Creative Writing and English (Full-time) (BA Hons)
Our Creative Writing and English programme offers a rich balance of academic challenge and creative exploration, designed to support and inspire you as a writer. Here, you’ll explore writing in many forms – from fiction, poetry, and playwriting pathways to short stories, screenplays, and drama – all within a course that encourages you to develop as a writer and thinker. As you advance, you’ll deepen your understanding of writing skills and techniques needed for shaping and refining your creative voice.
Through studying literature and culture from a range of time periods, you’ll look at works from Anglo-Saxon Heroic literature to Renaissance revenge dramas, from Victorian narrative poetry to the bestselling novels of today. You’ll explore realist novels of the 19th century, contemporary poetry, and postmodern novels in a programme that embraces both classic and modern comparative literature. This dynamic subject encourages you to view literature as an evolving conversation that reflects and influences the world around us.
Our course also introduces you to the world of publishing, developing key skills in research and editing and covering the essentials of publication. These skills will not only improve your creative work but will also prepare you for roles in publishing and media careers. Working closely with experts, including award-winning writers and novelists, you’ll learn what it takes to edit and publish work at a professional standard.
In addition to engaging with literary guest speakers and attending events, you’ll be part of immersive learning that includes lectures, seminars, and workshop sessions. Small-group classes will allow you to discuss ideas with others and build your critical thinking and communication skills. This approach to learning supports both critical and creative practice, helping you to reflect on your work and engage in thoughtful discussion, which is essential for personal and professional development.
This degree in Creative Writing and English is more than just a study of texts; it is a journey into the craft of writing and the impact of literature on culture and society. Whether your interest lies in fiction, poetry, playwriting, or working within the publishing industry, this course provides the foundation and inspiration to turn your creativity into a lifelong skill and passion.
Course details
- Full-time
- On-campus
- English
Undergraduate Fees
Home (Full-time): £9,535 per year
Overseas (Full-time): £15,525 per year
Why choose this course?
What you will learn
Our teaching philosophy nurtures a supportive environment where students can explore and refine their creative voice. We balance creative freedom with critical guidance, so each student grows both personally and academically. Students engage with various genres and receive insights from experienced writers, all while being encouraged to build their own unique skills and perspectives.
In the first year, students focus on building a foundation in creative and critical writing. Compulsory modules introduce short story techniques, critical theory, and the essentials of writing as a career through “The Art of the Pitch.” Optional modules range from Shakespearean studies to ecocriticism, with unique opportunities to explore rare collections at the Roderic Bowen Library and Archives.
(20 credits)
Optional
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
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(20 credits)
(20 Credits)
Year 2 deepens critical engagement, with compulsory modules exploring 20th and 21st-century writing, speculative fiction, and Renaissance literature. Creative skills expand into writing for TV, film, and radio, alongside “The Art of the Pitch,” which develops professional writing insights. Students may also select from options like performance poetry and a professional placement, offering real-world experience.
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
Optional
(20 credits)
(60 Credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
In the final year, students refine their independent project, bringing together creative and research skills. Compulsory modules provide advanced critical theory and practical industry insight. Students may choose from diverse topics, including philosophy in literature and Renaissance poetics, while special collections research offers access to historical texts, fostering advanced research skills for future careers in writing or academia.
(40 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
Optional
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
Course Disclaimer
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The modules outlined above provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this course based on recent academic teaching. We continuously review our courses to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Where your course includes optional modules, these are to provide an element of choice within the course. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed.
You’ll typically complete 120 credits per year of study on a full-time course. For more information visit our Student Agreement.
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Staff
Our People
You will be taught and supported by a wide range of professional staff and teams here to help you get the university experience you are looking for. Our teaching staff were ranked 2nd in Wales for Teaching, Assessment and Feedback and Academic Support (NSS 2024) meaning that the support and feedback you get will help you learn and develop strong academic skills. Our students have placed us 1st in Wales for Learning Opportunities and Student Voice (NSS 2024) meaning that there are a wide range of opportunities available to enhance your studies and that students play an active role in shaping their learning experiences. Our commitment to your learning has seen our students place us as 1st in Wales and joint 3rd in the UK for student satisfaction (Times Higher Education, 2024, ‘Overall Positivity’ measure). Find out more about our academic staff who teach across our courses.
Further information
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96-112 UCAS Tariff Points - e.g. A-levels: CCC-BBC, BTEC: MMM-DMM, IB: 30-32
The UCAS tariff score is applicable to you if you have recently studied a qualification that has a UCAS tariff equivalence. UCAS provides a for you to work out what your qualification is worth within the UCAS tariff. į&Բ;
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GCSE grade A*-C (grade 9-4 in England) in English and Mathematics is also required. į&Բ; &Բ;
Admissions Advice and Support &Բ;
We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, such as your background, experiences and individual circumstances. This is known as ‘Contextual Admissions’. For specific advice and support you can contact our enquiries team for more information about entry requirements. į&Բ;
English language requirements &Բ;
If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests. į&Բ;
Visit the International Applications section of our website to find out more about our English Language Requirements and pre-sessional English Language Courses. &Բ;
Visa and funding requirements &Բ;
If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa. į&Բ;
For courses of more than six months’ duration you will require a Student visa. į&Բ;
International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. į &Բ;
For full information read our visa application and guides. į į&Բ;
Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.
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Some modules in this course are available to study through the medium of Welsh either fully or partially. In all cases students will be able to submit written assessments through the medium of Welsh. į&Բ;
If you choose to study your course either fully or partially through the medium of Welsh, you may be eligible to apply for scholarships and bursaries to support you with your studies. &Բ;
We are continuously reviewing our Welsh medium provision, the precise availability of modules will vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Where your course offers modules available through the medium of Welsh this may vary from year to year, and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means the availability of specific Welsh medium modules cannot be guaranteed. į
Extracurricular Welsh OpportunitiesThere are many ways to engage with Welsh culture and life at UWTSD, including joining clubs and societies for Welsh speakers and becoming a member of our vibrant Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol branch. į&Բ;
Opportunities to Learn Welsh
We also provide a variety of opportunities to learn and develop your Welsh language skills. į &Բ;
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The programme is assessed in a variety of ways and will include several of the following types of assessment: essays of 1,000 to 4,000 words in length, document analyses, book reviews, short reports and reflective journals, timed tests, take-home exams, field journals, posters, group and individual presentations, dissertations of 10,000 words, wikis, commentaries and film evaluations.
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The Faculty has estimated on the assumption that students buy new copies of the books. Students may also choose to spend money on printing drafts of work.
Students may spend up to £300 per year on books and additional related materials.
Students are expected to submit two hard copies of their final project, the estimated cost for binding these is £20.
Optional Field trip:
Faculty works to ensure that there are a range of fieldwork and field trip options available both locally and internationally. Thus students can opt to take either more expensive or less expensive placements. The Faculty subsidises these but the cost each year is dependent on airfare, location, and currency exchange rates. Below are the upper end of expected costs based on where students have currently done placements.Fieldwork (depending on where student decides to do fieldwork): c. £500 - £1,500
Individual trips: c. £5 - £50 -
You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit our Scholarships and Bursaries section.
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Career and employment opportunities are very broad and include:
- Administrative and managerial jobs
- Community Work
- Freelance work such as copywriting, editing
- Independent and commissioned creative writing
- Marketing and fundraising
- Publishing
- Teaching
- Writing for film, television and media