BA (Hons) Creative Writing

Year One – Writing workshops play a central role as a collaborative method to accelerate and consolidate student learning. It will expand your critical vocabulary and develop technical skills in the drafting and editing work required of a professional writer. Tutorials, lectures, seminars, masterclasses, and cross-disciplinary project work also feature in year one.

Year Two – You will now be developing a clear sense of your writing direction and favoured mode of production and will produce work that responds to outward facing briefs and opportunities. Tutorials, masterclasses, and collaborative project work help you to focus on technical skills, which may include the use of screenwriting, editing, and publishing software. Hands-on learning and mentoring by professional writers as well as visits, online forums, and blogs will develop and challenge your writing breadth and skills.

Year Three – The final year gives you the opportunity to negotiate, develop, and complete a major writing project. This culminates in the production of a substantial body of original work, contributing to your chosen writing platform. It will reflect your individual philosophy and career aspirations as a talented new writer.

Work experience covers a broad range of activities and students are encouraged to undertake work placements during their time at university. As well as guidance from the course team our Careers, Employability and Enterprise team offer support that enhances employability skills and supports engagement with industry.

• Regular events as part of Leeds Literature Festival are open to all students to perform.
• Student secured a six month publishing mentorship with Penguin Random House.
• Level 5 students have been published in Serious Flash Fiction and in Coffin Bell.
• Students involved in the Bone Down Literary Affinity Group, a group aiming to reclaim public spaces for performance.
• Level 6 student performed at Leeds Poetry Festival and Matt Abbot and Maria Ferguson’s Tub Thumping, a regular spoken word event.
• Level 4/5 students published in the online music and culture magazine Hive.

Click here to view the course specification

Undergraduate degree courses at Leeds Arts University are delivered and supported through a range of teaching and learning strategies. Courses are made up of modules, these are elements of study that are taught and assessed separately. Each module carries a clearly identified credit value, the accumulation of which will allow you to progress to the next level of the course. Around 100 hours of learning are expected for every ten credits of the course. Each level (year) of the course is made up of 120 credits and therefore requires 1200 hours of learning. Teaching is split over 2 semesters; each semester has 13 weeks of teaching and 2 weeks of assessment. 

For further information visit Undergraduate teaching & learning at Leeds Arts University.

Good writers are welcome everywhere; the arts sector requires a broad set of skills. Talented new voices with cultural awareness and critical thinking skills are also welcome in science, industry, commerce, education, research centres, journalism, editing, HR and marketing. You will benefit from the University’s already well-developed industry, commercial and creative links, and its strong careers advisory provision. Graduates may also continue to postgraduate study.

We’re looking for students with the best potential to succeed - irrespective of their background. That’s why we welcome a wide range of qualifications and experience.

Click here to view our entry requirements

Tuition Fees

Our current fees are listed here

Other Costs

Further costs of study are related largely to the costs of materials and depend very much on how individual students choose to respond to University briefs. You will find it helpful to keep a set of notebooks and a pen with you to record and capture your thoughts.

Computers and Digital Equipment

Teaching and learning are supported through access to some online events and learning materials. This might include visiting speakers or the chance to review lectures that have been recorded. The University also uses a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) to support learning. There are a range of computer facilities across the University available to access Monday to Saturday including weekday evenings. If you are intending to buy a computer we suggest you wait until you start your course. You will quickly find out what you do and don’t need. The Course Team will be able to offer you advice on what to buy and where to purchase it from, based on your creative needs and budget.

Educational Visits and Off-Site Activities

Educational visits to enhance your experience may take place throughout the course and can range from a visit to a UK conference, exhibition or gallery, to a European or international study trip. All trips requiring a student financial contribution are optional and costs will always be kept as affordable as possible. We do not guarantee that we will run international visits. The decision is made annually based on availability, cost and the number of students required to make the trip viable.

We provide support for undergraduate students dependent upon their financial circumstances. Visit Undergraduate Finance for further information.

Click here to view our Terms & Conditions

Click here to view the Key Information for this course

We are delighted to welcome undergraduate visiting and exchange students from Europe and around the world who would like to spend a semester or a full academic year taking credits from our exciting range of courses. You will be fully integrated into the academic and social life of the University during a period of full-time supervised study and your credits transferred back to your home institution.

You can join us through programmes such as Erasmus+, individual university partnerships or as an independent applicant. Please see here for more information and how to apply.

Leeds Arts University students interested in spending some time overseas can find information on the international opportunities available during your course here.

Questions? Contact international@leeds-art.ac.uk