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Professional Writing (Foundation Degree)
This course provides you with the skills to understand how to make a career as a writer. It explores writing in a range of challenging and creative contexts from literature to business.
For more information about this course please visit the School of Humanities and Cultural Industries website.
A career in writing requires a passion for words, language skills, confidence in one's work, a sensitivity to different audiences and the ability to be constructively self-critical. This course provides you with the skills to find, negotiate and fulfil commissions as a freelance writer or work within a range of roles in businesses and writing agencies. During the course you will have the chance to study and experience a variety of these commercial writing practices.
Course Structure and Content
Students on this two-year full-time course are based at our partner college Weston College in Weston-super-Mare.
Throughout the course there are integrated modules covering professional skills in a range of writing disciplines and genres, along with practical workshops and seminars to develop your writing skills and allow you to apply theory to context and best practice.
On successful completion of the course you will have an industry-ready portfolio of writing to help you enter the industry without breaking stride. You will be able to write accurate, creative texts; understand how the needs of your audience affect your writing; and have a clear understanding of what a text should achieve and how to achieve it. You will be able to talk confidently to decision makers in business so as to understand their needs and negotiate commissions. You will be able to work across a range of mediums and text forms and be experienced in utilising a range of skills both independently and as part of a team. You will be familiar with industry standard software and processes.
Modules
Year One:
- Markets and Audiences;
- Literary and Fiction Workshop 1;
- Language Style and Purpose.
Year Two:
- Writing in Business;
- Literary and Fiction Workshop 2;
- Form, Structure and Context.
Teaching Methods and Resources
Taught sessions will include lectures, group seminars, practical workshops, and visiting speakers from writing based industries.
The course provides the skills to find, negotiate and fulfil commissions as a freelance writer or work within a range of roles in businesses and writing agencies. During the course you will have the chance to study and experience a variety of these commercial writing practices.
The skills to produce accurate, creative written material as developed through this course are applicable to range of specific career pathways such as a feature writing, copy writing, PR, or advertising. The course also nurtures more traditional creative writing pathways such as novel, poetry or scriptwriting.
Although this course is full-time, attendance at college is only required for two days per week.
On successful completion of the Foundation Degree you can apply to progress to the third year of an Honours Degree, for example Creative Writing or Creative Media Practice at Bath Spa University, or to another university.
Assessment Methods
You will be assessed through a variety of methods including:
- Original writing portfolio;
- Essays;
- Log books and supporting materials such as letters, emails;
- Presentations;
- Discussions.
Entry Requirements
Minimum 160 UCAS Tariff points (eg BC; CD +AS c) gained from one of the following: Two or more A-Levels or Vocational A-Levels preferably in English or a related subject; BTEC National Diploma/Certificate in a relevant area; Advanced Diploma in Creative and Media; Access to Higher Education course.
If you do not possess the relevant entry requirements, relevant industrial experience may be taken into account. Applicants will be assessed on an individual basis.