A. ‘23, has received over 600 signatures from students and alumni. He began the petition after talking to some of his friends about the positive impact many of the Jones Lecturers have had on their lives. Other community membes tried to write emails to University administrators.

In an online announcement published on Wednesday, Aug. 28, the Creative Writing Program states that Stanford will increase “the number of creative writing classes to better meet high student demand as well as ensuring competitive compensation for both the lecturers and fellows.” According to the statement, more details will be released in the fall. 

“I know they said that they were having meetings and they’re reworking [the program], but it’s not very transparent,” said English major Skya Theobald ’25.

Mia Grace Davis ’27, a prospective English major, wanted to take “English 190E: Novel Writing Intensive,” a class known for its popularity and limited enrollment, in the fall. Now she is not even sure if it will be offered in the future. 

For Davis, the main appeal of Stanford had always been its Creative Writing Program, but “it’s kind of falling apart as we’re watching it,” she said.

To students who have taken numerous creative writing classes like Theobald, it doesn’t make sense why lecturers are being cycled out when the program wants to meet the growing demand for creative writing. 

Prospective English major Annabelle Wang ’27 said what’s happening has even made her reconsider her course of study.

“It definitely makes the English major less desirable,” she said of the phase-out. “I think for students and the student experience, it’s going to be a really big loss. A lot of community is going to be lost.”

Theobald also expressed concerns the variety of creative writing classes will be reduced. A lot of them such as “English 190G: The Graphic Novel” and “English 190E: Novel Writing Intensive” are rarely offered at other universities, but incoming freshmen now may not have the same opportunities to explore those classes. For instance, specialized classes like “The Graphic Novel” may not be offered again if the lecturers who teach them are let go, Kealey said.

Students felt that the Jones Lecturers have shaped the way they view their own writing. Lydia Wang ’27 had often struggled to understand the value of her writing, but her lecturers were the ones to help her realize there is a place in the world for what she creates. 

“That’s the type of impact that really changes people, and when people change, they can change the world as well,” she said. “So I really hope that Stanford learns to value the humanities, and especially creative writing, because we’re creating change, and we’re creating something for ourselves.” 

Some lecturers remain hopeful that the restructuring, which is ongoing, will be reconsidered.

“I may be naive, but I still believe in Stanford. I think Stanford is much better than this,” Kealey said. “I think as light is shed on this, enough people are going to say, ‘This doesn’t make our university better. It makes our university much worse.’”

Judy N. Liu '26 is the Academics desk editor for News and staff writer at The Daily.

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