English and Creative Writing

Find your voice and immerse yourself in words that have shaped our world. Engage with literatures in English from medieval legends to contemporary science fiction. Investigate how literature helps us understand and change the world around us.

Ranked 1st in the South West
Our undergraduate creative writing courses ranked 1st in the South West and 10th in UK, according to the Complete University Guide, 2026.

Career-ready learning
Gain hands-on experience through vocational modules, internships and an optional placement year, and graduate with the skills employers seek.

Rich culture and community
Benefit from Plymouth’s vibrant arts and culture programme and partnerships with local institutions like The Box and Theatre Royal, giving you rich opportunities to engage with literature beyond the classroom.

This course is for you if...

• you are passionate about the full spectrum of English literature

• you like to express yourself creatively and would relish the chance to experiment with your own writing

• you enjoy the freedom to shape your own academic journey – choosing modules that reflect your passions

• you are excited to build creative skills that employers value and aim for a rewarding career.

Course Modules

Year 1
In your first year, you'll study historical, theoretical, aesthetic and creative approaches to literary analysis. You’ll read literature which investigates the making of the modern world; engage with exciting theories of reading such as eco-criticism, psychoanalysis and Marxism; and write creatively in a wide range of genres including prose, poetry, drama and professional writing. You will also learn key research and essay-writing skills.

Year 2
In your second year, you’ll write creatively in many forms including theatre and script-writing, autobiography and biography, travel writing, and literary adaptation. You will hone your skills as a writer in weekly workshops with tutors and peers. You’ll also study the writers who've shaped our literary canon, taking core modules in Romantic and Victorian literature, and selecting from a range of specialist creative, literary and work-based learning options. You’ll also have the opportunity to take specialist modules in other subjects in the school.

Optional placement year
Undertake an optional placement year where you can build a number of key employability skills. Put theory into practice, get a taste of your chosen career and expand your professional network.

Final year
In your final year, you’ll hone your reading and writing. You’ll study modern experimental writing and choose from literary and creative modules focusing on specific forms, from science fiction to modern poetry and screenwriting. Or, you’ll have a further opportunity to choose a module from another subject in the school if you wish to branch out. You’ll also design and develop your own year-long dissertation project, which you'll work on with focused support from your personal supervisor.

For up to date details, please refer to our website or contact the institution directly.