University course Β· real outcomes from HESA / Discover Uni Β· part of Careermash
University degree

Creative Writing

University of Keele
Qualification
Degree
Length
3 yrs
UK fees / yr
Β£9,535
Study
full-time
Worth knowing: about 25% of students don't make it past first year here - ask the uni what support they offer.
Robin Β· your guide
Here's the honest picture on this course - what you'd study, whether you'd likely get in, what it pays, and where it leads. Everything's real data.
About this course

Creative writing is both an art and a craft, concerned with how language is deployed deliberately and skillfully to produce work that resonates with readers, tells stories, creates characters, and generates meaning beyond the merely informational. It encompasses fiction, poetry, non-fiction, scriptwriting, and hybrid and experimental forms, and studying it seriously means engaging with the full range of literary possibility while also developing your own distinctive voice and practice. Reading closely and writing attentively are deeply connected activities, and a creative writing degree develops both.

At Keele University, this three-year full-time BA develops your voice as a writer within a community that includes academic experts, published authors, and fellow creative writers. You will build a deep understanding of a wide range of literary texts, genres, and cultures alongside your own developing practice, learning to read as a writer and to write with the awareness of a well-informed reader. The programme provides the tools, inspiration, and experience to pursue creative ambitions whether your goal is to work as a writer or to enter the broader creative industries.

A sandwich year, a year abroad, and a work placement are all built into the programme, giving you substantial professional and international experience that enriches your creative and professional profile. With a typical entry tariff of 120 UCAS points, the course is accessible.

Graduates from creative writing programmes pursue careers in publishing, journalism, copywriting, arts administration, education, broadcasting, marketing, and the wider creative industries. Many graduates continue to develop as writers alongside other professional work, and the degree provides a genuine platform for those ambitions. The research, analytical, and communication skills developed during the programme are also valued in many other professional contexts.

Postgraduate study in creative writing, publishing, or journalism provides a natural continuation.

Could you get in?
The grades students arrived with
<48 pts5%
48-63 pts5%
64-79 pts5%
96-111 pts10%
112-127 pts30%
128-143 pts5%
144-159 pts15%
160-175 pts15%
192-207 pts5%
How they qualified
90% got in with A-levels. The rest came in a mix of ways:
A-levels90%
a foundation year5%
other higher education5%
Could I get in? Try your grades
120 UCAS pts
Pay & prospects
65%
In work or further study after
75%
Continue past first year
88%
Student satisfaction
What graduates earn over time
Β£22,000
3 years on
Β£27,500
5 years on
What graduates actually go on to do % of leavers
Elementary occupations15%
Teaching ProfessionalsHighly skilled15%
Business and public service associate professionalsHighly skilled10%
Administrative occupations15%
Customer service occupations10%
Media ProfessionalsHighly skilled10%
Welfare and housing associate professionalsHighly skilled5%
Finance ProfessionalsHighly skilled5%
What students say National Student Survey
88%
of students are satisfied with the course overall
Teaching89%
Assessment & feedback87%
Academic support91%
Well organised88%
Learning resources82%
Student community86%
In students' own words
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A great decision
Honestly, one of the best decisions I've made. The best part: the teaching staff are genuinely world-class and accessible. If I'm honest, some seminar groups were too big for meaningful discussion. On the city β€” local cost of living is mana…
Final year Β· Part-time
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Exceeded expectations
The programme genuinely lives up to its reputation. The best part: the teaching staff are genuinely world-class and accessible. If I'm honest, accommodation allocation was stressful in the first year. On the city β€” the city is a brilliant s…
Final year Β· Full-time
More courses like this
Where this degree can lead
Like the look of it?
When you're ready, the full entry requirements and application are on University of Keele's own site.
Apply on uni site
Careermash Β· real course data from HESA / Discover Uni, in plain English.

Career data: role, pay and progression profiles built for Careermash's careers engine; AI-impact estimates from Anthropic's observed AI-usage telemetry and OpenAI's AI Jobs Transition Framework. Course data: HESA / Discover Uni, including Graduate Outcomes, LEO and the National Student Survey. Apprenticeships: IfATE-published standards, approved only.

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