BA (Hons) Journalism and Creative Writing

Key information

Typical offer:
Entry requirements
Fees: See below
Full details
UCAS code: P900
Institute code: H36
Study abroad option
Work placement option
Find out more

UCAS points	A Level	BTEC
112-120	BBC - BBB	DMM- DDM

Clearing entry requirements

We’re committed to welcoming students with a wide range of qualifications and levels of experience. Over Clearing, we’ll be taking a flexible approach so if you don’t have the advertised grades, you can submit a clearing application and we’ll review and consider your application on an individual basis.

UCAS points	A Level	BTEC	Accepted T Levels	Access Course Tariff	IB requirement
112–120	BBC–BBB	DMM–DDM	Design Survey and Planning for Construction; Design Production, Design and Development; Education and Childcare; Healthcare Science; Health; Science; Digital Support Services; Digital Business Services; Onsite Construction; Building Services Engineering for Construction; Accounting; Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing; Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control; Finance; Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing; Management and Administration; Agriculture, Land Management and Production; Legal Services	Overall merit profile in 45 credits at Level 3	112–120 points

Additional requirements

GCSE: Grade 4/C in English Language and Mathematics

All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency, equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band.

If you do not have the required IELTS or equivalent for direct entry on to your degree programme, our Pre-sessional English and International Foundation courses can help you to achieve this level.

For more details on the University of Hertfordshire's entry requirements, please visit our Undergraduate Entry Requirements page.

Find out more about International Entry Requirements.

UCAS points	A Level	BTEC	Accepted T Levels	Access Course Tariff	IB requirement
112–120	BBC–BBB	DMM–DDM	Design Survey and Planning for Construction; Design Production, Design and Development; Education and Childcare; Healthcare Science; Health; Science; Digital Support Services; Digital Business Services; Onsite Construction; Building Services Engineering for Construction; Accounting; Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing; Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control; Finance; Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing; Management and Administration; Agriculture, Land Management and Production; Legal Services	Overall merit profile in 45 credits at Level 3	112–120 points

Additional requirements

GCSE: Grade 4/C in English Language and Mathematics

All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency, equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band.

If you do not have the required IELTS or equivalent for direct entry on to your degree programme, our Pre-sessional English and International Foundation courses can help you to achieve this level.

For more details on the University of Hertfordshire's entry requirements, please visit our Undergraduate Entry Requirements page.

Find out more about International Entry Requirements.

Why choose this course?

Meet a wide range of authors, journalists and media practitioners
Build your own portfolio using a variety of platforms
Be taught by award-winning poets, writers and journalists

A career in writing enables you to explore the world through your work – discovering people and places, exploring unfolding events, influencing debate, and shaping your own creative voice. On this course, you’ll write for blogs, websites, print, video, audio and multimedia contexts, developing the skills to research your subject and really engage your readers.

Together, these subjects give you exciting opportunities to develop your voice as a writer and discover ways to publish your work. In journalism, you’ll learn about ethics, target audiences and the journey from interview to finished article. You’ll produce work on a variety of platforms from blogs to print and report on international stories and ones guided by your interests.

In creative writing, you’ll learn important skills for devising, editing, revising and submitting your work. You’ll analyse texts, explore the effects of the author’s choices and create short stories, drama, poetry and creative nonfiction of your own. You’ll also have opportunities to work with schools or museums, attend guest lectures, study abroad or take a year’s work placement.

All our lecturers are active researchers, so you’ll share the excitement of doing original work in a supportive and highly rated academic community. 

You’ll have the opportunity to meet a wide range of authors, journalists and media practitioners through our speaker series. Our Media Matters guest lectures are given by a range of media speakers from top journalists to our recent graduates. You'll have the opportunity to network with inspirational and well-known screen writers, biographers, poets, novelists, nonfiction authors and playwrights at our Creative Conversation events.

What's the course about?

In your first year, you’ll explore the basics of journalism, learning about how to tell factual stories in written form, through blogs and podcasting and video. You’ll also reflect on how journalists should and do behave and their relationship with government. In Creative Writing you’ll start learning how to become a writer and how to write for films, as well as gaining a deeper insight into genre.

In your second year, you’ll start to broadcast, brainstorm ideas for a magazine concept, learn about how journalism changed the world and gain insights into the fast-paced world of news, while in Creative Writing, you’ll learn about the art of telling non-fiction stories, in a wide range of genres from memoir to food to travel, and how to write for the stage.

Work placement/study abroad option*: Between your second and final year, you’ll have the option to study abroad or complete a work placement for up to a year. Not only will this give you an amazing experience to talk about, but it will also give your CV a boost. If you would rather go straight to your final year, that’s fine too. You can decide in your second year with us, so there is still plenty of time to think about this. 

In your final year, you’ll get a wide range of options. In journalism you will report on international stories, create your own website, have work experience, freelance or create your own media business. You will also practice writing for a variety of audiences. In Creative Writing, you’ll get the chance to specialise in either poetry, prose or script writing and look at popular fiction genres and writing TV drama.

For a full list of modules, see the section under ‘What will I study?’       

Guest speakers and networking (Media Matters and Creative Conversations).  

Each year the School of Humanities hosts a range of industry professionals, giving talks on their experience in the media and publishing industry. These lectures are recorded by our final-year students and available on our Taster Hub. Some of our previous speakers have included: 

Andrea Thompson, Editor in Chief of Marie Claire
Richard Keith, Journalist for Edge Magazine and Publisher, PCGamer
Georgina Lawton of online ezine Gal-Dem for women and non-binary people of colour
Damian Barr, writer, literary editor and TV host
Steve Swann, investigative journalist, BBC
Inua Ellams, poet
Nell Leyshon, novelist and playwright
Tom Edge, screenwriter

Applying for this course is easy. Simply add us to your UCAS account by using the institution and course code mentioned in ‘Key information’. There is no interview for this course. We’re just interested to hear why you want to study this subject at degree level.

Your main campus is College Lane

This is where the creative arts, science and health-related subjects are based. This means you’ll share the campus with future nurses, scientists, artists and more. You can use the common rooms to relax with friends, work out in the 24-hour gym or have a drink in our on-campus pub or cafes. We also have restaurants for you to eat in or grab something on the go. Our Learning Resources Centres are open 24/7, which means you can study whenever suits you best. Want to pop over to the other campus? You can take the free shuttle bus or walk there in just 15 minutes.

What will I study?

Degree programmes are structured into levels, 4, 5 and 6.  These correspond to your first, second and third/final year of study.  Below you can see what modules you’ll be studying in each.     

Level 4

Module	Credits	Compulsory/optional
The Writer's Art: an Introduction to Creative Writing	15 Credits	Compulsory
This introductory module fires students' creativity, equipping them with knowledge of important literary strategies and techniques. To be successful creative writers, students need to be sensitive readers and critics, interested in devices other writers use to achieve particular literary effects. Set texts will be used as starting points for thinking about these issues alongside key craft elements e.g. plot, character, setting, voice, imagery, language and dramatic action. Weekly writing exercises are designed to help students practice these elements in their own writing.
Journalism, Law and Ethics	15 Credits	Compulsory
In this module, students will be introduced to key laws impacting on journalists, including defamation, privacy and Contempt of Court. They will also explore the regulation of journalism as it affects journalists and compare the legal and ethical framework within which journalists operate, across different countries.
Genre Fiction: Building Worlds	15 Credits	Compulsory
Building compelling and convincing worlds is important in all fiction, but particularly crucial in writing genre fiction. When writing genre (or popular) fiction, writers must be critically aware of both the history of the genre and current trends in publishing to make their own narratives distinctive and ultimately sell-able. This module examines popular genres (such as fantasy, crime, sci-fi or romance), considering their history and future. Key questions of craft and motivation will be asked: how do contemporary writers play against the classics? How do you write a piece that fits in a genre and yet avoids cliché? How much can you diverge from the expected in genre fiction? What steps can be taken to build a complex world for your piece? Is plotting for genre fiction different than plotting for literary fiction? Authors studied may include E.L. James, Ursula Le Guin, Louise Fitzhugh, J.R.R. Tolkien, or Akwaeke Ezemi.
Writing for the screen	15 Credits	Compulsory
Writing for screen is an intensive 12 week course designed to introduce students to drama at level 4. Students will be introduced to all the elements of dramatic writing - dramatic action, narrative, structure, plotting and writing perfect scene hooks. Students will work practically in class, receiving weekly feedback on their work and developing their script to completion. Students will be able to edit and develop their final film towards completion as they workshop their scripts in the final 4 weeks of the module. Students will develop the skill of analysing the theory of screen writing and study short films, breaking them down for structure, narrative and plot. Students will learn how to understand their own practical method and be able to reflect upon their creative decision making. They will study craft texts and develop their skills in critical analysis. All students will complete the course having written a 10 minute short film displaying an understanding of all of the elements of dramatic writing.
Journeys and Quests: Adventures in Literature	15 Credits	Compulsory
From ancient Greek poems about mythic heroes, to the search for the Holy Grail, and recent stories about returning home, the quest narrative has been central to literary texts across time-periods and cultures. They have been used in reactionary and revolutionary formats. This module is interested in the narrative traditions, conventions and motifs of the quest, and we will pay close attention to literary form and content. We will also think how certain narratives are recycled and re-used by writers and filmmakers. We will move from ancient texts such as Homer's epic The Odyssey to more contemporary re-writings of this story, such as Margaret Atwood's The Penelopiad (2005). Students are asked to think about how adaptations of both the form and specific narratives engage with current social, political and cultural debates around identity, heroism and the notion of 'home'.
Journalism Skills: Multiplatform	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module offers an opportunity to extend and consolidate core journalistic skills across several different platforms. You will develop a knowledge of new online media businesses and the skills needed to find work in them. You will also be introduced to online content management techniques and have the opportunity to demonstrate your skills by producing and publishing a range of multimedia stories. You will have a wider and deeper understanding of multimedia communication and the confidence to produce your own diverse journalism.
Introduction to Journalism	15 Credits	Compulsory
In this module students explore the exciting world of journalism. Students engage with the key skills such as research and writing within specific structures, start to identify what makes news newsworthy and learn about the key roles within a journalism organisation that work together to create journalism products. Students explore a range of journalism content and learn the skills of writing with accurate research as a journalist to create your first article.
Journalism and Politics	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module will prepare you for the dealings you might have as a journalist with government and international organisations. Government bodies and international organisations such as NATO, the European Union and the United Nations are important sources of information and key players in events which shape the news. It is the role of the journalist to extract salient, reliable information. Through a series of workshops, you will learn the fundamentals of public affairs,

Level 5

Module	Credits	Compulsory/optional
Radio Journalism	15 Credits	Compulsory
In this module, students are expected to source original stories, which are suitable for radio and learn how to write, interview and structure audio reports and stories using appropriate techniques and equipment. Students acquire knowledge and understanding of radio journalism and technical skills needed to produce effective radio broadcasts. This module will introduce students to terminology used in broadcast environments; it will expand critical understanding of news values, agendas and legal and ethical requirements specific to broadcast journalism and awareness of the converging media landscape.
Writing for the Stage	15 Credits	Optional
Building on critical and practical skills developed at Level Four, this module continues the study of genre but also investigates writing as a collaborative process. Focusing on stage drama, we will analyse a selection of twentieth century and contemporary works. Theme-based workshops will explore character, dialogue, the world of the play, action, plot, narrative, and audience. We explore how the playwright evokes the 'World of the Play' through creation of the imaginary place, aspects of setting, music and props. Students will be expected to work collaboratively to workshop their own dramatic writing with a view to completing a short dramatic text and the final sessions will be spent in revising and preparing work for the final assessment.
Language and Imagination: The Art of the Poem	15 Credits	Optional
Building on previous work, this module will develop your knowledge and understanding of poetic craft and technique including voice, sound, patterns and shape, rhyme and rhythm, imagery and metaphor. You will develop your own creative writing through the use of exercises and create your own portfolio of poetry. You will be asked to practise reading and thinking about poems of many different styles and periods, for example, sonnets, villanelles and free verse. You will consider ways in which the material presentation of poetry is significant. For example, you might examine poetry that exists somewhere other than a printed page: written on a wall, as a film, as a performance, etc.
Journalism Skills: Features	15 Credits	Compulsory
In this module students will be introduced to researching, reporting, and writing techniques for features, developing, and extending the skills in writing acquired at Level 4. The sessions will enable them to gain practise in creating this genre and creating their own magazine style content and extensions for a range of audiences.
Poetry, Prose and Publishing	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module will introduce you to the world of literary magazine and anthology publishing, considering both print and online publications. In groups, you will work towards planning your own publications and developing your editorial skills. Key questions of craft and motivation will be asked: what are the attributes of a successful publication? What useful selection criteria might an editor employ? Publications studied might include Poetry Magazine, Granta, Ambit and the Paris Review. You will also spend around half the course producing and workshopping your own creative work (prose or poetry), and learning to identify suitable outlets for publication.
Journalism Skills News	15 Credits	Compulsory
In this module you will develop your research and writing techniques for news reports, developing and extending the skills in writing news that you acquired at level 4. Sessions will enable you to gain practice in writing news reports in a simulated newsroom environment. In addition, you will model professional news journalism practices. You will be encouraged to use human sources through interviews, the Internet and social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Students source news stories and write them, then reflect on what they have achieved.
Employability Skills	15 Credits	Optional
Producing graduates who are highly employable is a key aim of the University of Hertfordshire. This module aims to help you bridge gaps between your specialist academic studies and the world of graduate employment. As well as allowing you to reflect on and further develop your employability skills we will explore the changing nature of employers' needs. Using case studies, we will consider a range of issues (legal, gender, equality) that can arise in recruitment and the workplace. The module will also focus on career planning and job searching, as well as recruitment and selection processes including the work of assessment centres and psychometric testing. Overall the intention is that you will be able to develop your job-market awareness and identify and explore potential career pathways. The module is worth 15 credits and may be chosen in place of a 15-credit subject module at Level 5, or as an additional module at Level 6, alongside 120 credits of modules in your subject(s).
How Journalism Changed the World: from Watergate to Social Media and Fake News	15 Credits	Optional
This module will examine how journalism has emerged as a force for positive social change though use of research tools and major investigations, using historic and recent case histories. It will also examine the role played by different technologies in the late twentieth and early twenty first century to inform journalism. This module will enable students to practice the various research techniques employed by successful journalists within a supported setting, whether traditional or cutting edge, how they can verify sources and avoid creating Fake news.
The Short Story Workshop	15 Credits	Optional
"For sale, baby shoes, never worn." (very short story attributed to Ernest Hemingway).From flash-fiction to weird fiction, and from historical fiction to dirty realism, this module will deepen and expand the critical and creative study of the short story begun at Level 4. Key questions of craft and motivation will be asked: How does the content of a story relate to its form? What makes a successful anti-hero or -heroine? How do you build suspense? When does a short story become a flash fiction? We will read some of the best short stories from the UK, the US and around the world, and you will develop your own creative writing by working towards a portfolio of short fiction. Authors studied may include Lydia Davis, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Chris Adrian, Sarah Hall, James Baldwin, Stephen King, Raymond Carver, Katherine Mansfield, Miranda July, Angela Carter, Jhumpa Lahiri and William Trevor.
Real Stories Well Told	15 Credits	Optional
This module aims to develop understanding of how close reading of non-fiction, including forms such as travel and history writing, biography and memoir, can help develop students' own creative writing abilities within these genres. It aims to explore the nature of the self, its presentation in text, and the depiction of other lives, with the aim of helping students adopt different narrative structures and styles in their own work. The module explores the notion of place and voice in non-fiction writing and aims to give an understanding of how research informs practice. Students will be encouraged to develop an understanding and practice of the range of styles found within the various types of non-fiction writing, as well as gain an understanding of the current creative non-fiction market.

Level 6

Module	Credits	Compulsory/optional
Launching a Digital Publication	15 Credits	Compulsory
The module consists of 12, two-hour workshops in which students - through a mix of, demonstrations, discussion and practical tasks - apply journalistic skills to an online environment. This will include an appreciation of the massive impact that digital communications technologies have had on the publishing industry, as well as a detailed understanding of how writing for the internet differs from print Journalism.
Journalism Skills Portfolio	30 Credits	Compulsory
This module enables students to practise their journalism skills in real world settings, whether undergoing five days' work experience, trying to get published as a freelance or learning how to pitch. Students produce a portfolio of work to highlight the skills they have learnt and will reflect on how these skills can be used in your future career.
Creative Writing Project Poetry	30 Credits	Optional
The Creative Writing Project module is the culmination of your three years of study of the subject. Over two semesters, you will meet in fortnightly intensive three hour workshops to develop and hone your writing. The workshops will, where possible, be genre specific and all workshops will be led by professional writers. Workshops will also cover how to work as a writer professionally, including how to submit your work to competitions, agents, publishers, producers, etc. You will devise, plan and produce an extended piece of creative writing in a genre of particular personal interest. You will finish the module having a substantial piece of writing you can either submit professionally or continue working on after graduation. The module is also an excellent preparation for pursuing an MA in Creative Writing.
Creative Writing Project Prose	30 Credits	Optional
The Creative Writing Project module is the culmination of your three years of study of the subject. Over two semesters, you will meet in fortnightly intensive three hour workshops to develop and hone your writing. The workshops will, where possible, be genre specific and all workshops will be led by professional writers. Workshops will also cover how to work as a writer professionally, including how to submit your work to competitions, agents, publishers, producers, etc. You will devise, plan and produce an extended piece of creative writing in a genre of particular personal interest. You will finish the module having a substantial piece of writing you can either submit professionally or continue working on after graduation. The module is also an excellent preparation for pursuing an MA in Creative Writing.
Creative Writing Project Script	30 Credits	Optional
The Creative Writing Project module is the culmination of your three years of study of the subject. Over two semesters, you will meet in fortnightly intensive three hour workshops to develop and hone your writing. The workshops will, where possible, be genre specific and all workshops will be led by professional writers. Workshops will also cover how to work as a writer professionally, including how to submit your work to competitions, agents, publishers, producers, etc. You will devise, plan and produce an extended piece of creative writing in a genre of particular personal interest. You will finish the module having a substantial piece of writing you can either submit professionally or continue working on after graduation. The module is also an excellent preparation for pursuing an MA in Creative Writing.
International Politics and Reporting Global News	15 Credits	Compulsory
The module will examine a variety of current news stories ranging from wars and revolutions to ecological disasters, and other topics on the global news agenda during the module timespan Students develop their international stories supported by the tutor. Students also learn how to tell complex international stories using a variety of media.
Writing Serial Drama	15 Credits	Optional
This is an intensive 12 week module created to enable you to create and write your own pitch and pilot episode for a serial drama. You will learn the craft skills required to create compelling serial drama or comedy and create a pitch document suitable to send to production companies. You will watch episodes and read screenplays from current successful serials, analysing the technique required to create a successful drama series. You will workshop your ideas and pilot scripts under the guidance your module leader. You may write anything from a Netflix serial, continuing BBC Drama or online comedy series for your final submission.
Writing for Popular Fiction Markets	15 Credits	Optional
The module will explore a selection of different popular fiction genres (for example romance, historical, crime, fantasy, horror) looking at examples which illustrate the development of their specific market. The examples will be taken from book texts but also film and television in the various genres covered. You will learn how an analysis of the features and narratives used in these can be used to inform writing practice. Practice at writing for popular genres will be central to the module's syllabus which will practice and consider self and peer review within the delimited markets and genre tropes. Each genre discussed will be given a designated two week block with the block providing a combination of knowledge presentation, practice, reflection and work-shopping. You will be encouraged to contextualise your own work within the popular genres that we consider and gain awareness of its commercial positioning and opportunity. Authors whose work we explore typically may include Agatha Christie, Margaret Atwood, HG Wells, Audrey Niffeneger and Bram Stoker, TV shows may include Dexter, Game of Thrones and Poldark, and Films may include Doctor Zhivago, The Prestige, Blade Runner and Let the Right One In. Please note that all of these titles are indicative and subject to regular updating.
Tell It Slant: Writing and Reality	15 Credits	Compulsory
'Write what you know' is often the first instruction given to new writers of fiction. But just how may we do so, and how far may we go? This module examines the aspects, strategies and approaches as well as the ethical quandaries that come from writing fiction 'from reality' from the world and the lives around us. What exactly is the line between fact and fiction and how can they feed one another creatively? What happens when a writer crosses the line, and who decides? Authors studied may include Marcel Proust, Annie Ernaux, JM Coetzee, Rachel Cusk, Marguerite Duras, Awaeke Emezi, Ayad Akhtar, Toni Morrison, Karl Ove Knausgaard, Sheila Heti and Ocean Vuong among others.

Study abroad

An opportunity for an amazing experience, which will help make you stand out from the crowd. With more and more companies working internationally, experience of living in another country can make a great impression on future employers.

This course offers you the opportunity to enhance your study and CV with a sandwich year abroad. The University has partnerships with over 150 universities around the world, including the USA, Canada, Asia, Africa, Australia, South America and closer to home in Europe.

If you study abroad between your second and third year of study, you’ll pay no tuition fee to the partner university and no tuition fee to us either. We’ll ask you to make your decision in your second year, so there is plenty of time to think about it.

Find out more about Study abroad opportunities

Please note Erasmus+ funding is only available until May 2023. For students starting their course in September 2022 and wishing to study abroad in 2023-24 or 2024-25, please refer to the Turing Scheme.
Work placement

Graduate with invaluable work experience alongside your degree and stand out from the crowd.

This course offers you the opportunity to enhance your study and CV with a work placement sandwich year. It’s a chance to explore career possibilities, make valuable contacts and gain sought after professional skills.

Our dedicated Careers and Employment team are here to help guide you through the process.

If you take up a work placement between your second and third year of study, at the University of Hertfordshire you’ll pay no tuition fee for this year. We’ll ask you to make your decision in your second year, so there is plenty of time to think about it.

Find out more about work placements
What if I need support?

You will be allocated a personal tutor to monitor and advise on overall academic and personal development supplemented with drop-in skills sessions and specialist tutors to refine and polish your writing.
For help with study skills, including referencing, essay writing and presentations, you will also have access to our Academic Support Services (ASU). You can attend workshops, 1-to-1 sessions and online tutorials. Both our Learning Resources Centres (LRCs) run drop-in study skills sessions.

'I was able to learn about news, interview and feature writing, as well as the legal and ethical side to journalism. It's a very practical course, for example, we were tasked with pitching stories to the press and had to produce our own magazine in a group - although this involved a lot of research, we were able to be very creative by using InDesign. Overall, I gained vital skills that I use everyday in my work.'

Rebecca McAleese

BA (Hons) Journalism & Creative Writing graduate

Alumni Stories

Kate Stephenson

Meet Kate Stephenson who has excelled in the publishing industry since graduating. She currently works as the Education Editor at National Geographic Kids magazine.

Read more stories BA (Hons) English Language and Media

Current job role	Education Editor
Year of graduation	2013
Course of study	BA (Hons) English Language and Communication with Journalism and Media Cultures

University experience

Kate always knew that she wanted to work in the media and her unique degree gave her the flexibility to understand the logistics behind magazines as well as develop her writing and communication skills. The variety of topics and modules covered in her course enabled her to understand a lot about her dream career and enable her to develop valuable skills for working in the industry.

While studying, Kate took every opportunity offered to her. Her lecturers gave her opportunities to network with their colleagues for the industry enabling Kate to secure work experience and explore different career opportunities upon graduation.

She also worked as part of the Students’ Union student media, called Triden Media, writing regularly for their newspaper and magazine. Kate says, ‘Take advantage of every opportunity while it’s on offer and dive in as much as possible.’

The future

In the future, Kate hopes to further develop and grow the project she is working on at National Geographic and their educational content. One of her recent projects was launching their Primary School resource service by writing the curriculum.

Alumni Stories

Eleanor Pilcher

Meet Eleanor Pilcher who since graduating in 2016 has taken the publishing industry by storm. Eleanor currently works as a Marketing Manager at Avon, HarperCollins Publisher.

Read more stories Find out more about this course

Current job role	Marketing Manager
Year of graduation	2016
Course of study	BA (Hons) History and Creative Writing

University experience and employability

Eleanor is a keen writer with great creative ambitions. During her degree she undertook a six-month internship at a literary agency in her final academic year. In 2016, shortly after her studies, Eleanor landed a placement at Penguin before getting a job in publishing recruitment. After developing her skills within the industry and amassing and impressive amount of knowledge and experience, Eleanor began her current role at HarperCollins Publishers.

Eleanor's degree encompassed a broad spectrum of critical, analytical and evaluative skills and helped shape her as a writer. Throughout her studies she had been writing a novel, which she submitted to literary agencies after being encouraged by her tutor to do so. It was Eleanor's passion for writing that uncovered her interest in working for a literary agency. Due to the fantastic lecturers on her course and the invaluable industry networks available to students, Eleanor managed to secure impressive opportunities in her chosen industry that have informed her career.

Sher recognises the impact the University has had on getting her to where she is today. 'For me the advice and feedback I received on both my History essays and Creative Writing finals was incredibly useful to my academic and professional development. I learnt to take criticism and to harness it and also write more because of it.'

Ambitions for the future

Eleanor has established herself in her chosen industry yet still has ambition to continue pursuing new goals. On her hopes for the future, she says: 'I hope to run a marketing department within a publishing company, possibly the one I'm at now. I hope to publish a novel and continue my freelance writing and public speaking on the side.'

What's next for my career?

Our graduates have an excellent record of gaining employment in media, publishing, teaching and information management where their skills in analysis, communication and evaluation are highly valued. Many of our graduates go on to higher levels of study engaging in research in their chosen fields. Whatever your future career plans, what is important to your potential employers is the range of intellectual, transferable, personal skills and experience you have gained and can demonstrate. We ensure our programmes are relevant to the world of work through active links with regional employers across a range of industries and professions.
View our Alumni profiles

Kate Stephenson Eleanor Pilcher

Course fact sheets
BA (Hons) Journalism and Creative Writing	Download

Programme specifications
BA (Hons) Journalism and Creative Writing	Download
Creative Writing (Joint and Minor) Programme Specification	Download
Journalism (Joint and Minor) Programme specification	Download

Additional information
Sandwich placement or study abroad year	Optional
Applications open to international and EU students	Yes
Course length	Full Time, 3 Years Sandwich, 4 Years
Location	University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

How to apply?

International/EU applicants without pre-settled status in the UK

Apply through our international/EU application portal

Home and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK

Apply using the links below:

2024
Start Date End Date Year Location Link
23/09/2024 31/05/2025 1 UH Hatfield Campus Apply online (Full Time/Sandwich)
2025
Start Date End Date Year Location Link
23/09/2025 31/05/2026 1 UH Hatfield Campus Apply online (Full Time/Sandwich)
22/09/2025 31/05/2026 2 UH Hatfield Campus Apply online (Full Time/Sandwich)
2026
Start Date End Date Year Location Link
21/09/2026 31/05/2027 3 UH Hatfield Campus Apply online (Full Time)
Fees and funding
Fees 2024
UK Students
Full time
- £9250 for the 2024/2025 academic year
EU Students
Full time
- £15500 for the 2024/2025 academic year
International Students
Full time
- £15500 for the 2024/2025 academic year
*Tuition fees are charged annually. The fees quoted above are for the specified year(s) only. Fees may be higher in future years, for both new and continuing students. Please see the University’s Fees and Finance Policy (and in particular the section headed “When tuition fees change”), for further information about when and by how much the University may increase its fees for future years.

View detailed information about tuition fees

Read more about additional fees in the course fact sheet

Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

View detailed information about our accommodation

Start Date	End Date	Year	Location	Link
23/09/2025	31/05/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Full Time/Sandwich)
22/09/2025	31/05/2026	2	UH Hatfield Campus	Apply online (Full Time/Sandwich)

Book a campus tour

Get info and updates

Apply through Clearing

Get info and updates

BA (Hons) Journalism and Creative Writing

Key information

Typical offer:

Fees: See below

UCAS code: P900

Institute code: H36

Study abroad option

Work placement option

Clearing entry requirements

Additional requirements

Additional requirements

Why choose this course?

What's the course about?

Guest speakers and networking (Media Matters and Creative Conversations).

Your main campus is College Lane

What will I study?

Alumni Stories

Meet Kate Stephenson who has excelled in the publishing industry since graduating. She currently works as the Education Editor at National Geographic Kids magazine.

University experience

The future

Alumni Stories

Meet Eleanor Pilcher who since graduating in 2016 has taken the publishing industry by storm. Eleanor currently works as a Marketing Manager at Avon, HarperCollins Publisher.

University experience and employability

Ambitions for the future

International/EU applicants without pre-settled status in the UK

Home and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK

2024

2025

2026

Fees 2024

UK Students

Full time

EU Students

Full time

International Students

Full time

Other financial support

Living costs / accommodation

Guest speakers and networking (Media Matters and Creative Conversations).  

Your main campus is College Lane