Ever wonder why some people are so invested in reading that it is as if they are in their world? Or when movie buffs watch their favorite movie several times? Or for people who easily get carried away when they are watching plays? Well, we all know the backbone for everything that makes a movie, book, or play stick to people’s minds is because it is well written, and most probably, it is written by a creative writer, nonetheless.

There are many types of creative writing: screenwriting, novels, fiction, poetry, short stories, playwriting, and more. This article will not divulge all aspects of creative writing; rather, this is intended for international students who wish to seek a creative writing degree abroad. We have listed a couple of countries that offer exceptional study programs in Creative Writing. Have a look and check which country best suits you!

Is Creative Writing a Good Choice for a Career?

Absolutely! Creative Writing is still a good career choice for students who have a passion for making writings and selling their pieces. From this as a career, you can still have the opportunity of making a living from your work while still nurturing your skill and talent in creative writing. We have highlighted a list of countries that have institutions that will allow you to study further how to do more in creative writing. You can also check out our list of open courses on our website, which will help you in choosing any other courses if you have not completely settled on what you would like to study.

Top Countries to Study Creative Writing Abroad

1. Ireland

  • Reasons: friendly and welcoming country for international students, availability of scholarships, and post-study work visa

Ireland is a top country to study creative writing as it is a very welcoming country, especially for international students. Many Irish universities comprise a large percentage of students worldwide on their campus. One compelling reason students opt to study in the country is that universities offer scholarships. Students can avail of scholarships depending on the institution and study programs. Scholarships include the Walsh Fellowship, Trinity College Scholarships, Government Ireland Scholarships, and much more.

Another reason attracting students to complete a degree in Ireland is that the country offers post-study work visas to international graduates under the Irish Third Level Graduate Scheme. This allows graduates to stay in Ireland for around 24 months to look for full-time work, which will lead to acquiring a work permit as soon as employed.

Irish universities are one of the best in the world. Graduates of creative writing in the following institutions have gone through successful career paths. Universities to consider are the University of College Cork, Maynooth University, Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, and the National University of Ireland.

Learn About: How to Study in Ireland for Free

2. United Kingdom (UK)

  • Reasons: home of world-class writers, novelists, and playwrights, and countless work opportunities

The top country to study creative writing is indeed the United Kingdom. Undoubtedly, the country is the home of generating world-class writers, novelists, journalists, playwrights, and renowned professionals. This gives students a certainty that obtaining a writing degree in the UK would be more advantageous because graduates are highly employable as employers prefer graduates in the country over other universities abroad.

Institutions prioritize producing students to become highly skilled individuals and flourish in their career path of choice. Moreover, the best thing to have probably happened to international students is that they will experience living and studying in the same country where these renowned writers have obtained their education.

The UK also provides countless work opportunities for graduates of the field. The industry is in constant search of creative writers and professionals. They can very fit well in almost all industry that requires writers. They may even have a successful career as novelists, playwrights, and the list goes on.

Numerous universities are providing English and Creative Writing degree programs in the country; however, the following institutions offer the best and most structured study programs: the University of Oxford, the University of St. Andrews, the University of Birmingham, and the University of Strathclyde in Scotland.

3. Germany

  • Reasons: outstanding education, specialized study programs in Creative Writing, and practice-based learning

Germany is another excellent country to consider when studying creative writing as it has also been considered the home of many internationally acclaimed classic and contemporary writers. German higher education undoubtedly only provides excellent research and innovative study programs. Moving on, studying Creative Writing in the country, in general, can be extensive, and different industries require writers that acquire specific skills and talent. German universities offer a variety of well-structured specialized programs such as a degree program in screenwriting, creative writing in plays, songwriting, and more specializations. When pursuing a writing degree in Germany, international students must already consider what they aspire to be, having definite goals to be exact. They should have decided what specific career they would like to become as study programs in the country are designed explicitly for particular students’ needs.

German higher education incorporates a practice-based learning approach. This will help students gain skills and sharpen their critical thinking. An excellent opportunity for students to engage, experience, and develop professional competencies. Top-rated universities that offer specialized programs and use the practice-based learning approach are the Berlin University of Arts and the University of Hildesheim.

4. Hongkong ((HKSAR) – Hongkong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China)

  • Reasons: universities are highly ranked in Asia and globally, an international city that embraces the influence of Eastern and Western cultures, and institutions generating multilingual writers.

Hongkong may not be technically considered a country. Yet, this special administrative region in China is worth noting to be included in the list for creative writing programs. This city in Asia excels in generating contemporary writers and professionals. The universities situated in this city are highly positioned in Asia and global university rankings.

This multicultural city actively promotes quality education, and institutions invite international students to be part of their campuses. One fundamental learning approach incorporated in their curriculum is that every student will undergo intensive training and workshops to develop core competencies and skills, resulting in becoming multilingual writers upon completion of the programs. This gives an assurance that all graduates will be equipped with the desired skills and abilities that will help them quickly secure jobs in the competitive writing field.

Any university in Hongkong is likely a reputable one; however, when seeking a degree in creative writing, these regionally and globally acclaimed institutions provide the best among other universities: The University of Hongkong, Hongkong Baptist University, and the Education University of Hongkong.

Check Also: The Cheapest Universities in Hong Kong

5. Spain

  • Reasons: learning the Spanish language, diverse environment, and affordable cost of living

International students studying in this part of Europe have grown substantially over the years. Spain is one of the best countries to consider when planning to take up a creative writing program as it has gained much-needed attention from degree-seeking students and professionals seeking postgraduate studies. While there are many fields of study for which Spain is known, study programs in Creative Writing are just as exemplary. Moreover, since critical thinking is an essential skill that needs to be developed, students will be more than captivated by the country’s diverse environment. Such sceneries will help students to think out of the box and be more open-minded. Their experiences living in the country will encourage them to think more freely.

It would also not hurt to learn a new language while living in Spain, Spanish is a widely spoken language, and it is pretty much easy to understand than other languages. Acquiring a new language during your stay will let you engage with the locals quickly and eventually make new acquaintances and maybe broaden your network connections.

While many universities offer Creative Writing study programs in the country, Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Escuela de Escritores are just two institutions worth checking.

 

We hope that this article on the Best Countries to Study Creative Writing Abroad was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs for International Students to know more about topics like this!

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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