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Literature and Creative Writing at UEA
Find out more about studying Literature and Creative Writing at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreBA (Hons) English Literature with a Year Abroad
Key Details
- Award
- Degree of Bachelor of Arts
- UCAS Course Code
- _Q30A
- Typical Offer
- AAB (specific subjects required)
- Contextual Offer
- BBB (specific subjects required)
- Course Length
- 4 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2027
Other Start Dates
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19th
UEA is ranked 19th overall for research quality in English Language and Literature
The Times Higher Education REF 2021 Analysis92%
Of students were positive about the learning resources and facilities
Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024-25Course Overview
Why English Literature with a Year Abroad at UEA?
Join a welcoming community of book lovers in a city that has shaped literature for centuries. Explore global texts across time and find your voice with confidence, creativity, and originality. Study overseas with an exciting year abroad.
Why choose UEA?
- Literary city: Study in Norwich, City of Stories and England's first UNESCO City of Literature, home to the National Centre for Writing
- Flexible degree: tailor your studies through module choices and coursework, focusing on the books that inspire you
- Professional experience: Join UEA’s student-run EggBox publishing press, network with professionals at Working with Words, or volunteer at the British Archive for Contemporary Writing
What is BA English Literature with a Year Abroad?
Study English Literature and encounter exciting literary texts in a city alive with stories. You’ll gain a strong foundation in writing from across periods, cultures and genres. Shape your course as you follow your passions.
You’ll learn to communicate your ideas in many forms, from critical to creative, and from page to performance. Our expert tutors will support you in developing your unique voice as a writer and thinker. Your third year will be spent studying overseas at one of our global partner universities. You’ll graduate ready to take your ideas out into the world.
Outside the classroom, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to explore future careers. These include working with archives and libraries, volunteering at Norfolk’s literary festivals, or securing placements and internships in Norwich’s vibrant independent publishing scene.
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Year Abroad
This four-year course gives you the chance to study abroad in your third year. You’ll join one of UEA’s global partner institutions, where your subject is taught in English. Choose from destinations across Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, Europe, Latin America, Canada, and the USA.
Studying abroad is a life-changing experience. You’ll broaden your horizons, grow in confidence, and develop valuable communication skills. You’ll also gain a global perspective and experiences that help your CV stand out to employers.
Placements vary each year, so flexibility is key. You'll also need to meet academic requirements. If your plans change, you can transfer to the three-year version of the course at any time.
For further details, check out study abroad.
Careers
Career Pathways
With a degree in English Literature with a Year Abroad, you could launch a career as a:
- Publishing editor: Shape the literary landscape by commissioning or editing new books, or by working with writers as a literary agent
- Advertising, Communications and Marketing executive: Use your skills in communication and your understanding of how writing engages audiences to develop powerful campaigns
- Heritage officer: Build your experience with the literature and culture of the past in the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage
- Teacher: Shape the new generation of thinkers by sharing your love of language, storytelling, and learning
- Advocacy advisor (NGO): Make a real difference in the world by shaping the stories that most need telling today
Career Support
Our modules will help you develop the full range of verbal, communication, and creative skills required in today’s world of work. You’ll practice those skills in the classroom and in your coursework. Events like Working with Words will give you a chance to meet inspiring industry professionals.
Our award-winning Career Service will also help you identify, shape and foster your career ambitions with hands-on guidance. You can get support with securing placements and internships, developing your CV, and preparing for interviews.
Discover more on our Careers webpages.
After the Course
Your BA English Literature with a Year Abroad degree is a gateway qualification to a range of careers for which your creative, analytical and communication skills will be invaluable. After graduation, you’ll be uniquely poised as a nimble thinker, a skilled reader and an excellent communicator. You might go on to work in the arts, media, publishing, politics, charities, NGOs, teaching, or the commercial sector. Or you could go into marketing, like our former student Rebecca. You’ll also be well placed to study for a postgraduate degree in literature or a related subject.
Study and Modules
Structure
In your first year, you’ll explore a wide range of literature, sharpening your skills in literary analysis through engaging lectures and small-group seminars. You’ll immerse yourself in contemporary writing and journey into the mythical past with texts like Homer’s The Odyssey. You’ll examine key works from across literary history, building your confidence and deepening your appreciation of literature from different periods.
You’ll also trace the global history of English—from its roots in multilingual medieval societies to the diverse literatures shaped by colonialism and its resistance. Alongside this, you’ll investigate how literary critics have formed arguments across centuries, discovering the many forms critical writing can take today.
And as AI becomes an ever more important part of our daily lives, you’ll investigate the dynamic relationship between writing and technology, both through history and in our contemporary digital moment.
Compulsory Modules
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Structure
After your first year, you’ll have the freedom to shape your English Literature degree to reflect your own interests and ambitions. You’ll choose from a range of modules which cover the sweep of English literary history, as well as others which invite you to explore literature from across the globe.
You’ll also select from a separate range of modules designed to help you develop your voice as a writer. Modules focusing on the creative industries offer insight into professional pathways, while our innovative creative-critical modules invite you to blend analytical thinking with creative experimentation. If you wish, you can explore creative writing or choose a module with an interdisciplinary focus. You can explore subjects such as history, politics, languages, or American studies, or even discover one of these areas for the first time.
To ensure you gain a solid understanding of the history of English literature, you’ll take at least three modules in literature written before 1789—at least two of them during your second year. Along the way, you might explore the romances and fables of the Middle Ages, the bold voices of 17th-century women poets, or the drama of Shakespeare.
Optional A Modules
(Min Credits: 80, Max Credits: 100)Optional B Modules
(Min Credits: 20, Max Credits: 40)Optional C Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 20)Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Structure
You'll spend your third year studying abroad at one of our many partner institutions across the globe. This is a brilliant opportunity to experience living in another country to see how your subject and others are studied there. You’ll develop your confidence and communication skills, and gain experiences to help your CV stand out to employers.
Compulsory Modules
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Structure
In your final year, you’ll choose from a wide selection of specialist modules shaped by the research expertise of our academic staff. Possible topics include feminist writing, banned books, apocalyptic fiction, medieval monsters, myths and their rewriting, and children’s literature. This is a chance to deepen your knowledge of a period, genre or concept that you’ve encountered before, or try out something new and expand your literary horizons. You might also decide to undertake a dissertation, which is an exciting opportunity to work one-to-one with a tutor on a research topic of your choice.
Optional A Modules
(Min Credits: 60, Max Credits: 120)Optional B Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 60)Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning, and Assessment
Teaching and Learning
Teaching combines lectures, seminars, and one-to-one tutorials with independent study. You’ll complete guided reading, writing, and research tasks, and work on individual or collaborative projects.
Throughout your degree, expert literary critics will support you. You’ll also benefit from excellent library resources and dedicated support teams helping you develop key study, research, and writing skills. You’ll have personalised support from your academic adviser. Student wellbeing and accessibility support are also available if you need them.
In year one, teaching blends lectures, seminars, skills workshops, and tutorials.
In year two, most Literature modules follow a similar format. Vocational modules, such as publishing, focus more on practice-based seminar work.
On your year abroad, you'll usually have to study at least 50% of your modules in your main academic specialism(s). You may explore other subjects if you wish, depending on the exact topics offered by your host university.
In your final year, teaching is mainly seminar-based and driven by independent study. If you choose a dissertation, you’ll receive one-to-one supervision.
Assessment
All assessments are coursework based as there are no exams for English Literature.
Your work will take many forms, from critical essays to creative adaptations, and from exhibition brochures to presentations. Whatever modules you choose, your tutors will support you with feedback as you plan and develop your ideas.
In year one, you’ll produce standalone pieces, such as essays and close readings, as well as critical portfolios. You’ll begin with shorter tasks and build towards longer work.
In year two, essays remain central, but you’ll explore new formats. You may try creative-critical work, combining essays with creative approaches to explore literary periods or genres.
On your year abroad, you'll have assessments at your host university. You'll need to pass the year abroad, but your marks don’t count towards your final degree classification. In the unlikely event you didn’t pass the year abroad, reassessment options are available at UEA.
In your final year, you’ll complete more ambitious, independent projects shaped by your interests. You can also propose and research your own topic through the dissertation module.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- English and Mathematics
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade 4 or grade C.
In place of Mathematics GCSE we can also consider Functional Skills Level 2 Mathematics.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies(opens in a new window) page.
- Contextual Offers
UEA are committed to ensuring that Higher Education is accessible to all, regardless of their background or experiences. One of the ways we do this is through our contextual admissions schemes(opens in a new window).
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
A levels
AAB
Contextual offer: BBB
To include English Literature or one of the subjects listed below:
English Language and Literature, English Language, History, Ancient History, History of Art, Archaeology, Anthropology, Classical Civilisation, Classical Studies, Politics, Government and Politics, Sociology, Drama, Theatre Studies, Film Studies, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Media Studies, Psychology or Law.
BTEC
Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDD plus B at A-Level
Contextual offer: DDM plus B at A-Level
A-Levels to include English Literature or one of the subjects listed below:
English Language and Literature, English Language, History, Ancient History, History of Art, Archaeology, Anthropology, Classical Civilisation, Classical Studies, Politics, Government and Politics, Sociology, Drama, Theatre Studies, Film Studies, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Media Studies, Psychology or Law.
BTEC in Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration are all excluded from our BTEC offers.
Access to HE Diploma
Access to Humanities & Social Sciences Pathway. Pass Access to HE Diploma with Distinction in 36 credits at Level 3 and Merit in 9 credits at Level 3.
Contextual offer: Access to Humanities & Social Sciences Pathway. Pass the Access to HE Diploma with Merit in 30 credits at Level 3 and pass in 15 credits at Level 3.
T levels
Not accepted.
Foundation Year options:
If you do not meet the academic requirements for direct entry, you may be interested in one of our Foundation Year programmes such as - BA English Literature with a Foundation Year
- Further Examples of Typical Entry Requirements
International Baccalaureate
33 points overall including HL5 in English, History, Global Politics or Psychology
Irish Leaving Certificate
4 subjects at H2, 2 subjects at H3
To include English Literature or one of the subjects listed below:
English Language and Literature, English Language, History, Ancient History, History of Art, Archaeology, Anthropology, Classical Civilisation, Classical Studies, Politics, Government and Politics, Sociology, Drama, Theatre Studies, Film Studies, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Media Studies, Psychology or Law.
Scottish Highers
AAAAA
To include English Literature or one of the subjects listed below:
English Language and Literature, English Language, History, Ancient History, History of Art, Archaeology, Anthropology, Classical Civilisation, Classical Studies, Politics, Government and Politics, Sociology, Drama, Theatre Studies, Film Studies, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Media Studies, Psychology or Law.
A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable.
Scottish Advanced Highers
BBC
To include English Literature or one of the subjects listed below:
English Language and Literature, English Language, History, Ancient History, History of Art, Archaeology, Anthropology, Classical Civilisation, Classical Studies, Politics, Government and Politics, Sociology, Drama, Theatre Studies, Film Studies, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Media Studies, Psychology or Law.
A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable.
- Deferred Entry
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
- Progression
Once enrolled onto a course at UEA, your progression and continuation (which may include eligibility for study abroad, overseas experience, placement or year in industry opportunities) is contingent on meeting the assessment requirements which are relevant to the course on which you are enrolled.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- English and Mathematics
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade 4 or grade C.
In place of Mathematics GCSE we can also consider Functional Skills Level 2 Mathematics.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies(opens in a new window) page.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
A levels
AAB
To include English Literature or one of the subjects listed below:
English Language and Literature, English Language, History, Ancient History, History of Art, Archaeology, Anthropology, Classical Civilisation, Classical Studies, Politics, Government and Politics, Sociology, Drama, Theatre Studies, Film Studies, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Media Studies, Psychology or Law.
International Baccalaureate
33 points overall including HL5 in English, History, Global Politics or Psychology.
We accept many international qualifications for entry to this course. For specific details about your country, view our information for International Students(opens in a new window).
- UEA International Study Centre
If you do not meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, UEA International Study Centre offers progression on to this undergraduate degree upon successful completion of a preparation programme. Depending on your interests, and your qualifications you can take a variety of routes to this degree.
- English Foreign Language
English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
-
IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in all components)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies(opens in a new window) for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, UEA International Study Centre offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study:
-
- Deferred Entry
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
- Progression
Once enrolled onto a course at UEA, your progression and continuation (which may include eligibility for study abroad, overseas experience, placement or year in industry opportunities) is contingent on meeting the assessment requirements which are relevant to the course on which you are enrolled.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2027/28 are:
-
UK Students: £10,050
-
International Students: £24,250
We estimate living expenses at £1,171 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here(opens in a new window).
Scholarships and Bursaries
We are committed to ensuring that costs do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds. View our range of Scholarships(opens in a new window) for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see additional course fees for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
How to apply
Apply for this course through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS), using UCAS Hub.
UCAS Hub is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.
Your application does not have to be completed all at once. Register or sign in to UCAS to get started.
Once you submit your completed application, UCAS will process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.
The Institution code for the University of East Anglia is E14.
View our guide to applying through UCAS for useful tips, key dates and further information: