Creative Writing and History

Develop your skills as a writer and grow your ability to critically engage with historical debate

Our BA (Hons) Creative Writing and History course grows your ability as a creative writer, as you develop your knowledge of historical analysis, critical debate and research skills.

Learn from our team of practising and published poets, short story writers, novelists, dramatists and screenwriters, as you develop and find the creative writing medium that fits your voice.

In addition, you will explore your passion for history with modules that cover the Medieval period through to the 21st century: both in Britain and across the world.

You’ll work with experienced tutors and experts who use the latest research to underlie their teaching to ensure that you have access to emerging creative writing techniques and the latest debates within the study of history.

On this course you will:

• Study the craft of writing short fiction, poetry, novels, screenplays and creative non-fiction.

• Gain a critical insight into historical societies from a variety of contexts and time periods.

• Learn from our expert team of published writers and leading academics.

• Engage with contemporary issues in your writing such as climate change, race and sexuality.

• Build your degree around your interests.

• Meet and talk with agents and editors at our annual publishing panel.

Year One:
In your first year, you will learn to tap into your own experience and engage with the wider world for creative material. You will also begin to examine key events and contexts from throughout The Crusades, The Tudors, and Britain in the First World War.

Year Two:
In your second year, you will explore poetry, short fiction, life writing, flash fiction, and writing for children. Your historical studies will explore witchcraft, colonial and decolonisation histories, and thoughts and theologies of Medieval societies.

Year Three:
The creative modules in your final year allow you to explore your discipline and genre of choice. You will also explore more specific genres such as YA fiction, flash fiction, digital writing, fantasy, and science fiction. You will explore the novel, short stories and poetry. Alongside this, your historical studies will conclude with a focus on acts of separation, resistance and change. You will also explore Early Modern shopping and trade, historical attitudes to death, and the representation of history within graphic novels.

Creative writing modules are predominately assessed through portfolios of work. Your History modules will mainly be assessed through a combination of essays and presentations.

Modules are assessed at every stage of the course, allowing you to clearly see your academic progress at all stages of the course.