Studying at Worcester means becoming part of a vibrant creative and passionate community. You’ll have opportunities to publish your work, support local and regional literary festivals, and learn from practising writers and researchers, giving you valuable hands-on experiences that bring your studies to life.
for student satisfaction in Creative Writing
of students on Creative Writing courses are in work and/or further study 15 months after graduating
University of the Year finalist
Recognised for our graduate success, we’re shortlisted for University of the Year in the Times Higher Education Awards 2025.
Overview
By studying Creative Writing and History, you’ll explore the past through major events and everyday lives from the 16th to 20th centuries while developing your own voice as a writer. Understanding the motivations, conflicts and social forces behind events like war, empires, slavery and protest will help you create powerful stories, characters and narratives in your own work.
Most of your learning takes place in small-group seminars, where you’ll discuss texts, share ideas, and take part in writing workshops. From your first week, you’ll start building your creative community and your professional network.
You’ll have regular chances to publish your work, including through our student magazine The Fuse, open mic nights, and national events like UniSlam. Creative Writing students often support local and regional literature festivals such as Ledbury Poetry Festival and the Verve Poetry Festival, helping you connect with writers, editors and heritage professionals across the country, while History students can take part in volunteering and research with local and regional historical organisations.
You’ll also benefit from studying alongside lecturers who are active writers and researchers. In History, you may even have the chance to contribute to ongoing research projects or help bring new historical work to life. All of this experience helps you build a portfolio and a strong CV, making you ready for the world of work.
Worcester’s rich history will become part of your classroom. The city played a major role in Worcester is a historic city that played a significant role in the English Civil War, the scene of its final battle where Oliver Cromwell defeated a Scottish army led by Charles II. Rich with heritage sites, including our Cathedral, museums, and the Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service, the city will become part of your classroom. With the opportunity to take on work placements in schools, museums, archives, marketing agencies, and community groups, you’ll gain real experience and build a strong portfolio that prepares you for a wide range of careers.
Work experience
Throughout the course, you’ll have lots of opportunities to apply what you’re learning in real workplaces and start exploring possible career paths. In your second year, you can choose an optional work experience modules, which lets you take on a short voluntary placement with a local organisation. Previous students have gained experience in schools, marketing agencies, arts and heritage organisations, museums, archives, community groups and the Hive Library.
Course content
Each year you’ll study a mix of mandatory and optional modules across Creative Writing and History, exploring different genres, mediums, and time periods, and understanding how the past shapes the present. You’ll learn from active writers and researchers while developing your own interests and specialist skills.
We regularly review our courses to reflect the latest research and developments in the subject area, as well as feedback from students, employers and the wider sector. As a result, modules may change to ensure the course remains current and relevant. Optional modules will run if enough students choose to study them. It is not guaranteed that all modules will be offered every year.
Careers
This joint honours degree will help you to progress into a wide range of careers by helping you develop skills that employers value, including research, analysis, communication and creative problem-solving. Throughout your course, you’ll learn how to communicate ideas clearly, build convincing arguments, craft compelling narratives, manage projects, and work independently – skills you’ll use in any professional role.
Many of these skills will be learned through doing – such as work placements, volunteering, hearing from guest speakers from the creative and heritage industries and taking part in collaborative projects. These experiences will help you find your place in the industry, grow your professional network, and develop a portfolio that shows employers what you can do.
If you want to become a professional writer, this course provides a strong foundation. You’ll learn how writers earn a living, how publishing works, and how to write for different audiences across print, digital, audio and performance.
You could go into roles such as:
- Author
- Publishing assistant
- Marketing officer
- Heritage assistant
- Archivist
- Academic researcher
- Research assistant
- Community engagement officer
- Digital media officer
- Librarian
Many students choose to continue their studies with a postgraduate qualification, such as our English MA, Creative Media MA, History MRes, English Literature and Language MPhil and PhD, and History MPhil and PhD.
If you choose to become a teacher, you can train to teach with a one-year Primary or Secondary PGCE at Worcester.
Course highlights
Teaching and assessment
Teaching is a mix of interactive seminars, lectures, one-to-one tutorials and workshops.
This course has been designed to prepare you for your future career, so evaluation is not all about exams. You’ll also be assessed through creative writing extracts, fieldwork reports, document analyses, article and film reviews, oral presentations, and blogs.
Teaching and assessment contents
You’ll learn through a mix of lectures, seminars and interactive workshops across both Creative Writing and History. Lectures introduce you to new ideas and key topics, while seminars give you the chance to discuss your views, share your writing, and explore material in more depth. Workshops are a key part of the course and include practical writing exercises, peer feedback sessions, and at times, field trips to inspire your creative work.
You’ll work in small groups, giving you plenty of opportunities to contribute, ask questions and get to know your tutors. You can also book one-to-one tutorials to focus on your individual development as both a writer and a historian. All modules are supported by online learning resources, including lecture recordings, readings and writing guidance.
Throughout your degree, you’ll be encouraged to take part in work-based learning, volunteering and project placements. These experiences help you build your professional network and give you confidence in applying your skills beyond your classroom.
Your work will be assessed in a variety of ways, including creative portfolios, essays, presentations, research tasks and a final-year project in a genre or historical area that interests you. This approach allows you to develop a wide range of skills and showcase your strengths.
Entry requirements
UCAS tariff points required: 104
| Qualification | Grade |
|---|---|
| A-level | BCC |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DMM |
| T-level | M |
We do accept Access to HE Diplomas and other qualifications which may not exactly match the combinations above. Work out your estimated points with the UCAS tariff calculator.
Any questions?
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please call our Admissions Office on 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk.
Fees
Fees contents
UK and EU students
In 2026/27 the standard fee for full-time home and EU undergraduate students on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees is £9,790 per year.
Tuition fees are reviewed annually and may increase each year for both new and continuing students.
For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.
International students
In 2026/27 the standard tuition fee for full-time international students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees is £17,200 per year.
Tuition fees are reviewed annually and may increase each year for both new and continuing students.
For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.
How to apply
How to apply contents
Applying through UCAS
UCAS is the central organisation through which applications are processed for full-time undergraduate courses in the UK.
Read our how to apply pages for more information on the application process, or if you’d like to apply for part-time study.
Creative Writing and History BA (Hons) - WV81
Contact
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Admissions Office
admissions@worc.ac.uk01905 855111More to explore
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