creative writing courses in essex

MA Creative Writing

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Our challenging, practice-based course offers you a unique approach to the practice of writing, emphasising innovation and experimentation in your work.

On our MA Creative Writing, you deepen your knowledge of literary tradition, exploring different modes and genres in order to develop your own creative and expressive written skills. You expand your use of creative writing techniques and improve your critical judgement of your own work.

Our course encourages you to develop your writing by stepping outside your comfort zone and discovering the different approaches to verbal art that are possible today. This will invigorate your own practice, whether you are writing psychogeography, plays, novels, stories or something else. You will choose from a variety of modules, covering topics such as:

• Development of a novel plan, from research and concept-development, to plotting, character, and structure
• Experimental language play of the Oulipo group across the short story, autobiography, cartoons, cookery and theatre
• Psychogeography, writing about walking, place, landscape, history and the psychic environment
• Poetic practice across experimental writing in poetry from the performative to the visual

To help you hone your craft, we also host two Royal Literary Fund Fellows, professional writers on-hand to help you develop your writing on a one-to-one basis, and regularly host talks and readings by visiting writers.

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Modules (Year 1)

A 2:2 degree in one of the following subjects: Art History; Creative Writing; History; Journalism; Literature; Media Studies; Music; Performing Arts; Philosophy; Politics; Sociology; Theatre/Drama Studies.

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£10,000 per year

Students from Domestic

Fees will increase for each academic year of study.

£21,700 per year

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Students from International

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University of Essex Wivenhoe Park Colchester Essex CO4 3SQ

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Creative Writing

Entry requirements

We will consider all applicants with 2:2 or above, or equivalent international qualifications. For some courses, there may be additional requirements which can be found on our website.

Months of entry

Course content.

Our challenging, practice-based course offers you a unique approach to the practice of writing, emphasising innovation and experimentation in your work. On our MA Creative Writing, you deepen your knowledge of literary tradition, exploring different modes and genres in order to develop your own creative and expressive written skills. You expand your use of creative writing techniques and improve your critical judgement of your own work.

Our course encourages you to develop your writing by stepping outside your comfort zone and discovering the different approaches to verbal art that are possible today. This will invigorate your own practice, whether you are writing psychogeography, plays, novels, stories or something else. You will choose from a variety of modules, covering topics such as: Development of a novel plan, from research and concept-development, to plotting, character, and structure Experimental language play of the Oulipo group across the short story, autobiography, cartoons, cookery and theatre Psychogeography, writing about walking, place, landscape, history and the psychic environment Poetic practice across experimental writing in poetry from the performative to the visual To help you hone your craft, we also host a Royal Literary Fund Fellow, professional writers on-hand to help you develop your writing on a one-to-one basis, and regularly host talks and readings by visiting writers. Essex has nurtured a long tradition of distinguished authors whose work has shaped literature as we know it today, from past giants such as the American poets Robert Lowell and Ted Berrigan, to contemporary writers such as mythographer and novelist Dame Marina Warner, and Booker Prize winner Ben Okri.

This course is also available on a part-time basis.

Information for international students

You can find international entry requirements for most countries on our webpage www.essex.ac.uk/international . If your country is not listed, please contact Postgraduate Admissions at [email protected] .

Pre-sessional English Language courses

If you need to improve your English language skills before joining your main degree course, we offer pre-sessional English courses on our campuses in partnership with Kaplan International Pathways. To learn more, please visit www.essex.ac.uk/international/pre-sessional

You can explore scholarship opportunities for your country at www.essex.ac.uk/international or view our university-wide scholarships at www.essex.ac.uk/scholarships .

Fees and funding

There are a wide range of funding options for postgraduate study, including scholarships, bursaries and alumni discounts. You can check your eligibility at https://www.essex.ac.uk/postgraduate/masters/fees-and-funding.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

• Campus-based learning is available for this qualification

Course contact details

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University of Essex

Degree level: postgraduate, creative writing (taught), course options.

There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

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Course summary.

On our MA Creative Writing, you deepen your knowledge of literary tradition, exploring different modes and genres in order to develop your own creative and expressive written skills. You expand your use of creative writing techniques and improve your critical judgement of your own work. To help you hone your craft, we also host two Royal Literary Fund Fellows, professional writers on-hand to help you develop your writing on a one-to-one basis, and regularly host talks and readings by visiting writers.

You can tailor your learning experience with a choice of optional modules. More information about these can be found on the University of Essex website

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for this course can be found on the course finder on the University of Essex website – www.essex.ac.uk

Fees and funding

Tuition fees.

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Sponsorship information.

AHRB; some University of Essex studentships available.

Provider information

Visit our website

University of Essex Wivenhoe Park Colchester CO4 3SQ

Course contact details

Postgraduate admissions.

[email protected]

01206 872719

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Course type

Qualification, university name, postgraduate creative writing courses at university of essex.

10 courses available

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Related subjects:

• Creative Writing
• Communication Skills
• Communication Studies
• Communications and Media
• Digital Media
• Film Studies
• Film and Television Production
• Media Production
• Play Writing
• Script Writing

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PhD Theatre Studies (Playwriting)

University of essex.

Theatre and Drama in the Department of Literature, Film and Theatre Studies is led by a vibrant group of playwrights and theatre Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £4,786 per year (UK)
• 7 years Part time degree: £2,393 per year (UK)

MA Creative Writing

Our challenging, practice-based course offers you a unique approach to the practice of writing, emphasising innovation and experimentation Read more...

• 1 year Full time degree: £10,000 per year (UK)
• 2 years Part time degree: £5,000 per year (UK)

PhD Creative Writing

Our Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies offers supervision for PhD Creative Writing in all fields of staff research Read more...

PhD Film Studies (Creative Practice)

Our Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies has a distinguished history of combining critical and creative work, and we have Read more...

MA Scriptwriting (Theatre and Digital Media)

Develop as a scriptwriter by learning with professional and award-winning dramatists. On our MA Scriptwriting (Theatre and Digital Media) Read more...

MPhil Theatre Studies (Playwriting)

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,786 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £2,393 per year (UK)

MPhil Film Studies (Creative Practice)

Our Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies offers supervision for PhD Film Studies in all areas of our wide-ranging staff Read more...

MA (by Dissertation) Creative Writing

Our Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies offers supervision for MAD Creative Writing in all fields of staff research Read more...

• 2 years Full time degree: £4,786 per year (UK)
• 3 years Part time degree: £2,393 per year (UK)

MA Literature and Creative Writing

With the expertise of our scholars and creative practitioners, you’ll gain a distinctively unique degree which blends together the highly Read more...

MPhil Creative Writing

Our Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies offers supervision for MPhil Creative Writing in all fields of staff research Read more...

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English (ENG)

Division: Humanities and Bilingual Studies Division

This is a combined reading and writing skills course designed to assist students to comprehend, interpret, and analyze text. Students will learn how to think critically about what they have read, and write meaningfully on selected readings and other assignments. The writing portion of the course emphasizes fluency, the writing process, sentence and paragraph structure, grammar, essay development, and the articulation of critical thoughts in writing. The reading portion emphasizes creating a written response to assigned reading material and articulating ideas in a class setting. Students will recognize main ideas, distinguish main ideas from details, recognize patterns of development, draw conclusions and inferences, recognize and understand author’s purpose, make judgments and distinguish fact from opinion. Students will also learn the Modern Language Association (MLA) style format for college compositions.

Pre-requisites: ((Write Placer Essay with a score of 1 or Write Placer Essay with a score of 2 or Write Placer Essay with a score of 3) and Reading (Next-Gen) with a score of 200) or Decl Test Accept MTH086/ENG085 with a score of 901 or Elig. for Eng 085 with a score of 917

Co-requisites: ENG 085T

Co-requisites: ENG 085

This course is designed to enable the student to write at college level. By applying the writing process, the student will write a number of multi-paragraph compositions, adhering to the principles of English grammar, usage, mechanics, and punctuation. Students will be introduced to the principles of rhetoric through logical analysis of expository writing. Modern Language Association (MLA) rules for documentation will also be introduced.

Pre-requisites: ((Companion Essay with a score of 06 and Companion Reading Comprehensio with a score of 059) or (Write Placer Essay with a score of 04 or Write Placer Essay with a score of 05 and Companion Reading Comprehensio with a score of 20 or Reading (Next-Gen) with a score of 200) or Companion Essay with a score of 07 or ENG 085 with a minimum grade of C or AFE 083 with a minimum grade of C or Move Up English 085 with a score of P or ENG 085 Summer Bridge with a score of P or ESL 063 with a minimum grade of C or TRANSFERRED ENG 101 with a score of 889 or Elig. for Eng 101 with a score of 904 and Pre-reg. Eng 101 waiver only with a score of 906 or SAT/ACT Elig for Eng 101 with a score of 993 or TRANSFERRED ENG 102 with a score of 998) or COLLEGE DEGREE with a score of 988 or SAT/ACT Elig Eng101 Mth100 with a score of 995 or Transf. Eng 101 Mth 100 with a score of 999

Co-requisites: ENG 096T

Co-requisites: ENG 096

Pre-requisites: Companion Essay with a score of 06 or (Write Placer Essay with a score of 04 or Write Placer Essay with a score of 05 and Reading (Next-Gen) with a score of 237) or (Write Placer Essay with a score of 06 and Reading (Next-Gen) with a score of 200) or ENG 085 with a minimum grade of C or AFE 083 with a minimum grade of C or ESL 063 with a minimum grade of C or Move Up English 085 with a score of P or ENG 085 Summer Bridge with a score of P or Elig. for Eng 098 with a score of 918 or Elig. for Eng 098 Mth 092 with a score of 919

Co-requisites: ENG 098T

Co-requisites: ENG 098

Pre-requisites: (Write Placer Essay with a score of 1 and Reading (Next-Gen) with a score of 200)

Co-requisites: ENG 101

Writing of the persuasive multi-paragraph composition is taught, with concentration on the elements of theme, structure, and style. Principles of rhetoric are recognized and discussed through logical analysis of non-fiction essays. The course culminates in the crafting of a research-based paper, utilizing multiple sources, and adhering to MLA Style.

Pre-requisites: (Companion Essay with a score of 08 or (Write Placer Essay with a score of 07 or Write Placer Essay with a score of 08 and Reading (Next-Gen) with a score of 200) or (Write Placer Essay with a score of 1 and Reading (Next-Gen) with a score of 200 or ENG 096 with a minimum grade of C or ENG 098 with a minimum grade of C or ESL 063 with a minimum grade of C or Move Up English 096 with a score of P or ENG 096 Summer Bridge with a score of P or TRANSFERRED ENG 101 with a score of 889 or Elig. for Eng 101 with a score of 904 or Pre-reg. Eng 101 waiver only with a score of 906 or SAT/ACT Elig for Eng 101 with a score of 993 or TRANSFERRED ENG 102 with a score of 998) or COLLEGE DEGREE with a score of 988 or SAT/ACT Elig Eng101 Mth100 with a score of 995 or Transf. Eng 101 Mth 100 with a score of 999

Writing of the literary analytical multi-paragraph composition is taught, with concentration on the elements of theme, structure, and style. Principles of rhetoric are recognized and discussed through logical analysis of short stories, poems, plays, and other forms of fiction. The course culminates in the crafting of a research-based literary analysis paper, utilizing multiple sources, and adhering to MLA Style.

Pre-requisites: ENG 101 with a minimum grade of C or TRANSFERRED ENG 101 with a score of 889 or Pre-reg. Eng 101 waiver only with a score of 906 or COLLEGE DEGREE with a score of 988 or Transf. Eng 101 Mth 100 with a score of 999

This course is an introduction to technical and professional writing. It is designed to help students from a variety of majors to master the composition skills needed for careers in business and industry. Students will learn the principles and conventions of technical writing and practice those conventions in a variety of assignments that would typically be encountered in the workplace.

The basic elements of public speaking are covered in this course. Students will learn how to prepare and give several types of speeches with emphasis upon content, organization, and delivery.

Pre-requisites: (( (Companion Essay with a score of 06 or Companion Essay with a score of 07 or Write Placer Essay with a score of 04 or Write Placer Essay with a score of 05 or Write Placer Essay with a score of 06) and (Companion Reading Comprehensio with a score of 079 or Reading (Next-Gen) with a score of 237 or Move Up English 096 with a score of P or ENG 096 Summer Bridge with a score of P) or ESL 063 with a minimum grade of C ) or Companion Essay with a score of 08 or Write Placer Essay with a score of 07 or Write Placer Essay with a score of 08 or TRANSFERRED ENG 101 with a score of 889 or Elig. for Eng 101 with a score of 904 or Pre-reg. Eng 101 waiver only with a score of 906 or SAT/ACT Elig for Eng 101 with a score of 993 or TRANSFERRED ENG 102 with a score of 998 ) or COLLEGE DEGREE with a score of 988 or SAT/ACT Elig Eng101 Mth100 with a score of 995 or Transf. Eng 101 Mth 100 with a score of 999

This course surveys and examines mass communications, concentrating on radio, television, film, and other electronic and print media forms. The expression of popular culture through the mass media is analyzed and evaluated.

Students will be introduced to the study and development of the creative writing process with emphasis on craft, the exploration of voice, and the acquisition of constructive critiquing skills.

Various works of literature (a combination of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and plays) from around the world, beginning with the cradles of civilization and ending with the start of the 17th century CE, are covered.

Pre-requisites: ENG 102 with a minimum grade of C or ENG 105 with a minimum grade of C

Selected works of William Shakespeare, from his plays to his sonnets, will be studied. Emphasis will be placed upon the playwright's use of language, his ability to develop complex characters, and how the major themes of the works resonate even in today's world.

Various works of literature (a combination of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and plays) from around the world, beginning with the 17th century CE and going up to our modem era, are covered.

Starting with the oral traditions of indigenous peoples, this course will bring students through the literature and literary movements of the colonial period, the early republic, and conclude with the end of the antebellum era.

Starting with the Civil War, and continuing through the Reconstruction Era, this course will bring students into the 20th century and the modern era, covering the literature and literary movements of an everchanging nation and its peoples.

Focusing on the two different artforms, this course will cover, via a critical and analytical lens, the process of how literature is adapted into film. Students can expect to study how filmmakers pick and choose the literary works they transform into an entirely different medium, including how to visualize the written word and how the source material might change.

The literary traditions of the peoples of Africa and the Caribbean are covered in this course. Emphasis will be placed on the socio-cultural and political forces that shaped this literature as well as the modes of its presentation.

Beginning with the oral traditions, and later written works of African Americans, this course covers the colonial period, slavery, Reconstruction, the Harlem Renaissance, and the modern era, exploring the deeply rich historical and aesthetic development of this literature.

The literary works of those considered pillars of their craft, such as Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes, Richard Wright, James Baldwin, and Toni Morrison, are examined. Emphasis is placed upon the historical context in which their works were written as well as their resonating impact on today's world.

The diverse literary traditions of the peoples of Latin America (including Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean) are covered in this course. Emphasis will be placed on the socio-cultural and political forces that shaped this literature as well as the modes of its presentation.

A variety of dramatic works, from the classical era to the contemporary, will be explored. Through close analysis and study of major representative texts, students will understand how dramatic literature, in subject, style, and technique, has both reflected and shaped social, historical, and cultural awareness in an everchanging world.

A variety of poems, from the classical era to the contemporary, will be explored. Through close analysis and study of major representative texts, students will understand how poetry, in subject, style, and technique, has both reflected and shaped social, historical, and cultural awareness in an everchanging world.

A variety of novels, from the form's modern beginnings in the 18th century to the present, will be explored. Through close analysis and study of major representative texts, students will understand how the novel, in subject, style, and technique, has both reflected and shaped social, historical, and cultural awareness in an ever changing world.

Various works of literature by women (a combination of fiction, non­fiction, poetry, and plays) from the ancient world through the 20th century CE, are covered.

Various works of literature by women (a combination of fiction, non­fiction, poetry, and plays) from the modern era, are covered. Special emphasis will be placed upon feminist voices and underrepresented women of color.

As a survey of both classic and contemporary children's literature, students will explore a variety of genres such as myths, poems, fables, fairytales, picture books, and novels. There will be a certain amount of focus placed upon the lives of the authors and illustrators who penned and visualized these works.

Works from the genres and subgenres of speculative fiction will be examined through a literary lens with a focus on their unique styles of storytelling and resonating themes. The lives of the authors and their publications' impacts upon society will also be touched upon.

The critical reading and analysis of modern biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs will be introduced. Students will develop an awareness of the methods and techniques which go into the writing and study of life writing as they come to realize the literary significance of the genre.

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Creative Qualifications

We offer accredited creative courses for people looking to turn their passion into a career. From floristry to woodworking, you will learn a range of skills and gain a recognised qualification to progress in your career or to set up your own business.

Browse creative qualification courses

Why choose a creative qualification?

A creative qualification could give you the necessary skills and qualifications to turn your passion into a career. We offer courses at Entry Level to Level 2 at locations across Essex.

Entry – These courses lead to a nationally recognised NCFE Entry Award in Creative Craft

Level 1 – These courses lead to a nationally recognised NCFE Level 1 Award in Creative Craft

Level 2 – These courses lead to a nationally recognised NCFE Level 2 Award in Creative Craft

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Creative Writing courses

Whether you’re looking to develop your own writing skills and editorial practice for your profession or for purely personal interest, our creative writing courses have much to offer you. Choose below from our range of qualifications.

Creative Writing Degrees  Degrees Also known as an undergraduate or bachelors degree. Internationally respected, universally understood. An essential requirement for many high-level jobs. Gain a thorough understanding of your subject – and the tools to investigate, think critically, form reasoned arguments, solve problems and communicate effectively in new contexts. Progress to higher level study, such as a postgraduate diploma or masters degree.

• Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
• One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
• You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
• For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.

How long will it take?

Creative Writing Diplomas  Diplomas Widely recognised qualification. Equivalent to the first two thirds of an honours degree. Enhance your professional and technical skills or extend your knowledge and understanding of a subject. Study for interest or career development. Top up to a full honours degree in just two years.

Creative writing certificates  certificates widely recognised qualification. equivalent to the first third of an honours degree. study for interest or career development. shows that you can study successfully at university level. count it towards further qualifications such as a diphe or honours degree., why study creative writing with the open university.

Since 2003, over 50,000 students have completed one of our critically acclaimed creative writing modules. 

The benefits of studying creative writing with us are:

• Develops your writing skills in several genres including fiction, poetry, life writing and scriptwriting.
• Introduces you to the world of publishing and the requirements of professionally presenting manuscripts.
• Online tutor-group forums enable you to be part of an interactive writing community.
• Module workbooks are widely praised and used by other universities and have attracted worldwide sales.

Careers in Creative Writing

Studying creative writing will equip you with an adaptable set of skills that can give entry to a vast range of occupations. You’ll learn to evaluate and assimilate information in constructing an argument as well as acquiring the skills of creative and critical thinking that are much in demand in the workplace.

Our range of courses in creative writing can help you start or progress your career in:

• Arts, creative industries, culture and heritage
• Advertising, marketing, communications and public relations
• Journalism and publishing
• Public administration, civil service and local government

Looking for something other than a qualification?

The majority of our modules can be studied by themselves, on a stand-alone basis. If you later choose to work towards a qualification, you may be able to count your study towards it.

See our full list of Creative Writing modules

All Creative Writing courses

Browse all the Creative Writing courses we offer – certificates, diplomas and degrees.

See our full list of Creative Writing courses

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BA Drama and Creative Writing

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Entry requirements

Fees and funding.

• What's next?

Are you impatient to have it all? No need to choose between subject areas, your degree is balanced equally between the disciplines of Drama and Creative Writing but there will be many modules where the two disciplines come together, for example in modules such as Writing For Radio and Writing for Theatre.

On the Drama side, you will have the opportunity to study many aspects of theatre from classic to contemporary texts, and to explore themes in drama such as gender, identity, tragedy, human rights, immersive theatre, devising and playwriting. You will gain skills in technical theatre, design and stage management, and will be assessed in a range of ways from essay-writing, to performance, devised work, solo projects and group work.

In Creative Writing you explore the urge to create and build new worlds, to share language and stories with others. On our course you work on the craft of writing through a multi-genre approach, through and across a variety of writings from fiction and poetry, to non-fiction, psychogeography, performance writing and beyond. At Essex we offer an unusual approach to the practice of writing, combining innovative and traditional methods in order to develop your writing skills and abilities to judge your work critically, while expanding your knowledge across different modes and genres. In the Centre for Creative Writing we encourage a culture of experiment and creativity, enabling you to feel part of a community of writers. In addition, you will gain transferable skills in research, essay-planning and writing, and you will be offered careers guidance and training.

• Become part of a vibrant faculty that supports flexibility within your areas of interest.
• As practitioners and industry insiders, we are committed to identifying employment opportunities for our students, and supporting the writers and theatre-makers of the future.
• You can respond both critically and artistically to your studies in our unique literary conservatoire.

Study abroad

Your education extends beyond the university campus. We support you in expanding your education through offering the opportunity to spend a year or a term studying abroad at one of our partner universities. The four-year version of our degree allows you to spend the third year abroad or employed on a placement abroad (see below).

Studying abroad allows you to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are adaptable and mature.

If you spend a full year abroad you'll only pay 15% of your usual tuition fee that year. You won't pay any tuition fees to your host university.

Placement year

On a placement year you gain relevant work experience within an external business or organisation, giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market and providing you with key contacts within the industry. The rest of your course remains identical to the three-year degree.

Our expert staff

You will be led by industry active staff, who can share techniques and trends from their latest work on film sets and in their fields of drama and creative writing respectively. This also brings opportunities to be mentored by experts in your subject area of interest.

Specialist facilities

• The Lakeside Theatre is a purpose-built 200-seat venue in the heart of the University campus. We stage productions by leading touring companies and new work written, produced and directed by our own staff and students.
• Additionally, the Lakeside Studio is an intimate fully equipped black box theatre. Each year, we invite proposals from current and former Essex students to make work for this space as part of our Homegrown Shows programme.
• The Lakeside Theatre also makes a connection to the cultural hubs of our country as a host of the prestigious National Theatre Live and Royal Shakespeare Company Live screenings.
• We programme practical workshops by world-leading invited artists to help you develop new performance skills.
• Our weekly research seminars provide further opportunities for students to hear writers and practitioners discuss their craft.
• The Research Laboratory creates unique opportunities for our students to contribute to the testing of new ideas over the course of a full rehearsal process. Students collaborate with professional writers, actors, directors, musicians, and choreographers. As part of a creative team, new research questions are explored in practice, with opportunities to share work-in-progress with audiences.
• As well as our high-spec theatre spaces, our campus is home to a wealth of non-theatre venues, including The Hex and ArtExchange, that we use to innovate new site-based work.
• Our students have access to the University's Media Centre, equipped with state-of-the-art studios, cameras, audio and lighting equipment, and an industry-standard editing suite.
• There are also opportunities to write for our student magazine Rebel or host a Red Radio show.
• Students can view classic films at weekly film screenings in our dedicated 120-seat film theatre.

Your future

Many of our students have gone on to successfully publish their work, notable recent alumni including:

• Ida Løkås, who won a literary prize in Norway for The Beauty That Flows Past, securing a book deal
• Elaine Ewert, recent graduate from our MA Wild Writing, placed
• Petra Mcqueen, who has written for The Guardian and runs creative writing courses

Our graduates are also ideally prepared for careers in the media, education, publishing, and the film and theatre industries. Two particular areas in which our graduates have had recent success are publishing and the theatre. One of our former students is now in charge of editorial at a large publishing house, and another has just taken over running one of the country's major theatres.

Other recent graduates have gone on to work in a wide range of desirable roles including:

• The Civil Service
• Journalism and broadcasting
• Museum and library work
• Commerce and finance

Clearing entry requirements

We currently have places available in Clearing across a range of our courses with most offers at BBC-CCD (112 – 88 UCAS tariff points) or equivalent. We consider each application individually and requirements may be lower for some of our courses, so please get in touch if your grades are below those outlined here.

English language requirements

English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall, or specified score in another equivalent test that we accept.

If we accept the English component of an international qualification it will be included in the academic levels listed above for the relevant countries.

English language shelf-life

If you require a Student visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.

Pre-sessional English courses

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Pending English language qualifications

You don’t need to achieve the required level before making your application, but it will be one of the conditions of your offer.

If you cannot find the qualification that you have achieved or are pending, then please email [email protected] .

Requirements for second and final year entry

Different requirements apply for second and final year entry, and specified component grades are also required for applicants who require a visa to study in the UK. Details of English language requirements, including UK Visas and Immigration minimum component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here

Additional Notes

Course structure.

Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The following modules are based on the current course structure and may change in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We'll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website and in line with your contract with us. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, we'll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.

Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.

The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.

Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.

In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.

Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code . For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:

COMPONENT 01: COMPULSORY

This is the foundational module for your BA Drama Degree. We enrich your existing knowledge of major theatre practitioners – Aristotle, Brecht, Artaud and Stanislavski – and complement these studies by introducing new theatre theorists, movements and styles. Examine plays from Ancient Greece to today, discussing issues like genre, representation, reception, modernism and postmodernism. This module blends together practical and theoretical classes to create the building blocks for an informed study of theatre practice.

View Introduction to Theatre Studies on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 02: COMPULSORY

How do you get started as a writer? How do you practise your writing? And how can you make improvements? Using exercises and texts, focus on your basic skills and essay writing. Cover topics like characterisation, dialogue, point of view, plotting, suspense, and metaphor and imagery.

View The Writer's Toolkit on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 03: COMPULSORY

What possibilities does radio offer a writer? What techniques are required? How can the main tools of dramatic construction be exploited for radio? Focusing on drama, study work currently being broadcast plus classic pieces. Make use of the University’s studio to record extracts of your own radio scripts.

View Writing for the Radio on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 04: COMPULSORY

This interdisciplinary module serves several functions. Firstly, you will develop an understanding of your degree in the context of the wider world and specifically the graduate jobs market. You will come to understand the employability and career-development opportunities that are available to you during and after your time at Essex, and you will begin the life-long process of continuous professional development with a firm grounding in the practical skills and reflective practice involved. The module is divided into two parts: career-development learning; and Speaker Weeks, when a member of staff will interview guest speakers about their careers in fields that are allied to the arts and humanities. These will cover a range of career areas that may be of interest to humanities graduates in general: from media, arts, journalism, education, publishing, to entrepreneurship in related areas. These weeks are intended to be inspiring but also full of practical tips and ideas, with an emphasis on showing how careers develop over time, and what pathways students can explore to get to where they want to be; as well as what kinds of extra-curricular activities students can engage in now to open more doors professionally before and after graduation. In the career-development learning part of the module, you will cover topics such as the Graduate Labour market, the Humanities graduate, self-reflection and personal development, and how to research and apply effectively for jobs. Skills such as CV writing and interview technique will be covered. Two-hour interactive lecture/seminars will introduce students to careers resources and ideas, but will also include discussion and group work.

View The Humanities Graduate: Future Pathways on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 05: COMPULSORY WITH OPTIONS

This module looks at how theatrical ideas developed and made into reality. The module guides you carefully through the technical expertise required, and allows you to explore lighting, sound and stage management in professionally-led workshops. Through a series of workshops, seminars and field trips, including theatre and gallery visits, students will be introduced to the variety of stimuli and strategies that theatre makers use to create a production. The content of this half-module is closely linked to the programme of the Lakeside Theatre, students will see professional performances, be introduced to visiting professional theatre makers and will experiment with a range of practical processes that they use. Students will be introduced to a variety of rehearsal processes and techniques commonly used by contemporary theatre and performance makers.

View Theatre Making: Autobiography on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 06: COMPULSORY WITH OPTIONS

COMPONENT 07: COMPULSORY WITH OPTIONS

What are the links and connections between texts? Do these exist even if the plays seem diverse? Explore a range of texts from the medieval period to the 1980s, analysing genre, dramatic form, language, narrative and dramatic debate. Through practical sessions, consider approaches like staging, verse-speaking, montage and character development.

View Theatre and Performance Makers on our Module Directory

What is creative non-fiction? How does it engage and experiment with the world around us? Explore the boundaries between fiction and non-fiction, from Defoe’s Journal of the Plague Year to today’s “misery memoir”. Understand the creative aspect of others kinds of writing, widening your own scope and sense of possibility.

View Creative Non-Fiction on our Module Directory

What are the key theories for creative writing? And how do writers (such as Wordsworth or Pound) theorise their own work and that of others? Study a range of genres, from poetry and fiction to autobiography, with practical writing exercises. Explore “making the familiar unfamiliar” (defamiliarisation), and focus on narrative.

View Writing Structures on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 04: COMPULSORY WITH OPTIONS

COMPONENT 05: OPTIONAL

COMPONENT 01: COMPULSORY WITH OPTIONS

COMPONENT 02: OPTIONAL

COMPONENT 03: OPTIONAL

COMPONENT 04: OPTIONAL

On a placement year you gain relevant work experience within an external business or organisation, giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market and providing you with key contacts within the industry

Year abroad

On your year abroad, you have the opportunity to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised. The rest of your course remains identical to the three-year degree.

• Teaching will take the form of lectures, seminars, practical workshops and skills-based training sessions
• We offer a unique combination of theoretical and creative approaches
• Class sizes are up to 20 students and taught in specially designated teaching rooms
• A typical timetable is a mixture of one hour lectures and three-hour seminars and/or practical workshops

Home/UK fee

£9,250 per year

International fee

£19,500 per year

Fees will increase for each academic year of study.

Home/UK fees and funding information

International fees and funding information

What's next

Our events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex. We run a number of Open Days throughout the year which enable you to discover what our campus has to offer. You have the chance to:

• tour our campus and accommodation
• find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
• meet our students and staff

Check out our Visit Us pages to find out more information about booking onto one of our events. And if the dates aren’t suitable for you, feel free to book a campus tour here .

2024 Open Days (Colchester Campus)

• Saturday 21 September 2024 - September Open Day
• Saturday 26 October 2024 - October Open Day

How to apply during Clearing

Once you’ve checked that we have the right course for you, applying couldn’t be simpler. Fill in our quick and easy Clearing application form with as much detail as you can. We’ll then take a look and get back to you with a decision.

• Find out more about Clearing
• Get to know us better at our Clearing events

We don’t interview all applicants during Clearing, however, we will only make offers for the following courses after a successful interview:

• BA Multimedia Journalism
• BSc Nursing (Adult)
• BSc Nursing (Mental Health)
• BA Social Work

The interview allows our academics to find out more about you, and in turn you’ll be able to ask us any questions you might have. Further details will be emailed to you if you are shortlisted for interview.

Visit Colchester Campus

Set within 200 acres of  award-winning  parkland - Wivenhoe Park  and located two miles from the  historic city centre of Colchester – England's oldest recorded development. Our Colchester Campus is also easily reached from London and Stansted Airport in under one hour.

Virtual tours

If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360 degree virtual tours allows you to explore our University from the comfort of your home. Check out our Colchester virtual tour and Southend virtual tour to see accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.

At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.

The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications . The University would inform and engage with you if your course was to be discontinued, and would provide you with options, where appropriate, in line with our Compensation and Refund Policy.

The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.

Want to quiz us about your course? Got a question that just needs answering? Get in touch with us on live chat!

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Programme Specifications

• Creative Writing

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Professional accreditation

Admission criteria, a 2:2 degree in one of the following subjects:.

• Art History
• Media Studies
• Performing Arts
• Theatre/Drama Studies

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code

If English is not your first language, we require IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum component score of 6.5 in writing and 5.5 in all other components.

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Additional Notes

The University uses academic selection criteria to determine an applicant’s ability to successfully complete a course at the University of Essex. Where appropriate, we may ask for specific information relating to previous modules studied or work experience.

Course qualifiers

A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).

Rules of assessment

Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.

Additional notes

External Examiners for research degrees are appointed student by student due to the highly specialised nature of the awards. The names and institutions of External Examiners for research degrees are therefore not published on the programme specification. Supervisors discuss with students appropriate External Examiners and nominees are appointed in accordance with the University’s Ordinances. More information can be found in the Principal Regulations for Research Degrees and the accompanying Code of Practice.

External examiners

External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment. External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course. They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards. External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.

eNROL , the module enrolment system, is now open until Monday 21 October 2024 8:59AM , for students wishing to make changes to their module options.

Year 1 - 2024/25

Exit awards

A module is given one of the following statuses: 'core' – meaning it must be taken and passed; 'compulsory' – meaning it must be taken; or 'optional' – meaning that students can choose the module from a designated list. The rules of assessment may allow for limited condonement of fails in 'compulsory' or 'optional' modules, but 'core' modules cannot be failed. The status of the module may be different in any exit awards which are available for the course. Exam Boards will consider students' eligibility for an exit award if they fail the main award or do not complete their studies.

Programme aims

Due to the individualised nature of Postgraduate Research Degree’s, project aims and outcomes are usually determined during the research proposal stage, and adapted as necessary throughout the research period. Students will be supported through discussions with their supervisory teams and during Supervisory Panels, using the published milestones as a framework for their research journey.

Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods

On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:

A: Knowledge and understanding

Learning methods, assessment methods, b: intellectual and cognitive skills, c: practical skills, d: key skills.

The University reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University.

The full procedures, rules and regulations of the University are set out in the Charter, Statues and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.

The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements, industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications.

The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures .

If you are thinking of studying at Essex and have questions about the course, please contact Undergraduate Admissions by emailing [email protected] , or Postgraduate Admissions by emailing [email protected] .

If you're a current student and have questions about your course or specific modules, please contact your department .

If you think there might be an error on this page, please contact the Course Records Team by emailing [email protected] .

• For enquiries contact the Course Records Team
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