Undergraduate Diploma in Creative Writing: Advanced Fiction and Writing for Performance

Virtual Open Events

To learn more about the programme and the student experience, and to ask any questions you may have, join us for our virtual open events. To register, follow these links:

Watch the info session webinar recording here

What will I be studying?

Unit 1: Introduction to fiction

9 evening classes (7.15-9.15 pm) starting on Thursday 14 October plus 2 Saturday day-schools (6 November and 4 December 2021).  Saturdays 11am to 4pm (break 1-2pm)

This unit focuses on advanced techniques for identifying a potential story, choosing its form, and establishing plot, structure, theme and characterisation. Through close reading of published work, and their own writing, students explore how to construct a coherent sense of time and place, how to keep dramatic control and how to create pace, conflict and mood.

Unit 2: Crime and Fantasy Writing

9 evening classes (7.15-9.15 pm) starting on Thursday 6  January plus 2 Saturday day-schools (22 January and 19 February 2022).  Saturdays 11am to 4pm (break 1-2pm)

This unit will focus on both crime and fantasy writing. In crime writing we’ll look at how point of view affects plot, at the breadth of possible structural options, and examine a range of storyteller perspectives—from the old-fashioned omniscient narrator to more modern ‘unreliable narrators’, as well as the comparative advantages of first versus third person point of view.

With fantasy writing we'll look at subverting the tropes of speculative fiction. Does all fantasy fiction centre around "The Chosen One"? We will explore the challenges to creating original protagonists (and antagonists) Examples of duologies, trilogies and stand-alone novels will be examined. We will consider ways of concluding your story so that it is satisfying, both for author and reader.

Unit 3: Writing for performance

8 evening classes (7.15-9.15 pm) starting on Thursday 31 March plus 2 Saturday day-schools (23 April and 14 May 2022).  Saturdays 11am to 4pm (break 1-2pm)

This unit studies techniques used in writing for TV, film, stage and radio and examines how they are transferable to other forms of writing. The unit looks at the art of adapting a story from a different medium.

What can I go on to do?

The Institute offers a pair of Certificate (FHEQ Level 4) and Diploma (FHEQ Level 5) level courses in Creative Writing along with a range of postgraduate courses. For further details please visit the subject page.

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 have any questions about this course, would like an informal discussion on academic matters before making your application, or would like to know more about the admissions process, please complete this enquiry form with your questions. 

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.

Technical requirements:

For the 2021-2022 Academic Year this course is being taught entirely online. This means there will be no face-to-face teaching and you will not need to be present in person in Cambridge, although there is an expectation that you will attend synchronous teaching sessions. 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 (VLE).

You will therefore need to have access to:

- the internet via a computer, laptop, tablet or other smart device. 

- speakers or headphones in order to hear any pre-recorded material

- a webcam and microphone for any interactive sessions which may be available

Once you are logged into the VLE you can familiarise yourself with the learning environment. There is also guidance about how to access course materials and activities. 

The fee for the course is £2250 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 three equal instalments (credit/debit card only): the first on enrolment, and the second and final instalment being taken 3 months and 6 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  including the One Thousand Futures Bursary scheme which supports those adults who have been most affected by COVID-19 by providing a subsidy towards ICE undergraduate certificates, diplomas and advanced diplomas. Find out more

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 20 September 2021 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 6 September 2021. 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 20 September 2021 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).”

Are sessions recorded?
Where teaching is delivered face-to-face, sessions are not normally recorded.
Where teaching is delivered remotely (via Zoom, for example), and wherever possible, sessions are recorded. There may be some instances where we are not able to share a recording or part of a recording; for example, for technological, confidentiality or copyright reasons.

It is worth noting that regular attendance is a requirement of the course, whether that be in person or by participating remotely (via Zoom) in the live and interactive teaching sessions.

What if I can't attend a session? 
We understand that you may need to miss a session from time to time. We would simply ask that you let your tutor and/or Course Director know, and ideally in advance of the session. We will do what we can to ensure that you are able to catch up on any work missed, and we encourage you to listen to recordings of sessions where available.

Is any financial help available?
Details of any bursaries available through ICE are listed on our website.

Information about other sources of funding (including loans, Disabled Students’ Allowance etc.) may also be useful.

Can I apply for/undertake multiple courses at any one time?
You are welcome to apply for multiple courses. However, you would not normally be able to undertake more than two Certificate- or Diploma-level courses in any one year.

When considering whether to undertake more than one course, you will firstly need to ensure that there are no date clashes between teaching sessions. We would also advise you to carefully consider the work load of undertaking more than one course - consider any reading you will want to do as well as the time required to attend classes and complete assignments. You may also want to consider what commitments you have beyond your studies.

If you would like to undertake a second course, we would ask you to contact us so that we can liaise with both Course Directors. They will need to approve your application on the understanding that you will be undertaking two courses simultaneously.

If I complete a Certificate/Diploma with ICE, does it guarantee me a place on another course at ICE, including an MSt?
We are delighted that many of our students want to return to study with us again and again. Unfortunately, however, completion of one course does not guarantee that you will be offered a place on another.

To ensure quality of teaching, places on courses are necessarily limited, and where an offer is made, places can only be confirmed subject to availability.

A Course Director may also feel that a higher level course is not the best fit for you. In this case, the Course Director may recommend another more suitable Certificate-level course or a non-award bearing short course or online course. This is, by no means, a rejection, but a way for us to help you to prepare more fully for study at a higher level.

Do I need to have completed the Certificate-level course before applying for a place on the Diploma?
The Certificate and Diploma courses have been designed to provide a progression path for your studies, and some students on the Diploma will have previously completed the Certificate; however, completion of the Certificate is not a requirement for entry onto the Diploma. It very much depends on your experience in creative writing, the information you provide in your Personal Statement, and on your writing sample.

If you apply for a place on the Diploma, our Course Directors will let you know if they would recommend you complete the Certificate first. Please don’t be deterred – ultimately, we want you to find the course that is the best fit so that you are comfortable and feel a sense of achievement throughout.

Can I transfer credits/CAT points from a course completed elsewhere?
For the most up-to-date information, please visit our website.

Do I need to have studied Creative Writing before?
At Certificate-level, you do not need to have any prior experience of the subject area. An interest would normally be helpful.

At Diploma-level, some previous experience is expected. To submit the strongest application possible, we recommend you make use of the application form to highlight all relevant interests, qualifications, skills and experience.

Is the course accredited by the University of Cambridge?
Many part-time courses offered by ICE are University of Cambridge qualifications. For more details, visit our website.

Will I become the member of a College by undertaking a Certificate/Diploma course?
Enrolment on a Certificate- or Diploma-level course does not lead to College affiliation.

Can I pay in instalments?
Yes. When you come to confirm your course place with payment, you will be given the option to pay in instalments. Course fees for Certificate and Diploma courses are normally split into three equally weighted instalments spread throughout the year, with the first instalment due by way of deposit at the point of confirming your course place.

How many hours of study are required to complete a Certificate/Diploma course?
The course webpage in each case should provide you with an idea of the study hours you can expect - see ‘Teaching and Assessment’ tab.

Certificate and Diplomas equate to 60 credits at FHEQ5. Credit is generally calculated in terms of hours of study and assumes that each credit is awarded for around 10 hours of successful learning; so, by this calculation, a 60-credit course will involve around 600 hours of successful study. Examples of how study may be broken down are: pre-class preparation, classroom time (lectures, seminars, discussion, presentations, debates, case-studies etc.); engagement with the VLE; peer-to-peer interaction, preparations for assignments, assignment writing and feedback etc..