Course summary
The Creative Writing with a Foundation Year degree offers an inspiring and supportive environment for aspiring writers. This programme, guided by the standards of the National Association of Writers in Education (NAWE), is designed to build your confidence and skills while encouraging critical engagement with your creative work. Through a thoughtfully structured curriculum, you will explore the fundamental elements of writing across various forms, including poetry, prose, and drama. As you develop your craft, the focus shifts to more advanced techniques, such as the writing of voice, form, and place, allowing you to experiment and refine your style. Key to this programme are the specialised modules in fiction and poetry writing, where you will hone your skills in storytelling and self-expression. These are balanced by an emphasis on critical thinking and self-reflective practices, helping you to assess and improve your own work. You will also learn how to research effectively and apply these skills to create an independent project, showcasing your abilities as a writer. The course goes beyond creative expression, equipping you with essential skills in editing, research, and publication. Dedicated modules on performance and publication provide insights into how to bring your work to audiences, while also offering a deeper understanding of the creative industries. You will gain valuable knowledge about how writing can be adapted to different contexts, from digital platforms to traditional media. With a focus on real-world applications, the programme introduces you to writing for diverse mediums, including screenwriting, journalism, digital content creation, and games. This varied approach ensures that your writing portfolio reflects both creativity and versatility, preparing you for opportunities in publishing, media, and beyond. By the end of this degree, you will possess a comprehensive understanding of the writing craft, alongside a polished portfolio and a clear sense of direction within the creative sectors. Whether your ambition is to become a professional writer, contribute to the publishing world, or use your skills in other creative fields, this programme lays the foundation for success.
Modules
The foundation year establishes a strong base in academic skills and creative practice. You will explore core principles of writing, research, and critical thinking while building confidence in your ability to engage with various forms of creative and analytical expression. This year ensures you are well-prepared for the challenges of degree-level study. Academic Survival Skills (20 credits) Introduction to University Life (10 credits) Independent Investigation (10 credits) Introduction to the Humanities (10 credits) Academic Writing (10 credits) Optional: Understanding Literature (20 credits) Talking to the Dead (20 credits) Being Human (20 credits) Understanding Democracy (20 credits) This year introduces you to key aspects of creative writing and you’ll explore poetry, prose and drama. Alongside studying literary traditions, you will learn to experiment with language, form, and voice. You will have an opportunity to develop your unique style while fostering an understanding of the craft’s broader contexts and conventions. Myths and Mythology: How Stories Shape the World (20 credits) Exploring the Humanities (20 credits) Historicising Texts (20 credits) Introduction to the Craft of Writing (20 credits) The Study of Literature: Text and Theory (20 credits) Popular Fiction (20 credits) Approaches to form (20 credits) People’s worlds: Interactions with the Environment (20 Credits) This year dives deeper into specific genres, such as fiction and poetry, alongside a wide range of optional modules. Critical self-reflection becomes a central focus, helping you refine your writing process and editorial abilities. Collaborative projects and exposure to industry practices expand your awareness of real-world applications. Green to the very door: Ecocriticism and Romanticism (20 credits) Writing for TV, Film and Radio (20 credits) Error and Sweet Violence: Shakespeare and Renaissance Comedy and Tragedy (20 credits) Green to the very door: Ecocriticism and Romanticism (20 credits) Make it New: Aspects of 20th and 21st Century Writing (20 credits) Speculative Fiction: Sci-fi, fantasy, magic realism and other imagined worlds (20 credits) Special Collections Research: The Roderic Bowen Library and Archives (20 credits) The Book, the Body, and the World: Renaissance Humanism, Medicine, and Exploration (20 credits) Writing for Theatre (20 credits) International Mobility Opportunity (60 Credits) A troubled unity: Philosophy, Society and Civil War in the Literature of the Seventeenth Century (20 credits) Glancingly from the side: Writing the Short story (20 credits) Off the Page: Performance Poetry (20 credits) Psyche, Text, and Society: Critical and Cultural Theory (20 credits) Professional Placement (20 credits) Novel writing (20 credits) Independent Creative Project Error and Sweet Violence: Shakespeare and Renaissance Comedy and Tragedy (20 credits) Make it New: Aspects of 20th and 21st Century Writing (20 credits) Special Collections Research: The Roderic Bowen Library and Archives (20 credits) The Book, the Body, and the World: Renaissance Humanism, Medicine, and Exploration (20 credits) Writing for Theatre (20 credits) The Art of the Pitch: Writing as a Career (20 credits) African Modernities (20 credits) Your final year centres on professionalisation and independence: Independent Project (40 credits) Error and Sweet Violence: Shakespeare and Renaissance Comedy and Tragedy (20 credits) Green to the very door: Ecocriticism and Romanticism (20 credits) Special Collections Research: The Roderic Bowen Library and Archives (20 credits) Speculative Fiction: Sci-fi, fantasy, magic realism and other imagined worlds (20 credits) The Book, the Body, and the World: Renaissance Humanism, Medicine, and Exploration (20 credits) Writing for Theatre (20 credits) Make it New: Aspects of 20th and 21st Century Writing (20 credits) Novel writing (20 credits) The Art of the Pitch: Writing as a Career (20 credits)
Assessment method
The programme is assessed in a variety of ways and will include several of the following types of assessment: essays of 1,000 to 4,000 words in length, document analyses, book reviews, short reports and reflective journals, timed tests, take-home exams, field journals, posters, group and individual presentations, dissertations of 10,000 words, wikis, commentaries and film evaluations.
Qualified teacher status (QTS)
To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:
- Course does not award QTS
How to apply
14Jan
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- CRF1
- Institution code:
- T80
- Campus name:
- Carmarthen Campus
- Campus code:
- C
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Foundation
International applicants
If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa. For courses of more than six months’ duration you will require a Student visa. International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. For full information read our visa application and guides. Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 32 points
Applicants are usually expected to hold a minimum of GCSE level education. Grades are important; however, our offers are not solely based on academic results. We are interested in creative people that demonstrate a strong commitment to their chosen subject area and therefore we welcome applications from individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. To assess student suitability for their chosen course we normally arrange interviews for all applicants at which your skills, achievements and life experience will be considered as well as your qualifications.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.
Acceptable Evidence of English
https://www.uwtsd.ac.uk/apply/international-applications/english-language-requirements
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
Go onto work and study
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £5760 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £5760 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £5760 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £5760 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £5760 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £5760 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
The Faculty has estimated on the assumption that students buy new copies of the books. Students may also choose to spend money on printing drafts of work.
Students may spend up to £300 per year on books and additional related materials.
Students are expected to submit two hard copies of their final project, the estimated cost for binding these is £20.
Optional Field trip:
Faculty works to ensure that there are a range of fieldwork and field trip options available both locally and internationally. Thus students can opt to take either more expensive or less expensive placements. The Faculty subsidises these but the cost each year is dependent on airfare, location, and currency exchange rates. Below are the upper end of expected costs based on where students have currently done placements.
Fieldwork (depending on where student decides to do fieldwork): c. £500 - £1,500
Individual trips: c. £5 - £50
Provider information
University of Wales Trinity Saint David
College Road
Carmarthen
SA31 3EP