BA Creative and Media Writing Degree

Overview & facilities

At Middlesex University, London we are passionate about writing. Our BA Creative and Media Writing degree with honours helps you nurture your creative talent, develop critical awareness and learn the techniques of the professional writer. Modules cover poetry, prose fiction, script writing and journalism. We examine the wider world of professional writing including the publishing industry and the media.

Choose the BA Creative and Media Writing degree if you like to write stories, plays, poems or diaries, but need help in developing style and technique. The course will allow you to experiment with a range of writing styles and genres, from children's writing to travel writing, and towards the end of the degree to focus more and more on developing your own voice as a writer as well as discuss how and where to get your work published.

 

 

Content & modules

There are no exams in BA Creative and Media Writing,a creative writing portfolio will be the chief form of assessment in most modules. You'll also be assessed on critiques of your own and other people's writing.

Modules

• Year 1

  Introduction to Writing A: Fiction and Poetry (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  To develop reading and writing skills through exploration of two of the major forms of literary writing, prose fiction and poetry. To introduce students to technical considerations and stylistic methods. To engage in critical discussion of existing texts and recognise how this aids the development of one s own voice. To develop and improve skills in reading, thinking and group work.

  Introduction to Writing B: Drama and Non-Fiction (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  To develop reading, writing and viewing skills through exploration of two of the major forms of writing, drama and non-fiction. To introduce students to technical considerations and stylistic methods. To engage in critical discussion of existing texts and recognise how this aids the development of one s own voice. To develop and improve skills in reading, thinking and group work.

  Reading Contemporary Literature (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  To help students develop a capacity to enjoy, understand, and analyse the meanings of modern and contemporary literature. Different kinds of writing, in different styles and with different aims will be studied. The emphasis will be on close reading that develops into a critical interpretation of a text. Students will develop advanced reading skills centred on key literacy critical concepts eg form and structure, metaphor narrative and so on. Texts will be studied through knowledge of appropriate generic, theoretical, and critical contexts.

  Writing Project (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  To develop your abilities as a reader and a writer, by producing an anthology booklet of your own writing, based on individual and group research plus study of genre and form. To gain experience of the whole process of book production by producing your own booklet, within a publishing group. To extend your ability to critically engage with your own process as a writer and editor.

• Year 2

  Exploring Screenwriting (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  To develop reading, viewing and screenwriting skills through exploration of screenplay forms. To enable students to deepen their knowledge of screenwriting techniques and extend their formal and stylistic skills. To deepen workshopping skills giving and receiving feedback in order that students may better understand the impact of their work on others and what makes for good and bad critical commentary. Builds on CMW1002 pr MDA1916, and leads towards CMW3001 and CMW3002.

  Exploring Writing B: Fiction and Poetry (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  To develop reading and writing skills through exploration of fictional or poetic forms. To enable students, both by looking at examples of successful published work and creating their own work, to deepen their knowledge of literary techniques and extend their formal and stylistic skills. To deepen workshopping skills giving and receiving feedback in order that students may better understand the impact of their work on others and what makes for good and bad critical commentary. Builds on CMW1001, and leads towards CMW3001 and CMW3002.

  Writing About Writing (30 Credits) - Optional

  To introduce students to the different modes of writing about writing, and to draw their attention to the process of writing about writing as a learning tool in their own development as creative writers.

  Writing and Publishing for Children (30 Credits) - Optional

  To gain an understanding of writing and publishing for children by critical examination of texts written for children and by the production of a children s story, aimed at children in a local school. To examine your process by production of a critical statement.

• Year 3

  Independent Project Double Weight (60 Credits) - Compulsory

  To give students the chance to work independently on a lengthy project of their own devising, under the supervision of an appropriate member of staff. To enable students to develop skills from previous learning e.g. prose fiction, poetry or apply their skills to new areas e.g., production of a video . To produce work informed by a market knowledge which will demonstrate a student s skills to potential employers or commissioners of work. Builds in particular on CMW1001, CMW1002, CMW2001, CMW2002, but also on all CMW work undertaken during the degree.

  Writing About Writing (30 Credits) - Optional

  To introduce students to the different modes of writing about writing, and to draw their attention to the process of writing about writing as a learning tool in their own development as creative writers.

  Writing and Publishing for Children (30 Credits) - Optional

  To gain an understanding of writing and publishing for children by critical examination of texts written for children and by the production of a children s story, aimed at children in a local school. To examine your process by production of a critical statement.

  Writing and Publishing Genre (30 Credits) - Optional

  To provide students with a knowledge of the codes and traditions of different modes of genre fiction romance, historical, horror, crime, fantasy, sf and support their writing in these modes. To provide students with a knowledge and understanding of an expanded definition of reading in order to critically consider a range of texts such as art, radio, film and tv, gaming and eventually the emergence of cult video/DVD; the aim of which is to critically explore the ways in which different genres adapted to new media in distinctly different ways. To enable students to critically discuss the context of these works within the market and traditions of the genres, exploring the development of genre writing, publishing and marketing in the context of relevant social and cultural developments from the end of the nineteenth century.

  Writing and Publishing Online and Electronic Media (30 Credits) - Optional

  To introduce students to a variety of disciplinary methodologies through which to develop a critical approach to both desktop and online publishing; Provide a critical and practical framework within which students can engage with the study of editorial design, content creation and creative implementations for the digital network and print media; and the application of this to the production of practical projects.

  Writing in Practice 2 (30 Credits) - Optional

  This module helps you prepare yourself for employment after university, and improve your CV by either a undertaking work experience which allows you to gain a thorough understanding of a particular branch of the media and cultural industries within the sector. You will make contacts and develop a clear understanding of your own strengths and weaknesses within this industrial setting; or b organising a practical group project which will equip you with skills and knowledge which will be useful in the workplace: eg running the Middlesex University Literary Festival now in its 12th year as a student run festival ; running a student newspaper, making an on-line magazine. NOTE: BA CMW students wishing to take work experience but also to be part of the team for the Middlesex Literary Festival may enrol in CMW3002 Independent Project Single Weight and do the Literary Festival under that module, as appropriate.

We explore the complex relationships between publishers, journalists and the media industries. You can develop skills and knowledge in a range of areas of journalism and publishing from the magazine and newspaper industries to online media together with specialist courses in areas such as media ethics and photojournalism. Our position in London, still the centre for many media and cultural industries, provides excellent placement opportunities.

Entry & applying

We normally make offers on a minimum 200-240 UCAS tariff points/Advanced Progressions Diplomas overseas equivalent.As part of our application procedure we would like you to tell us a bit more about yourself as a writer and send us a sample of your Creative Writing to processing@mdx.ac.uk up to 2,000words maximum of your own Writing-Fiction,Poetry,Journalism,Songs,Drama Diary Extracts,Letters,Travel Writing,Screenplay- whatever you most like to do.This will enable us to ensure that the course will be right for you.

When you make an application for BACreative and Media Writing you will be asked to produce written work as part ofyour application.You will need to send a piece of written work (up to 2,000 words ofyour own creative writing) with a letter explaining whatyou like to write and whatyou like to read.

Apply now

Qualifications accepted

For a comprehensive list of qualifications accepted by Middlesex, see further information under entry requirements

English language requirements

You must have competence in English language and we normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification. The most common English Language requirements for international students are IELTS 6.0 (with minimum 5.5 in all four components) or TOEFL internet based 72 (with at least 17 in listening & writing, 20 in speaking and 18 in reading).

Middlesex also offers an Intensive Academic English course (Pre-Sessional) that ranges from 5-17 weeks depending on your level of English. Successful completion of this course would meet English language entry requirements. For more information on applying for the pre-sessional please email english@mdx.ac.uk. 

Entry into year two or three (transfer students)

If you have achieved a qualification such as a foundation degree or HND, or have gained credit at another university, you may be able to enter a Middlesex course in year two or three. For full details of how this works see transfer students

UK/EU applicants with existing higher education qualifications

If you have already been awarded a qualification at the same level as the course you are applying for, you may not be eligible for a tuition fee loan, see fees and funding for more information.

Applying

Applications for UK and EU students should be made to UCAS – the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. The institution code for Middlesex is M80, and the code name is MIDDX. You also need the code for the course you wish to apply for – this is found in the 'at a glance' box above.

International students from outside the EU can make a direct application.  We have a network of regional offices across the world to assist you with your application.  They have worked with people from your region coming to Middlesex before and can help. Read more on international applications

Fees & funding

The tuition fee for the 2012/2013 academic year for UK/EU students is £9,000.
The tuition fee for the 2012/2013 academic year for International students is £10,400.

Click here to find out more about fees, funding and our scholarships in 2012.

Careers & placements

Graduates from this course work on their own creative writing projects while holding down various jobs. They include an Eastenders scriptwriter, a recent copywriter of the year, a stand-up comic, TV documentary producers, journalists, publishers, teachers and a writing therapist.

Placements

Work placements are proven to increase your success in the job market – as well as being a fantastic experience. Media is a highly competitive field so we encourage as many students as possible to grasp this opportunity. As part of your third year you will have the possibility to carry out a short placement of a minimum of 20 days.  This will provide you with first-hand experience and a thorough understanding of a particular branch of the media and cultural industries. We have a Placement Office which will support you through the placement process.

Past students

Russell Kane

Russell graduated from BA Creative and Media Writing in 2000. He is a writer, comedian, actor and media personality. In June 2006, he became the face of digital station Five US, and was nominated for an If.comedy award at the Edinburgh Fringe. He was the host of Series 4, 5 and 6 of BBC Radio 2's Out to Lunch.

In August 2008 he took a stand-up show 'Gaping Flaws' to the Edinburgh festival. It was nominated for the 2008 If.Commedies award (formerly known as The Perrier Award). He also took his hour-long Fakespeare play, The Lamentable Tragedie of Yates's Wine Lodge, which transferred for one night to the Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon. It was performed on The Courtyard Theatre's main stage on August 31, 2008, starring another graduate of BA Creative and Media Writing, Sadie Hasler.
On November 20 2008, Russell performed at the Apollo theatre, London, for the BBC's Live at the Apollo. It was broadcast December 5 on BBC1 [1].  Russell continues to write fiction, plays and of-course stand up comedy.