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Undergraduate courses 2024/25

Creative Writing and English Literature, BA Hons

With our creative writing and English literature degree, you'll explore great literary works and be inspired to find your own creative voice.

Our degree in creative writing and English literature explores literature, drama, poetry, fiction, visual art and theatre, mostly from 1800 onwards. You will examine the works themselves and the social and historical contexts in which they were written. The creative writing aspects of the course complement this, enabling you to focus on writing fiction, poetry, performance writing, playwriting, screenwriting and journalism.

Popular career options for our creative writing and English literature graduates include professional writing, research, teaching, journalism, publishing and arts administration. You can continue your studies or move into areas such as teaching with one of our postgraduate degrees.

UCAS points

112 (view full requirements)(full requirements below)

Course/institution codes

QW38 G BA/CWEng

Location

Greenwich Campus

Duration

  • 3 years full-time
  • 6 years part-time
  • 4 years sandwich

Start month

September

Home/international fees 2024/25

£9,250 /£17,000

What you should know about this course

  • This course provides a grounding in literature from the Renaissance to the present day. Literature is interpreted broadly to include drama and visual narratives.
  • It combines English literature and creative writing in order to develop an understanding of literary texts through both study and practice.
  • You will develop your voice as a writer and a professional by broadening your creative and industry skills.
  • Produce work for the stage and screen, and gain proficiency in writing for online media.
  • The course provides a structured framework for the development of your creative work, with regular feedback from lecturers.

A look at the Greenwich area's literary history


From print to screen, the Greenwich area - and even our campus - has played backdrop to some pretty well-known stories.

What you will study

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Course information is currently unavailable for this programme. Please contact course-info@gre.ac.uk for more information.

About the course team

You will be taught by an experienced team of professional and qualified writer/practitioners with industry experience. Our research and consultancy work informs our academics, and over 90 per cent of our lecturers hold a teaching qualification.

If I could use one word to describe the University of Greenwich, I'd say community. Students come from all walks of life. It has changed me immeasurably and for the better.

- Ryan Bryce, BA Creative Writing and English Literature, 2020

Come and meet us

We are offering virtual events so that you can still experience how Greenwich could be the right university for you.

Next Open Days

Got a question?

To find out more about our Open Days and Campus Tours or if you need any assistance, please email opendays@gre.ac.uk.

Entry requirements

If you are

Qualifications

  • 112 UCAS Tariff points. We accept A Levels, T Levels, BTECs, Access to HE and all other qualifications with UCAS Tariff points.
  • In addition, you will need: GCSE Mathematics at grade 4/C and GCSE English Language/Literature at grade 4/C. Equivalent qualifications may be considered.

Contextual Admissions

  • We make Contextual offers to this programme. Applicants that meet specific eligibility criteria will be made a contextual offer with a reduced tariff of up to 16 UCAS Tariff points. Other entry requirements such as GCSEs, Interview, etc., will still need to be met. For further information, please see our Contextual Admissions Policy.

For more information, contact courseinfo@greenwich.ac.uk or 020 8331 9000.

You can also read our admissions policy.

The University of Greenwich accepts a broad range of international qualifications for admission to our courses. If you cannot find your country on this list, please contact international@gre.ac.uk.

Choose your country:

Further information about entry

For more information, contact us at courseinfo@greenwich.ac.uk or call us on 020 8331 9000. You can also read our admissions policy.

Available to overseas students?

Yes

Can I use Prior Learning?

For entry: applicants with non-traditional qualifications or appropriate professional experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

For exemption: If you hold qualifications or courses from another higher education institution, these may exempt you from modules of this degree.

How you will learn

The following data is based on the compulsory modules for this programme.*

* Compiled from modules taught on 2023-2024 courses.

Teaching

In a typical week learning takes place through a combination of:

Learning takes place through a combination of timetabled learning and independent study.

You can view more information about how each module is taught within our 'What you will study' section.

Seminars and workshops enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups. You will also be able to meet your personal tutor. Timetabled learning may fall between 9am and 9pm depending on your courses and tutorials.

Class sizes

Lectures are normally attended by larger groups, and seminars/tutorials by smaller groups. This can vary more widely for modules that are shared between degrees.

Independent learning

Outside of timetabled sessions, you are also expected to dedicate time to self-study. This will involve further reading and research, preparing coursework and presentations, completing writing exercises, and preparing for workshops. You will be expected to read the work of other students and to contribute your own writing on a regular basis.

You can use our Stockwell Street Library and online resources to support you in these activities.

In addition, during the week you can also:

  • Attend additional support classes in some modules
  • Attend guest lectures from industry experts
  • Take part in employability and enterprise workshops
  • Join student societies.

Overall workload

If you are studying full-time, you should expect the workload to be similar to a full-time job. For part-time students, this will reduce in proportion with the number of courses you are studying.

Each module you study towards this degree is worth 30 credits. This represents around 300 study hours. If you receive 50 contact hours for a 30-credit module, you should expect to commit 250 hours to independent study to complete it successfully.

Assessment

Students are assessed through a combination of assessment methods depending on the modules chosen.

You can view how each module is assessed within our 'What you will study' section.

Each course has formal assessments which count towards your grade. Some courses may also include 'practice' assignments, which help you monitor progress and do not count towards your final grade.

Feedback summary

We aim to give feedback on assignments within 15 working days.

Dates and timetables

The academic year runs from September to June.

Full teaching timetables are not usually available until term has started. For any queries, please call 020 8331 9000.

Official statistics on Discover Uni

Full time

Part time

Fees and funding

Your time at university should be enjoyable, rewarding, and free of unnecessary stress. Planning your finances before you come to university can help to reduce financial concerns. We can offer advice on living costs and budgeting, as well as on awards, allowances and loans.

Full time Part time Distance learning
Home £9,250 £2,312 per 30 credits N/A
International £17,000 £4,250 per 30 credits N/A

Accommodation costs

Whether you choose to live in halls of residence or rent privately, we can help you find what you're looking for. University accommodation is available from £126.35 per person per week (bills included), depending on your location and preferences. If you require more space or facilities, these options are available at a slightly higher cost.

Accommodation pages

Funding your study

There is a range of financial support options available to support your studies, including the Aspire@Greenwich award for study resources that many full-time students will receive.

EU students may be eligible for a bursary to support their study. View our EU bursary to find out more.

Discover more about grants, student loans, bursaries and scholarships. We also provide advice and support on budgeting, money management and financial hardship.

Financial support

Trips: On some modules, you may take occasional field trips to museums, galleries and theatres. Some of these are free, while others require a contribution (usually 50% of the ticket cost). Some trips may be tied into assessments, but alternative arrangements can be made if you are unable to pay.

Resources: Course texts and other study resources are available from our Stockwell Street Library. You may wish to purchase your own copies.

Careers and placements

Will I have a work placement?

This course can be taken in sandwich mode, which means you can take a year to work in industry between your second and final years of study. Sandwich placements are relevant to your degree subject and are paid roles. It is the very best way of preparing you for successfully finding a job quickly when you graduate.

You will also have the option to select a module for which you will be required to undertake a short-term placement. The module will be assessed on your reflection on this placement and how you can apply your knowledge to the workplace. Many placements are found through our network of industry contacts, and students are supported in securing these.

How long is my placement?

Sandwich placements last for between 9-13 months. Work-based learning module placements are normally one day a week for either one or two terms depending on the number of credits available from the module.

What are the financial arrangements?

Sandwich placements are paid roles whereas work-based learning module placements are normally unpaid.

What sort of careers do graduates pursue?

The skills you acquire through studying our courses will prepare you for careers in a wide range of industries and jobs. Graduates of this course have gone on to pursue a career in research, journalism, publishing, the media or arts administration, or central or local government. You may even become a professional writer.

There is also the option to continue your studies or move into teaching or social work by studying for a postgraduate qualification.

Are internships available?

Students are encouraged to take up Summer internships during the Summer holidays, though it is up to the student to find them. Support is available to students from the Employability and Careers Service when applying for placements and internships.

Do you provide employability services?

Employability activities take place all the time at Greenwich and students are encouraged to take part in as many opportunities as possible. The central Employability and Careers Service provides support for students preparing to apply for placements and graduate roles, such as CV clinics, mock interviews and employability skills workshops. In addition, your School has a dedicated Employability Officer who will be organising work-related activities throughout the year which will help you to build you industry knowledge and networks.

Support and advice

Academic skills and study support

We want you to make the most of your time with us. You can access study skills support through your tutor, our subject librarians, and our online academic skills centre.

Where appropriate, we provide support in academic English and mathematics. If you need to use particular IT packages for a specific module, we provide training for this.

Accommodation information

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Not quite what you were looking for?

We've got plenty of other courses for you to choose from. Browse our undergraduate courses or check our related courses below.....

English at the University of Greenwich

Whether you’re studying great works of literature, the language itself or are being inspired by great writing to find your own creative voice, you’ll learn on a UNESCO World Heritage Site in one of the world’s great cultural capitals.

Visit our English degrees page.

Think ‘English’ - our top tips!


Looking for some tips to get you thinking about either studying English Literature or Creative Writing at undergraduate level? If so, look no further - our subject teaching teams have a few suggestions which might help.

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Apply now

If you are a UK student or have settled/pre-settled status (EU) and you want to study full-time then you apply through the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS).

If you are a UK student or have settled/pre-settled status (EU) and you want to study part-time then you can apply directly via our online application form.

If you are from outside the UK, you can apply via UCAS, directly via our online application form or via one of our in-country representatives. If you require a student visa, you cannot study part-time at undergraduate level.