Program Overview

---

Introduction to Creative Writing BA(Hons)

The Creative Writing BA(Hons) course at the University of Brighton is designed to help students unlock their creativity and develop their writing skills. The course is inspired by the diverse city of Brighton and allows students to experiment with different styles and genres.

Key Facts

• Location: Brighton: Moulsecoomb
• UCAS code: W800
• Full-time: 3 years
• With placement year: 4 years

Entry Criteria

Entry Requirements

• A-level or BTEC: Entry requirements are in the range of A-level BBBBCC (120104 UCAS Tariff points) or BTEC Extended Diploma DMMMMM.
• International Baccalaureate: 26 points, with three subjects at Higher level.
• Access to HE Diploma: Pass with 60 credits overall. Humanities, history or politics courses preferred. At least 45 credits at level 3.
• English language requirements: IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element.

International Requirements and Visas

International students can find specific requirements by country on the university's website.

Contextual Admissions

The University of Brighton understands that not everyone has the same opportunities and may face extra challenges to meet grade requirements. Every applicant is treated as an individual, and the university values creativity, persistence, resourcefulness, and big ideas alongside grades.

Course Content

Year 1

All students study the same modules in year 1, developing their awareness of writing genres and working with local writers. Modules include:

• Narratives of (Un)belonging
• The World, the Text and the Critic
• Writers on Writing
• Storying The Self
• Staging Politics
• Brighton Writes

Year 2

Students can choose to either stay with the broad Creative Writing degree or specialize in wellbeing or comics and graphic novels. Core and option modules depend on the chosen pathway. Core modules include:

• Comics, Cultures and Societies
• Genres
• Childhood, Psychology and Society
• Stories that Transform: Reading and Writing for Change
• Image and Text: The Language of Comics and Graphic Novels
• Psychology Mental Health and Distress
• Professional Practice and Placement
• Research and Practice

Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Placements

Students can spend a year on placement, gaining valuable experience and earning money. The university has links with a wide range of organizations, and the dedicated Placements and Employability team will support students in getting a placement that meets their interests and career ambitions.

Final Year

In the final year, students take two core modules and choose from a selection of options depending on their pathway. Core modules include:

• Creative Dissertation
• Brighton Rocks: Final Year Show
• Comics and Graphics Dissertation (for students following the Comics and Graphic Novels pathway)

Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Specialize in Wellbeing or Comics and Graphic Novels

At the end of year 1, students can choose to specialize in Creative Writing with Wellbeing BA(Hons) or Creative Writing with Comics and Graphic Novels BA(Hons). These pathways allow students to focus on specific areas of interest and graduate with a degree title that reflects their specialization.

Lab Facilities

The university has a range of lab facilities, including:

• Life lab: A skills-based lab for practice-based teaching, social work, psychotherapy, and counseling.
• City lab: A qualitative research methods and creative methods resource.
• Design lab: Housing the university's extensive collection of historic dress and textiles.
• Community lab: A space designed for collaborative student learning.
• Stats lab: A specialist workspace with computing equipment for statistical analysis and projects.
• Applied cognition lab: A dedicated research space for psychological research.
• VR and eye tracking lab: Used for psychological research using equipment such as eye-trackers and virtual reality headsets.

Meet the Team

The course team includes published writers and industry experts, such as:

• Dr. Bea Hitchman: Novelist and course leader.
• Dr. Craig Jordan-Baker: Writer of drama, fiction, and non-fiction.
• Dr. Jess Moriarty: Researcher in teaching writing practice.
• Dr. John McCullough: Costa-shortlisted, Polari prize-winning poet.
• Julie Everton: Playwright and script editor.
• Dr. Barbara Chamberlain: Teaches modules in creative writing, English language, media, and literature.
• Eleanor Knight: Research focuses on the relationship between music and text.

Careers

Graduates from the Creative Writing BA(Hons) course can pursue a range of careers, including:

• Author
• Copywriter
• Editorial assistant
• Higher education lecturer
• Lexicographer
• Journalist
• Publishing copy-editor/proofreader
• Teaching
• Marketing
• PR

The course also opens up postgraduate study options, such as the Creative Writing MA or Journalism MA.

Fees and Costs

• UK (full-time): Ł9,790
• International (full-time): Ł18,108

The course fees shown are for the first year of study and are subject to parliamentary approval. Fees may increase each year.

What's Included in Your Tuition Fee

• Course books, magazines, and journals are available in the university libraries.
• Access to computers and necessary software on campus.
• Specialist equipment is provided to cover essential learning.

Additional Costs

• Most coursework submissions are electronic, but students may wish to print notes and should budget up to Ł100 for printing.
• For some assessments, students may be required to print large format posters for presentations at a cost of Ł5-Ł10 per poster.
• Some courses include an optional placement module, and students will need to cover the costs of travel to and from the placement and DBS checks as required.

Location and Student Life

The course is based at the Moulsecoomb campus, which has a range of facilities, including the Students' Union events venue, sports and fitness facilities, and the library.

Support and Wellbeing

The university offers a range of support services, including:

• Personal academic tutors
• Course leaders
• Student support and guidance tutors (SSGT)
• The Brighton Student Skills Hub
• Dedicated experts for mental health and wellbeing

Sport at Brighton

The university has a range of sports facilities and offers sports scholarships for elite athletes. Students can also join the Brighton Cricket Academy, which provides the opportunity to develop cricketing skills alongside studying for a degree.