University of Leeds, the United Kingdom
University of Leeds| The award | How you will study | Study duration | Course start | Domestic course fees | International course fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA | Full-time | 3 years | September | GBP 9250 per year | find out |
Balance the creative and the critical sides of your English studies on this prestigious degree. The School includes leading poets and academics who are experienced creative writers. You'll be taught by researchers of international significance whose expertise spans the historical and geographical spheres of English literary tradition.
Our region is one of the most important in the history of English literature, and amongst our alumni are poets and writers of historical and contemporary significance.
You can study literature from Old English to the contemporary period, including American and postcolonial literature and world theatre. You'll produce creative work across genres, including fiction, poetry, plays, life writing, screenplays, short fiction and/or travel accounts.
This degree combines creativity with critical thinking, developing transferable skills in research, communication, and project management that employers seek.
Leeds has fantastic facilities for English and Creative Writing students and the School of English has a rich history of creative writing. We regularly host readings and talks by well-known and emerging contemporary writers and you'll have access to a vibrant community of researchers and creative practitioners. The highly respected literary magazine, Stand, is produced in the School, and publishes the best in new and established creative writing.
Our alumni and former staff include founding figures of African national literatures Wole Soyinka and Ngugi wa Thiong'o, poets of great acclaim such as Geoffrey Hill and our current Professor of Poetry Simon Armitage, and J. R. R. Tolkien, the leading fantasy writer of all time.
The world-class Brotherton Library has an array of archive, manuscript and early printed material in its Special Collections, including extensive archives of prominent contemporary poets including Simon Armitage and Tony Harrison. All of this will be valuable for your independent research, and the University Library offers training programmes to help you make the most of our resources.
Course content
This new and exciting degree programme allows you to combine creative writing with the critical study of English literature and/or language.
In your first year, you'll study foundational modules in English Studies and Creative Writing, designed to help you to make a successful transition to university study. You'll develop your skills as a critic and as a writer, explore key literary genres, and we'll introduce you to literary theory and criticism.
In the following year, you'll continue working with our creative writing experts to develop and diversify your creative portfolio. You'll choose from core modules focusing on different historical periods to explore how literature has evolved over time. You'll also choose from a wide range of option modules, from Jacobean drama to African literature, crime fiction stylistics, and specialist creative writing options.
This choice of core and option modules continues into your final year, when you will also produce the highlight of your degree - your Final Year Project. This creative project, on a topic of your choice, will showcase your development as a skilled writer and a creative and critical thinker.
Course structure
These are typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Entry requirements, fees and applying
Entry requirements
A-level: AAA including English (Language, Literature or Language and Literature) and not including General Studies or Critical Thinking.
Career opportunities
A degree in English with Creative Writing equips you with a range of transferable skills in addition to your subject knowledge. Your skills and experience as a flexible and imaginative writer will open up a range of pathways within the creative industries.
You'll be an excellent communicator who can present and defend your views clearly, whether verbally or in writing, and be confident working independently or in a group. You'll have strong organisational and time management skills from managing your own workload. Crucially, you'll be able to conduct thorough research, interpret and analyse complex information and then think critically about what you find to draw your own conclusions.
All of these qualities are very attractive to employers, and graduates from the School of English have gone on to find success in diverse careers within and beyond the arts. They include the creative industries, advertising and marketing, education, journalism, law, publishing, radio and television as well as administration, business and finance, charity work, the civil service, management, management consultancy and social welfare. Many have also progressed to postgraduate study.
Read more about employability and careers in the School of English.
Careers support
We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That's one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.
Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.
The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.
Study abroad and work placements
Study abroad
On this course you have the opportunity to apply to spend time abroad, usually as an extra academic year. The University has partnerships with more than 400 universities worldwide and popular destinations for our students include Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa and Latin America.
Find out more at the Study Abroad website.
Work placements
Practical work experience can help you decide on your career and improve your employability. On this course you have the option to apply to take a placement year module with organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors in the UK, or overseas.
Find out more about work experience on the Careers website.
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English Language and Literature BAContact University of Leeds to find course entry requirements.
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