English with Creative Writing

Description

First-year modules cover a broad span and are designed to introduce you to ways of studying literature and creative writing at university. Our aim throughout your degree course is to guide and support you in your progress, helping you to gain confidence as a reader, researcher and writer and assisting you to prepare for life beyond your undergraduate studies. Each year you will take 80 credits of English Literature modules and 40 credits of Creative Writing. Both elements of this programme complement each other particularly well with the study of literature giving you the opportunity to learn from other writers and aid your development as a writer. You can also replace some of the Literature modules with English Language ones if you wish. Throughout your three years of study you will also be offered opportunities to expand your notion of what constitutes authorship through guest lectures by visiting writing professionals.

Career opportunities

In English you have an unparalleled opportunity, not only to engage with the materials of a broad and diverse cultural, textual and linguistic discipline, but also to develop skills in intellectual analysis, critical thinking and articulate expression skills that last a lifetime and qualify you for many possible careers. You are also encouraged to acquire practical skills, of equally wide usefulness and application, in oral presentation, professional documentation, group work, and the uses of information technology.
English graduates go on to work in commerce, the public services, journalism and other media, teaching at every level, publishing, advertising, the law, and a wide range of other professions. The creative writing aspects of this particular English degree will equip you for careers in publishing and editing, as well as in creative writing.

Detailed Course Facts

• English

Course Content

First year

At the beginning of your programme you take an introductory module in Creative Writing, which will offer you an advanced introduction to the full range of the field. You also take an introductory module in English Literature, Literature Foundation, in which you begin to explore many of the critical tools with which you will work through the programme. Landmarks in European Literature or an introductory module in English Language are also offered, together with a module from another discipline.

Second year

In this year you will have the opportunity to choose between modules that specialise either on Poetry and Prose Writing or Drama and Media Writing. You take a module designed to develop your expertise in editing your own and others work, and a module from another discipline. You will have, too, a choice of literature, or literature and language, modules that address carefully chosen and focused topics in a range of periods of English literature, and which are informed by theoretical as well as textual and historical approaches.

Final year

In the final year you embark on your Creative Writing Project. This will enable you to demonstrate your understanding of creative writing and the issues in literature that you will have built up over the previous two years. You have a choice of advanced literature and language modules, as well as the opportunity to take a module from outside the discipline.

Teaching and assessment

Over the course you will be taught in lectures and small groups by scholars who are experts in their fields. Creative Writing modules are taught by practising writers, experienced in passing their skills to others. You will be assessed in many different ways throughout the three years. You will write essays, take exams and give oral presentations. You will also produce portfolios of your creative and critical work.

English Language Requirements

CAE score : 80(Grade A)

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

Requirements

Number of A levels required: 3

Typical offer: AAA

Required subjects and grades: A level English Literature or English Language and Literature at grade A

Other qualifications are considered

IB: 36 point including English at Higher level with a minimum of 6 points

Additional information:

We do not ask applicants for English with Creative Writing to submit portfolios of their work: instead we ask that you give evidence in your application of your interest in and experience of creative writing, as well as your reasons for wishing to pursue the subject at university-level.

Standard English language requirements apply: IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band; TOEFL IBT 93

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 Birmingham.