Studying Creative Writing and Screenwriting develops your written, storytelling, and communication skills, preparing you for careers in education, publishing, film, media, communications, and the wider cultural and creative industries.
for student satisfaction in Creative Writing
of students said staff often make the subject engaging
University of the Year finalist
Recognised for our graduate success, we’re shortlisted for University of the Year in the Times Higher Education Awards 2025.
Overview
Studying Creative Writing and Screenwriting at Worcester nurtures your passion for storytelling and equips you with the skills needed to succeed as a writer and media practitioner in the 21st century. The course offers creative and innovative approaches to writing for books, screen and performance, from initial drafts to final production. You'll gain expertise in commercial writing practices such as magazine writing, reviewing, scriptwriting, and editing, while also developing a solid understanding of publishing and marketing processes.
The majority of your learning will take place in small group seminars, meaning you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get to know your fellow students through close-reading activities, meeting industry contacts and writing workshops. From your very first week, you’ll be able to network and continue doing so throughout your degree.
You’ll also be encouraged to engage with Worcester’s vibrant literary scene by participating in local and regional literature festivals, attending book discussions and open mic nights, and connecting with the wider creative community. You may also represent the University at national events such as UniSlam and take part in the Verve Poetry Festival. These experiences will support your creative development and help you build professional networks across the UK.
In your final year, you’ll complete either a creative writing or screenwriting project, allowing you to take your interests further with a topic or genre of your choice. Outstanding student work is recognised through awards such as the Black Pear Press Prize for Fiction and the V. Press Prize for Poetry. Additionally, Oscar-nominated screenwriter Steven Knight (Dirty Pretty Things, SAS Rogue Heroes, Peaky Blinders) will provide individual feedback to the winner of the Steven Knight Award for Best Screenplay, an exclusive opportunity for one of Worcester’s final-year Screenwriting students.
Work experience
As you progress through the course, you’ll become an increasingly adept reader, writer and researcher. You’ll have lots of opportunities during your time at Worcester to apply what you’ve learned in a professional context and explore your future career options.
We offer an optional work experience placement module in Year Two, enabling you to complete a short voluntary placement with a local organisation. Past work experience locations have included schools, marketing agencies, local arts and heritage organisations, and The Hive Library.
Creative Writing at Worcester
Course content
Each year you will study a mix of mandatory and optional modules. Our diverse curriculum, taught by active writers and researchers, will allow you to explore many different creative styles and platforms before you choose your dissertation specialism in Year Three.
We regularly review our courses to reflect the latest research and developments in the subject area, as well as feedback from students, employers and the wider sector. As a result, modules may change to ensure the course remains current and relevant. Optional modules will run if enough students choose to study them. It is not guaranteed that all modules will be offered every year.
Careers
Our course has been created with your employability in mind, providing a foundation for those interested in developing writing as a profession, such as in the creative industries and/or commercial markets, and an understanding of how writers make a living. You’ll graduate with skills in writing, editing, research, and communication skills, which are highly valued across many industries.
A degree in Creative and Professional Writing and Screenwriting could be your first step toward a career in:
- Publishing
- Media
- Marketing and communications
- Film, television and arts organisations
- Teaching
Opportunities to progress
Many of our graduates choose to continue their studies with a postgraduate qualification. Popular options include:
You’ll also benefit from a strong focus on employability throughout the course, including the chance to gain real-world experience through our optional work project module. We also encourage students to broaden their horizons by studying abroad for a semester.
Course highlights
Teaching and assessment
Teaching is a mix of interactive seminars, lectures, one-to-one tutorials and workshops. Our modules give you the opportunity to develop as a writer and hone your craft.
Teaching and assessment contents
You are taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, practical group work, peer review sessions and individual development tutorials.
In addition, meetings with personal academic tutors are scheduled on at least 4 occasions in the first year and three occasions in each of the other years of a course.
You have an opportunity to undertake a work-based module and industry standard projects, supervised by an appropriate industry mentor and University tutor.
Meet the team
A small selection of the Humanities lecturers who teach on this course.
Simon Bovey
Simon's experience is diverse, ranging from animation and regional theatre, to radio and award winning films. His work as writer and director has received international success through both short and feature films. He is an established writer for the BBC with a significant body of broadcast work including Doctors for BBC1; drama and period thrillers for Radio 4 and three science fiction series for Radio 4 Extra.
Dr Ruth Stacey
Dr Ruth Stacey is an expert in poetry, historical fiction, fantasy fiction, and memoir. Her research is focused on the use of symbolist poetics to write imagined memoir of historical subjects.
An award-winning poet, with a background in copywriting and illustration, her teaching covers a wide range of subjects including genre fiction, creative nonfiction, contemporary poetry, professional practice, and writing for children.
Dr Jack McGowan
Jack’s research focuses on contemporary poetry and poetics, and he specializes in the development of performance poetry in the UK since the mid-20th century, and the oral roots of poetry.
Jack is a performance poet with 10 years of experience on the UK spoken word scene and he writes for both performance and page publication.
Simon Bovey
Simon's experience is diverse, ranging from animation and regional theatre, to radio and award winning films. His work as writer and director has received international success through both short and feature films. He is an established writer for the BBC with a significant body of broadcast work including Doctors for BBC1; drama and period thrillers for Radio 4 and three science fiction series for Radio 4 Extra.
Dr Ruth Stacey
Dr Ruth Stacey is an expert in poetry, historical fiction, fantasy fiction, and memoir. Her research is focused on the use of symbolist poetics to write imagined memoir of historical subjects.
An award-winning poet, with a background in copywriting and illustration, her teaching covers a wide range of subjects including genre fiction, creative nonfiction, contemporary poetry, professional practice, and writing for children.
Entry requirements
UCAS tariff points required: 104
| Qualification | Grade |
|---|---|
| A-level | BCC |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DMM |
| T-level | Merit |
We do accept Access to HE Diplomas and other qualifications which may not exactly match the combinations above. Work out your estimated points with the UCAS tariff calculator.
Any questions?
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please call our Admissions Office on 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk.
Fees
Fees contents
UK and EU students
In 2026/27 the standard fee for full-time home and EU undergraduate students on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees is £9,535 per year (subject to changes in the government tuition fee cap).
Tuition fees are reviewed annually and may increase each year for both new and continuing students.
For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.
International students
In 2026/27 the standard tuition fee for full-time international students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees is £17,200 per year.
Tuition fees are reviewed annually and may increase each year for both new and continuing students.
For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.
How to apply
How to apply contents
Applying through UCAS
UCAS is the central organisation through which applications are processed for full-time undergraduate courses in the UK.
Read our how to apply pages for more information on the application process, or if you’d like to apply for part-time study.
Creative Writing and Screenwriting BA (Hons) - W990
Contact
If you have any questions, please get in touch. We're here to help you every step of the way.
Admissions Office
admissions@worc.ac.uk01905 855111More to explore
Open Days
Visiting us is the best way to get a feel for student life at the University of Worcester.
The City of Worcester
Worcester is a welcoming university city with great transport links and plenty of student parking.
Accommodation
Benefit from our accommodation guarantee. We have rooms on campus to suit every budget including en-suite options.
