English and American Literature and Creative Writing with an Approved Year Abroad

The BA in English and American Literature with Creative Writing and an Approved Year Abroad at the University of Kent offers a comprehensive and enriching educational experience for students passionate about exploring the diverse worlds of literature and creative expression. This innovative programme combines rigorous academic study of English and American literary traditions with practical training in creative writing techniques, allowing students to develop their own unique voice as writers while gaining critical understanding of literary history, theory, and context. The inclusion of an Approved Year Abroad provides students with the invaluable opportunity to immerse themselves in a different cultural and linguistic environment, enhancing their intercultural awareness and language skills, which are essential in today's globalized world. Throughout the course, students engage with a wide range of literary periods, genres, and styles, from classical works to contemporary masterpieces, fostering critical insights and interpretative skills. They are encouraged to experiment with various forms of creative writing, including poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction, guided by experienced tutors and published writers. The programme promotes an interdisciplinary approach, integrating literary analysis with cultural studies, media, and communication to prepare students for diverse career paths in publishing, journalism, education, or the arts. The Year Abroad component can be spent studying at partner institutions across Europe or North America, offering students the chance to experience different academic environments and cultural perspectives, which can also inspire their creative work. With a strong emphasis on both academic excellence and creative exploration, this degree programme equips graduates with critical, analytical, and creative skills that are highly valued in many professional contexts. Students benefit from state-of-the-art facilities, dedicated writing centres, and access to a vibrant university community, fostering collaboration and creative innovation. Upon completion, graduates will possess a deep understanding of English and American literature, enhanced creative writing skills, and international experience, positioning them for successful careers in writing, publishing, media, arts management, or further academic research. This programme is ideal for individuals who are passionate about literature and creative writing and eager to contribute to the cultural and literary landscape both nationally and internationally.

Detailed Course Facts

Application deadline January 15 Tuition fee

• GBP 9000 Year (EEA)
• GBP 12450 Year (Non-EEA)

Start date September 2015 Credits (ECTS) 240 ECTS
Duration full-time 48 months Languages Take an IELTS test

• English

Delivery mode On Campus Educational variant Full-time More information Go To The Course Website

Course Content

The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules that will be available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules, you may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.

Stage 1

Possible modules may include:

EN333 - Romanticism

EN326 - Narrative Theory and Practice

EN327 - Poetry Theory and Practice

EN331 - Readings in the Twentieth Century

EN332 - Writing America

EN302 - Early Drama

You have the opportunity to select wild modules in this stage

Stage 2

Possible modules may include:

EN694 - Shakespeare and Early Modern Drama

EN692 - Early Modern Literature 1500-1700

EN681 - Novelty, Enlightenment and Emancipation: 18th Century Literature

EN697 - Chaucer and Late Medieval English Literature

EN689 - Modernism

EN695 - Empire, New Nations and Migration

EN672 - Reading Victorian Literature

EN675 - Declaring Independence: 19th Century US Literature

EN677 - The Contemporary

EN679 - Writing Fiction: Tradition and Context

EN674 - Writing Poetry Using Traditional Forms

EN685 - Elements of Fiction

EN686 - Writing Innovative and Avant-Garde Poetries

Year abroad

You have the opportunity to study abroad in either Europe, America or Hong Kong for a year between Stages 2 and 3. We have exchange agreements with over 20 universities.

Possible modules may include:

EN642 - English & American Literature: Year Abroad 1

EN643 - English & American Literature: Year Abroad 2

Stage 3

Possible modules may include:

EN691 - A Throw of the Dice: Gambling, Gaming & Fiction

EN683 - Passport to Oblivion: Writing Self into History

EN693 - Writing Violence: The 20th Century, The Holocaust & The Ethics of Repre

EN671 - Writing the Past: Approaches to the Historical Novel

EN680 - The Magical Realist Novel

EN663 - The Book Project

EN664 - Wrestling with Angels: Writing the Prose Poem

EN666 - From Book to Blog: Geoffrey Chaucer and his Afterlives

EN667 - Harlem to Hogan's Alley: Black Writing in North America

EN668 - Discovery Space: New Theatres in Early Modern England

EN669 - Marriage, Desire and Divorce in Early Modern Literature

EN670 - Lyric, Ballad and Popular Song

EN676 - Cross-Cultural Coming-of-Age Narratives

EN580 - Charles Dickens and Victorian England

EN583 - Postcolonial Writing

EN586 - Language and Place in Colonial and Postcolonial Poetry

EN588 - Innovation and Experiment in New York, 1945- 1995

EN604 - The Unknown: Reading and Writing

EN623 - Native American Literature

EN633 - Bodies of Evidence: Reading The Body In Eighteenth Century Literature

EN637 - Unruly Women and Other Insubordinates: the dramatic repertoire of the Q

EN646 - Image, Vision and Dream: Medieval Texts and Visual Culture

EN655 - Places and Journeys

EN656 - Heroes and Exiles: An Introduction to Old English Poetry

EN657 - The Brontes in Context

EN658 - American Crime Fiction

EN659 - Contemporary Irish Writing

EN660 - Writing Lives in Early Modern England: Diaries, Letters and Secret Selv

EN661 - The Stranger

EN684 - Clouds, Waves & Crows: Writing the Natural, 1800 to the Present

EN687 - Poetry and Crisis, from the First World War to Occupy

EN701 - The Global Eighteenth Century

EN702 - Thomas Hardy

EN703 - The 'Real' America: Class and Culture in the American Gilded Age

EN704 - Discord and Devotion: Society & Spirituality in Middle English Literatu

EN705 - The Contemporary Memoir

EN707 - The British Novel in the 1860s: Sensing Modern Life

EN708 - Virginia Woolf

EN709 - Animals, Humans, Writing

EN710 - Victorian Aestheticism and Decadence

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6.5

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

take an IELTS test.

Requirements

Home/EU students

The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.

Qualification Typical offer/minimum requirement

• A level:AAB including English Literature or English Language and Literature grade B
• Access to HE Diploma:The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above.
• BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma):The university will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF;OCR) on a case by case basis please contact us via the enquiries tab for further advice on your individual circumstances.
• International Baccalaureate:34 overall or 17 at HL, including HL English A1/A2/B at 5/6/6 OR English Literature A/English Language and Literature A (or Literature A/Language and Literature A of another country) at HL 5 or SL 6

International students

The University receives applications from over 140 different nationalities and consequently will consider applications from prospective students offering a wide range of international qualifications. Our International Development Office will be happy to advise prospective students on entry requirements.

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of Kent.

Funding

Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Our 2015 financial support package includes a £6,000 cash bursary spread over the duration of your course. For Ts&Cs and to find out more, visit our funding page.

General scholarships

Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.

The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence

At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence, which will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our funding pages. Please note that details of the scholarship for 2015 entry have not yet been finalised and are subject to change.

This degree program in English and American Literature and Creative Writing with an Approved Year Abroad at the University of Kent offers students a comprehensive exploration of literary traditions from the UK, the US, and beyond. The program combines rigorous academic study of classical and contemporary texts with practical creative writing modules, providing a well-rounded education for aspiring writers, critics, and scholars. Students will engage with a diverse range of literary genres, including poetry, fiction, drama, and non-fiction, developing critical analysis skills and fostering their own creative voices.

A distinctive feature of this program is the Approved Year Abroad, which usually takes place in an English-speaking country such as the USA or another partner institution. During this year, students immerse themselves in a different literary and cultural environment, enhancing their language skills, intercultural understanding, and academic perspective. The year abroad also includes opportunities for internships, cultural exchanges, and collaborative projects, enriching students' academic and personal development.

The curriculum is designed to incorporate both theoretical and practical aspects of literature and creative writing, emphasizing close textual analysis, historical context, and innovative writing techniques. Core modules include studies in British and American literary history, contemporary literature, and literary theory, alongside optional modules allowing specialization in areas such as gender studies, postcolonial literature, or digital storytelling. Creative writing modules focus on developing students' talents in poetry, prose, and scriptwriting, often involving workshop-based learning and peer review.

Graduates of this program will have acquired strong analytical, writing, and research skills, as well as a deep understanding of literary developments from different eras and regions. This prepares them for careers in publishing, journalism, education, media, and further academic research. The program's emphasis on international experience and creative practice makes it a competitive choice for students seeking a global perspective on literature and writing, backed by a supportive academic community at the University of Kent.

This degree program is designed to foster a vibrant intellectual community, encouraging students to participate in literary festivals, student-led publications, and community outreach events. The combination of academic excellence, practical skill development, and international exposure aims to produce well-rounded graduates equipped to navigate the diverse fields of literature, media, and communication.