Creative Writing

Please check the Sheffield Hallam University website for the latest information

Course summary

• Learn from award-winning staff on one of the top three courses in the UK

• Experience guest masterclasses from internationally acclaimed writers and creatives

• Sharpen your writing and editorial skills with work placements and live briefs

• Network with publishers, build your profile and develop as a professional writer

• Join Sheffield’s thriving creative community and take part in UK-leading literature events

This BA Creative Writing course is for those who want to harness the power of the written word and hone creative skills to connect with audiences. You’ll develop your individual writing style and understand the fundamentals of good style, structure and character development, in both traditional and future-facing writing formats.

You’ll graduate with the skills, confidence and contacts you need to thrive as a writer in all its professional forms.

How you learn
You’ll join a dynamic and collaborative writing community, working alongside illustrators, graphic designers and filmmakers to explore possibilities and challenge conventions.

Our team of award-winning writers will help you become confident and skilled in everything from prose fiction to publishing. You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our professional partners, so you can gain real-world experience of the creative industries and make the most of Sheffield’s vibrant cultural scene.

You learn through:

• Lectures, seminars and individual tutorials

• Workshopping your writing

• Modules focused on specific forms and styles

• Working with different organisations and audiences

• Generating and pitching ideas

• Live readings and performances

• Masterclasses from guest writers

• Writing trips and retreats

Course topics
In your first year you’ll learn the basics of a variety of forms – from poetry and fiction to script and creative non-fiction. You’ll think about what it means to be a writer and start to connect your writing with the real world by responding to a live brief from a publisher.

In your second year, you’ll continue to hone your skills across all the main forms of writing, developing your style as you find your audience and explore genres. During this time, you’ll workshop your writing with students and academics to develop essential skills in drafting and revising your work.

The final year of your course is your opportunity to focus on your creative future. In addition to refining your craft and developing your creative voice, you’ll explore different audiences and purposes for creative work. You’ll also develop and carry out a creative project that brings your passions and creativity together.

Applied learning
We think the best way to learn something is to do it in the real world. Studying in Sheffield puts you at the heart of a vibrant cultural scene, where you can put learning into practice through placements and live projects with our rich community of publishers and creatives.

Work placements
You’ll have the opportunity to complete a placement year between your second and third years – either a 25-week placement or multiple shorter placements. These give you valuable work experience to prepare you for your future career – as well as an Applied Professional Diploma to add to your CV. You could also take the time to collaborate with external partners or develop your own creative enterprise.

Previous students have taken the chance to work at children's literacy charity Grimm and Co, exhibit work at Sheffield Museums, and create their own digital magazines.