Creative Writing and Philosophy

This joint honours degree in Creative Writing and Philosophy offers you the chance to explore two complementary disciplines. Combining the craft of storytelling with deep, analytical thinking, this course will nurture your creative expression while developing your ability to tackle the big questions of life.

In Creative Writing, you will immerse yourself in the writing craft, guided by expert tutors who are published writers themselves. In your first year, you will explore poetry, prose, and drama, gaining a strong foundation in different forms of writing. As you progress, you will refine your skills in creating compelling works, focusing on elements such as voice, form, and place. Modules in fiction and poetry writing will help you build your technical expertise, while self-reflective and editorial skills are developed through practical workshops.

The programme also prepares you for professional opportunities. You will learn about publication and performance and gain practical experience in areas like digital content creation, screenwriting, journalism, and even writing for games. These skills will allow you to build a diverse writing portfolio, preparing you for a range of roles in the creative industries.

Alongside Creative Writing, the Philosophy aspect of the degree introduces you to profound and challenging questions. Philosophy is not about being told what to think but learning how to think critically and creatively. You will explore topics in philosophy and ethics, political philosophy, and applied ethics, focusing on contemporary issues such as justice, power, and identity.

Modules cover both the history of philosophy and contemporary philosophical debates, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the field. You will study foundational thinkers and theories while applying philosophical ideas to modern challenges. By developing your analytic skills and engaging in critical analysis, you will learn to construct clear arguments and evaluate complex problems.

This interdisciplinary degree equips you with a unique combination of creative and analytical skills, preparing you for careers in the creative sectors, education, publishing, or any field that values innovative thinking and communication. Whether you aspire to craft impactful stories, contribute to philosophical discussions, or pursue both paths, this course provides the tools and knowledge to achieve your ambitions.

At the heart of our Creative Writing and Philosophy course is a student-centred approach that fosters your growth as a thinker and creator. Through small group seminars, one-on-one support, and practical workshops, we combine rigorous academic study with creative exploration. You will develop transferable skills in communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving, preparing you for a range of future careers.

In your first year, you will explore poetry, prose, and drama, establishing a strong foundation in the writing craft while engaging with philosophical questions about identity, ethics, and the nature of knowledge. Philosophy modules introduce key ideas and texts, encouraging critical engagement and developing skills in analysis and argumentation.

Myths and Mythology: How Stories Shape the World (20 credits)
Exploring the Humanities (20 credits)
Historicising Texts (20 credits)
Introduction to the Craft of Writing (20 credits)
The Study of Literature: Text and Theory (20 credits)
Popular Fiction (20 credits)
Approaches to form (20 credits)
People’s worlds: Interactions with the Environment (20 Credits)

The second year deepens your understanding of fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction, focusing on voice, form, and experimentation. In Philosophy, you will examine political philosophy, applied ethics, and philosophy and ethics, exploring contemporary debates and refining your critical thinking. You will have opportunities for interdisciplinary work that bridges both disciplines.

Green to the very door: Ecocriticism and Romanticism (20 credits)
Writing for TV, Film and Radio (20 credits)
Error and Sweet Violence: Shakespeare and Renaissance Comedy and Tragedy (20 credits)
Green to the very door: Ecocriticism and Romanticism (20 credits)
Make it New: Aspects of 20th and 21st Century Writing (20 credits)
The Art of the Pitch: Writing as a Career (20 credits)
Speculative Fiction: Sci-fi, fantasy, magic realism and other imagined worlds (20 credits)
Special Collections Research: The Roderic Bowen Library and Archives (20 credits)
The Book, the Body, and the World: Renaissance Humanism, Medicine, and Exploration (20 credits)
Writing for Theatre (20 credits)
International Mobility Opportunity (60 Credits)
A troubled unity: Philosophy, Society and Civil War in the Literature of the Seventeenth Century (20 credits)
Glancingly from the side: Writing the Short story (20 credits)
Off the Page: Performance Poetry (20 credits)
Psyche, Text, and Society: Critical and Cultural Theory (20 credits)
Professional Placement (20 credits)
Novel writing (20 credits)
Independent Creative Project
Error and Sweet Violence: Shakespeare and Renaissance Comedy and Tragedy (20 credits)
Make it New: Aspects of 20th and 21st Century Writing (20 credits)
Special Collections Research: The Roderic Bowen Library and Archives (20 credits)
The Book, the Body, and the World: Renaissance Humanism, Medicine, and Exploration (20 credits)
Writing for Theatre (20 credits)

Your final year offers advanced opportunities to specialise in your chosen forms, such as screenwriting, journalism, or writing for games, culminating in an independent project. Philosophy modules tackle advanced topics like feminist philosophy, philosophical debates on language and meaning, and the work of key thinkers such as Nietzsche, fostering a deeper critical perspective.

Independent Project (40 credits)
Error and Sweet Violence: Shakespeare and Renaissance Comedy and Tragedy (20 credits)
Green to the very door: Ecocriticism and Romanticism (20 credits)
Special Collections Research: The Roderic Bowen Library and Archives (20 credits)
Speculative Fiction: Sci-fi, fantasy, magic realism and other imagined worlds (20 credits)
The Book, the Body, and the World: Renaissance Humanism, Medicine, and Exploration (20 credits)
Writing for Theatre (20 credits)
Make it New: Aspects of 20th and 21st Century Writing (20 credits)
Novel writing (20 credits)

The programme is assessed in a variety of ways and will include several of the following type of assessment: essays of 1000 to 4000 words in length, document analyses, book reviews, short reports and reflective journals, timed tests, take home exams, field journals, posters, group and individual presentations, dissertations of 10,000 words, wikis, commentaries and film evaluations.

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

• Course does not award QTS