Creative writing courses

Learn how to tell a captivating story

Help me choose a course

Introduction to Creative writing

Discover practical online writing courses that will help you grow as a writer. Whether you want to pen the next great Australian novel, create poetry, or write for the fun of it, there’s a study option to suit you here.

Choose from full qualifications, or specialise in a specific area with a short course.

Either way, you will learn from published authors and editors who can guide you towards wherever you want to be in your writing career.

Explore creative writing courses
writing-andrew
Andrew studied professional writing and publishing with Curtin University through Open Universities Australia

Discover creative writing courses

Online creative writing subjects and short courses

Griffith University

Writing the Short Story

UndergraduateGRF-CWR111

Study method
100% online
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Start dates
Starts 14 Jul 2025

Next enrolment closes 6 Jul

Curtin University
Study method
100% online
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Start dates
Starts 1 Sep 2025
Murdoch University
Study method
100% online
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
University of Tasmania

Writing for Performance

UndergraduateTAS-FPB255

Study method
100% online
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
View all subjects

Online creative writing degrees

Macquarie University

Bachelor of Arts

UndergraduateMAQ-ART-DEG

An arts degree that no one else has

Study method
100% online
Duration
3 years full time or part time equivalent
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.

Available majors

  • Ancient History
  • Creative Writing
  • English
  • Critical Indigenous Studies
  • International Relations
  • Modern History
  • Philosophy
  • Politics
  • Sociology
Griffith University

Bachelor of Arts

UndergraduateGRF-ART-DEG

Innovators, communicators and creators start here!

Study method
100% online
Duration
3 years full time or part time equivalent
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.

Available majors

  • Art History
  • Creative Writing
  • Criminal Justice
  • History
  • Journalism
  • Literature
  • Public Relations
  • Screen and Media Studies
  • Sociology
La Trobe University

Make the world a healthier place. Your way.

Study method
100% online
Duration
4 years full time or part time equivalent
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.

Available majors

  • Anthropology
  • Archaeological and Heritage Studies
  • Asian Studies
  • Creative and Professional Writing
  • Crime, Justice and Legal Studies
  • Digital Media
  • English
  • Ethics and Social Justice
  • Hindi Studies Beginners
  • History
  • International Studies
  • Linguistics
  • Philosophy
  • Politics
  • Sociology
  • Sustainabilty and Development
  • Visual Cultures
  • Digital Health
  • Environmental Health
  • Health Promotion
  • Health, Wellbeing and Performance
  • Psychological Science
  • Public Health
  • Rehabillitation Counselling
Curtin University

Graduate Certificate in Arts

PostgraduateCUR-ART-GCE

Embrace your creativity and build your expertise

Study method
100% online
Duration
6 months full time or part time equivalent
View all bachelor degrees

Need help choosing the right course?

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Creative writing study FAQs

What will I learn in a creative writing course?

Online creative writing courses are both inspiring and practical. You’ll be given the space to experiment with your writing, understand different genres, navigate the publishing industry and edit your own work.

Depending on your course, you’ll explore how to:

  • Develop a distinctive writing style

  • Think critically about other writers’ work

  • Write short fiction, long-form fiction, genre fiction, poetry and children’s fiction

  • Act on feedback

  • Deliver constructive feedback during virtual workshop discussions

  • Submit your work for publication

Can I specialise in a particular genre, like fiction, poetry or screenwriting?

Typically, your creative writing course will cover specialty areas like poetry, short fiction, genre fiction, or even travel writing, but the exact subjects on offer differ by course.

If there’s a specific area you’d like to explore, consider completing a single subject in that area. Single subjects are available on topics like:

  • Popular genre writing

  • Australian poetry

  • Poetry

  • Long and short fiction

  • Writing for children

  • Scriptwriting

  • Novel and novella writing

Will I get the chance to workshop my writing?

Yes. You and your peers are there to learn to better your writing, so workshopping your writing will form an important part of your course. Remember not to take constructive feedback personally. Your peers and tutors are there to help you become the best writer you can be.

Are there any networking opportunities with authors or publishers?

As you’ll be studying online, networking opportunities may be limited, although you’ll likely find plenty of published authors, editors, or agents amongst the teaching staff for creative writing degrees.

You may, however, want to explore events in this space on your own time. Writers’ festivals are held around the country, and there are genre specific writing events available throughout the year as well. Your university and classmates will likely make you aware of these events and encourage you to go.

How long is a creative writing course?

It depends on the course and whether you choose something short or long-term. Here’s a general guide: 

Course

Duration

Single subject

10-18 weeks

Short course

10-18 weeks

Undergraduate certificate

6 months (if full time)

Diploma

1 year (if full time)

Associate degree

2 years (if full time)

Bachelor degree

3 years (if full time)

Graduate certificate

6 months (if full time)

Graduate diploma

1 year (if full time)

Masters degree

2 years (if full time)

If you study a degree in creative writing through Open Universities Australia, you have the flexibility to choose how many subjects you take per term. This means you can complete your qualification at a faster or slower pace than you would on campus.

Is creative writing difficult to learn?

Creative writing is a skill that requires practice and patience—but it’s a skill anyone can learn with the right guidance.

If you can take constructive feedback to heart, have a love of words, and want to deepen your writing skills, a creative writing course could be the perfect fit for you.

Can I study creative writing while working part- or full-time?

Yes, you can! Many students who study creative writing online do so while working. When you pursue one of the online creative writing degrees available through Open Universities Australia, you choose your study load. You can drop down to as little as one subject per study term, or ramp up your workload and finish your course sooner.  

Do I need prior writing experience to enrol?

For undergraduate courses, like an undergraduate certificate or bachelor degree, you won’t need prior experience in writing. These courses are designed to give you foundational skills and experience.

Postgraduate study assumes you have some foundational skills in the subject area, but the level of experience assumed varies from course to course.

What careers can I explore after studying creative writing?

Creative writing graduates have the critical thinking and writing skills to work across many different industries. Graduates commonly pursue work as:

  • Authors

  • Journalists

  • Copywriters

  • Digital marketers

  • Magazine publishers and editors

  • Book publishers and editors

  • Screenwriters

  • Arts administrators

  • Teachers (further study is required)

How do I enrol?

Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.

When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Apply now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.

Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.

Please note that enquiries and applications for some courses are handled directly by the university. If this is the case, it will be indicated on the course listing page.  

For more information about enrolment, read our online self-service enrolling instructions. If you get stuck at any time, contact us and we’ll talk you through it.

Creative writing isn’t right for me. Are there courses in related fields?

Yes! There are plenty of options to choose from if you feel like creative writing isn’t the right fit for you. Use the table below to find a more suitable choice.  

If you want to  

Consider exploring  

Break the news and cover the issues important to the public  

Journalism courses

Explore how books and stories have shaped culture and history   

Literature courses

Help people access knowledge and provide a critical public service  

Library and information services courses

Use your writing skills in a wide range of settings 

Communication courses

Contribute to Australia’s vibrant film and TV sector 

Film & TV courses

Student stories and study advice

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Want to future-proof your creative career? Or pivot to a better paying role in the same field? We asked a recruitment expert about the skills employers in this sector are keen to see from candidates right now.

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Want to understand the psychology behind Trumpism? Push for better climate action? Or improve your cultural sensitivity in healthcare? These online subjects—and more!—are now accepting 2025 enrolments.

Never too late: How online study has helped Wendy change careers

In need of a change, Wendy left her teaching career to follow her dream of becoming a creative writer. But following a lot of rejection with her first novel she realised that online study was the pathway to getting published.

We’re here to guide you to the right uni course

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Over 532,578+ students have enrolled in university through us since 1993.

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Studying through Open Universities Australia means we take care of the guesswork and administration of university study, so you can focus on learning.

You don't need a strong academic history to go to uni

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As a not for profit, we have your best interests at heart. Our advisors are here 7 days a week to guide and support you. It’s our priority to get you qualified with the university of your choice.

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