BA (Hons) Creative Writing and Film and Screen Studies

Program Overview

The BA (Hons) Creative Writing and Film and Screen Studies program at Bath Spa University is a three-year, full-time course providing a vibrant and intellectually stimulating learning environment for aspiring writers and film enthusiasts. It is structured to progressively build foundational writing skills and film knowledge in the first year, explore diverse narrative forms and cinematic traditions in the second, and culminate in specialized creative writing workshops, advanced film studies, and a substantial interdisciplinary project in the final year. Students benefit from intensive writing workshops, engaging film screenings and discussions, hands-on filmmaking exercises, individual tutorials with experienced writers and film scholars, and collaborative projects. A key element involves fostering a deep understanding of how stories are conceived, crafted, and experienced across both the written page and the screen. The program fosters a collaborative and critically engaged atmosphere, encouraging students to develop their creative potential and analytical acumen in tandem.

Curriculum: The curriculum for the BA (Hons) Creative Writing and Film and Screen Studies program is designed to provide a comprehensive and integrated exploration of both narrative creation and cinematic analysis. Core modules typically cover fiction writing, screenwriting, and the study of key periods and genres of film history and theory. As students progress, they have the opportunity to specialize in particular creative writing genres through advanced workshops and to delve deeper into specific areas of film studies through elective modules, which may include documentary filmmaking, genre cinema, television studies, and adaptation. The program emphasizes the development of essential writing skills (plot, character, dialogue, structure) alongside critical film analysis skills (mise-en-scène, cinematography, editing, sound). Students will engage in intensive writing workshops where they create and critique original work, participate in lively discussions and debates about films, produce critical essays, and potentially collaborate on short film projects. The final year often includes a significant creative writing project (e.g., a screenplay, a short story collection) and a substantial piece of film criticism or a film studies research project.

Research Focus: The BA (Hons) Creative Writing and Film and Screen Studies program at Bath Spa University benefits from a research-informed learning environment within the School of Humanities and Cultural Industries and the School of Art, Film and Media. The faculty comprises experienced writers and film scholars who are actively engaged in their own creative practice and academic research across a wide range of narrative forms, cinematic traditions, and critical theories. This research informs the curriculum, ensuring that students are exposed to current trends in both writing and filmmaking, innovative storytelling techniques, and cutting-edge critical perspectives on screen culture. Students are encouraged to develop their own research interests through critical essays, presentations, and their final year interdisciplinary project, fostering intellectual curiosity and analytical skills relevant to both their creative and critical pursuits.

Industry Engagement: Bath Spa University's BA (Hons) Creative Writing and Film and Screen Studies program actively fosters connections with the literary and screen industries. The program may facilitate guest lectures by published authors, screenwriters, filmmakers, producers, and other industry professionals. Students may have opportunities to participate in writing workshops, film festivals, and networking events. The university often has its own student film productions and writing showcases. The curriculum may include modules focused on professional development, such as script development, pitching, and understanding the film and publishing markets, equipping students with practical skills for navigating these industries.

Global Perspective: The BA (Hons) Creative Writing and Film and Screen Studies program at Bath Spa University incorporates a global perspective by exploring diverse narrative traditions in literature and film from around the world, examining international cinema, postcolonial literature, and the impact of globalization on storytelling across different cultures and media. The curriculum may include the study of works by writers and filmmakers from various cultural backgrounds and the exploration of different approaches to narrative structure, character development, and cinematic language across the globe. The university's diverse international student body contributes to a global learning environment, fostering discussions and collaborations across different cultural perspectives on storytelling in both written and visual forms. Furthermore, the program may touch upon topics such as international co-productions, global film distribution, and the role of narrative in shaping cross-cultural understanding, preparing graduates to engage with a diverse and interconnected global media landscape.