Creative Writing BA (Hons)
University of Portsmouth
Student rating
This is the overall rating calculated by averaging all live reviews for this uni on Whatuni.
( 4.2) View reviews

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Different course options
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Qualification

Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

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Location

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Study mode

Full Time

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Start date

SEP-25

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Duration

3 Years

Course info

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Qualification

Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

Location

Main Site

Study mode

Full Time

Start date

SEP-25

Duration

3 Years

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Qualification

Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

Location

Main Site

Study mode

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Start date

SEP-25

Duration

4 Years

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Creative Writing
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Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
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Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
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Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
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Course info

**This is a Connected Degree**Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after youve started your course.**Overview**Charles Dickens was born here, Sherlock Holmes was created here, H.G. Wells travelled here in his ‘time machine’, and many ...Read more


This is a Connected Degree

Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course.


Overview

Charles Dickens was born here, Sherlock Holmes was created here, H.G. Wells travelled here in his ‘time machine’, and many tourists wander our timeless shores inked with seaside tales. If there could be an ideal birthplace for your creative writing career, let it be Portsmouth.Every lecture, seminar, and event on our Creative Writing degree course will inspire you to develop your writing voice across various media, from stories and poetry to plays and screenplays. Learn about the theory behind the art of writing and discover the history of storytelling and narrative, guided by a team of industry and research experts spanning writing, media and performance. You can also broaden your writing experience by studying abroad and going on an optional professional placement.By the end of the course, you’ll have the versatile writing skills to take you to any career destination within creative and communication fields.


Course highlights

- Take part in Portsmouth’s annual Comic Con for the latest developments in creative writing and literature, popular culture, fan communities, and technology – course lecturers and students are panelists- Build your writing portfolio by contributing to our course blog The Eldon Review, local news zine Star & Crescent, and our Student Union newspaper The Galleon- Collaborate with staff on innovative research projects to enhance your own practice, such as Ink:Well, Lifewriting for Well-Being, and Pens of the Earth- Get insight into the current writing scene by attending guest lectures from industry professionals – past ones include Andy McNab, Francesca Beard, and Suzi Feay- Gain valuable professional experience by taking an optional placement- Spend a year or a semester studying abroad to discover another culture and way of learning- Learn a new language with our extra-curricular Institute-Wide Language Programme to improve your abilities and earn credits


Careers and opportunities

Writing is one of the oldest forms of communication and has evolved and transformed over the ages. It thrives more than ever in our modern world where traditional and digital communication coexist, with its outlets continuing to expand. Spoken communication – such as storytelling, teaching, and poetry – is also on the rise.After graduating from our Creative Writing degree course, you’ll be poised for numerous roles that rely on the powers of communication and the written word.You can also continue your studies at postgraduate level and venture into research.Graduate areasAreas graduates from our Creative Writing courses have worked in include:- creative writing (prose, poetry, script)- advertising and marketing- arts and events management- local and community broadcasting- teaching- stand-up comedy- travel industryGraduate rolesRoles graduates from our Creative Writing courses have gone onto include:- novelist- poet- playwright- teacher- copywriter- journalist- theatre manager- editorial assistantYou'll get help and support from our Careers and Employability service in finding your first role and for 5 years after you graduate.

Key stats

WUSCA ranking:
WUSCA student ranking
These are the 2024 rankings, based on ratings given by past and current students.
48/101
CUG Subject Ranking
CUG Subject Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
27th
CUG Ranking
CUG Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
49th
Creative Writing
Drop-out rate
Drop-out rate
The percentage of students who didn't finish the course.
Calculated by 100% - (% of students continuing course + % of students completed course)
100 - 85 = 15% Drop-out rate Source: UNISTATS, 2019
15%
Employment rate
Employment rate
The percentage of students in full-time work 6 months after finishing their course.
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
100%
Average salary
Average salary
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
Creative Writing graduate salary at this uni
£17,000
UK Creative Writing graduate salary
£17,000
What students say
R
Robert
12 Dec 23

Best: By the sea but also a city with loads of things to do. Everything is also really close but not a student village. Worst: No student bar and the price or everything is not..Read more

R
Rebecca
05 Dec 23

Teachers try to be accommodating but it isn't helped when not given the right tools. You can only help so much but if the uni doesn't deem opening doors as an important issue when..Read more

Modules

Modules (Year 1)
Modules (Year 2)
Modules (Year 3)
IDP Connect

Entry requirements

Exam type

A level

A level:

BBC - BBB Grades / Points required

Scottish Higher:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Scottish Advanced Higher:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

UCAS Tariff:

112 - 120 Grades / Points required

Access to HE Diploma:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme:

25 Grades / Points required

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017):

H3,H3,H3,H3,H4 - H3,H3,H3,H3,H3 Grades / Points required

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016):

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016):

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016):

DDM - DMM Grades / Points required

T Level:

M Grades / Points required

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015):

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

112-120 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels. A relevant qualification or experience in English/Creative Writing/Journalism/Media or Film Studies is required.

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.

112-120 Tariff points to include a minimum of 2 Advanced Highers. A relevant qualification or experience in English/Creative Writing/Journalism/Media or Film Studies is required.

112-120 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent. A relevant qualification or experience in English/Creative Writing/Journalism/Media or Film Studies is required.

112-122 Tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma. A relevant qualification or experience in English/Creative Writing/Journalism/Media or Film Studies is required.

Cambridge Pre-U score of 46-50. A relevant qualification or experience in English/Creative Writing/Journalism/Media or Film Studies is required.

25 points from the IB Diploma, to include 3 Higher Level subjects. A relevant qualification or experience in English/Creative Writing/Journalism/Media or Film Studies is required.

A relevant qualification or experience in English/Creative Writing/Journalism/Media or Film Studies is required.

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.

A relevant qualification or experience in English/Creative Writing/Journalism/Media or Film Studies is required.

A relevant qualification or experience in English/Creative Writing/Journalism/Media or Film Studies is required.

112-120 points from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate including 1 A level, plus the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate. A relevant qualification or experience in English/Creative Writing/Journalism/Media or Film Studies is required.

Popular A-level subjects

Creative Writing

Top 5 A-levels taken by students who study this subject at uni.

English Literature
57%
English Language
28%
English Language & Literature
28%
Media Studies
25%
History
19%
HESA

Tuition fees

Students living in

England

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from England

This is the fee you pay if you live within England. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within England. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Scotland

This is the fee you pay if you live within Scotland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Scotland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Wales

This is the fee you pay if you live within Wales. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Wales. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Northern Ireland

This is the fee you pay if you live within Northern Ireland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Northern Ireland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Channel Islands

This is the fee you pay if you live within Channel Islands. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Channel Islands. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from EU

This is the fee you pay if you live within the European Union. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within the European Union. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£17,200 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from International

This is the fee you pay if you are an International student. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£17200 Per year

UCAS/IDP Connect

Latest reviews

Latest Creative Writing reviews

Creative Writing
Creative Writing
R
Robert
12 Dec 23
Creative Writing MA
Best: By the sea but also a city with loads of things to do. Everything is also really close but not a student village. Worst: No student bar and the price or everything is not...
Read more
R
Rebecca
05 Dec 23
Creative Writing BA (Hons)
Teachers try to be accommodating but it isn't helped when not given the right tools. You can only help so much but if the uni doesn't deem opening doors as an important issue when...
Read more
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How Creative Writing students rated:

Student rating
( 4.4) 26 reviews
5 star
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4 stars
57%
3 stars
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( 4.2) 2,508 reviews
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4 stars
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Uni info

University of Portsmouth
University of Portsmouth , Portsmouth

The University of Portsmouth is located in the centre of the UK’s only island city....

Student rating
( 4.2) View reviews
CUG ranking
49th
University of Portsmouth
University House Winston Churchill Avenue Portsmouth PO1 2UP United Kingdom
Nearest train station: Portsmouth & Southsea  0.1 miles away

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