Creative Writing

Creative writing sits at the intersection of artistic practice and critical understanding. It asks you to read as a writer, examining how published authors make choices at every level from word and sentence to structure and form, and to apply that understanding to your own work across a range of genres and modes. The discipline trains you to think with precision about language, to develop a distinctive voice, and to revise with the kind of rigorous attention that separates accomplished writing from early drafts.

At York St John University, the course is taught by an award-winning team of practising writers within a supportive writing community designed to challenge you creatively while giving you the tools to develop your craft. You will have the opportunity to experiment with form and genre, pushing the boundaries of what writing can do rather than settling into familiar patterns. The programme offers considerable structural flexibility: a foundation year is available for those who want to build their academic and creative skills before the degree proper begins, and the course includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and work placement opportunities, meaning you can gain professional experience and an international perspective alongside your creative development.

The programme is delivered part-time, which suits students who are balancing study with other commitments.

Writing develops skills that are valued across almost every professional field. Graduates pursue careers in publishing, journalism, copywriting, content creation, screenwriting, teaching, and arts development. Many go on to work as authors, poets, or playwrights alongside other careers.

The critical thinking, communication, and research skills you build are also transferable to roles in public relations, marketing, charity communication, and the civil service. For those who wish to develop their practice further, postgraduate routes include creative writing masters programmes and doctoral research combining creative and critical work.