Explore History, Culture & Writing

Have you wondered why a film might have moved you so powerfully or why it looked so stunningly beautiful? Have you wanted to know quite how a film was able to communicate its story to you so effectively? If so, then this advanced level film studies course is for you. It aims to explore in depth the language of cinema, the way in which film connects with its spectators at the level of film form, in other words, film aesthetics. Writers and critics have long asked similar questions, as have filmmakers themselves, and we will follow some of the most celebrated in their quest for answers. We will look briefly at how films are made and at the importance of cinematography, editing, mise en scène and sound, before exploring in depth film’s aesthetic qualities. We will think about the importance of history for the development of film form and we will analyse clips and sequences from individual films so as to better approach and understand film aesthetics.

On this course students will explore the basic skills a freelance journalist needs to write and sell news and features to newspapers and magazines. From developing ideas and identifying outlets to interview skills and approaching editors.

Turn your great idea into a short story on this fun practical course. Through a series of inspiring exercises, you'll be introduced to some key fiction writing techniques and encouraged to draft a short story from beginning to end. Suitable for beginners who are comfortable learning at a fast pace.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Got a great idea for a novel? Jump start your project in this supportive, intensive course that covers craft basics such as character and plot. For fiction writers with some experience, and for those comfortable working at a fast pace.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

The landscape of feminist fiction is rich and multifaceted. In this course we'll explore just a fragment to learn what lessons authors of feminist workscan teach budding writers of fiction. We'll read novels by Doris Lessing, Bernadine Evaristo, Mieko Kawakami, and others. We'll analyse, discuss and use these works to inspire and develop our own fiction. You will need to come to the first class having read the short works 'Woman at Point Zero', by Nawal El Saadawi, and 'The Yellow Wallpaper', by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Get inspired to write on this practical course for freelance journalists and bloggers. Learn to carry out research, interview people, pitch and publish stories, and build your presence on social media.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Write to unsettle, in this six-week trip through the techniques of horror fiction, learning from classic horror authors and contemporary masters of the genre.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

This course will help you develop techniques for transforming personal experience into fiction. You'll have the opportunity to improve your writing skills as well as your ability to give and use constructive criticism in a workshop environment.

On this course we shall explore and examine the considerable, and significant, contributions of women painters and sculptors to the avant-garde art world during the first half of the 20th century.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.