We are in the process of finalising our postgraduate taught courses for 2026/27 entry. In the meantime, you can view our 2025/26 courses.
Develop and hone your creative writing while building a breadth of film knowledge and analytical skills with our BA Creative Writing and Film course.
Being at Reading places you in one of the fastest-growing screen industry hubs in the UK, with a vibrant theatre and performance scene. You’ll be close to Shinfield Studios, where recent productions like Netflix’s ‘Bridgerton’, Disney’s ‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ and ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ were filmed.
These studios, located on University land, are part of the Screen Berkshire partnership, giving you the opportunity to attend film production bootcamps, workshops, technical training on Arri Alexa cameras, and real-life shoot simulations.
Other partnerships include hands-on experiences with Albert Education, Arri Certified Film School, FEST, Rabble Theatre, Reading Rep Theatre, Climate Change Theatre Action, and South St Theatre.
Taught jointly by the Department of English Literature and the Department of Film, Theatre and Television, on this course you will:
Creative writing and film complement each other perfectly. Exploring cinematic material and analysing creative choices will support the development of your own creative writing. Optional practical work will enhance your ability to create compelling characters and narratives.
Creative writing allows you to explore your creativity from all angles: creating characters, shaping poems, drawing on your imagination.
We offer a specially curated group of English literature modules that are designed to complement your creative writing. You’ll gain knowledge of a variety of literary, dramatic and film texts, from a range of different periods. This course aims to foster your independent thinking, using the close reading and analytical skills that are fundamental to both English literature and film.
We place a strong emphasis on small-group learning within a friendly and supportive environment. Workshops are central to our creative writing community, helping you to form relationships with your peers and feel more confident about your work.
In the latest National Student Survey, 100% of our students said teaching staff are good at explaining things (National Student Survey 2024, responders from the Department of English Literature).
Modules are taught by practising, published authors who have strong links with professional writing communities. We regularly invite published authors to read from their work and participate in teaching.
We’ll help you develop your creative writing skills in a variety of settings:
The Department of English Literature fosters a creative writing community that is friendly, cohesive and committed. As well as learning from lecturers, you’ll learn from each other by sharing your work-in-progress. Outside the classroom, you can share your ideas with the University’s creative writing group, Scribblers, which is run by students from across the University.
You will also have the opportunity to publish your work – and gain experience in editing and publishing – by participating in our online creative writing magazine.
On your film modules, you’ll pursue your passion for film with leading academics and visiting practitioners, and apply what you’ve learned through practical filmmaking modules.
Experience the theoretical study of film from the late nineteenth century to the modern day, including world cinema, avant-garde and experimental filmmaking. Explore the cinema of classical and contemporary Hollywood, together with new forms of digital entertainment and video art. You can also investigate television from its origins in the mid-twentieth century to contemporary engagements with new media and digital platforms.
You’ll have the opportunity to participate in group-based practical work, which will help you develop your creativity, storytelling and practical skills. You will develop your creative writing skills in the context of film and television, culminating in a creative research project or a dissertation in your final year.
Combine the study of ground-breaking theory with practical application, using our purpose-built £11m Minghella Studios facilities that feature:
Throughout your degree you will be thinking about the career choices that will enable you to thrive after graduation: we will help you put in place the skills and experience that you need to launch that career. You also have the opportunity to undertake a Professional Placement Year in the third year of our degree.
You will be assisted by our Placement Team, which will support you to secure a placement and prepare for the year. Placements give you a fantastic opportunity to explore potential future careers and to put your academic learning to work in a professional context.
In your second year, you can spend a semester studying abroad at one of our partner institutions in the USA, Canada, Australia, or countries across Europe. To find out more, visit our Study Abroad site.
