2024/25 entry
BA (Hons) Creative Writing
Why study Creative Writing at Liverpool John Moores University?
- Opportunities to meet practising writers, publishers, agents, producers and directors
- Professional guidance and peer support to help you develop your writing to publishable standard
- Regular literary events, readings, screenings and open mic nights to showcase your work
- Three-day residential writers' retreat at a country house in rural Wales
- Participate in the production of our student magazine, In the Red
- 2021 Degree Show: LJMU Screen School
- Creative writing at LJMU ranked 5th in the UK (The Times Good University Guide 2024)
About your course
As a student on the BA (Hons) Creative Writing at Liverpool John Moores University you will hear from prestigious visiting writers who regularly deliver readings and workshops. Recent guests have included Ramsay Campbell, Wayne Holloway-Smith, Rebecca Goss, James Rice, Helen Mort, and Eimear McBride
At LJMU, which developed the UKs first Single Honours Creative Writing course, we put an emphasis on a writers career and take special care to instil not just the craft but also the practical approaches needed to become a professional writer. All our staff are published authors, and the Creative Writing university textbooks we have produced are used worldwide.
During this degree, you will study prose, poetry and scriptwriting in your first year and go on to specialise in the disciplines that challenge you the most to produce your best work. Our acclaimed Writer at Work module engages specialists in digital publishing, arts-in-health and literature development and other areas giving you an in-depth understanding as well as experience of the writers professional world. You will hear guest lectures from eminent writers throughout your studies. Recent guests have included: Ramsay Campbell, Rebecca Goss, Cathleen Miller, Wayne Holloway-Smith, James Rice, Stuart Harcourt, Helen Stringer and Dr Jenny Newman.
The degree is taught in the Redmonds Building, located in the heart Liverpool, a vibrant student city, renowned for its cultural events, readings, music events and art galleries.
Teaching by our expert academic team is enhanced by prestigious visiting writers from the worlds of prose, poetry and scriptwriting who deliver readings or workshops.
The Creative Writing residential in Snowdonia, which takes place towards the start of the first term, is a chance to participate in a writing retreat that will kick-start your creativity. It also allows you to get to know your peers and tutors.
In The Red, the student-run magazine of the Creative Writing department, regularly hosts student readings and open mic nights where you can hone your performance skills. Each year, three final year students take over the editorship of the magazine.
"I've really enjoyed my experience as a student. I've learnt what it's like to live as a writer, and not just a person who writes. The tutors were friendly and gifted, and I felt lucky to be studying with such experienced writers. LJMU has been vital in establishing a network of writers that I can carry throughout my career."
Professional accreditation/links
Liverpool has a strong cultural and literary tradition and LJMU is proud to have connections with many local arts institutions such as Tate Liverpool, FACT, the Everyman and the Bluecoat.
Our connections go much wider than Liverpool however: staff and students have had novels, short stories and poetry published by leading UK and international houses, and radio plays, short films and features broadcast and screened in the UK, Europe and America.
Fees and funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students
Fees
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:
- Library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to programme-appropriate software
- Library and student IT support
- Free on-campus wifi via eduroam
Additional costs
Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:
- accommodation and living expenditure
- books (should you wish to have your own copies)
- printing, photocopying and stationery
- PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
- mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
- field trips (travel and activity costs)
- placements (travel expenses and living costs)
- student visas (international students only)
- study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
- academic conferences (travel costs)
- professional-body membership
- graduation (gown hire etc)
Funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you'll find all of the information you need on our specialist funding pages.
Employability
Our graduates go on to work in a wide variety of careers including:
- broadcasting
- business
- copywriting (in advertising and social media)
- journalism
- marketing
- proofreading and editing
- publishing
- teaching
- website authoring
Some have also become professional writers and had their work filmed, staged, published and performed.
This degree also offers direct progression routes onto our MA Writing and MA Screenwriting courses, where you can further develop your writing.
Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service
A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.
Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website. There are opportunities for flexible, paid and part-time work through Unitemps, LJMU's in-house recruitment service, and we also offer fully funded Discovery Internships.
One-to-one careers and employability advice is available via our campus-based Careers Zones and we offer a year-round programme of events, including themed careers and employability workshops, employer events and recruitment fairs. Our Start-Up Hub can help you to grow your enterprise skills and to research, plan and start your own business or become a freelancer.
A suite of learning experiences, services and opportunities is available to final year students to help ensure you leave with a great onward plan. You can access LJMU's Careers, Employability and Start-up Services after you graduate and return for one-to-one support for life.
Go abroad
LJMU aims to make international opportunities available to every student. You may be able to study abroad as part of your degree at one of our 100+ partner universities across the world. You could also complete a work placement or apply for one of our prestigious worldwide internship programmes. If you wanted to go abroad for a shorter amount of time, you could attend one of our 1-4 week long summer schools.
Our Go Citizen Scheme can help with costs towards volunteering, individual projects or unpaid placements anywhere in the world. With all of these opportunities at your feet, why wouldn’t you take up the chance to go abroad?
Find out more about the opportunities we have available via our Instagram @ljmuglobalopps or email us at: goabroad@ljmu.ac.uk.
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What you will study on this degree
Please see guidance below on core and option modules for further information on what you will study.
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Level 4
Core modules
Writers are Readers
20 credits
This module helps students become better writers by reading and understanding different kinds of writing. They'll explore what they like to write about, become more confident in sharing their ideas, and learn how research can make their writing better. This course mixes reading, writing, and research to make students well-rounded writers who can create great stories and essays.
Level 5
Optional Modules
Short Fiction
20 credits
This module expands students' understanding of short fiction and fosters independent reading. It supports their short story writing skills, enhancing their creative confidence and critical insights. Students learn to think creatively about the possibilities of short story writing and develop their ability to evaluate both published authors and peers constructively. Through workshops and essays, students gain a strong foundation in narrative craft, preparing them for more advanced prose modules at Level 6.
Writing for Stage & Radio
20 credits
In this module, students will learn scriptwriting for radio and stage, focusing on modern techniques. They'll explore these forms through reading and listening, and develop their work collaboratively in a writers' room. Students will also improve their communication skills, refining their scripts through workshops and industry expert input in seminars and masterclasses.
Approaching Your Novel
20 credits
In this module, students will learn how to propose novels effectively, understand their target market, and master the art of crafting compelling opening chapters. They'll also explore various novel genres and develop essential narrative skills. Through peer workshops and hands-on practice, students will prepare work suitable for the publishing industry, all while gaining valuable insights into genre, market, and narrative craft.
Teaching and work-related learning
Excellent facilities and learning resources
We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.
Your studies will be divided between formal study in the form of lectures, workshops and tutorials, reading, writing, online activities and completing independent study tasks.
You will engage in intensive writing practice and extensive reading and interact with a community of published and performed writers.
The programme will help you to develop your creative skills as well as the intellectual and analytical skills to improve your work.
You will have a chance to showcase your work at regular literary events, readings, screenings and open mic nights at FACT, The Everyman, Tate Liverpool and the Bluecoat.
Work-related Learning
Through the Production Unit of the Liverpool Screen School (PULSS), there are work experience opportunities with Writing on the Wall, LA Productions, and digital marketing companies that are connected directly or indirectly to your future writing career.
The third year Writer at Work module gives you a chance to step inside the writers world by pursuing your own project, be it organising a poetry festival, placing the idea for a novel with a literary agent, or planning the production of a film.
Support and guidance
Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support
Together with your tutors and fellow students, you will become part of a supportive and creative writing community that continually learns from and inspires each other. The course has a real ethos of aspiration and achievement and you will be encouraged throughout to be the very best writer that you can, with continual feedback on your work from tutors or peers.
The writers residential in Wales and the many readings and literary events organised by the university are particularly valuable for this reason.
Your final year is the time when you have to really refine your work and take responsibility for your own writing future, and with this in mind you will be encouraged to use your tutors in the role of publisher, producer, script editor or agent.
Assessment
Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.
Around 50% of your coursework will be original creative work such as a portfolio or project and 50% will be essays, commentaries, class-contributions, peer critiques, pitches, presentations, learning logs, group work, treatments, journals or class tests. You will normally be given two or three different assessment tasks per module. In your final year, your creative work or project will normally account for 70% of the course with the remaining 30% taking the form of critical commentary or reflective analysis.
Your tutors will provide feedback on assessments within 15 working days, but they will also provide constructive feedback on draft creative work throughout the course. You will have the guidance of a personal tutor with whom you can discuss your marks and overall personal and/or academic progress at any time. Peer review is also an important aspect of this course and is actively encouraged.
Course tutors
Our staff are committed to the highest standards of teaching and learning
Facilities
What you can expect from your School
The School is based in the Redmonds Building, in the heart of the bustling Mount Pleasant Campus and Liverpools growing Knowledge Quarter. The building is home to high quality lecture theatres and seminar rooms, TV studios, radio suites, green screen, editing rooms and news rooms, social spaces, and a caf. It is only a short walk from LJMUs Aldham Robarts Library, which contains all the resources you will require for your studies, and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Entry requirements
Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
Grades/points required from qualifications: BCC - BBB (104 - 120)
Qualification requirements
GCSEs and equivalents
Prior to starting the programme applicants must have obtained Grade C or Grade 4 or above in English Language and Mathematics GCSE or an approved alternative qualification below:
- Key Skills Level 2 in English/ Maths
- NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and or Reading
- Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English
- Higher Diploma in Maths/ English
- Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths/ English
- Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
- Welsh GCSE in Maths or Numeracy
- Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
A levels
- Minimum number of A Levels required: 2
- Is general studies acceptable? Yes
- Average A Level offer: BCC
- Are AS level awards acceptable? Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- Maximum AS Level points accepted: 20
BTECs
- National Certificate (RQF): Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- National Extended Certificate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- National Diploma (RQF): Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- National Diploma subjects / grades required: D*D if studied on its own or to the total of 104 UCAS points if combined with other qualifications
- National Extended Diploma (RQF): Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- National Extended Diploma subjects / grades required: DMM if studied on its own or to the total of 104 UCAS points if combined with other qualifications
Access awards
- Access to Higher Education Diploma acceptability: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- Further information: At least 9 Distinctions and 36 Merits, or any other combination that equates to 104 UCAS Tariff points
International Baccalaureate
- International Baccalaureate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- Additional information: 104 UCAS Tariff points from IB Composite parts, or in combination with other Level 3 qualifications
Irish awards
- Irish Leaving Certificate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- Grades / subjects required: 104 UCAS Tariff points with a maximum 20 UCAS Tariff points from Ordinary Level
Welsh awards
- Welsh Baccalaureate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
T levels
104 UCAS Tariff points in a related subject.
NVQ
- Are Level 3 NVQs acceptable? Acceptable when combined with other qualifications
Alternative qualifications considered
Applications are welcomed from mature and non standard applicants who will be considered on an individual basis.These applicants should demonstrate potential and motivation and/or have relevant experience and may be required to submit an essay and/or attend an interview.
International Applicants: We welcome overseas applicants who will be considered in line with UK entry requirements.
Additional requirements
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Interview required
Applicants may be required to submit an essay and/or attend an interview.
International requirements
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IELTS
6.0 (minimum of 5.5 in each component) or equivalent English language proficiency test.
Further information
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DBS, Occupational Health requirements
Is a DBS check required?
No
OCR National acceptability
- National Certificate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- National Diploma: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- National Extended Diploma: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
Application and Selection
Securing your place at LJMU
All applicants should possess the following essential qualities: You will have a strong desire to develop your breadth and depth of reading fiction and/or poetry, and/or a strong interest in film, theatre, or radio. You will have a desire to write in different forms and genres and be open to the idea that, through reading and writing and studying the craft of writing, you can become a better writer. You will be able to work on your own and as part of a group. You will have good communication skills and a willingness to contribute to tutorials, seminars and workshops.
Can this course be deferred?
Yes
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Reduced offer scheme
As part of LJMU’s commitment to widening access we offer eligible students entry to their chosen course at a reduced threshold of up to 16/8 UCAS points. This applies if you are a student who has been in local authority care or if you have participated in one of LJMU’s sustained outreach initiatives, e.g. Summer University. Please contact the admission office for further details.
Courses_UG_EntryRequirements_InternationalEntryRequirementsLink
Please Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.
Application and selection
Securing your place at LJMU
UCAS is the official application route for our full-time undergraduate courses. Further information on the UCAS application process can be found here https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-students/how-to-apply.
Applications are welcomed from mature and non standard applicants who will be considered on an individual basis.These applicants should demonstrate potential and motivation and/or have relevant experience and may be required to submit an essay and/or attend an interview.
International Applicants: We welcome overseas applicants who will be considered in line with UK entry requirements.
The university reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the university. Where this does happen, the university operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.