Creative Writing with Foundation Year Canterbury Christ Church University

Overview

If you love words and want to work with them, this Creative and Professional Writing with Foundation Year degree from Canterbury Christ Church University is the course for you. We will help you to develop your own creative practice and distinctive voice, and in addition you will study commercial writing – in newspapers, magazines and broadcast media. You will also learn about marketing techniques, so that you can present your best face to employers and the publishing industry.

Writing in a variety of styles, voices, and genres, you will hone your skills and explore the rich world of writing, tutored by professional writers with a deep knowledge of their craft and valuable experience of the writing industry.

Sessions are largely workshop based, with presentations and discussions stemming directly from students’ own work. We believe that what makes us truly special is our small, friendly team, meaning we can get to know you as an individual and support you every step of the way through personal tutoring.

During the course, you'll learn the skills and techniques required to write poetry, prose fiction, nonfiction (including journalism and memoir) and drama for the stage and screen. You'll also develop an understanding of the online world through topics such as social media use and digital design, and you'll have opportunities to share your work and to perform at group readings.

Great writers are great readers, and this course is underpinned by a thorough grounding in the literature and ideas that have shaped the contemporary writing scene. In addition to discussing texts in class, you can also attend a range of author talks and readings, offering you that crucial contact with inspiring writers and other industry professionals who can help to inspire your career plans.

Your future career

The course aims to develop a range of skills that will prepare students for employment as writers in a variety of roles: journalism, advertising, publishing, and marketing. However, the Creative and Professional Writing degree also opens up opportunities to work in a variety of administrative or managerial settings, as well as in public sector roles such as teaching. For entrepreneurial students, we teach essential skills for working freelance or running a small business. This course also provides a great foundation for further study towards a professional qualification, for example in journalism, business or marketing.