Creative Writing and English Literature (including foundation year)

Why study this course?

Our Creative Writing and English Literature (including foundation year) BA degree is the perfect preparation for undergraduate study and a career in the creative industries if you don’t have the necessary requirements to enter the three-year degree. On completion of this course, you’ll graduate with the same title and qualification as students who started on the three-year course.

On this four-year course, you’ll learn the skills that will form the foundation for academic study, while providing you with techniques and theoretical knowledge used by creative writers and publishers.

More about this course

Our undergraduate course with a foundation year combines the disciplines of creative writing and literature. You’ll get the unique opportunity to develop your own distinct creative writing style, while gaining an understanding of literary history and major genres in poetry, drama and prose.

Our staff will offer exceptional support throughout your degree to ensure that you settle into university life and succeed academically. When you join the university, you’ll be assigned an academic mentor and tutor who will offer one-to-one support and be your first port of call if you need any help. There will also be opportunities to take advantage of workshops that will enhance your academic and employability skills.

The foundation year, or Year 0, is designed to prepare you for the challenge of studying at undergraduate level. You’ll share this year with students from other disciplines, which will provide you with the unique opportunity to network with students from other courses and learn about their academic interests. During this year, you’ll focus on developing critical thinking, academic writing and research skills by exploring the themes of society, media, current affairs and other topics. Your tutors will help you develop your ability to engage in academic debate and critically assess arguments, which will be vital for further study at undergraduate level.

The foundation year is also excellent preparation for study of the English literature and creative writing, as you will take a specialised module. On this module you’ll read and examine key creative texts written about London in the past and present, develop your own writing voice through journal observations and engage in creative writing tasks in and out of class.

Your final three years will focus on creative writing techniques and engage you in the comprehensive study of literary material, themes and genres. Learn more about the Creative Writing and English Literature BA by visiting our UCAS page or our website.

Example Year 0 modules include:

Critical Thinking
Interventions for Change
Media, Crime and 'Race'
Reflecting on Self and Society
Researching Discrimination
Researching Inequality (core)
Social Issues in Context: Text to Essay

Example Year 1 modules include:

Poetic Form and Genre
Romantics to Victorians
Theatre and Performance: History and Craft
Writer's World

Example Year 2 modules include:

Victorians to Moderns
Writing and Editing Fiction and Non-fiction
Publishing and the Book: Then and Now
The Writer's Craft

Example Year 3 modules include:

Modern's to Contemporaries
Project
Why Literature Matters
Publishing and the Book
The Writer's Craft 2

You’ll be assessed through a variety of assessments. These may include portfolios of reflective writing, essays, reports, presentations and exams.