We’ll explore the history of the novel and analyse a variety of published work. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to apply scriptwriting techniques to your own work, and we’ll also spend time interrogating some of the moral and ethical questions of creative writing.
Course Dates
Course details
Tutors
Key Features
Course highlights
During this part-time online diploma course, you will:
- strengthen your creative writing skills
- develop academic skills in research, analysis, evaluation and problem-solving
- prepare for further study at postgraduate level.
On completion of this course, you will be able to continue your studies by concluding a full bachelor’s degree with honours at The Open University. Find out more here.
Through close reading of published work across a range of genres, we will consider some of ‘the rules’ of writing and how to break them. We will also explore the art of writing for performance, and you will learn how to apply techniques used in scriptwriting to your own work.
As part of our learning community, you will:
- find out how a variety of literary elements can create original and high-concept fiction, with a focus on fantasy, tragedy, comedy and historical fiction
- study the fairy tale, from its first origins to modern-day magical realism and fantasy novels
- learn about the tragic hero and the fatal flaw in relation to shaping character and plot
- explore the modern historical novel and the most effective ways to bring the past to life
- discover how to overcome the obstacles of how, what and why we write
- study techniques used in writing for TV, film, stage and radio and examine how they are transferable to other forms of writing
- explore the art of adapting a story from a different medium.
Course breakdown
This course will run from 10 October 2025 to 10 June 2026.
Exact teaching dates and times will be confirmed in the course guide upon enrolment.
Michaelmas term: The History of the Novel: With special focus on fantasy, tragedy, comedy and historical fiction
- Course (unit 1) start date: 10 October 2025
- Unit 1 end date: Wednesday 7 January 2026
Lent term: Introduction to Fiction
- Unit 2 start date: Week commencing 5 January 2026
- Unit 2 end date: Wednesday 25 March 2026
Easter term: Writing for Performance
- Unit 3 start date: Week commencing 30 March 2026
- Unit 3 end date: Wednesday 10 June 2026
After the course
You may wish to take our other Diploma in Creative Writing: Advanced Non-Fiction. Students who have successfully completed both Diploma courses can apply to be awarded the Diploma of Higher Education in Creative Writing, worth 120 credits at level 5. You may also be interested in applying for our MSt in Creative Writing or our MSt in Writing for Performance.
Entry Requirements
To be accepted onto a Diploma course, you will normally have passed a Certificate (level 4) qualification, or international equivalent, in a relevant subject.
We are able to make exceptions, especially if you have evidence of relevant professional experience that demonstrates your suitability for the course.
Please tell us about any previous study or relevant educational and professional experience when you apply.
You are required to submit a short piece of your own writing with your application and this, as well as your application, will be reviewed by the Course Director or Academic Director, who will decide whether to make you an offer of a place. The sample should be between 500-1000 words, though an extract of this length from a longer piece would be acceptable and should be an original piece of writing written within the last year. Please include your writing sample with your personal statement on the application form.
If you are still unsure which academic level to study, would like an informal discussion on academic matters before making your application, or would like to know more about the admissions process, please use the 'Ask a question' button.
English language requirements
If you are applying to study an Undergraduate Certificate, Diploma or Advanced Diploma and your first language is not English, you will need to meet the requirements of one of the language proficiency tests below. Your test must be completed and the results submitted to our admissions team no later than Friday 5 September 2025.
IELTS (Academic), IELTS for UKVI Academic, IELTS One Skill Retake
Overall score of 7.0, with not less than 7.0 in Speaking, Listening and Writing, and 6.5 in Reading.
TOELF iBT or TOEFL Home Edition
https://www.ets.org/toefl.html
Overall score of 100, with no element below 25.
Cambridge English C2 Proficiency
https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/proficiency/
Overall score of 200, with no element lower than 185.
IT requirements
The course content will be delivered, and the learning outcomes met, through video-based teaching platforms and a dedicated course Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).
You will therefore need to have access to:
- the internet via a computer, laptop, tablet or other smart device
- speakers or headphones in order to hear any pre-recorded material
- a webcam and microphone for any interactive sessions which may be available
Identity Check
As part of your application you are required to provide a copy of your ID. At the beginning of the course, you will be required to attend a live zoom session, so that we can verify your identity. Please note we will not be able to issue the award if an identity check has not been completed.
As part of our open and inclusive learning environment, you can enjoy the world-class resources and expertise of the University of Cambridge wherever you are on your academic journey.
Our video-based teaching platforms offer a flexible way to access lectures, while our Virtual Learning Environment makes it easy to study and learn online and interact with your tutor and fellow students.
Our teaching methods include lectures, presentations by guest speakers and facilitators, and interactive and experiential learning activities. We will also give you reading and assignments to complete outside of classroom sessions.
You will be asked to submit an assignment at the end of each unit to demonstrate your learning. There are more details about how this course is assessed in the course guide we will send you once you have enrolled.
Qualifications
This course is equivalent to half of the second year of a full-time undergraduate degree. You will earn 60 CATS credits on successful completion. CATS credits are recognised by higher education institutions and employers.
The award of academic credit is a means of quantifying and recognising learning and within the UK, one credit notionally represents 10 hours of learning. This course attracts 60 credits, so you should expect to need to study for approximately 600 hours in total to complete all units successfully. However, it is recognised that students study at different paces and use a variety of approaches, so this is a recommendation, rather than a hard-and-fast calculation.
SEEC Credit Level Descriptors for Higher Education (2021) here.
The fee for this course is £3,300. You can either pay:
- in full when you enrol,
or - in 3 equal instalments: the first when you enrol, the second by 1 January, and the third and final instalment by 1 April. The exact dates will be confirmed in your booking details.
Important: your place on the course is not secured until we receive your first payment along with any required documents, such as proof of English language proficiency.
If you are offered a place, you will receive instructions as to how to register and pay.
Help with fees
We have many sources of financial support that you can explore.
Refunds
This course will require a minimum number of students to run. In the rare event that the course is cancelled by us, due to minimum numbers not being met, or for any other reason, you will receive a full refund of any fees paid.
Disability Support
The University’s Accessibility & Disability Resource Centre Non-Matriculated Service (ADRC NMS) provides advice, guidance, and resources to University of Cambridge Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) award-bearing undergraduate and postgraduate students who have a diagnosed disability or medical condition, including mental health conditions. The support provided can include:
- appointments with a Senior disability adviser or Neurodiversity disability adviser
- reviewing/assessing medical or diagnostic evidence
- production of a Student Support Document (SSD)
- signposting to sources of disability-related funds (Disabled Students’ Allowances [DSA], as well as other internal funds for home and international students)
- coordination of human support, such as specialist mentoring or specialist study skills
- neurodiversity screening service (Autism, Specific Learning Difficulties, ADHD)
- signposting to disability library services
- signposting to assistive technology and software support
If you would like to access support then please indicate this on your course application form and then complete the ADRC NMS online Student Information Form so they can work with you to fully support your studies. Please upload medical evidence (written in English) when prompted to within the Student Information Form. The following links to guidance on medical evidence or diagnostic evidence will help to answer any questions you may have.
If you have any questions concerning disability support then please contact the ADRC NMS team via [email protected] or view their website.
Wellbeing Support
It is important that all our learners feel safe in their learning environment and student wellbeing is our key priority. We have a dedicated Student Support team who can offer a variety of support mechanisms to those who are experiencing challenges maintaining positive mental wellbeing. The PACE Student Support Team are here to support you throughout the duration of your studies with us and can:
- meet with you via teams/zoom (camera can be off) to discuss any concerns surrounding your wellbeing, mental health, academic pressures, or welfare
- advise you on options and signpost you to appropriate sources of guidance which range from self-guided resources to wellbeing conversations
- direct you to specialist support and help concerning welfare, wellbeing, safeguarding and prevent
- in specific circumstances (where there is a clear need unmet elsewhere) provide access to counselling
- provide access to study skills resources
If you have any questions concerning learning support, then please contact us.
