Undergraduate Certificate in Creative Writing: Fiction and Writing for Performance

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 containing this detailed information no later than the end of July. 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.

Please note that this is one of two Creative Writing Certificate courses, which can be studied independently of each other, and in any order. Creative Non-Fiction will run concurrently with this course, and includes units on creative non-fiction, writing about place and life writing.

What will I be studying?

Unit 1: Introduction to creative writing

(9 evening classes (7.15-9.15 pm) starting on Tuesday 20 October plus 2 Saturday day-schools (7 November and 5 December 2020).  Saturdays 11am to 4pm (break 1-2pm)

This unit will introduce you to different forms of fiction – such as the novel, flash fiction and short stories. Through close reading of published work, and your own writing, you will examine the difference between fiction and other forms of writing such as poetry.

Unit 2: Approaches to long fiction

(10 evening classes (7.15-9.15 pm) starting on Tuesday 05 January plus 2 Saturday day-schools (6 and 27 February 2021).  Saturdays 11am to 4pm (break 1-2pm)

In this unit you will look at the different ways of writing long fiction. You will study the structure of a range of novels to see how different authors have followed or subverted the “rules”. We will discuss how authors achieve a particular style – whether that is the tense atmosphere of a “police procedural” or the more lyrical style of a “literary” novel.

Unit 3: Writing for Performance

(6 evening classes (7.15-9.15 pm) starting on Tuesday 6 April plus 3 Saturday day-schools (10 and 17 April, 01 May 2021).  Saturdays 11am to 4pm (break 1-2pm)

In this unit you will study the ways in which a piece written for performance tells its story and engages with its audience – whether that audience is watching a TV “soap” or listening to a radio play. The unit will introduce you to the tools and conventions used to create a play or radio drama or to write for film or TV. You will gain a greater understanding of dialogue and pace, and skills learnt on this unit will help to enhance other forms of 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 Academic Director, Midge Gillies: midge.gillies@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.

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 English language requirements for Undergraduate Certificates, Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas pages for further information.

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 4 September 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 and you will be notified of the outcome by email. 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 14 September 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.

This course will require a minimum number of students in order to run. Applicants for this course will be notified by 18 September 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).”