Creative Writing and Publishing with Foundation Year

Our four year foundation year offers the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence – with extensive support from our expert staff – before you advance to stage one of your honours degree. It could also be beneficial if you are planning a career change and want to get to grips with aspects of subjects which are new to you.

WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?
This flexible and innovative degree enables you to develop your writing skills alongside learning about the publishing industry. Learn the art, craft and processes of writing fiction and non-fiction; we'll cover writing for books, magazines, and digital content. Understand how today's publishing industry works and gain the skills you need to get your work — or the work of others — to market.

IS THIS COURSE FOR YOU?
If you’re looking for a degree to suit your needs and aspirations, with the choice of a wide range of optional modules, this course is for you.

HOW YOU WILL LEARN
You'll be taught in small supportive groups, using examples from contemporary and historical writing to inform your work. This course includes writing workshops and work-based projects with employers, to help you hone and apply your skills. You might be producing magazines and anthologies of student work, creating interactive eBooks, or crafting industry-standard TV and film scripts. By the end of your studies, you will have a portfolio of professionally developed and presented work to show to a potential employer.

OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES.
There are so many! Apply for professional mentoring or internships with independent publishers, literature festival planners and event organisers; write for one of our in-house publications to raise your profile and boost your experience; spend part of your second year studying in America – all these opportunities and more are there for the taking.

CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY
Prepare for any career in the literary world, whether you aspire to be a writer or to work in the publishing industry, including roles in editorial, design, production, sales, marketing, publicity and more.

Based solely on more than 24,000 student reviews, we were named Uni Compare's University of the Year 2027, and voted 1st in the UK for employability and 2nd in the UK for course quality. Not only that, but 97% of students would recommend the University of Derby*, which we can offer you industry-relevant teaching, state-of-the-art study spaces, multi-award-winning accommodation, and a welcoming, inclusive community.

*Uni Compare 2027