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 >
- Exploring Bach's cantatasCourse start date: Thu 15 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Edward BreenExperience the enjoyment of Bach’s church cantatas through study of selected examples and exploration of both music and biography. Break week : 19 Feb 2026.Full fee £269.00 Senior fee £215.00 Concession £188.00 - Aural training (solfa) 2BCourse start date: Thu 15 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Selena KayFurther develop your aural awareness with solfa.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £139.00 - City Lit contemporary collage projects 2Course start date: Thu 15 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
City Lit contemporary collage projects 1 initiates a year-long set of collage and mixed media projects designed to experiment with and examine the interplay between the two and three dimensions. You will work with a wide range of materials, on and off the wall, extending our pictorial practice into the realm of collage, painting, drawing, assemblage, bricolage, decoupage, photomontage, small scale constructions, printing and text within the context of mixed media.
Note* the course is designed in a way to enable students to either complete all three courses over the year or to come in at any stage in no particular order.Full fee £839.00 Senior fee £671.00 Concession £545.00 - Communication skills: developing your writing, speaking and digital skills through creating a radio programme (ESOL level 1-2)Course start date: Thu 8 May 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Do you want to develop your writing and speaking skills? Would you also like to improve your digital skills? On this course you will work on writing, enacting and recording short radio programmes about news items, arts, hobbies, and other areas of interest. By doing this, you will improve your communication skills including emphasising meaning, choosing the right words, speaking and writing concisely with the right tone and creating emotions. You will also focus on your pronunciation and fluency. You will work on how to edit and put together a programme. We hope we can distribute your programme to friendly listeners!
You need to do a pre-course assessment. Contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 8078 0489 for a face-to-face assessment or click the Start Assessment button on this page. Log on with your email address (not name).
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 £139.00 Senior fee £111.00 Concession £70.00 - Portraits 3Course start date: Fri 16 Jan 2026 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Aimed at more experienced students: take your existing knowledge of poraiture further and build your understanding of the genre. Undertake practical projects which enable you to develop a more personal approach to the character and identity of your subject. This course ideally follows Portrait 2.Full fee £479.00 Senior fee £383.00 Concession £311.00 - Vectorworks: intermediateCourse start date: Sat 17 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Nicholas WilliamsonRevise and develop your Vectorworks skills further and explore more advanced processes to create professional presentations of your 3D designs and plans. Suitable for those who have completed the Vectorworks for Beginners course or who have a good grounding in the basics of this professional application.Full fee £359.00 Senior fee £287.00 Concession £233.00 - Appraising jewellery and gemstonesCourse start date: Sat 26 Jul 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Judith Crowe, Derek JhinnooWish you knew more about the jewellery you were buying, or could value the heirlooms in your drawer? Join this fascinating two-day course to learn how to appraise gem set jewellery and stones. Explore precious metals, hallmarking, common gemstones found in jewellery and how to identify antique pieces, and bring your own jewellery for assessment by the tutor.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £169.00 Concession £169.00 - Use your voice assertively (online)Course start date: Sat 17 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Allis MossDo you want to sound more confident, grounded, self-assured and assertive? Improve your vocal skills through a series of exercises that will support you to become more vocally confident, expressive and dynamic without appearing arrogant. This course will be delivered online.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00 - Documentary photography and photojournalismCourse start date: Mon 19 Jan 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Holly Falconer, Catriona GrayA picture paints a thousand words. Develop your creative ability to communicate through photography and get a fascinating insight into the world of documentary photography and photojournalism. Work on assignments and location shoots, develop your technique and style, and explore the practical, theoretical and ethical dimensions of photojournalism.Full fee £389.00 Senior fee £311.00 Concession £253.00 - English communication skills - improve your confidence and fluency when you speak (entry 3-level 1)Course start date: Wed 21 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Do you want to speak more easily and communicate in English without translating from your first language? Do you think too much about what to say or write? Would you like your English to be more automatic? This course will help you become more relaxed when you speak and write English so you can be confident you can express yourself in a way people understand and not be worried about making mistakes. You will develop your fluency in both speaking and writing but you will focus more on speaking.
You need to do a pre-course assessment. Contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 8078 0489 for a face-to-face assessment or click the Start Assessment button on this page. Log on with your email address (not name).
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 £149.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £75.00 - ESOL: Learn English and learn about London, its people and your rights (entry 3-level 1)Course start date: Wed 21 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Do you want to improve your English and learn about London, its history, culture and people at the same time? And also learn about your democratic rights? On this course, you will visit places of interest and learn about the history of these places especially about the different people and cultures who have lived there, and about important events which have shaped the city. You will do your own research and so improve your reading and writing skills as well as your speaking and listening. In addition, you will learn about democratic systems in the UK, your rights and where you can find advice. By the end of the course, you will feel more at home in London and able to participate in its rich and diverse life.
You need to do a pre-course assessment. Contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 8078 0489 for a face-to-face assessment or click the Start Assessment button on this page. Log on with your email address (not name).
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 £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £90.00 - Experimental filmmaking: stage 2Course start date: Wed 21 Jan 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Monika KitaThis practical course is designed for those who have some previous experience in film in a fine art context or for those who have attended an experimental filmmaking course before.
During the course, you will push the boundaries of mainstream cinema and experiment with various techniques to express your artistic vision.Full fee £359.00 Senior fee £287.00 Concession £233.00 - ICM: Intentional camera movementsCourse start date: Thu 22 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ed GregoryCreate images using intentional camera movement (ICM). On this workshop course you will experiment with different techniques of camera movement to create abstract art with your digital camera.Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £167.00 Concession £136.00
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