Undergraduate study

Take part in stimulating creative writing workshops in a range of genres, that can be counted towards an undergraduate degree or taken independently.

The aim of our creative writing (CREW) courses is to develop the imaginative capacity, individual literary skills and voices of emerging writers in a stimulating workshop environment.

Workshops are available in in: poetry, short fiction, writing for the young, creative nonfiction, Māori and Pasifika creative writing, world-building, television scriptwriting, writing for theatre, and long-form fiction, as well as a changing programme of summer workshops.

We offer undergraduate CREW courses in specific trimesters each year. Our undergraduate timetable shows our current offerings in each trimester. It also links to individual Course Finder pages for more detailed information, including prerequisites, and a downloadable flier is available for each course.

Course format

Each CREW course is limited to 12 students, which means that entry is competitive. The quality of the writing sample submitted with an application will be central to the selection process.

Undergraduate CREW courses normally consist of 12 three-hour workshops over one trimester.

Workshops provide a forum for the close discussion of students' writing, the study of appropriate genre readings, and writer visits. They are not lectures and are not available on Blackboard. Successful applicants are expected to attend all workshops in person, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Each student submits a portfolio of work at the completion of the course, which is assessed on a pass/fail basis, with written reports provided by the workshop convenor and one external reader.

Creative writing within an undergraduate degree...

Undergraduate CREW courses can be counted towards an undergraduate degree and a minor in Creative Writing is available. (See below.)

One 200-level creative writing course may be included in an English Literature major. CREW 353 Writing for Theatre may be included in a Theatre major with approval from the Head of School. Contact your Faculty or Student Futures for more information.

...or independently

If you are not currently enrolled at Victoria University of Wellington, you can still apply to take an individual CREW course, or courses to support your development as a writer. See 'If you are not currently enrolled' on our How and when to apply page and contact the IIML if you have any questions.

Creative Writing minor subject requirements

You must complete at least 60 points selected from CREW 200–399, including at least 20 points at 300 level to meet the requirements for a minor in Creative Writing.

From 2023, SCIS 316 (Writing About Science, Health and the Environment) can also contribute to a minor in Creative Writing.

You should discuss the idea of a minor in Creative Writing, and how to structure this, with your Faculty advisor in advance of applying.

All CREW courses have 'limited entry' status, so we cannot guarantee entry into any particular course.

A minor in Creative Writing will suit students whose degree is not too prescribed; allowing you to apply for several CREW courses over the period of your degree and then arrange the minor retrospectively if you obtain the necessary points.