Program Overview

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Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

Category

Liberal Arts

Start Month

September/ January

Level

Undergraduate

Application Method

Direct

Fees (Non-EU Nationals)

€9500

Duration

4 Years (Full-time)

Fees (EU Nationals)

€6000

Location

Dublin

Course Detail

The four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Creative Writing covers all aspects of written communication, with particular emphasis on those that lie outside the purely academic and technical fields. Creative writing draws on the author’s imaginative capacity, stylistic felicity, and originality of composition, insight and expression.

An undergraduate degree in creative writing provides students with a unique opportunity to explore and develop their expressive talents in a variety of written forms such as prose fiction, poetry, drama, screenwriting, and writing for stage. This program also equips students with valuable advanced skills in written communication and academic research, essential for success in diverse career paths. Importantly, the incorporation of a general education element broadens students’ knowledge base, fostering critical thinking and a holistic understanding of the world.

In a digital age that is heavily reliant on effective, interesting, original and attractive writing, a BFA in Creative Writing is an exciting, relevant and vocationally desirable program: it provides a range of opportunities for artistic and intellectual growth, enhanced expressive ability, a rich variety of career development possibilities in the arts and business, and many avenues for further development in graduate study.

The BFA program examines all of the main areas of creative writing, with introductory modules on the discipline, technical requirements and analysis of creative writing, and specific modules exploring the practical aspects of composing novels, short stories, poems, scripts and screenplays. As students progress, the program makes increasing use of the workshop method of teaching, and in the final stages, there are opportunities for approved students to undertake extended independent writing projects. Students may combine the major in creative writing with other majors offered by the institution, depending on their interests; these include performing arts, liberal arts and international business, either as a double major or as minors.

The program also serves as preparation for students to participate in a variety of postgraduate programs such as the MFA in Creative Writing.

Course Schedule

Students typically study 10 modules per year. Below is a sample of the types of subjects that can be studied. Modules are subject to change.

• Academic communication
• Imagination and storytelling
• Anglo-Irish writers
• Introduction to Creative Writing
• Writing prose
• Poetry now
• Close reading
• Shakespeare
• Writing for screen
• Writing for stage
• Literary modernism
• Writing workshops

Course Requirements

Curious about what it takes to join this course? Check out the admission criteria below:

Irish School Leavers

Applicants must obtain an Irish Level 5 Leaving Certificate. In addition to completing an application online, applicants are asked to upload a 500-word personal statement on why they want to study the BFA in Creative Writing and a 1,000-word sample of their creative writing (this can be one piece of work or up to four different pieces of work).

Further Education (FE) students

Applicants must obtain an Irish FE Level 5 or Level 6 award. In addition to completing an application online, applicants are asked to upload a 500-word personal statement on why they want to study the BFA in Creative Writing and a 1,000-word sample of their creative writing (this can be one piece of work or up to four different pieces of work).

International Applicants

Applicants must obtain a higher secondary education diploma. In addition to completing an application online, applicants are asked to upload a 500-word personal statement on why they want to study the BFA in Creative Writing and a 1,000-word sample of their creative writing (this can be one piece of work or up to four different pieces of work).

English Language Requirement

An English language certificate may also be required, please review our English language policy.

Course Skills

Along with the academic knowledge students receive throughout their program, they will also acquire and develop transferable career skills from their degree discipline.

• Skills and competencies in written communication.
• Skills and competencies in academic research.
• Attention to detail
• Creativity
• Self-management
• Organisational competencies
• Critical and editorial commentary

Fees

Tuition fee

• EU students: €6000
• Non-EU students: €9000

Pay in installments

EU students and students who do not require a Stamp 2 study visa are eligible to pay in installments. A payment plan can be arranged once a student is admitted to the program.