BA(Hons) Creative and Professional Writing
This course is open for applications
The structure and content of this course is currently under review and subject to final UWE Bristol approval.
Introduction
Study fiction, non-fiction, script, writing for computer games, and corporate copywriting shaping your degree in line with your creative ambitions.
Why study creative and professional writing?
A degree in creative and professional writing will prepare you for life, equipping you with the skills and experience to make it as a working writer.
The creative and cultural industries are one of the fastest-growing sectors in the UK, which means talented writers are very much in demand. Thanks to our multi-disciplinary approach, youll develop the habits, insights, and know-how to thrive whatever path you choose.
Study with us, and the world really is your oyster.
Why UWE Bristol?
As well as forming your identity as a writer, our course fans the flames of your creativity and sharpens your critical thinking.
Well equip you for the world of work, ensuring you develop transferable skills that set you up for life.
So, whether you want to work full time as a professional writer or hope to carve a career in which communication is key, well help you become the person you need to be.
Youll work on live briefs from real-world clients, have room to refine your own voice, and pursue personal projects that make your heart (and ours!) sing.
At every turn, our focus is on helping you make a living out of writing. Thats why we use working writers as our course lecturers: prize-winning novelists and non-fiction authors, award-winning screenwriters, industry-leading copywriters. People who know what it takes to sustain a career and are ready to help you do the same.
To help build your profile, well make sure you have plenty of opportunities to get published. You can contribute to student media including Hub Radio, Hub Voice student magazine and Cellar Door magazine. And, thanks to our extensive industry contacts, youll have regular exposure to potential employers and people who will pay for your work.
Our connections include the Bristol Cultural Development Partnership, Watershed, Poetry Can, Spike Island, the Arnolfini and Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives. We also enjoy links with commercial partners including Babcock International, Stratton Craig, John Wainwright & Company Ltd, The Writing Hut Ltd, and Writing Club.
When you reach the end of your degree, youll have the biggest opportunity of all to showcase your talent and scout for work, thanks to our highly regarded final-year degree show.
Where can it take me?
The biggest question is: how far do you want to go?
Our graduates work in publishing, the arts, creative media, marketing, PR, journalism, advertising and corporate communications. Some go into teaching or charity work, others move on to postgraduate study and a life in academia, and several have launched their own successful copywriting businesses.
Then there are those who lean into their ambition to write novels, narrative nonfiction or screenplays using the degree as a seedbed for their ideas and a chance to hone their craft.
Whatever path you choose, a degree in creative and professional writing shows you can think critically, communicate creatively, and know a great story when you see one. Theres not an employer in the world who wont be excited by that.
"UWE Bristol has clearly one of the most forward-thinking creative writing courses in the country, with an eye on employability [and] also on the demands that are made of the 21st century writer if they are to thrive in the commercial climate." Matt Thorne, External Examiner
Hear from one of our students, Rebecca, on how she felt supported to build her confidence as a writer.
Watch: Welcome to the School of Arts at UWE Bristol
Structure
Content
Year one:
The first year is about forming. Well give you a good grounding in the craft of writing, including fiction, non-fiction, script and copy, as well as an introduction to creative and critical thinking. This will ensure you have the foundations from which to develop your practice and find your niche.
Year two:
The second year is about growing. Well help you expand your horizons and broaden your practice, while also giving you a chance to lean into your specialisms. You can start writing a novel, memoir or play, explore poetry or writing for computer games, and sharpen your critical skills. Whatever path you choose, youll be stretched and stimulated in new ways.
Final year:
The final year is about finessing. Youll start taking your place in the world as a writer, establishing your voice and identifying the shape of your future. With modules in areas such as professional copywriting, fiction and non-fiction, and screenwriting, youll have plenty of opportunity to find your niche and build your profile.
This structure is for full-time students only. Part-time students study the same modules but the delivery pattern will be different.
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we'll inform you.
Learning and Teaching
Learn through workshops, seminars, lectures and one-to-one tutorials. Independent study is a key part of the course and you'll be taught and assessed by leading academics and successful professional writers.
Hone your writing skills by exploring and engaging with a range of forms and audiences.
Build a compelling set of professional skills, with access to practice-led teaching, live briefs, placements and freelance work with our external partners.
Learn to promote yourself, navigate the publishing, marketing and design sectors, and explore varied opportunities for your writing.
Research is built into all the modules. You'll develop your own research skills, and work with academics and partners helping to shape new thinking in the field.
You'll be supported to set up your own social and creative enterprises, such as journals and writing groups. An Academic Personal Tutor will provide individual support throughout.
See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.
Study time
Workshops, seminars, lectures, project work and tutoring account for an average of 12 hours of contact time each week.
You'll be expected to spend at least 12 hours in independent study outside of class.
Assessment
You'll be assessed through your creative and reflective writing and process work, independent projects, examinations and oral presentations. You'll graduate with a portfolio of work to show prospective employers just what youre capable of.
Learn more about assessments.
Features
Placements
Work experience is valuable if you're entering the creative industries. It hones your skills, industry knowledge and professional network, making you a sought-after graduate.
If you choose the four year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work placement after Year two. Your placement will be at least 26 weeks long and relevant to your course.
Our award-winning careers service will guide and support you to help you in finding the right placement.
Study facilities
You'll study at Frenchay Campus, which houses a library with a large collection of books, DVDs, journals and other resources. Be inspired by films, books, plays and texts in quiet study areas, group spaces or viewing rooms.
Develop skills in blogging, editing and desktop publishing using industry standard software including Wordpress and Adobe InDesign. Access lecture slides, core readings and assignment guidance on UWE Bristol's Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).
Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.
Take a Virtual Tour of the English, History and Writing facilities and see what's on offer here for you.
Writing project
Undertake an extended creative writing project in your final year, to explore ideas that inspire you, strengthen your individual style and build your confidence as a writer. Feedback from tutors will help you develop, and assess, your writing from a professional standpoint.
Learn vital entrepreneurial and project management skills for a freelance career in the creative and cultural industries. Access volunteering opportunities and internships with local cultural organisations.
Get involved
Bristol is a major creative hub for the arts and our staff have strong relationships with local organisations and events organisers. We'll encourage you to showcase your entrepreneurship and creativity by developing your own writing portfolio, and collaborating with students in subjects like graphic design and marketing.
Build your portfolio
Develop your news sense, working with UWE Bristol student media, including the Hub Radio and Hub Voice student magazine, Cellar Door magazine, published by our students, gives you the opportunity to showcase your creative writing. You can also bring creative screenplays to life in collaboration with our Filmmaking and Drama and Acting students in the School of Arts.
Socialise and learn
Supplement your studies with trips to cultural events and visits from highly experienced industry professionals. We'll also encourage you to set up your own social and creative enterprises, such as blogs, zines and writing groups.
Start your dream career at UWE Bristol
Life
Accommodation
An excellent range of options for all of the Bristol campuses and the city centre.
Bristol
A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.
Sports, societies and activities
There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.
Health and Wellbeing
We provide support in the way you need it.
Campus and facilities
Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.
Careers
Careers / Further study
Prepare for an exciting future in the cultural and creative industries. Tailoring what and how you study, you can shape the course towards your chosen career path.
You'll graduate with an impressive blend of subject and trade-specific writing expertise, and a range of highly transferable skills. You could establish a career in a number of professions including the arts, creative media and marketing.
You'll also be equipped for a career in publishing, editing, digital content creation, festival and cultural event management, and teaching.
Get inspired
Our award-winning careers service will develop your employment potential through career coaching and help you to find graduate jobs, placements and global opportunities.
We can also help find local volunteering and community opportunities, provide support for entrepreneurial activity and get you access to employer events.
Visit our Employability pages to learn more about careers, employers and what our students are doing six months after graduating.
Fees*
Full-time, sandwich course
Part time course
Indicative Additional Costs
Supplementary fee information
*The UK Government recently proposed that tuition fees for Home students will increase by 3.1% to £9,535 from 1st August 2025. This increase is subject to Parliamentary approval and the vote is expected to take place later this year.
Any tuition fee which is impacted by this change will be updated following approval.
Please see GOV.UK for further information.
Your overall entitlement to funding is based on how long the course is that you're registered on. Standard funding is allocated based on the standard number of years that your course lasts, plus one additional year.
You'll apply for funding each year that you study and Student Finance will take into account how long the course is in each year that you apply. So if you register for the four year course and then transfer to the three year course, the number of years you can apply for funding will change. Student Finance will reassess your funding based on how many years you have been in study, not just those years for which you received student finance.
Always seek advice before taking any action that may have implications for your funding.
Additional costs
This refers to items you could need during your studies that aren't covered by the standard tuition fee. These could be materials, textbooks, travel, clothing, software or printing.
Entry
Typical offers
- Tariff points: 112
- Contextual tariff: See our contextual offers page.
- GCSE: Grade C/4 in English, or equivalent.
- English Language Requirement:
International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Please visit our English language requirements page.
- A-level subjects: No specific subjects required.
- EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: No specific subjects required.
For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page.
- Access: No specific subjects required.
- Baccalaureate IB: No specific subjects required.
- Irish Highers: No specific subjects required.
- Welsh Baccalaureate: We accept tariff points achieved from the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales in conjunction with other Level 3 qualifications.
- Cambridge Technical: No specific subjects required.
- T Levels: No specific subjects required.
Entry requirements
International applicants
For country specific entry requirements please find your country on the country information pages. If you're an international student and don'tmeet the academic requirements to study this course, you can qualify by completing preparatory study at our International College.
If you're applying to study at UWE Bristol and require additional support to meet our English language requirements, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Read more about our Pre-Sessional English Programme.
Read more about entry requirements.
How to apply
Read more about undergraduate applications.
Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.
For further information
- Email:
UK applicants
Admissions@uwe.ac.ukInternational/EU applicants
International@uwe.ac.uk - Telephone:
UK applicants
+44 (0)117 32 83333International/EU applicants
+44 (0)117 32 86644