Writing Courses & Workshops Online & in London
Be inspired to write, and learn how to get published at the college where Andrea Levy, Malorie Blackman, Anna Burns, and other celebrated authors studied. Read our success stories to see what's possible for you as a writer.
Learn from published authors
Whether you're just starting out or ready to publish your first book, the benefits of our writing courses include expert tuition from a published author and feedback on your work as you develop your writing skills. There will also be opportunities to participate in group discussions and activities with fellow students.
Unheard Voices Scholarship
City Lit’s Malorie Blackman Scholarships for 'Unheard Voices' provide three annual awards to fund one year’s study within the Creative Writing department at City Lit. Learn more >
- Photography for beginnersCourse start date: Thu 1 May 2025 (and 17 other dates)
Location on this date: Kean Street Photography Studio
Tutors: Sara Leigh LewisAlways wondered what half the buttons on your camera actually do? Discover how to use them properly and produce impressive photographs, even as a complete beginner. Gain useful technical knowledge and get expert creative guidance in easy-to-understand language. An ideal first step before enrolling on our intermediate courses.Full fee £369.00 Senior fee £295.00 Concession £240.00 - Train the TrainerCourse start date: Sat 25 Oct 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Trevor England'Train the Trainer' is a practical 2 day course designed to help you gain ideas for effective facilitation and managing groups. It is suitable if you are thinking of becoming a trainer and want to gain confidence in planning and facilitating the training, or if you are an experienced trainer and want to refresh your practice. You will leave with some tools and techniques that will ensure your training is engaging and productive for your learners. On day 2 you will have the opportunity to deliver a short micro-training or interactive presentation. You are required to attend both days of this course.Full fee £189.00 Senior fee £189.00 Concession £129.00 - Contemporary watercolour painting projectsCourse start date: Sat 23 May 2026 (and 6 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Anne-Marie FosterThrough a set of short projects inspired by contemporary practitioners and their contribution to the uniqueness of the medium, the course will help you expand your understanding of watercolour and enable you to make informed choices in making personal work. It will also feature some approaches to painting, beyond the immediate western tradition to provide broader technical and critical insights.Full fee £389.00 Senior fee £311.00 Concession £253.00 - 50 drawings in a dayCourse start date: Tue 1 Jul 2025 (and 8 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Mario Lautier VellaA high energy programme of directed and self-directed drawing projects, with rapid shifts in materials, scale, subject and focus. Strictly no discards - come ready to play, risk, invent and discuss. For those with some drawing experience.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £129.00 - ITEC Level 3 Diploma in Massage: fast-trackCourse start date: Fri 2 May 2025 (and 9 other dates)
Location on this date: Kean Street Wellbeing Centre
Tutors: Oge OkohConsidering massage therapy as a career? Learn the theory and practice of massage at a professional level. City Lit is a leading training provider in London for Massage and Complementary Therapies, providing outstanding achievement at high industry standards. Our courses are taught by experienced and practising industry professionals who have current knowledge of the massage sector. If you’ve applied for this course and not heard back from us, please email us on health@citylit.ac.uk, or call us (Mon-Fri 10:00-17:00) on 020 8142 4577.
We have a limited number of free places on this course under the government's Free Courses for Jobs initiative.
The Free Courses for Jobs initiative is for Londoners aged 24 or over at the start of the course who are: on a low-income; or on certain benefits; or do not have a full level 3 qualification. For more information Click here
The course fee is £1599.00 payable at the time of your enrolment. If you are unable to pay the course fees, you can choose to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan from Student Finance England (SFE) to help cover the course fee, repayable after the course ends. You can find more information about the Advanced Learner Loan www.citylit.ac.uk/advanced-learner-loans
For more information, please call Health & Wellbeing on 020 8142 4577.Full fee £1,599.00 Senior fee £1,599.00 Concession £1,599.00 - Explore: GIF making for illustrationCourse start date: Sun 9 Nov 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sophie WolfsonThis one-day course is an introduction to creating animated gifs using hand-drawn illustrated images.
Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £89.00 - City Lit photography: developing practice and portfolioCourse start date: Sat 24 Jan 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
This course is a natural follow on from City Lit photography projects VY844 & VY878.
You will work on a self-set project for the length of the course.Full fee £399.00 Senior fee £319.00 Concession £259.00 - Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £59.00 Concession £59.00
- Business administration: using Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access in the office (intermediate-level 2)Course start date: Sat 30 May 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Hybrid (choose either online or in-person)
Do you want to learn the digital skills needed for office and administration work? On this course, you will focus on completing the keys tasks required to be a business administrator. You will learn how to produce high quality and well-presented documents such as minutes, formal letters and flyers using Word. You will develop your skills in producing presentations with PowerPoint that are visually appealing, modern and effective. You will also work in depth on how to use Excel and Access for data handling, processing and analysing, including how to enter and edit data, arrange and present it effectively, make calculations and highlights data trends.
This course is FREE if you are employed and on a low wage or you are claiming benefits. For more information Click here
Full fee £319.00 Senior fee £255.00 Concession £160.00
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