Applying to Creative Writing Degree Courses in 2017
Studying for a degree in Creative Writing is a great way to discover and develop your voice as a writer. Your degree will give you an insight into many different areas of writing, including short stories and novels, writing for the screen, stage and radio plays, and professional writing.
The UK boasts a high standard of teaching for Creative Writing degrees with many universities having published writers in their faculty and inviting guest speakers and lecturers in to give students a broad view of the industry.
Where can I study Creative Writing?
There are many universities across the UK which offer Creative Writing courses, both as a standalone degree and as a joint honours option.
These universities include:
- Kingston University London (joint honours)
- Brunel University London (English and Creative Writing)
- Falmouth University
- University of East Anglia
- University of Chichester
What are the entry requirements for Creative Writing?
It’s important to check with each university before applying to ensure that you met the entry requirements.
Although each university will have a different set of criteria you can expect that entry requirements will be quite high due to the amount of reading and independent research students are expected to do.
Entry requirements range from A*A*A* to BCC generally, although remember to confirm this with each university you’re interested in.
How do I write a good personal statement for Creative Writing?
As a prospective writer you really need to ensure that you use your personal statement to its full advantage if you’re going to impress the admissions tutors.
It’s not good enough to say that you like reading and enjoyed writing stories at school.
You might choose to discuss a piece of literature that you’ve read recently in an analytical way, referring to specifics within the book, play, or poem.
Be genuine about the piece you choose to discuss. Try to avoid picking something obvious such as a Harry Potter book or Shakespeare. Admissions tutors want to see that you have some originality and are prepared to read more than just what can be found on “must read books 2017” lists.
You’ll also need to be specific about what interests you about the study of literature and present this in a clear, concise way.
What can I do with a Creative Writing degree?
Having long term career goals, and being able to discuss them, is another thing that admissions tutors look for in a personal statement.
If you’re still not clear about exactly which career path you want to take, here are some ideas for Creative Writing graduates:
- Digital Copywriter
- Magazine Journalist
- Advertising Executive
- Editorial Assistant
- Librarian
- Teacher (primary/secondary/adult education)
- Writer
- Blogger
- Proofreader
- Web Content Editor
- SEO Consultant
- Social Media Specialist
- PR Consultant
You’ll find that many of these roles are linked and the key to being successful as a graduate in a subject without an obvious career path is to gain experience in as many areas as possible.
This is why many universities offer work placements within industry to enable their students to gain skills and put what they’ve learned in the classroom into practice.
