Best Universities for Creative Writing

Creative writing draws students at postgraduate level for a number of reasons. For some it’s a passion for the art and craft of stories, leading them to advanced study where they can strengthen their skills and develop as an artist. For others, it’s the prospect of applying their creative skills in exciting roles ranging from authoring books to writing screenplays, poetry, marketing materials or more. 

Whatever your reasons for studying, creative writing is an excellent way to develop strong skills in writing, imagining, reviewing and storytelling, as well as cultivating discipline and empathy. 

There are plenty of creative writing programmes to choose from at postgraduate level, many with areas of focus or applications to certain forms or industries. It can be difficult finding and shortlisting your ideal study options, so we created this guide which highlights some of the best universities for creative writing.  

Best Universities for Creative Writing 

The Complete University Guide 2024 league tables are a definitive guide to the best universities and colleges for creative writing in the UK, bringing together various data points and categories to help you find the top institutions and courses. There are three universities which have topped the overall league table for creative writing, making them the logical place to start when researching your postgraduate options. They are: 

• University of Birmingham 
• University of Strathclyde 
• University of Warwick 

Top choice for Student Satisfaction 

Student satisfaction is a key factor for postgraduate students of all kinds and should be a prime consideration for you, as a prospective creative writing postgraduate. It looks at the overall experience of students at their university, and whether they feel they are receiving a constructive and positive learning experience for their money. It’s a reflection of teaching quality and the facilities on offer, supporting services and extracurricular activities, and the lifestyle offered across the campus or city. 

In terms of student satisfaction, the best university for creative writing is Nottingham Trent University. 

Go to: Search for creative writing courses at Nottingham Trent University

Top choice for Graduate Prospects 

This category measures the success of students after their studies, and how equipped they feel to access and secure professional opportunities and achieve their career goals. For creative writing students, this will relate to things like professional skill training in the curriculum, applied learning, options for placements and real-world experiences and relevant career guidance. 

When it comes to graduate prospects, the best university for creative writing is the University of Birmingham. 

Go to: Search for creative writing courses at University of Birmingham

Top choice for Research Quality 

Research quality is a category that describes the standard of research that a university puts out, as well as the capacity for students to get involved in and be informed by relevant, impactful research activities. It’s influenced by the expertise and output of a university’s academics, the quality of research facilities and its links to research groups and industry partners. 

For creative writing students, research quality will be primarily related to research achieved through creative practice, as well as understanding the interface between creative writing and society. 

The best university for creative writing, in terms of research quality, is Newcastle University. 

Go to: Search for creative writing courses at Newcastle University

Ranking Information Source   

The Complete University Guide’s league tables have been used to source the ranking information for this article. The league tables use data from the National Student Survey, the Higher Education Statistics Agency and the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, and the rankings are calculated using the Complete University Guide’s own methodology. 

Go to: See the 2024 Complete University Guide creative writing subject league table 

Student reviews 

Student reviews, found through Whatuni, are an excellent way to gain a more comprehensive understanding of students’ experiences at studying at a university, adding to the information provided in the Complete University Guide tables to help you identify your best uni for creative writing. 

One university that particularly shines due to the high ratings and reviews it receives, including many five-star ratings, is Leeds Arts University. One reviewer wrote, “If you have any issues, you can rely on getting help from the university! Support is amazing.” 

Go to: Search for creative writing courses at Leeds Arts University

More universities for studying Creative Writing 

There are more than 260 postgraduate programmes in creative writing available across the UK, offered by over 115 different universities. Which such a wide range of choice, tools like our course finder are an excellent way to browse, shortlist and select the programmes that best suit your needs and aspirations.  

Next: Search for creative writing courses