Creative Writing

Our Creative Writing BA course has been designed to encourage high levels of creativity, initiative and originality in the design, production, interpretation and analysis of creative writing.

You will be taught every genre of creative writing by some of the most talented and original wordsmiths working today. Between them, they’ve published over 80 books, produced countless scripts for TV, radio and film, and won umpteen awards. The teaching team includes author and journalist Will Self and renowned performance poet, writer and broadcaster Benjamin Zephaniah.

From week one you will write and interact with your peer group of creative writers. You will share ideas and give constructive feedback to others on their creative writing work.

In your first year you will gain a solid grounding in fiction, drama and poetry writing, and you will study world literature. You can choose a variety of subjects in your second year such as journalism and screenwriting. In your final year, the creative industries module helps you consider your career options and shape your future. You’ll start to specialise in your chosen field and choose from a wealth of specialist options.

There are guest lectures covering different aspects of creative writing. Industry expert speakers include book publishers, screenwriters, poets and broadcasters.

You have the advantage of Brunel’s close location to London, the literary capital of the UK. You’ll benefit from trips to the British Library, Shakespeare’s Globe and West End theatres.

Our BA in creative writing can be studied full-time over three years, four years with a placement year, or part-time over six years.

We encourage the placement year option. This time in industry helps you to further prepare for the world of work and you’ll have a year’s worth of invaluable professional experience when you graduate. If you decide to go on a creative writing placement year, you could find yourself working at magazine publishers, film production companies, or even the London Screenwriters’ Festival. Some placements lead to jobs on graduation.

You’ll have the opportunity to get your work published before you graduate. An anthology of creative work is produced each year curated and edited by our creative writing students. Your writing talent can also be showcased at a variety of performances hosted by Brunel including poetry, plays, comedy and film screenings, literary debates, and the popular Brunel Writers’ Series.