BA ENGLISH LITERATURE WITH CREATIVE WRITING
BA ENGLISH LITERATURE WITH CREATIVE WRITING
It begins – has always begun – with a blank page, from stretched goatskin to flickering, ticking cursor. What will you say? How will you press the sound of your voice against that page? Can you pin your ideas with words? A quill presses into skin – punctures – fills – the pale feather blushes with iridescent colours – now subtle, now searing. Bleed a filigree of poetry. Life writing. Cut and paste characters, narrative perspectives – would she tell it like that? Can we trust him, this narrator with a dazzle of quicksilver for a tongue? Their story’s all a fiction. Lie still impeccably. Make them talk in euphemism – script a sculpture of stylised slang – slip subtext under the reader’s very nose. In a hundred and forty characters. Jump cut here – line break – make it up. Rewrite it all, in another tense, adding suspense. A crisp flurry of imagery. Return to the figurative. Turn the page – all yours – what will you write?
About
‘Good readers make good writers’ is the ethos of this course. You develop your craft as a writer under the supervision of our world-renowned novelists, poets and playwrights while benefitting from our first-class literature teaching. Your creative and literary training enhance one another. You’re able to draw on the wealth of literature you’ve been reading to inspire your writing, and your understanding of how literature works is deepened by writing it yourself.
The teaching of creative writing in the UK began at UEA fifty years ago and we are still widely seen as the home of creative writing in this country.
You will be studying at a university rich in famous creative writing alumni, including Booker Prize winner Ian McEwan and Nobel Prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro. The writers and critics of the School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing are at the cutting edge of their fields – that’s why in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF2014), UEA was ranked joint 10th in the UK for the quality of its research in English Language and Literature (Times Higher REF 2014 Analysis).
Whatever kind of writing you love the most, you’ll develop it over the course of your degree by working closely with our many practising writers in seminars and workshops. In your study of English literature, you’ll have the chance to discover a wealth of writers from the middle ages right up to poets and novelists writing now. You might explore diverse literary traditions from across the globe, and you’ll tackle a heady mix of genres, which currently range from epic to children’s literature, crime writing to Latin American fiction, tragedy to biography.
Norwich is an extraordinary place in which to be a writer. It’s England’s first UNESCO City of Literature, awarded in recognition of the city’s vivid literary heritage and vibrant contemporary writing scene. You’ll immerse yourself in this community, and you might find yourself sharing your work with a packed audience of students and professional writers at UEA Live or hearing readings from dozens of internationally leading literary figures.
We say that UEA is the place where literature lives – when you join the School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing, you’ll join a unique and supportive community of critics, writers, and drama practitioners, who bring literature to life every day.

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Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the courses listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the regular review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. Changes may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will inform students.Placement Year and Study Abroad
You have the option to apply to study abroad for one semester of your second year. Study abroad is a wonderfully enriching life experience – you will develop confidence and adaptability and will have the chance to deepen your understanding of writing while learning about another culture. At UEA, you’ll be surrounded by the many students we welcome from around the world to study with us.
For further details, visit the Study Abroad section of our website.

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After the Course
You could go on to work as a novelist or scriptwriter, or go into many careers in arts, media, publishing, politics, charities and NGOs, teaching or the commercial sector. You will be a first-rate writer, equipped with skills of critical reading, independence, time management, teamwork and more, which are highly valued by employers. You’ll also be well placed to study for a postgraduate degree, including one of our world-famous Creative Writing MAs.
Our Careers Service is here to support you in launching your career by advising with CV writing, internships, and much more. Every year we run an event, Working with Words, where you’ll have the chance to meet and hear from successful UEA alumni from across the creative industries.
UEA also has its own in-house publishing project, Egg Box, along with many other exciting initiatives that give you opportunities to turn your love of writing into a foundation for your future career.
Career destinations
Examples of careers you could enter include:
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Freelance writer
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Publishing
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Journalist
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Media
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Marketing
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Teaching

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Assessment for Year 1
All our BA modules in English Literature with Creative Writing have no exams – we believe that the best way to express your thoughts about literature and to show off your development as a writer is through carefully crafted pieces of writing which you have time to rethink and revise. All your modules will be assessed through submitted coursework. Your final degree classification is made up of the marks you receive in your second and third years.
Creative Writing coursework takes the form of portfolios of shorter pieces of writing, or a longer, more substantial single project. You are often asked to write reflectively and critically about your own creative writing.
In Literature modules, you’ll often find yourself writing a critical essay, but you might find yourself pushing the boundaries of what you write by submitting creative criticism, where you express your new critical ideas by writing creatively.
Your coursework is supported by seminar discussion, peer feedback and tutorials with your seminar leader.
Assessment for Year 2
All our BA modules in English Literature with Creative Writing have no exams – we believe that the best way to express your thoughts about literature and to show off your development as a writer is through carefully crafted pieces of writing which you have time to rethink and revise. All your modules will be assessed through submitted coursework. Your final degree classification is made up of the marks you receive in your second and third years.
Creative Writing coursework takes the form of portfolios of shorter pieces of writing, or a longer, more substantial single project. You are often asked to write reflectively and critically about your own creative writing.
In Literature modules, you’ll often find yourself writing a critical essay, but you might find yourself pushing the boundaries of what you write by submitting creative criticism, where you express your new critical ideas by writing creatively.
Your coursework is supported by seminar discussion, peer feedback and tutorials with your seminar leader.
Assessment for Year 3
All our BA modules in English Literature with Creative Writing have no exams – we believe that the best way to express your thoughts about literature and to show off your development as a writer is through carefully crafted pieces of writing which you have time to rethink and revise. All your modules will be assessed through submitted coursework. Your final degree classification is made up of the marks you receive in your second and third years.
Creative Writing coursework takes the form of portfolios of shorter pieces of writing, or a longer, more substantial single project. You are often asked to write reflectively and critically about your own creative writing.
In Literature modules, you’ll often find yourself writing a critical essay, but you might find yourself pushing the boundaries of what you write by submitting creative criticism, where you express your new critical ideas by writing creatively.
Your coursework is supported by seminar discussion, peer feedback and tutorials with your seminar leader.
Assessment for Year 1
All our BA modules in English Literature with Creative Writing have no exams – we believe that the best way to express your thoughts about literature and to show off your development as a writer is through carefully crafted pieces of writing which you have time to rethink and revise. All your modules will be assessed through submitted coursework. Your final degree classification is made up of the marks you receive in your second and third years.
Creative Writing coursework takes the form of portfolios of shorter pieces of writing, or a longer, more substantial single project. You are often asked to write reflectively and critically about your own creative writing.
In Literature modules, you’ll often find yourself writing a critical essay, but you might find yourself pushing the boundaries of what you write by submitting creative criticism, where you express your new critical ideas by writing creatively.
Your coursework is supported by seminar discussion, peer feedback and tutorials with your seminar leader.
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.In Year 2 students must accumulate at least 20 and not more than 40 credits in Creative Writing (modules with LDCC-prefix). In years 2 and 3 combined, students must accumulate at least 40 credits in writing before 1789. Students should consult with the Study Abroad Co-ordinator before choosing Erasmus Exchange or Semester Abroad modules.
Assessment for Year 2
All our BA modules in English Literature with Creative Writing have no exams – we believe that the best way to express your thoughts about literature and to show off your development as a writer is through carefully crafted pieces of writing which you have time to rethink and revise. All your modules will be assessed through submitted coursework. Your final degree classification is made up of the marks you receive in your second and third years.
Creative Writing coursework takes the form of portfolios of shorter pieces of writing, or a longer, more substantial single project. You are often asked to write reflectively and critically about your own creative writing.
In Literature modules, you’ll often find yourself writing a critical essay, but you might find yourself pushing the boundaries of what you write by submitting creative criticism, where you express your new critical ideas by writing creatively.
Your coursework is supported by seminar discussion, peer feedback and tutorials with your seminar leader.
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.In Year 3 students must accumulate at least 30 and not more than 60 credits in Creative Writing (modules with LDCC-prefix), including LDCC6101B or LDCC6105B or LDCC6103B. In years 2 and 3 combined, students must accumulate at least 40 credits in writing before 1789.
Assessment for Year 3
All our BA modules in English Literature with Creative Writing have no exams – we believe that the best way to express your thoughts about literature and to show off your development as a writer is through carefully crafted pieces of writing which you have time to rethink and revise. All your modules will be assessed through submitted coursework. Your final degree classification is made up of the marks you receive in your second and third years.
Creative Writing coursework takes the form of portfolios of shorter pieces of writing, or a longer, more substantial single project. You are often asked to write reflectively and critically about your own creative writing.
In Literature modules, you’ll often find yourself writing a critical essay, but you might find yourself pushing the boundaries of what you write by submitting creative criticism, where you express your new critical ideas by writing creatively.
Your coursework is supported by seminar discussion, peer feedback and tutorials with your seminar leader.
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.Entry Requirements
A Levels
AAA including English Literature or AAB including English Literature with an A in the Extended ProjectBTEC
DDD alongside grade A in A-Level English Literature (or equivalent). Excludes BTEC Public Services, BTEC Uniformed Services and BTEC Business Administration.Scottish highers
AAAAAA including English LiteratureScottish highers advanced
BBB including English LiteratureIrish leaving certificate
6 subjects at H2 including English LiteratureAccess course
Pass the Access to HE Diploma with Distinction in 45 credits at Level 3 including 12 credits in English Literature.European Baccalaureate
82% including English LiteratureInternational Baccalaureate
34 points including HL 6 EnglishGCSE offer
You are required to have Mathematics and English Language at a minimum of Grade C or Grade 4 or above at GCSE.
Additional entry requirements
If you do not meet the academic requirements for direct entry, you may be interested in one of our Foundation Year programmes.
If you do not meet the academic and or English requirements for direct entry our partner, INTO University of East Anglia offers guaranteed progression on to this undergraduate degree upon successful completion of a preparation programme, and successful submission of a creative writing portfolio. Depending on your interests, and your qualifications you can take a variety of routes to this degree:
Special Entry Requirements
Candidates who are shortlisted will be asked to provide a sample of their creative writing: we ask for around 5 pages of work, which can be on any subject and in any genre of the candidate's choice. Most choose to send poetry, prose, or a mixture of the two.
Alternative Qualifications
UEA recognises that some students take a mixture of International Baccalaureate IB or International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme IBCP study rather than the full diploma, taking Higher levels in addition to A levels and/or BTEC qualifications. At UEA we do consider a combination of qualifications for entry, provided a minimum of three qualifications are taken at a higher Level. In addition some degree programmes require specific subjects at a higher level.
Students for whom english is a foreign language
We welcome applications from students from all academic backgrounds. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including speaking, listening, reading and writing) at the following level:
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IELTS: 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Please click here to see our full list.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study:
Interviews
Most applicants will not be called for an interview and a decision will be made via UCAS Track. However, for some applicants an interview will be requested. Where an interview is required the Admissions Service will contact you directly to arrange a time.
Gap year
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.
Intakes
This course is open to UK, EU and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.

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Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
Information on tuition fees can be found here.
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.
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course related costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of other course-related costs.

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How to apply
Applications need to be made via the Universities Colleges and Admissions Services (UCAS), using the UCAS Apply option.
UCAS Apply is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time Undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom. It is made up of different sections that you need to complete. Your application does not have to be completed all at once. The system allows you to leave a section partially completed so you can return to it later and add to or edit any information you have entered. Once your application is complete, it must be sent to UCAS so that they can process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.
The Institution code for the University of East Anglia is E14.
Further Information
Please complete our Online Enquiry Form to request a prospectus and to be kept up to date with news and events at the University.

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Course Variants
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