Short courses

Our courses aim to support, inspire and create new opportunities.

• Reading English Literature
  This course aims to be enjoyable introduction to the study of classic and modern literature. Share your ideas, explore poetry and gain a greater understanding of Shakespeare.
• Mastering English Literature
  This course is for graduates in any discipline from any university who want to return to study and sharpen their study skills or prepare for the MA in English Literature at Bristol.

• Represent Your World: Write A Story Taster Course
  We run three 8-week taster courses a year for adults who would like to try University-level study in an open and supportive environment. These are free to join, with no prior qualifications required. The tasters are held at community organisations, across the city of Bristol, and priority is given to residents of the local area.

• Interpreting Shakespeare
  Deepen your understanding of a selected Shakespeare play with a leading Shakespeare director using theatrical and academic techniques of interpretation.
• Detective and Crime Fiction
  This course aims to be an enjoyable exploration of detective and crime fiction. Each year, we pick a different theme and gather together experts from across the University to explore a range of novels and short stories with you.
• Literature and Environmental Challenge
  This new short course will trace a history of Environmental writing through exploring a range of international fiction, poetry and literary non-fiction.

• Memoir & Life Writing
  How can we write about our lived experience? This course aims to encourage, support, and excite participants in engaging with creative writing in a safe and informal space.
• Travel and Nature Writing
  This exciting new 8-week short course will introduce you to the genre of travel and nature writing.
• Introduction to freelance journalism
  This course will introduce you to the nuts and bolts of journalistic writing.
• Poetry Now
  Poetry Now uses excerpts from recent poetry collections as a springboard for discussions about the current craft and context of contemporary poetry, as well as for prompts for your own work.
• Nature Writing
  This short course provides a rich and supportive forum for students to develop their nature/environmental writing (non-fiction).
• Writing your World
  This course enables students to use life writing techniques to write their own short story over eight weeks.
• Creative Writing Mentoring Scheme for intermediate writers
  Our mentoring programme is designed to provide intermediate writers with focussed support to help address specific issues they are facing in their writing. You will be matched with a mentor who has expertise in a genre/genres of your choice.

• Black History: Revisited
  Black History Revisited is a short course designed primarily to help mature students progress to a degree in the History Department. This course will provide you with historical knowledge and critical skills to understand contemporary debates around black history.