About This Course
This exciting course is aimed at students who want to study Creative Writing (for example: fiction, poetry, scriptwriting) and combine this with the study and/or practice of Music. This course course will equip you with a lively grounding in the practical and critical skills required in these exciting creative fields.
Creative Studies and Media at Bangor specialises in three key areas: Creative Writing, Professional Writing, Journalism; Media, Film and Cinema Studies, New Media; and The Entertainment Industries and Performance Arts. The School has research interests in all areas of the Creative Industries, with research programmes running in several key areas: Creative Writing, Critical Writing about Creative Writing, the dimensions and enhancement of Creativity, Publishing and Bookselling, Hollywood and European Cinemas, New and Digital Media, Performance and Nation, Creative Mobile Technologies, Celtic Film and Media, Creative Industries Policy and Management, Children's Picture Books, Postcolonial Film and Media, Creative and Critical Understanding, Digital Versatile Disk, Critical Responsiveness for Creative Practitioners, Interactive Television and Podcasting.
Why choose Bangor University for this course?
- We have dedicated facilities, and are world renowned as both a research and teaching School.
- The University has a dedicated Creative Studies and Media building situated overlooking the beautiful Menai Strait and housing its own digital cinema, performance space, creative writing and journalism room and WIFI meeting area. It is also the home of a number of national and international research, development and outreach programmes in creative writing and creative industries.
- The University has a fully equipped Media Centre, with editing suites, new media suites, production studios and media equipment available to students.
- Bangor has been the location of a number of festivals, is a regular site for visiting creative writers, musicians, film- and media-makers and dramatists, and encourages students to engage widely with such areas as new media, journalism and cross-arts activity.
- We are committed to teaching in small groups and the majority of our modules are delivered through weekly workshops or seminars.
- This course is strengthened by Bangor's close links with many outside bodies, including the international creative writing community, in the USA, Australasia and Europe (i.e. fiction, poetry and scriptwriting specialists), and those working in the field of Music. Staff are practising professionals, who work on joint projects and act as advisers to research councils, arts councils and other bodies.
- Sponsorship and scholarship opportunities are available on a competitive basis.
- Final-year projects are often carried out in collaboration with a company and could include working in a team with students from creative arts degree courses.
Course Content
For more on studying degree courses see our Study at Bangor section.
Music and Creative Writing offers a balance of practical and critical tasks. In Creative Writing you will explore a variety of forms, specialising as you progress through the degree in that form you find most interesting and rewarding (e.g. short story or novel writing, poetry, script and screen writing, writing for children, new media writing, writing for performance, writing for particular genre). In Music modules are also either practical or critical. Much of your study will be done in small group teaching.
What will you study on this course?
Please click on the link below to see the modules current students on this course are studying.
Modules for the current academic year
Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Music and Creative Writing Modules page.
Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.
Course Costs
Music:
Mandatory Costs:
Core module (WXM 1002, The Study of Music): purchase of text book A History of Western Music: £25 (usual price £39) or core module (WXC 1002, Astudio Cerddoriaeth): purchase of text book Hanes Cerddoriaeth y Gorllewin: £15 (usual price £25) [earlier edition of the English version].
Although we are moving to online submissions as of AY 2017-18, a minority of modules may require students to print out a copy of the assignment (i.e. they will not be suitable for online submission). These costs will vary according to students.
Necessarily Incurred Costs:
Instruments, instrument consumables (e.g. reeds, strings), instrument repairs, will vary from student to student.
Pontio concert tickets - varies, but on average around £50 a year.
Optional Costs:
Optional year 1 module, Composition (WXK 1011) or Cyfansoddi (WXC 1011): purchase of text book, Composing Contemporary Music or Cyfansoddi Cerddoriaeth Gyfoes: £10 (usual cost £15).
Optional year 3 module, Teaching in Context (WXM 3270): DBS check, if applicable (may not be to all students, depending on project chosen): £44.
Software (if students wish to work at home rather than on campus).
Sheet music (if students wish to have their own copies rather than using those in the Library).
Optional trips (e.g. annual BBC National Orchestra of Wales workshop in Cardiff) – cost varies.
Additional Tickets for School Graduation Tea: £10 per head.
Creative Studies:
Necessarily Incurred Costs:
Students are encouraged to purchase core texts for modules; the price for the core texts is typically between £20 and £50 per 20-credit module. All software is provided on University systems, but students may choose to purchase copies from software distributors for personal use.
Optional Costs:
These can include School graduation events, optional field trips, Welcome Week trips.
General University Costs
Home (UK) students
- The cost of a full-time undergraduate course is £9,000 per year (2021/22 entry and 2022/23 entry).
- The fee for all placement, international and sandwich years is £1,350 (2021/22 and 2022/23).
- More information on fees and finance for Home (UK) students.
International (including EU) students
Additional Costs
There are also some common additional costs that are likely to arise for students on all courses, for example:
- If you choose to study abroad or take the International Experience Year as part of your course.
- If you attend your Graduation Ceremony, there will be a cost for gown hire (£25-£75) and cost for additional guest tickets (c.£12 each).
Course-specific additional costs
Depending on the course you are studying, there may be additional course-specific costs that you will be required to meet. These fall into three categories:
- Mandatory Costs: these are related to a particular core or compulsory module that you’ll be required to complete to achieve your qualification e.g. compulsory field trips, uniforms for students on placement, DBS Check.
- Necessarily Incurred Costs: these may not be experienced by all students, and will vary depending on the course e.g. professional body membership, travel to placements, specialist software, personal safety equipment.
- Optional Costs: these depend on your choice of modules or activity and they are shown to give you an indication of the optional costs that may arise to make sure your choice is as informed as possible. These can include graduation events for your course, optional field trips, Welcome Week trips.
Entry Requirements
Please also check with the School of Music and Media for any additional requirements.
For 2021 entry:
For joint degrees, look at the entry for your other chosen subject. For all Music courses the ability to read staff notation is required. Typical offer is based on a minimum 120 tariff points from a Level 3 qualification* e.g.:
- A Levels (including grade B in Music or in conjunction with alternative qualifications listed below **)
- International Baccalaureate Diploma (including grade H6 in Music)
- BTEC National/Extended Diploma in Music: DDM
- Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: DDM**
- City & Guilds Advanced Technical/ Extended Diploma: considered case by case**
- Access: Pass**
- Welsh Baccalaureate is accepted.
- Points from grade examinations are taken appropriate, not normally included in the offer.
International Candidates: school leaving qualifications and college diplomas are accepted from countries worldwide (subject to minimum English Language requirements). More information here.
We also welcome applications from mature applicants.
*For a full list of accepted Level 3 qualifications, go to www.ucas.com.
**Can be considered in conjunction with grade B in A level Music; or merit in the ABRSM/ Trinity/LCM/Rockschool Grade 5 T ade 7 Practical; or IB Higher in Music.
General University Requirements
To study for a degree, you’ll be asked for a minimum of UCAS Tariff points. For a fuller explanation of the UCAS Tariff Points, please see www.ucas.com.
We accept students with a wide range of qualifications and backgrounds and consider each application individually.
All students need to have good basic skills and the University also values IT and communication skills.
As part of the University’s policy we consider applications from prospective disabled students on the same grounds as all other students.
We also consider applications from mature students who can demonstrate the motivation and commitment to study a university programme. Each year we enrol a significant number of mature students. For more information about studying as a mature student, see our Studying at Bangor section of the website.
EU and International Students' Entry Requirements
For detailed guidance on the entry requirements for EU and International Students, including the minimum English Language entry requirement, please visit the Entry Requirements by Country pages. International applicants can also visit the International Education Centre section of our website for further details.
Bangor University offers International Incorporated Bachelor Degrees for International students whose High School qualification is not equivalent to the UK school leaving qualification. The first year (or Year 0) is studied at Bangor University International College, an embedded College on our University campus and delivered by Oxford International Education Group.
Careers
Opportunities at Bangor
The University’s Skills and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions.
The Bangor Employability Award (BEA)
The BEA is a comprehensive online course that you can work through at your own pace, taking you through all the steps you need to take to explore, prepare and apply for your dream career.
Internships
Bangor University runs a paid internship scheme within the university’s academic and service departments.
Student Volunteering
Volunteering widens your experience and improves your employability. Find out more about the volunteering on the Students’ Union’s website.
