Please note, some locations may not have all intake periods available. See the full availability details for further information.
Effective storytelling connects and engages an audience, whether they read, watch or listen, and creative writing skills are highly sought after by industries worldwide.
Take the first step towards making your wordsmithing career a reality by studying with renowned professional writers. This course offers a rich blend of study across fiction and non-fiction, experimental writing, journalism, life writing, poetry, writing for stage and screen, and writing for young adults.
As well as being taught by published writers from the Northern Rivers arts community, you'll benefit from hands-on experience at iconic Australian literary events such as the Byron Writers Festival, the Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival and others.
Effective storytelling connects and engages an audience, whether they read, watch or listen, and creative writing skills are highly sought after by industries worldwide.
Take the first step towards making your wordsmithing career a reality by studying with renowned professional writers. This course offers a rich blend of study across fiction and non-fiction, experimental writing, journalism, life writing, poetry, writing for stage and screen, and writing for young adults.
As well as being taught by published writers from the Northern Rivers arts community, you'll benefit from hands-on experience at iconic Australian literary events such as the Byron Writers Festival, the Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival and others.
Current Southern Cross students – to access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook.
See the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, in conjunction with the Specific Award Rules listed below.
| Country | Score |
|---|---|
| Austria AMC | 3.7 |
| Bangladesh HSC | 3.3 |
| Brazil SSLC | 7.8 |
| Canada High School OSSD | 48 |
| Chile PSU | 6.0, overall 600/649 |
| China Gao Kao | 436 |
| Colombia CB (NAT) | 73, overall 300/349 |
| Denmark USSLE | 5.8 |
| France FB | 10.5 |
| German Abitur | 4.2 |
| Hong Kong HKDSE | 13 |
| India Higher Secondary School Certificate (best 4) | 7, 63% |
| Indonesia SMA | 7.8 |
| International Baccalaureate | 24 |
| Japan USSLC | 3.7 |
| Korea, Republic of, CSAT | 3.7 |
| Malaysia ICSSUEC | 65 |
| Malaysia STPM | 3 |
| Nepal Higher Secondary Education Certificate | 65 |
| Nepal Proficiency Certificate | 78 |
| Norway GPA | 1.3 |
| Pakistan HSSC | 29 |
| Papua New Guinea HSC (best 5) | 3.6 |
| Peru OCSE | 16 |
| Phillipines NSAT | 86 |
| Russia FCCSE | 4.1 |
| Saudi Arabia MESSLC | 78 |
| Singapore SCGCE | 14.5 |
| Spain SSSD | 7.8 |
| Spain SUOY | 4.5 |
| Sri Lanka GCE | 4 |
| Sweden SSLC | 1.5 |
| Taiwan GSAT | 50 |
| Thailand CSE | 42, GPA 1.7 |
| Turkey HSD | 3.7 |
| UK Board GCE A Levels | 12 |
| USA SAT & ACT | SAT 1350, ACT 18 |
| Vietnam (in 4 subjects) | 7.5 Average |
While this course has no majors, studies in fiction and non-fiction writing include:
Domestic students
| Location | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| Online | Session 1, Session 2 |
International students
Applications for this course are made directly to Southern Cross University via our online application service.
To be eligible to receive the Associate Degree of Creative Writing, students must complete the equivalent of 16 units (192 credit points) comprising:
To be eligible to receive the Diploma of Creative Writing, students must complete the equivalent of 8 units (96 credit points), comprising:
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complete all core units | |||||
| WRIT1003 | Written Communication | ||||
| CLST1005 | Unruly Subjects: Citizenship | ||||
| CLST2002 | Australia, Asia and the World | ||||
| CLST1004 | Critical Thinking for Digital Times | ||||
| CRTV1002 | Create: Innovate: Change | ||||
| WRIT1001 | Introduction to Written Texts | ||||
| WRIT1002 | Introduction to Creative Writing | ||||
| WRIT2004 | Short Story Writing | ||||
| WRIT2005 | Writing Genre | ||||
| WRIT2001 | Issues and Themes in Contemporary Writing | ||||
| WRIT2003 | Writing Lives | Note 1 | |||
| WRIT3002 | Introduction to Editing and Publishing | Note 1 | |||
| WRIT2006 | Writing for Young People | Note 1 | |||
| WRIT2007 | Writing Poetry | Note 1 | |||
| WRIT3001 | Theories of Text and Culture | ||||
| Choose one project unit | |||||
| COMM3004 | Independent Project | ||||
| COMM3002 | Professional Placement | ||||
| COMM3001 | Community Engagement Project | ||||
Your course progression is in the recommended order you should complete your course in. It is important that you follow this to ensure you meet the course requirements. Assistance on how to enrol can be accessed here.
Students should use course progression information to select units specific to their course and enrol in these units using My Enrolment
Browse uni-wide elective units by selecting Uni-wide elective in the advanced filter of the Unit search
Browse shared majors and their units at Shared majors
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Available | Notes | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part-time students should complete the first two units for Year 1, Session 1 and the remaining two units for Year 2, Session 1 and so on. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year 1, Session 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| CLST2002 | Australia, Asia and the World | Session1,3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT1001 | Introduction to Written Texts | Session1,3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT1003 | Written Communication | Session1,2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT1002 | Introduction to Creative Writing | Session1,2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year 1, Session 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT2006 - Writing for Young People OR | Note 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT2001 | Issues and Themes in Contemporary Writing | Session2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| CLST1005 | Unruly Subjects: Citizenship | Session2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| CLST1004 - Critical Thinking for Digital Times OR | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT2003 | Writing Lives | Session2 | Note 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT2004 - Short Story Writing OR | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT2007 | Writing Poetry | Session2 | Note 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year 2, Session 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT2005 | Writing Genre | Session1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| CRTV1002 | Create: Innovate: Change | Session1,2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT3002 | Introduction to Editing and Publishing | Session1 | Note 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT3001 | Theories of Text and Culture | Session1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year 2, Session 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT2001 - Issues and Themes in Contemporary Writing OR | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT2006 | Writing for Young People | Session2 | Note 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT2007 - Writing Poetry OR | Note 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT2004 | Short Story Writing | Session2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT2003 - Writing Lives OR | Note 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| CLST1004 | Critical Thinking for Digital Times | Session2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Choose one of the following: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| COMM3001 - Community Engagement Project OR COMM3004 - Independent Project OR COMM3002 - Professional Placement | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Available | Notes | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part-time students should complete the first two units for Year 1, Session 2 and the remaining two units for Year 2, Session 1 and so on. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year 1, Session 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT2006 - Writing for Young People OR | Note 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT2001 | Issues and Themes in Contemporary Writing | Session2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| CLST1005 | Unruly Subjects: Citizenship | Session2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| CLST1004 - Critical Thinking for Digital Times OR | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT2003 | Writing Lives | Session2 | Note 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT2004 - Short Story Writing OR | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT2007 | Writing Poetry | Session2 | Note 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year 2, Session 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| CLST2002 | Australia, Asia and the World | Session1,3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT1001 | Introduction to Written Texts | Session1,3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT1003 | Written Communication | Session1,2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT1002 | Introduction to Creative Writing | Session1,2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year 2, Session 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT2001 - Issues and Themes in Contemporary Writing OR | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT2006 | Writing for Young People | Session2 | Note 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT2007 - Writing Poetry OR | Note 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT2004 | Short Story Writing | Session2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT2003 - Writing Lives OR | Note 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| CLST1004 | Critical Thinking for Digital Times | Session2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Choose one of the following: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| COMM3001 - Community Engagement Project OR COMM3004 - Independent Project OR COMM3002 - Professional Placement | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year 3, Session 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT2005 | Writing Genre | Session1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| CRTV1002 | Create: Innovate: Change | Session1,2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT3002 | Introduction to Editing and Publishing | Session1 | Note 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRIT3001 | Theories of Text and Culture | Session1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note 1: | *This is a biennial unit |
Outstanding ratings of 'at world standard' or above in 23 research fields.
Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) 2018
Only 25 years young and ranked in the top 200 universities in the world.
Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2020
5-Star Student Support across undergraduate and postgraduate studies
Good Universities Guide 2021
Course Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a course. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes.
| Course Learning Outcome |
|---|
Apply critical analysis, reasoning and reflexivity to creative writing practices. Demonstrate the ability to develop a creative written piece incorporating a range of writing techniques. |
Develop innovative and creative textual responses to explore contemporary and historical social and cultural issues. |
Investigate and evaluate issues with reference to principles of creativity, according to ethical conventions in the humanities. |
Demonstrate a critical understanding of practices of creativity using a variety of conceptual frameworks. Demonstrate a command of at least one discipline within the range of writing genres. Apply theoretical ideas to understand and manage practical situations in creative writing. |
Access, interpret and evaluate sources of information relevant to the study of creativity and the writing discipline. |
Construct and present narratives in written text. Negotiate contested issues and work collaboratively with others to achieve mutually agreed outcomes. |
Demonstrate a cosmopolitan and multicultural commitment as well as a local perspective on social and cultural issues. Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to interact in a culturally competent way with Indigenous communities. |
Assessment tasks may include creative writing assignments, theoretical essays, tutorial presentations and participation, and creative-research projects.
On-campus students experience a variety of teaching approaches including lectures, tutorials, online activities and video-linked or podcast virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.
Our online study option is highly interactive and strives to promote collaboration and a sense of community. Students may receive a combination of podcast or video-linked lectures, electronic study materials, workshops, online discussion forums and virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.
As a graduate, you could launch a career as a novelist or scriptwriter; a food, nature, arts or travel specialist; feature journalist; critic and reviewer; essayist; poet; editor and publisher; or as a writer in government, corporate marketing and public relations, among other options.
Graduates of the Associate Degree of Creative Writing may also choose to continue to study for a further year and complete their Bachelor of Arts.
Opportunities exist for writing students to undertake work placements with Northern Rivers Performing Arts (NORPA) (an education partner of our University), the Byron Writers Festival, and the Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival.
You can undertake an optional professional placement unit of 70 – 100 hours in an appropriate organisation, developing your knowledge and skills.
Call 1800 626 481 during business hours.
Call +61 2 6620 3876 during business hours.
Email: enquiry@scu.edu.au
Call 1800 005 687 during business hours.