Creative and Professional Writing

Writing in its many forms sits at the heart of how cultures make sense of themselves, and a degree that spans both creative and professional writing recognises that the skills involved are deeply connected even when the contexts differ. Storytelling, persuasion, description and argument are the common currency of fiction, journalism, screenwriting, corporate communication and cultural criticism alike. Learning to write well across these registers sharpens your sense of language, audience and purpose in ways that transfer far beyond any single genre.

At the University of the West of England, Bristol, you will explore fiction and non-fiction, screenplays, stage scripts, cultural criticism, publishing and corporate copywriting across a three-year full-time programme. The breadth is deliberate: you will discover which forms suit you best while also building versatility that makes you genuinely employable. The programme includes a sandwich placement year, which you spend working in an industry setting relevant to your ambitions, whether that is a publishing house, a media company, a marketing or communications team, or a cultural organisation.

That year of professional practice gives you a credit-bearing period in the industry before you graduate, alongside contacts and a stronger sense of where your skills fit in the market.

You will develop a critical understanding of how writing functions in different industries and for different audiences, and you will build a portfolio of work across multiple forms. The ability to write clearly, imaginatively and adaptably is valued in almost every sector, and graduates find their way into careers in publishing, broadcast and digital media, journalism, content creation and marketing, public relations, corporate communications, arts organisations, education, and scriptwriting for television, film and theatre. Postgraduate study in creative writing, journalism or publishing is another option, and some graduates go on to work as independent authors or freelancers building a mixed writing practice.