Undergraduate Diploma in Creative Writing II

The aim of the course is to enable you to advance your own creative practice and knowledge of literary form, style and genre, whether you are writing for pleasure, for professional development or aiming for publication.

Each of the two Diploma courses may be taken as a stand-alone programme over one year, or combined into an Undergraduate Diploma of Higher Education in Creative Writing, equivalent to one year of full-time study.

The Undergraduate Diploma in Creative Writing II offers three units which identify and consolidate existing strengths in your own writing and encourage creative experimentation.

What will I be studying?

Unit 1: Advanced historical fiction

(4 Sunday day-schools - 8 October, 29 October, 19 November and 10 December 2017)

Historical fiction, whether set in Tudor England or Cold War Germany, is an increasingly popular genre. In this unit you will discover how to create convincing flashbacks and how to interweave storylines from different points in history. We will look at methods of research, how to incorporate it, and the small details that can make the past come alive without suffocating the text.

Unit 2: Advanced crime writing

(4 Sunday day-schools - 14 January, 11 February, 4 March and 25 March 2018)

Good crime writing features elements that every writer must master: a compelling plot, convincing dialogue, a strong sense of place and accurate research. Students will study these components and their application in different types of crime novels: “urban noir”, “rural noir”, “Scandi noir”, as well as true crime.

Unit 3: Advanced writing for performance

(4 Sunday day-schools - 15 April, 20 May, 17 June and 8 July 2018)

Many of the skills needed to write for performance are invaluable in other forms of writing. In this unit we will study techniques used in writing for TV, film, stage and radio. We will also look at the art of adapting a story from a different medium and students will be given the chance to adapt a piece they have written from a previous term.

What can I go on to do?

If you wish, you can develop your studies in this subject by taking a second Diploma: Undergraduate Diploma in Creative Writing I.

You may like to know that a part-time Master of Studies (MSt) degree in Creative Writing is 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

The course specification, giving information about course-content and assignments, is available under Downloads.

The Certificate and Diploma courses have been designed to provide a progression path that builds on your Creative Writing expertise and ambition. The Diploma is suitable for those who have successfully completed either Certificate course, or a similar course elsewhere, or who already have considerable experience of Creative Writing.

There are no formal entry requirements for this course although completion of the Undergraduate Certificate in Creative Writing or other appropriate experience in the subject is strongly recommended. In addition, applicants are required to submit a short piece of their own writing with their application and this will be reviewed before an offer of a place can be made.

However, please be aware that the course is taught at university level and you should be able to read, write and speak English fluently. If English is not your first language, you will need to send us evidence of your competence in the English language when you apply for a place.

ICE English language requirements

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.

This programme does not meet immigration requirements for entry to the UK as a short-term student or under Tier 4. Non-EEA nationals are unlikely to be able to undertake this programme unless they hold a visa in another category which permits study. Further information can be found on our Information for International Students webpage

The fee for the course is £2,000 and you can pay in one of two ways:

• in full on enrolment (by cheque payable to the University of Cambridge or by credit or debit card)
• in four instalments (credit/debit card only): the first on enrolment, the second on 1 November 2017, the third on the 1 February 2018 and the fourth on 1 April 2018.

ICE fees and refunds policy

Online application is recommended and you will find the link to the online application form at the top of this page.

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 (£2,000) or if paying by instalments, the first instalment of fees, to secure your place.

Applications for this course can be received until midday (12 noon) on the 4 September 2017.

This course will require a minimum number of students in order to run. Applicants for this course will be notified by 11 September 2017 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 Refund and Cancellation policy).