Creative Writing
Exceptional introductory course in Creative Writing at the University of Sydney
For centuries, Australia has produced some of the world’s most renowned professional writers, from Richard Flanagan and Patrick White to Jill Ker Conway. The summer programme supports the development of a creative writing practice across a range of literary forms, with a focus on the importance of fiction and non-fiction in our changing world. The curriculum will introduce you to all phases of the writing process, including idea generation, writing and editing, revising drafts, and more.
Creative Writing Partnerships
We partner with WestWords to bring professional authors to our Creative Writing programmes. With extensive experience in supporting everybody on their writing journey, from career writers to aspiring young minds, we couldn’t think of anyone better to support our Creative Writing programme in Australia.
Learn directly from expert academics from world-class universities
Academic Insights is taught by expert tutors from the Universites of Oxford and Cambridge who will travel to Sydney from the UK to lead the course, offering exceptional teaching quality on the other side of the world.
You will explore novel concepts and share ideas in small groups of like-minded and ambitious peers from around the world. In small class sizes averaging 7 students, you will be guided by expert tutors who have honed their expertise through teaching undergraduate students at world-class universities, including the universities of Cambridge and Oxford.
Our rigorous vetting process guarantees that all participants are taught by engaging and supportive educators who are, most of all, enthusiastic about sharing their expertise to ensure our summer school teaching is of the highest quality. Immerse™ is an unrivalled academic experience.
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Average class size of 7
Maximum class size of 10 students -
1:1 tutorials
Supportive, challenging and engaging -
Academic workshops
Develop a practical understanding of your subject -
World-class tutors
Academics travel from Oxford and Cambridge
Boost your confidence and develop key attributes in academic skills workshops
Our workshops are geared towards unlocking participants’ potential, giving them the tools to prepare for the next steps of their education and future goals. Build upon existing study skills to support future university-level learning.
These workshops explore a diverse and enriching range of topics – past examples have ranged from ‘Productivity tips’ to ’21st Century Technology Skills’. We’re sure that you’ll learn something completely new. Unlike traditional schools, Immerse allows you to learn beyond the traditional curriculum.
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Certificate & detailed participant evaluation
All participants receive an individual report from their tutor -
Personal project
Develop a personal project to present at the end of the course -
Live like a University of Sydney undergraduate
An authentic experience of university life -
Admissions insight
Interview skills, academic writing and presentations
Example tutor:
Nicholas M
Guest speakers from previous summers
Abi Oyepitan
Dr Nigel Warburton
Dr Lynda Shaw
The Immerse Creative Writing programme has been great. Lesson times are a perfect 2 hours in the morning, 2 hours in the afternoon, with lots of time to go and experience the town and have activities in the evenings.
I’ve really enjoyed being around people who have the same interests as me. Being able to share opinions and listen to feedback has been really valuable.
My tutor has been great. He’s very passionate about writing and he’s very engaging with the class. He listens to all our thoughts and our opinions on everything that we study – he’s been brilliant.
The programme has been a very good opportunity to get a grasp on what university is like – It gives us an opportunity to make new friends, which is good for your social skills, and you get an idea of what university classes might be like.
The curriculum is nothing like I’ve ever seen before, which is great. It’s nothing like what I do at school, which means I have the ability to experiment, and learn new things and along the way just improve my general skills.
Explore Sydney with our Social and Cultural Programme
We are proud to offer an exceptional social programme which provides an exhilarating tour of Sydney. This includes activities like a cruise around Sydney Harbour, a sports tournament on Manly Beach and a murder mystery night in the college.
There is also a full day excursion during the programme to explore the iconic landmarks Sydney has to offer, including Sydney Opera House, the Australian Museum and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Activities and excursions are run by our team of friendly mentors who are current University of Sydney students and city experts.
Live and study in
Sydney
Experience life as a University of Sydney undergraduate
St. Paul’s College offers a wide range of modern and heritage facilities located in the heart of the University of Sydney.
St Paul’s was the first university college in Australia. Alumni include two former Prime Ministers, three High Court judges, Supreme Court judges and 29 Rhodes Scholars, as well as influential figures in business, the law, science and the arts.
The college offers comfortable accommodation used by Sydney undergraduates during term-time, allowing for an authentic educational experience that blends immersive study with our exceptional social and cultural programme.
The college is perfectly situated to explore Sydney’s iconic landmarks including Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House, Royal Botanic Garden and the Australian Museum.
Pastoral care and safety
An accredited provider of academic short courses
Immerse Education is accredited by the British Accreditation Council (BAC), the leading mark of educational quality for the academic sector. Our accreditation with the BAC sends a positive and clear message to students and partners that they are studying with a trusted and reliable provider who has met a series of globally recognised quality assurance standards, both in terms of academic provision and student welfare.
The safety and well-being of our participants is our number one priority, and all staff undergo enhanced background checks and receive thorough safeguarding training before interacting with any students.
For more information, please visit our Pastoral Information page.
Immerse's mentors and
college managers in Australia
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PoppyMentor -
SophieMentor
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JemMentor
Immerse™ Creative Writing Sample Modules
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Module 1 - The Blank Page
Beginning a creative project can often be daunting, even for experienced writers. During this module, you will look at various techniques for overcoming the fear of the blank page, including a range of warm-up exercises and quick-fire short assignments, as well as gaining inspiration from the work of other writers. -
Module 2 - Character Creation
Creating a character who lives beyond the page is one of the biggest challenges for an author. In this module, you will discover a variety of techniques for building a memorable character. From creating CVs and family trees to 'mapping' relationship networks in order to identify potential sources of conflict in their lives. -
Module 3 - Plot Mapping
With a fresh understanding of how to build character, dialogue and much more, you will turn your attention to the plot. In this module, you'll address the importance of moulding ‘tension points’ and ‘turning points’ in our stories, as well as the creative possibilities of ‘plot twists’. -
Module 4 - Written Portfolio
The Creative Writing programme concludes with a workshop devoted to the portfolios-in-progress. By this point you will have completed a short written piece. You will have the opportunity to present your work to the class and receive constructive feedback from your tutor and peers.
Request syllabus overview
Request syllabus overview
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Pre-enrolment for 2025
