Extracurricular opportunities I can’t wait to explore as a FCW student

If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a second year Film and Creative Writing student at the University of Birmingham, it’s that proactivity is your key to success.

Why limit yourself to just your lectures and seminars, when there is a plethora of exciting opportunities for you to explore?

Whether it is listening to others or trying something for yourself, here are just some of the amazing opportunities I have spotted that you can be involved in as a Film and Creative Writing student right here in Birmingham!

Tackling Linguistic Discrimination Talk - 29th April 2026

Headed by Dr Christian Illbury at the University of Edinburgh, this linguistic discrimination talk will be discussing universities’ complicity in linguistic inequality that has now become present in courtrooms, professional interviews and in environments as small as the school classroom.

Are you a student who feels like they can’t take pride in how they sound? Perhaps you are embarrassed that you don’t sound ‘proper’? When I discovered that people in my seminars at university were masking their accents to ‘fit in’ I was appalled.

Coming from a small mining village in the East Midlands, I take great pride in my distinct regional accent, and every student should have the right to feel the same way.

 Our environments help define who we are as students, and it is the collaboration of these regional environments that make studying at institutions like UoB so exciting!

I believe in creating an environment where people shouldn’t be embarrassed by how they sound or where they are from in the country. I'm so excited to attend this talk as I believe it will provide much food for thought and help tackle accent bias in all walks of life.

One Minute Film/ 60 Word Story Competition - 1st May 2026

Do you think you could encapsulate a compelling story in just 60 seconds, or create a gripping piece of literature in a mere 60 words? Every year, the department runs the One Minute Film/ 60 word Story competition. This year’s theme is ‘resistance’.

You get the opportunity to flex your creative muscles - competing against students, staff and alumni! With some incredible prizes up for grabs, it is a perfect way to spend some free time in second semester, creating our next winning piece.

As someone who entered the competition last year, it was inspiring to hear so many creative voices and get an insight into how people had interpreted last year’s theme of ‘125’ (in honour of the university's 125th anniversary) differently! 

National Writers Conference - 13th June 2026

Supported by the University of Birmingham and Writing West Midlands, the annual National Writers Conference gives young writers a day of engaging panel discussions, insightful presentations and invaluable networking opportunities to elevate your craft to the next level.

Industry professionals share their expertise with you on subjects such as editing your writing, monetising your work and keeping your writing going when you hit the dreaded writer’s block!

Not only will this help prepare you for the industry as a young writer, but it also provides students with skills that will be utilised when embarking on creative writing modules such as Prose Writing in second year. It is perfect for students looking for that head start in their writing, and it is an unmissable event for potential future novelists and creatives!

DIY Arts Fest 2027

Organised by the Film and Creative Writing and Liberal Arts and Natural Sciences departments, the DYI Arts Festival is something all UoB students should have on their radar.

Usually centered around a film similarly to the FCW writing/film competition, it gives student total creative independence and a chance to collaborate with fellow classmates to create some really interesting and insightful work. The work is then championed in a showcase day at the end of the second semester, which allows students to simulate the creative festival experience while creating a unique and inclusive creative environment.

I hope you enjoyed reading about just a few of the many exciting opportunities available to Film and Creative Writing students at Birmingham. As I mentioned, proactivity is your key to success on this course, so what better way to make a start than by signing yourself up to some of these brilliant chances before they pass you by!

 Hopefully I’ll see you at some of them, but until then I hope this has been a helpful insight into what we have on offer right here in Birmingham!