Creative Writing on Campus: What’s Happening in the UK?

Over the past ten years the number of university creative writing courses in the UK has more than doubled. This phenomenal growth is not without its points of debate. Now, with over 130 courses in which you can do creative writing at Bachelors level, 80 at Masters level, and with 25 PhD programs, the UK is the largest provider of creative writing higher education in Europe, and a key world player. But what does this mean? Most creative writing graduates, certainly at BA level, do not end up as practicing writers. Thus: what is the purpose of these degrees?