15 Creative Writing Programs for High School Students in the UK
- Stephen Turban
- 24 minutes ago
- 9 min read
If you’re in high school and enjoy writing in your free time, joining a creative writing program can be a good way to develop your interest further.
Why should I do a creative writing program in high school?
Creative writing programs give you time to focus on storytelling, writing exercises, and learning how writers turn their ideas into finished pieces. These programs also help you discover what type of writing interests you most. Some students enjoy short stories and fiction. Others become interested in poetry, scripts, or personal essays. Spending time in a writing program allows you to experiment with different forms while receiving feedback that helps you improve. Participating in a creative writing program can also strengthen your college admissions profile by showing commitment to your interests.
The UK has a strong literary culture, and several universities and arts organizations offer creative writing opportunities for high school students. Many programs include workshops, guided writing sessions, and opportunities to present your work. With that in mind, here are 15 creative writing programs for high school students in the UK!
Location: England; East Midlands, London, North West, Yorkshire
Cost: Free
Dates: 16-week terms, typically aligning with the school year
Deadline: No fixed deadline
Eligibility: High school students facing barriers (e.g., low-income, low attainers, EAL); school-based in East Midlands, London, North West, and Yorkshire
The First Story Young Writers Programme is a creative writing programme for secondary school students in England that runs throughout the school year. It places professional writers into partner schools to lead weekly workshops where students explore ideas, try different writing styles, and develop their own poems, stories, and creative pieces in a supportive setting. Over the course of the program, you will work toward producing a professionally printed anthology of your work and take part in celebration events, competitions, and regional activities for young writers. The programme helps young people build confidence, improve their writing skills, find their voice, and access further creative opportunities.
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions.
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school
The Academic Insights Program provides school students with an opportunity to take undergraduate-level classes at universities around the world. Participants work with academics from universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard in classes of 4-10 students. They attend university-style lectures and 1:1 weekly sessions with their tutor. The program includes practical experiences such as dissections in medicine, robotic arm building in engineering, or moot courts for law. Students can choose from over 20 subjects, including architecture, artificial intelligence, business management, computer science, economics, medicine, philosophy, and more. By the end of the program, they complete a personal project and receive written feedback and a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Multiple cities across Northern England (Manchester, Sheffield, Newcastle)
Cost: Free
Dates: Two-year program
Deadline: Recruits every two years
Eligibility: Ages 16-22, living/working/studying in Northern England
The Writing Squad is a two-year creative writing program for young people living in northern England. You will attend regular workshops led by professional writers where you work on poetry, prose, or other forms of writing. The program also includes one-to-one mentoring sessions and residential creative weekends. These activities give you time to develop projects while working with other young writers. Participants remain connected through the network even after completing the program.
Location: British Library, London, UK
Cost: Free
Dates: Specific dates vary
Deadline: No fixed deadline
Eligibility: For secondary students in Years 12–13 (typically ages 16–18)
The British Library Young Creators Lab is a programme that helps you learn how to create digital stories using the Library’s rich collections. Through interactive workshops, you develop skills in storytelling, research, video production, and social media, and then use these skills to produce your own short films or digital content on themes like identity, history, music, and change-makers. The program allows you to collaborate with peers, receive guidance from experienced mentors, and share your work on the Library’s platforms.
Location: School of Law, University of Warwick, Coventry, England (on‑campus and online)
Cost: Free
Dates: December 13, January 24, February 28, plus a celebration evening on April 29
Deadline: November 22
Eligibility: Year 12–13 students in state schools/colleges in the West Midlands
Writing Wrongs is a free writing‑for‑social‑justice program run by Warwick Law School for Year 12–13 students in the West Midlands who are passionate about human rights and inequality. You will attend three full‑day workshops led by professional writers, journalists, and academics, experimenting with forms while developing a polished piece on a social issue you care about. The program ends with a celebration event at Warwick, where you receive certificates, compete for publication in Lacuna Magazine and a paid internship, and get a stronger profile for future applications in Law, English, or Social Sciences.
Location: Goldsmiths, University of London (competitions and online workshops)
Cost: Free to enter
Dates: Not specified
Deadline: April 17 to register (submission deadlines follow later in the cycle)
Eligibility: Young people aged 16–18
Goldsmiths’ Young Writer Competitions offer a university‑linked creative writing pathway for 16–18‑year‑olds through a short‑story contest alongside related competitions in journalism and anthropology. After you register, you are invited to online workshops throughout the year led by academics and alumni, which help you hone your writing, get feedback, and learn more about studying creative subjects at university. You then submit a 1,000‑word short story for the Young Writer prize, with winners receiving cash awards and all shortlisted entrants gaining recognition and further contact with Goldsmiths’ creative‑writing community.
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Dates: Self-paced
Deadline: No fixed deadline
Eligibility: Recommended ages 9-17
The National Centre for Writing offers free online creative writing courses for young people that you can complete at your own pace from home. These courses provide step-by-step activities, writing prompts, and examples that help you explore different forms of writing, such as stories, poetry, and spoken word. Designed for children and teenagers, the program encourages you to try new ideas, practice regularly, and develop confidence in your writing through clear guidance and engaging tasks. It is a flexible and supportive way to improve your creative skills while learning in a comfortable, pressure-free environment.
Location: London, England (Bloomsbury district, with excursions to Oxford, Bath, and Lacock)
Cost: $7,550
Dates: June 16 – July 6
Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Open to high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors aged 14+
The CIEE Creative Writing & Culture Program takes place in London and runs for three weeks during the summer. You will attend instructor-led writing workshops where you practice fiction, poetry, and adaptation writing and develop your own creative portfolio. Classes include discussions, dramatic readings, and collaborative writing exercises with other students in the program. The course also incorporates literary excursions to locations connected with writers and British literature. Visits may include sites linked to Charles Dickens, Oxford University, Bath, and Lacock, which has appeared in film adaptations of Harry Potter.
Location: NTU City Campus, Nottingham
Cost: £545
Dates: July 20–24 and July 27–31
Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Ages 15-17; no prior experience required
Nottingham Trent University offers a one-week Creative Writing course for students aged 15–17 at its City Campus. During the program, you will work on different forms of writing such as short stories, blogs, and screenplays. Workshops and group activities focus on developing ideas and shaping them into written pieces. You share your work during sessions and receive feedback from instructors and peers. At the end of the week, you receive a certificate and keep the writing pieces you produced during the course.
Location: Across 14 West Midlands locations
Cost: £10 per 2-hour session or £100 for the full year (10 sessions)
Dates: June or July
Deadline: Rolling; No fixed deadline
Eligibility: Ages 7-11 (juniors, school years 3-6) or 12-17 (teens, years 7-13)
Spark Young Writers runs writing groups for young people in locations across the West Midlands. You will attend small sessions led by professional writers where you try forms such as stories, poetry, and scripts. Meetings usually last about two hours and involve writing prompts and group discussion. The program also runs writing challenges and publishes selected work in its online magazine. Sessions are available in person or online, depending on location.
Location: Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London, UK
Cost: £230
Dates: July and April
Deadline: March and July
Eligibility: Must be between 14 and 17 years old at the time of the course.
The Creative Writing for Ages 14–17 short course at Guildhall School of Music & Drama is a two-day, in-person weekend program in London designed for teens who want to explore and strengthen their creative writing skills in a supportive, workshop-style setting. You will experiment with poetry and fiction using prompts inspired by art, images, and music, while learning techniques to draft, edit, and shape your ideas into polished pieces. You receive individual feedback from a professional writer, take part in group discussions that help you see writing from new perspectives, and build confidence in presenting your work. The course ends with a small showcase where you can share your writing, and you may also be featured in a digital anthology of student work.
Location: University of London and Cambridge University
Cost: Residential: £5,995 and Non‑Residential: £4,950
Dates: July–August
Deadline: First come basis
Eligibility: Must be aged 15–18; fluent in English
The Lite Regal Education Creative Writing Summer Course is a two‑week residential programme held at top UK universities such as Cambridge and the University of London. The course will help you improve your writing through workshops and small classes covering fiction, poetry, drama, screenwriting, and journalism. You learn how to develop characters, plots, and your own unique style while also taking part in literary excursions, guest lectures, and fun social activities. Living on campus gives you a taste of university life, and by the end of the course, you leave with a portfolio of your work and a certificate of completion.
Location: University of Oxford, England
Cost: £6,995
Dates: 5 July – 18 July and 19 July – 1 August
Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to students aged 13–18
The Advanced English with Creative Writing course at the International Summer School for Teens UK is a two-week summer programme held at the University of Oxford. It combines strengthening advanced English skills, such as grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and academic writing, with creative writing practice in areas like storytelling, character development, descriptive writing, and poetry. Through interactive lessons, workshops, and practical assignments, you build confidence in both academic and creative expression, share your work with peers, and receive feedback that helps you improve. The programme also includes cultural and social activities, giving you a chance to experience life on a university campus while developing your writing skills.
Location: University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland, UK
Cost: £7,900 all‑inclusive for a three‑week residential program at St. Andrews
Dates: Session 1 – June 28 – July 19; Session 2 – July 22 – August 12
Deadline: Rolling; early application recommended as places and nationalities are capped
Eligibility: Students aged 13–18 from around the world
At ISSOS St Andrews, Creative Writing is one of the academic options within a three‑week all‑inclusive summer school hosted on the University of St Andrews campus. You will take Creative Writing as your main academic class, attending workshops that cover poetry, short stories, essays, song lyrics, and more, while learning drafting, revising, and narrative techniques. Afternoons and evenings feature elective classes, sports, and cultural activities, so you improve your writing, experience life at one of the UK’s top universities, and build an international network of friends during a fully residential program.
Location: In‑school across the UK, with festival and rehearsed readings at the National Theatre, London
Cost: £300 for state schools and £600 for independent schools per year; bursaries available
Dates: Year‑long programme running across the school year (typically autumn to July), with the New Views Festival in July
Deadline: Schools usually apply by early June for the following academic year
Eligibility: Students aged 14–19 at participating UK secondary schools and colleges
New Views is the National Theatre’s flagship year‑long playwriting programme for students aged 14–19. Your school works with a professional playwright who visits to run workshops, supports you through an online course, and mentors you as you write your own original 30‑minute play. At the end of the year, you submit your script to the National Theatre: a selection of plays is shortlisted for rehearsed readings, and one winning script is produced with a professional cast and creative team as part of the New Views Festival on the South Bank.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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