COURSE CURRICULUM

The BA (Hons) English: Creative and Professional Writing programme combines creative expression with professional and industry-focused writing skills, preparing students for careers across the publishing, media, and creative sectors. The course begins by developing fundamental writing abilities through modules in short stories, poetry, literature, and language, where students explore forms such as flash fiction, sonnets, and contemporary storytelling techniques. Students gain an understanding of how language shapes society and learn to use different writing styles creatively while participating in workshops that encourage collaboration and constructive feedback. Modules in creative storytelling and writing for characters and communities focus on developing authentic voices, creating realistic dialogue, and understanding how language reflects identity, culture, and social backgrounds. The programme also introduces students to the publishing industry through projects that explore writing, editing, proofreading, marketing, and the importance of diverse voices in literature. Professional development is strengthened through a dedicated work placement module, giving students practical experience within organisations that value creative and professional writing and helping them build essential employability skills. Students also explore scriptwriting for television, film, theatre, and audio, learning how to create compelling characters, engaging plots, and effective dialogue while studying influential writers and different genres. Advanced modules examine feature writing, pitching, publishing, and project management, enabling students to understand how creative works are developed, edited, marketed, and brought to audiences. The course encourages experimentation with a variety of literary genres, helping students develop versatility and discover their individual writing strengths. In the final year, students complete a major creative or professional writing project that showcases their abilities and personal interests. Throughout the programme, students develop valuable transferable skills in communication, storytelling, editing, critical thinking, research, and project management, preparing them for careers as novelists, poets, copywriters, publishers, editors, journalists, publicists, content creators, games narrative designers, and freelance writers, as well as for further study in creative writing and related disciplines.