Whether you are penning your own poetry, finding your way with fiction, shaping scripts, exploring creative non-fiction or experimental writing, our Creative Writing Programme enables you to develop work in a variety of forms and genres.
It’s an exciting time to join us. You’ll become part of the York Centre for Writing, a hub for innovative new work with strong links to the wider literary community and to the publishing industry. Our participation in the annual York Literature Festival will give you the chance to study and learn directly from many popular and internationally-acclaimed writers. We also have regular visits from industry professionals and innovators, including agents, publishers and literary activists.
Good writing comes through good reading, so our course emphasises the importance of engaging with the wider world of literature in order to develop your own style. You’ll study brilliant writing from the past, as well as learning from contemporary creative practitioners. You’ll learn to read and analyse texts to develop a deeper understanding and you’ll have the chance to get involved in events, performances and publications.
We place a strong emphasis on giving you transferable skills so that whether you pursue a career in writing, the arts or another profession, you’ll have the empathy, insight, independent thinking and experiences to help you succeed. You will develop both intellectual skills and the practical skills necessary for employability, as well as gaining a wealth of experience relevant to the publishing industry and beyond.
Course Details - Modules
Level 1 is a foundational year which introduces you to literature and creativity in their cultural and historical contexts. Level 2 allows you to focus on specific genres and forms of writing and provides the opportunity to develop employability skills. At Level 3 you explore the relationship between the creative and the critical and have the opportunity to produce a substantial creative project. Modules may include: Forms of Narrative; Writing Fiction; Writing Reality: Creative Non-fiction; Writing Poetry; Scriptwriting; Publication, Production & Performance; Experimental Writing; Genre Writing; Creative Research in Practice.
Course Details – Assessment Method
Assessment Methods are not listed for this Course.
Course Details – Professional Bodies
Professional Bodies are not listed for this Course.
How to Apply
26 January This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application Codes
Course code:
3S3S
Institution code:
Y75
Campus Name:
Main Site
Campus code:
Points of Entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry (Year 2 and Beyond)
For Second Year entry, applicants must have completed the first year of Higher Education in a similar subject with a total of 120 credits.
For Third Year entry, applicants must have completed the first and second year of Higher Education in a similar subject with a total of 240 credits.
Applicants will need to submit a transcript of their completed study, and offers will be subject to a mapping exercise of modules to ensure an appropriate alignment of course content.
Please be aware that transfer applications are subject to availablity of space on the selected academic year of your chosen course.
For more information on the transfer process, please see https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/apply/transferring-to-york-st-john-university/.
If transferring to the final year of a course containing a placement or study abroad year, you must have also completed a placement or study abroad year prior to starting the course.
International applicants
Standard Qualification Requirements
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course