Program Overview

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Creative Writing and Publishing

BA (Hons)

Undergraduate degree - combined honours

Overview

Join our vibrant writing community, supported by award-winning authors and creative practitioners.

• Wide choice of fiction, performance poetry and graphic novels to scriptwriting, nature writing and memoir.
• Industry focused with an emphasis on developing your professional practice and employability.
• Your projects, your way, with our support. Literary festivals, publications, podcasts - we’ll help you find your voice.

What you'll learn

Year one

• The course is carefully designed to enable you to explore and experiment with your writing and understand the foundations of writing craft.
• In the Writer’s Workshop modules you’ll be introduced to an array of different writing forms and genres and you’ll be experimenting with them each week.
• You’ll have your first experience of the BSU writing workshop where you’ll learn how to work with other writers, giving and receiving feedback.
• You’ll have additional modules in poetry, fiction and script writing alongside a module where you’ll learn about the publishing industry and editing.
• You’ll also attend lectures from visiting writers and members of staff who will talk to you about their writing lives and experiences in the industry.

Year two

• In the second year of the course, you have access to a range of modules that will enable you to specialise in a particular form or genre of writing.
• You’ll take a mixture of core and optional modules from a list that includes, for example, genre fiction, life writing, short stories, form and listening in poetry, and writing for screen.
• You will also take the project module, Professional Portfolio. This is an opportunity for you to develop your own creative project, designed to help you develop the skills you need as a professional writer.
• You will be assigned a member of staff to be your project supervisor. They will help guide and advise you as you develop your idea.
• If a collaborative project suits you, you can take a Publishing module where you work with a small team of fellow students to create your own independent magazine.

Year three

• The final year of the programme is designed to consolidate your writing practice and support your progression into a writing-related career.
• You will take a dissertation-equivalent module in at least one of fiction, poetry, nonfiction, scriptwriting or writing for young people. These modules run through the year.
• Alongside that you have a choice of career-focused modules which include Live Literature and Professional Practice which offer you the opportunity to develop your own industry-facing creative projects.
• We also offer an extended project module, Creative Enterprise, over two semesters. This module helps you focus on developing a creative project into a commercial opportunity.

How will I be assessed?

• Assessment is based on 100% coursework (no exams).
• Most modules will require you to submit a portfolio of creative writing along with a reflective or contextual essay in which you describe what you have learned in class, what you have learned from the set texts and working on your own writing.

How will I be taught?

• Creative Writing at Bath Spa University is taught through a mixture of workshops, lectures, presentations and tutorials.
• Workshops offer you the opportunity to read and discuss each other's work in a supportive, informal and informative atmosphere.
• Lectures are used to introduce techniques and themes in detail.
• Tutorials provide you with the opportunity to discuss your work with your tutor on a one-to-one basis.

Facilities and resources

• The Creative Writing course is taught at our stunning Newton Park campus, where you’ll be surrounded by wildlife and a beautiful 18th century landscape and lake.
• You'll have access to a range of excellent facilities, including:
  • Commons building with its state-of-the-art classrooms, study spaces and cafe
  • Digital labs (Mac rooms) for students learning new media
  • Virtual Learning Environment to support you in your modules.
• As a Creative Writing student, you'll be able to benefit from:
  • Cameras, audio recording equipment available for students to borrow absolutely free
  • Technical staff to help students use industry standard software
  • Library with print and ebooks, digital resources, literary magazines and journals.

Opportunities

• Study abroad
• Work placements, industry links and internships
• Careers
  • Current graduate careers include:
    • Novelist
    • Science magazine editor
    • Children’s author
    • Playwright
    • Digital Marketing Executive
    • Social media writer
    • Commercial copywriter for brands or charities
    • Regional editor for an online magazine
    • University lecturer
    • Editor (Random House)
    • Poet.
  • Many of our students go on to study one of our specialist MA programmes in either Creative Writing, Writing for Young People, Screenwriting, Travel and Nature, or Children’s Publishing.

Professional placement year

• The Professional Placement Year (PPY) provides you with the opportunity to identify, apply for, and secure professional experience, normally comprising one to three placements over a minimum of nine months.
• Successful completion of this module will demonstrate your ability to secure and sustain graduate-level employment.
• By completing the module, you'll be entitled to the addition of 'with Professional Placement Year' to your degree title.

Fees

• 2025 entry
  • Student | Annual tuition fee
    • UK full time | £9,535
    • UK part time | £4,768
    • International full time | £17,430
• Professional Placement Year
  • During the placement year, the fee is reduced to 20% of the full time fee. This applies to UK and EU/International students.
    • UK: £1,905
    • International: £3,486

What we look for in potential students

• Most of our applicants will have an A or a B in English Language and/or English Literature at A Level.
• That said, we do judge each application on its own merit and many of our most successful graduates have not fit neatly into standard criteria.
• Please write directly to the course leader or the admissions team to discuss your individual circumstances.

Typical offers

• We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry to our undergraduate programmes. The main ones are listed below:
  • A Level - grades BBB-BCC including a Grade B in English or a related subject.
  • BTEC – Extended Diploma grades from Distinction Distinction Merit (DDM) to Distinction Merit Merit (DMM) in any subject. Applicants will need to demonstrate a strong interest in Creative Writing in their personal statement and may be asked to provide a piece of their own creative writing.
  • T Levels – grade Merit preferred in a relevant subject.
  • International Baccalaureate – a minimum of 32 points are required with a minimum of grade 5 in English at Higher Level.
  • Access to HE courses – typical offers for applicants with Access to HE will be the Access to HE Diploma or Access to HE Certificate (60 credits, 45 of which must be Level 3, at Merit or higher). Applicants will need to demonstrate a strong interest in Creative Writing in their personal statement and may be asked to provide a piece of their own creative writing.

English Language Requirements for International and EU Applicants

• IELTS 6.0 - for visa nationals, with a minimum score of IELTS 5.5 in each element.

Course enquiries

• For further information about the programme or entry requirements, please email us at .

How do I apply?

• Ready to apply? Click the 'apply now' button in the centre of this page. Need more guidance? Head to our how to apply pages.

Contact us

• Admissions:
  • +44 (0)
• Course leader: Ms Lucy Sweetman
  • Email:

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Publishing

BA (Hons)

Undergraduate degree - combined honours

Overview

Study Publishing as a joint subject and learn to shape stories, information and ideas for print and digital.

• Work experience opportunities with publishers, social enterprises and media companies are included in the course.
• Our graduates have been employed by BBC, Penguin Random House and Immediate Media.
• Brings copywriting, editing, layout and web skills together with project management and team working to train tomorrow’s publishing and media professionals.

What you'll learn

Year one

• We’ll introduce you to core publishing principles, with a focus on copywriting and editing.
• You’ll become familiar with layout, production and publishing software.
• There will be weekly deadlines, so you’ll get used to turning around work quickly and in a well-presented form.
• Alongside this you’ll start to build an in-depth knowledge of the publishing industry and have the chance to work collaboratively on all-day challenge projects.

Year two

• You’ll gain greater insight into particular areas of publishing, such as marketing, editorial and design.
• Optional modules allow you to delve deeper into areas such as illustrated books, independent magazines, fiction editing, and the use of publishing skills for social enterprise and charity work.

Year three

• Tutors will guide you to focus your skills and knowledge around your personal creative and career interests.
• You’ll be encouraged to develop your individual approach as a creator, curator or project manager; your final portfolio will reflect this, showcasing your work for prospective employers.
• Optional modules cover book commissioning, children's publishing, and cross-platform digital publishing.

How will I be assessed?

• You’ll be assessed by coursework, including portfolios, essays, feature articles, reflective commentaries and reports.
• In some modules you’ll share your work through short, informal presentations.

How will I be taught?

• You’ll be taught through creative workshops, skills labs, seminars and lectures.
• You will learn to be adept at project management and product development following a research and development process.
• We work on-screen and beyond: creating sketchbooks; making physical prototypes; getting out and meeting people; finding opportunities.

Facilities and resources

• Publishing is taught on our Newton Park campus.
• You'll have access to a wide range of excellent facilities, including:
  • The Publishing Labs: digital and print making spaces
  • Newton Park library
  • Commons building
  • Our Virtual Learning Environment
• As a Publishing student, you'll benefit from:
  • Experienced Publishing technical demonstrators to support you
  • The latest specialist software as well as various print and handmade publishing equipment including digital cameras, iPads, booklet makers
  • Free equipment hire with SISO, Bath Spa’s loan system.

Opportunities

• Study abroad
• Fieldwork
• Work placements, industry links and internships
• Careers
  • Publishing graduates have been highly successful in gaining graduate-level jobs, including Editorial Assistant, Production Assistant, Digital Editor, Digital Marketing Coordinator, and Project Manager.
  • Graduates have been employed by publishing companies including:
    • Future
    • Taylor & Francis
    • Penguin Random House.

Professional placement year

• The Professional Placement Year (PPY) provides you with the opportunity to identify, apply for, and secure professional experience, normally comprising one to three placements over a minimum of nine months.
• Successful completion of this module will demonstrate your ability to secure and sustain graduate-level employment.
• By completing the module, you'll be entitled to the addition of 'with Professional Placement Year' to your degree title.

Fees

• 2025 entry
  • Student | Annual tuition fee
    • UK full time | £9,535
    • UK part time | £4,768
    • International full time | £17,430
• Professional Placement Year
  • During the placement year, the fee is reduced to 20% of the full time fee. This applies to UK and EU/International students.
    • UK: £1,905
    • International: £3,486

What we look for in potential students

• We’re looking for students with creative flair – enthusiastic team players who are full of ideas and want to learn how to make them happen.
• Great attention to detail is important as we place emphasis on creating industry standard professional work.

Typical offers

• We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry to our undergraduate programmes. The main ones are listed below:
  • A Level – grades BBB-BCC preferred.
  • BTEC – Extended Diploma grades from Distinction Distinction Merit (DDM) to Distinction Merit Merit (DMM) accepted in any subject.
  • T Levels – grade Merit preferred.
  • International Baccalaureate – a minimum of 32 points are required.
  • Access to HE courses – typical offers for applicants with Access to HE will be the Access to HE Diploma or Access to HE Certificate (60 credits, 45 of which must be Level 3, at Merit or higher).

English Language Requirements for International and EU Applicants

• IELTS 6.0 - for visa nationals, with a minimum score of IELTS 5.5 in each element.

Course enquiries

• For further information about the programme or entry requirements, please email us at .

How do I apply?

• Find the Publishing combination you're interested in. Click the "apply now" button in the centre of the page.
• Need more guidance? Head to our how to apply webpages.

Contact us

• Admissions:
  • +44 (0)
• Course leader: Neil Baber
  • Email: