Overview
Have you always dreamed about writing your own novel or publishing your own work?
On this BA (Hons) English and Creative Writing degree course, you’ll fuel your writing with inspiration drawn from the study of great literature. You’ll develop your voice and hone your craft under the guidance of published authors, poets and playwrights.
This course provides you with the skills and market awareness to succeed in disciplines such as writing, editing, publishing and teaching.
What you'll experience
On this English and Creative Writing degree course you’ll:
- Develop your ability to write as a critic and creator, and become an expert in the history of literature, its modern trends and how the written word is evolving
- Learn techniques for producing short stories, poetry and plays and learn to dissect, critique and perform your writing
- Tailor your studies, choosing module options that match your interests and career ambitions
- Publish your work in our annual anthology and course blog
- Learn from visiting professional novelists, poets and playwrights, such as Andy McNab, Francesca Beard and Suzi Feay
How you're assessed
You’ll be assessed through:
- short stories
- a novel in progress
- a screenplay
- a collection of poems
- a video production
- presentations
- reports
- a research portfolio
- examinations
- dissertation/project
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.
You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.
The way you’re assessed may depend on the modules you select. As a guide, students on this course last year were typically assessed as follows:
- Year 1 students: 8% by written exams, 17% by practical exams and 75% by coursework
- Year 2 students: 8% by written exams and 92% by coursework
- Year 3 students: 100% by coursework
Work experience and career planning
To give you the best chance of securing a great job when you graduate, our Careers and Employability service can help you find relevant work experience during your course.
We can help you identify placements, internships, voluntary roles and freelancing opportunities that will complement your studies, build links in the industry and enhance your writing portfolio.
Placement yearAfter your second year, you can spend a year putting your writing skills into practice on an optional placement. This gives you valuable workplace skills and builds your CV. You’ll have access to Creative Careers; a team within the faculty helping students to find placement opportunities within the creative industries. They’ll provide you with a database of placement vacancies, support with your job search, including help with applications and interviews, and support throughout your placement, should you need it.
We have plenty of links with potential employers. Previous students have taken a placement year with big name organisations, such as:
- Red Apple Creative, working as an audiobook production assistant
- Debenhams, working as an editorial assistant
Interested in running your own business on your placement year instead? You can start up and run your own company for a year as an alternative to a work-based placement. You'll work with fellow students to build and launch a successful venture.
Careers and opportunities
When you complete this course, you'll have the necessary knowledge, skills and market awareness to enter a variety of creative careers. You could also go on to postgraduate study or research.
What can you do with an English and Creative Writing degree?
Previous graduates have gone on to work in areas such as:
- creative writing (prose, poetry, script)
- copywriting
- publishing
- advertising and marketing
- arts and events management
- local and community broadcasting
- teaching
What jobs can you do with an English and Creative Writing degree?
Roles our graduates have taken on include:
- editor
- publishing assistant
- copywriter
- information abstractor
- narrator
- projects administrator
You'll get help and support from our Careers and Employability service in finding your first role and for 5 years after you graduate.
