Undergraduate Certificate in Creative Writing: Creative Non-Fiction (Cohort 3)

For the 2020-2021 Academic Year this course is being taught remotely. This means there will be no face-to-face teaching and you will not need to be present in person in Cambridge. The course content will be delivered, and the learning outcomes met, through the use of video-based teaching platforms and a dedicated course Virtual Learning Environment.

To transition to remote delivery of the course our academic staff are updating the course structure and timetable. This will allow the course to be academically engaging and of the quality expected from the Institute. A course guide will be available shortly containing detailed information. Details of the Unit start dates and assignment submission deadlines are under the Teaching & Assessment tab. For an overview of the course scroll down this page. Details of the Unit start dates and assignment submission deadlines are under the Teaching & Assessment tab. For an overview of the course scroll down this page.

What will I be studying?

Unit 1: Introduction to creative non-fiction

9 evening classes (7.15pm-9.15 pm) starting on Tuesday 5 January 2021 plus 2 Saturday day-schools (6 and 20 February 2021).  Saturdays 11am to 4pm (break 1-2pm)

Some of the most engaging examples of non-fiction borrow tools and techniques, such as description, drama and dialogue, from fiction. In this unit we will explore the meaning of “creative non-fiction” and discuss the different forms of writing that might fall within this category. Students will consider a range of different non-fiction, such as writing about food, narrative history, popular science, comic writing and the essay – or a mixture of different approaches. 

Unit 2: Writing about place

9 evening classes (7.15pm-9.15 pm) starting on Tuesday 6 April 2021 plus 2 Saturday day-schools (17 April and 8 May 2021).  Saturdays 11am to 4pm (break 1pm-2pm)

Place is important in most forms of non-fiction. In this unit you will discover how to create a memorable sense of place – whether you are writing about nature, a moment in history or a piece of travel writing. You will reflect on the traditions and conventions of travel and nature writing and examine more recent trends in writing about place and the challenges of writing about the familiar and the unfamiliar in nature.

Unit 3: Life writing

6 evening classes (7.15pm-9.15 pm) starting on Tuesday 14 September 2021 plus 4 Saturday day-schools (18 and 25 September, 2 and 9 October 2021).  Saturdays 11am to 4pm (break 1-2pm)

In this unit you will explore the many aspects of “life writing”, such as memoir, biography, letter and diary writing. You will consider the roots of the genre and the range of styles employed. We will also discuss forms of life writing that blur the lines with other genres and, as in other terms, you will have the chance to experiment with your own approach to life writing.

What can I go on to do?

If you wish, you can develop your studies in this subject by taking a second Certificate: Undergraduate Certificate in Creative Writing: Fiction and Writing for Performance or the Undergraduate Diploma in Creative Writing: Advanced Fiction and Non-Fiction or the Undergraduate Diploma in Creative Writing: Historical Fiction, Crime Writing and Writing for Performance

You may like to know that a part-time Master of Studies (MSt) degree in Creative Writing and Master of Studies (MSt) degree in Crime And Thriller Writing are also available.

Credit awarded by the Institute may also be transferred into the degree programmes of other higher education providers. However the volume of credit and the curriculum which can be transferred into degree programmes varies from institution to institution and is always at the discretion of the receiving institution.

Find out more

If you would like an informal discussion on academic matters before making your application, please contact the Course Director, Derek Niemann: Derek.Niemann@tutor.ice.cam.ac.uk

If you have any questions about the application process, contact our Admissions team: ice.admissions@ice.cam.ac.uk or +44 (0)1223 746262.

For all other enquiries, contact: creativewriting@ice.cam.ac.uk or +44 (0)1223 746212 / 760865.

Entry requirements

There are no formal academic entry requirements for this course but as it is taught at university level applicants should be able to read, write and speak English fluently. Given the nature of creative writing, it is important that applicants’ use of English is sufficiently fluent to be able to understand nuances of meaning and have a familiarity with the structure and grammar of English. 

English language requirement: If English is not your first language, you need to be able to prove you meet the University of Cambridge English language requirements on application. Please refer to our international students' pages for further information.

International Students: If you are not a UK resident please visit our international students' page to read about visas for part-time students. Please make sure you have investigated your visa requirements in advance of booking as we cannot offer a refund if you find you are unable to take up the place due to visa constraints after you have booked your place on the course.

The fee for the course is £2150 for the year and covers the course tuition.

You can pay in two ways:

• in full on enrolment (by cheque payable to the University of Cambridge or by credit or debit card)
• in four equal instalments (credit/debit card only): the first on enrolment, and the second, third and final instalment being taken 1 month, 3 months and 5 months after the course start date. The exact dates will be confirmed in the student’s individual booking details

Please note your place on the course is not secured until payment is received by the Institute of Continuing Education accompanied by any necessary documentation, i.e. proof of English language proficiency.

ICE fees and refund policy

For information on bursaries for this course, please see http://www.ice.cam.ac.uk/bursaries

For information on a loan from Student Finance England for course fees and maintenance costs, please see http://www.ice.cam.ac.uk/info/student-loans

This course will require a minimum number of students in order to run. Applicants for this course will be notified by 11 December 2020 if the course is not going to be running at which point students will be offered a refund of the fees they have paid so far (please see our Cancellation policy).

Please apply via the link at the top of this page. Your application will be assessed by the Course Director to see how much previous experience you have had with creative writing and you may be required to submit a short piece of writing to support your application. If you are offered a place, you will receive instructions as to how to register and pay. Please note that places are limited and on a first-come first-served basis.

Closing date for applications

Applications for this course can be received until midday (12 noon) on 19 December 2020. If you are offered a place on the course, we will ask you to complete your booking within a limited time and to pay the fees or if paying fees by instalments, the first instalment of fees to secure your place.