creative writing and publishing bath spa

School of Writing, Publishing and the Humanities

Making sense of the world and our interactions within it. Explore the diversity of the human experience through our compelling programmes of study.

In this section

• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate

University of the Year for Social Inclusion

Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2024

#2 in the South West Overall

for Creative Writing (Complete University Guide, 2024)

#6 in the UK

and #1 in the South West for Creative Writing Graduate Prospects – Outcomes (Complete University Guide, 2024)

#10 in the UK

for Graduate Prospects in Creative Writing (Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2024)

for Satisfied with Teaching in Journalism (Guardian University Guide, 2024)

The School of Writing, Publishing and the Humanities is Bath Spa's focal point for teaching and research in Creative Writing, Publishing, English Literature, History and Heritage, Politics, Religions, Philosophy and Ethics and Environmental Humanities.

Based in a thriving world heritage city, our courses are taught by leaders in their respective fields. They will encourage you to take an interdisciplinary and holistic approach to your own studies, whether you decide to focus on a single subject or to explore the connections between them.

English Literature

Develop a passion for finding and telling stories through study in English Literature. 

History, Heritage and Politics

Explore the past to inform the future through study in History, Heritage and Politics, from both undergraduate to PhD. 

Religions, Philosophy and Ethics

How does our own set of beliefs influence how we interact with the world? Our Religions, Philosophy and Ethics courses will help you to challenge your own values and assumptions through the study of other cultures and worldviews.

Environmental Humanities

How do humanities scholars, artists, writers and scientists explore and respond to their environment? How do we combine, explore and challenge how human creativity interacts with the science of the natural environment? 

"The tutors were always friendly, encouraging and approachable. It was a life changing experience, and the best thing I have ever done.” Nicola Tallis, BA (Hons) History graduate

Our research is world leading, innovative and both academic and applied. It embraces traditional scholarship, practice and policy, and local, national and international collaboration. 

Explore the work of our research centres:

• Creative Writing Research Centre
• Empathy and Writing Research Group
• Global Citizenship and Identities Research Centre
• History and Heritage Research Centre  
• Making Books Research Centre  
• Research Centre for the Environmental Humanities  

Adobe Creative Campus

As an Adobe Creative Campus , all Bath Spa students have access to the entire Adobe Creative Suite of elite industry-leading apps, including Photoshop, InDesign, Adobe Express and more.

With the ability to amplify your digital fluency from the moment you join Bath Spa, you’ll have the space to develop a wealth of indispensable skills to help you in your studies, and in the world of work.

Staff in the School of Writing, Publishing and the Humanities are experienced teachers, passionate researchers, writers, broadcasters and practitioners. Our students are engaged, energetic and imaginative.

Together, we form a thriving community of scholarship, learning and practice. 

Gavin James Bower

Alan Marshall

Rachel Bynoth

Lecturer in Publishing

Jason Bennett

Tracy Brain

Mike Hannis

Kyriaki Hadjiafxendi

Gina Blaxill

Paul Reid-Bowen

Lucy English

Nicky Lloyd

Sarah Morton

Clifford Williamson

Naomi Alderman

Dashe Roberts

Karen Gregory

Elizabeth Wright

Eleanor Barraclough

Gail Simmons

Samantha Walton

Faith Binckes

Alexia Casale

Christopher Ivic

Alison Hems

Annalie Grainger

Robin Mukherjee

Steve Hollyman

Allyson Edwards

Rachel Hamilton

Lucy Cuthew

Alex Campbell

David Coast

Sian Sullivan

Helen Cobby

"The passion the lecturers have for the course shines through in the breadth of the modules and assessments available, making you feel supported and confident at every stage of your degree." Tessa Kerslake, BA (Hons) English Literature graduate

Latest news

6 March 2024

Student uncovers the story of emancipated slave John Brown through an exhibition for Dorset Museum

7 February 2024

Lee helps to preserve the history of his local town in America

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Creative Writing and Publishing

Bath Spa University

UCAS Code: HH34 | Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

• Similar Courses

Entry requirements

A Level - grades BBB-BCC including a Grade B in English or a related subject.

Access to HE Diploma

Typical offers for applicants with Access to HE will be the Access to HE Diploma or Access to HE Certificate (60 credits, 45 of which must be Level 3, at Merit or higher). Applicants will need to demonstrate a strong interest in Creative Writing in their personal statement and may be asked to provide a piece of their own creative writing.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

A minimum of 32 points are required.

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

Extended Diploma grades from Distinction Distinction Merit (DDM) to Distinction Merit Merit (DMM) in any subject. Applicants will need to demonstrate a strong interest in Creative Writing in their personal statement and may be asked to provide a piece of their own creative writing.

Grade Merit is preferred in a relevant subject.

UCAS Tariff

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course

Course option.

Full-time | 2024

Creative writing

Publishing is one of the UK’s largest creative industries. The Creative Writing and Publishing combination course highlights the collaborative creative process between authors and publishers, and the important contribution they make to our culture.

This flexible course can be tailored to your unique personal interests and career ambitions. In Publishing, you'll learn how to engage intellectually with research, ideas and stories. You'll apply creativity and critical judgement in conceptualising, shaping and disseminating commercially-viable, engaging content for different audiences.

These qualities, combined with wide-ranging interests and an imaginative approach to cultural creation, are typical of our Creative Writing curriculum, and will help you to develop into an entrepreneurial, creative maker and producer.

Please note Creative Writing and Publishing is a combined honours award, to find out more information please refer to our website: https://www.bathspa.ac.uk/courses/ug-creative-writing-and-publishing/

**Combined Honour Awards** At Bath Spa University many of our undergraduate programmes can be combined, so you don’t have to limit yourself to one subject. If you choose to study a combined award then in Year One you’ll start by studying both subjects in equal depth. From Year Two you can choose whether to continue with equal numbers of modules from each subject, or whether you want to select additional modules in one or the other. Upon successful completion of the programme you will graduate with a joint degree.

Year one In your first year, you'll experiment with different writing forms and learn the core skills of editing and copywriting, design, and layout, while also exploring other subjects and experimenting across media, gaining confidence in your making ability.

Year two In your second year, you'll start to work collaboratively and discover your own interests - deciding whether to focus on either the novel, poetry or non-fiction - to hone your writing skills.

You'll also become familiar with the processes of marketing and learn about the importance of audience. You'll learn to experiment with design and book forms through research, ideas development, and making.

Year three In your third year, you'll work on high-quality industry projects and live briefs, which will help you develop your specialism and showcase your skills in a professional digital portfolio. You'll also receive specialist Publishing industry careers coaching.

During this time, you can develop your novel, poetry or non-fiction writing to a professional level. You'll also collaborate on a major enterprise challenge to work on an original idea, inspired by user experience and new technology.

Assessment methods

You’ll be assessed by coursework, including portfolios, feature articles, essays, reflective commentaries, and industry research reports. In some modules, you’ll share your work through short, informal presentations. This wide range of briefs prepares you for the variety of writing expected in the creative industries.

You’ll be taught through industry talks, creative workshops and studio practice, skills labs, challenge days, and lectures. You’ll benefit from the innovative learning environment of the UK's first creative-digital studio-based BA Publishing course in our state-of-the-art Publishing Lab. We work on screen and beyond, creating sketchbooks and prototypes, networking, and finding opportunities.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

School of Writing, Publishing and the Humanities

What students say

We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Teaching and learning

Assessment and feedback, resources and organisation, student voice, who studies this subject and how do they get on, most popular a-levels studied (and grade achieved), after graduation.

The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

Top job areas of graduates

The jobs market for this subject - which includes creative writing and scriptwriting courses - is not currently one of the strongest, so unemployment rates are currently looking quite high overall, with salaries on the lower side. But nevertheless, most graduates get jobs quickly. Graduates often go into careers as authors and writers and are also found in other roles where the ability to write well is prized, such as journalism, translation, teaching and advertising and in web content. Be aware that freelancing and self-employment is common is common in the arts, as are what is termed 'portfolio careers', having several part-time jobs or commissions at once - although graduates from this subject were a little more likely than many other creative arts graduates to be in conventional full time permanent contracts, so that might be worth bearing in mind.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

• What's it like studying a degree in Creative writing
• What's it like studying a degree in Publishing

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This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

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Creative Writing and Publishing BA (Hons) Bath Spa University

Course options

Qualification.

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

• TUITION FEES
• ENTRY REQUIREMENT
• UNIVERSITY INFO

Course summary

Publishing is one of the UK’s largest creative industries. The Creative Writing and Publishing combination course highlights the collaborative creative process between authors and publishers, and the important contribution they make to our culture.This flexible course can be tailored to your unique personal interests and career ambitions. In Publishing, you'll learn how to engage intellectually with research, ideas and stories. You'll apply creativity and critical judgement in conceptualising, shaping and disseminating commercially-viable, engaging content for different audiences.These qualities, combined with wide-ranging interests and an imaginative approach to cultural creation, are typical of our Creative Writing curriculum, and will help you to develop into an entrepreneurial, creative maker and producer.Please note Creative Writing and Publishing is a combined honours award, to find out more information please refer to our website: https://www.bathspa.ac.uk/courses/ug-creative-writing-and-publishing/

At Bath Spa University many of our undergraduate programmes can be combined, so you don’t have to limit yourself to one subject. If you choose to study a combined award then in Year One you’ll start by studying both subjects in equal depth. From Year Two you can choose whether to continue with equal numbers of modules from each subject, or whether you want to select additional modules in one or the other. Upon successful completion of the programme you will graduate with a joint degree.

Application deadline

Modules (Year 1)

Modules (year 2), modules (year 3), tuition fees.

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Entry requirements

Choose a qualification.

QUALIFICATION TYPE

• Access to HE Diploma
• International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
• Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

A level : BCC - BBB

A Level - grades BBB-BCC including a Grade B in English or a related subject.

University information

Bath spa university, university league table, campus address.

Bath Spa University, Newton Park, Newton St Loe, Bath, Bath And North East Somerset, BA2 9BN, England

Subject rankings

Subject ranking.

• Communication & Media Studies
• Creative Writing

50th out of 91 6

29th out of 50 3

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Suggested courses

English Literature with Creative Writing BA (Hons)

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English with Creative Writing BA (Hons)

University of Nottingham

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

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Course info

Entry requirements, popular a-level subjects, tuition fees, latest reviews.

Publishing is one of the UK’s largest creative industries. The Creative Writing and Publishing combination course highlights the collaborative creative process between authors and publishers, and the important contribution they make to our culture.This flexible course can be tailored to your unique personal interests and career ambitions. In Publishing, you'll learn how to engage intellectually with research, ideas and stories. You'll apply creativity and critical judgement in conceptualising, shaping and disseminating commercially-viable, engaging content for different audiences.These qualities, combined with wide-ranging interests and an imaginative approach to cultural creation, are typical of our Creative Writing curriculum, and will help you to develop into an entrepreneurial, creative maker and producer.Please note Creative Writing and Publishing is a combined honours award, to find out more information please refer to our website: https://www.bathspa.ac.uk/courses/ug-creative-writing-and-publishing/

At Bath Spa University many of our undergraduate programmes can be combined, so you don’t have to limit yourself to one subject. If you choose to study a combined award then in Year One you’ll start by studying both subjects in equal depth. From Year Two you can choose whether to continue with equal numbers of modules from each subject, or whether you want to select additional modules in one or the other. Upon successful completion of the programme you will graduate with a joint degree.

Creative Writing

Average salary, £16,000, what students say.

Beautiful campus with great facilities and.. Read more

Class facilities, class people, class classes.. Read more

Modules (Year 1)

Modules (year 2), modules (year 3).

BCC - BBB Grades / Points required

Access to HE Diploma:

M:45 Grades / Points required

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme:

32 Grades / Points required

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

DDM - DMM Grades / Points required

M Grades / Points required

A Level - grades BBB-BCC including a Grade B in English or a related subject.

Typical offers for applicants with Access to HE will be the Access to HE Diploma or Access to HE Certificate (60 credits, 45 of which must be Level 3, at Merit or higher). Applicants will need to demonstrate a strong interest in Creative Writing in their personal statement and may be asked to provide a piece of their own creative writing.

A minimum of 32 points are required.

Extended Diploma grades from Distinction Distinction Merit (DDM) to Distinction Merit Merit (DMM) in any subject. Applicants will need to demonstrate a strong interest in Creative Writing in their personal statement and may be asked to provide a piece of their own creative writing.

Grade Merit is preferred in a relevant subject.

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

Students living in

£9,250 per year

Students from England

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

Students from Scotland

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

Students from Wales

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

Students from Northern Ireland

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

Students from Channel Islands

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

Latest Publishing reviews

Review breakdown, how all students rated:.

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