Bachelor of Creative Arts - Creative Writing

Course Description

A major study in Creative Writing in the Bachelor of Creative Arts (BCA) degree at the University of Wollongong offers both a practical and theoretical understanding of writing practice. Following an introductory subject on writing fundamentals, students specialise in one or more of the following areas: poetry, prose fiction, and scripting for either film and television or for the theatre. From second year additional subjects are offered in non-fiction forms (Arts journalism), in editing, and in scripting/scoring sound texts. Third year subjects are geared towards refinements of writing technique and aspects of style; annual based subjects allow for the development of larger scale writing projects. Throughout the course students are involved in the critical examination of developments in poetics and writing theory. In general, class activities are based around a combination of lectures, intensive workshops, writing exercises, group discussions and individual student presentations. The course regularly makes use of various artist and writer-in-residence schemes. Students are encouraged to participate in public readings and performances of their work as well as in the active pursuit of publication. For outstanding students, a fourth year is available at honours level.

It is expected that applicants for a major study in Creative Writing will have developed a body of work in either prose fiction (short story or novel), poetry or some form of dramatic writing, and be able to demonstrate an ongoing and independent commitment to writing.


Students enrolling in the BCA and BCA double degrees are required to complete:

1. A Major Area of Study in the BCA
The major study is comprised of compulsory subjects which focus on practice and includes compulsory history and theory subjects.

and for students enrolled in a BCA double degree only:

A major area of study in the second degree (for information, please refer to the other Faculty from which the second degree will be taken).

2. Elective Subjects
In addition to subjects required for their major study area/s, students choose elective subjects which make up the total credit point requirement for the degree/s. A limited range of electives are offered by the Faculty of Creative Arts. However, students are encouraged to take advantage of the full range of subjects offered within the University. Please note that elective subjects may be limited in double degree programs.


Degree Structure

Each subject is allocated a credit point value. Generally, subjects that take a full year to complete (annual subjects) are valued at 12 credit points, while subjects undertaken for one session (sessional subjects) are, on average, valued at 6 credit points. Normally a full-time student undertakes 48 credit points per year. Thus a degree requiring 144 credit points, such as the BCA, will normally take three years to complete (3 x 48 credit points).

Compulsory subjects (totalling 108 credit points) for a major study in Creative Writing are:

100 Level