Creative Writing and English Literature

We combine the academic study of literature with creative practice and skill-based modules to create a practical, applied degree. You’ll learn how to analyse a wide range of literary texts and explore different writing styles and genres, but you'll also learn practical skills such as:

• the craft of writing for different audiences
• editing and copywriting skills
• communicating your ideas through a variety of forms and media.

You'll also have the opportunity to collaborate on creative projects with other students both within and outside your course.

Year one
The first year will introduce you to key elements and concepts in both subjects. You’ll develop your skills with a broad curriculum of core modules in Creative Writing and English Literature, plus one cross-disciplinary module.

Year two
Alongside core modules in both subjects, you’ll be able to choose from a selection of Creative Writing and English Literature modules that cover a wide range of genres and topics, including a number that emphasise working with cultural industries or local communities.

Year three
The final year follows the mix of required and optional modules from year two, but with an additional emphasis on independent writing and research. You’ll write a piece of extended creative writing in the form of your choice, and in your English studies, you can choose from a variety of final projects (previously, students have created digital resources, worked at literary festivals and produced educational materials, to name a few examples).

Assessment is based on 100% coursework (there are no exams). Most modules will require you to submit a portfolio of creative writing along with a reflective or contextual essay in which you describe what you've learned in class and from your reading/working on your own writing.

Depending on your module choices, coursework may include essays, journals, portfolios of short critical pieces, projects and dissertations, podcasts, seminar presentations, and web-based projects.

You’ll be taught through a mixture of workshops, lectures, presentations and tutorials. Workshops offer you the opportunity to read and discuss each other's work in a supportive, informal and informative atmosphere. Lectures are used to introduce techniques and themes in detail. Tutorials provide you with the opportunity to discuss your work with your tutor on a one-to-one basis.

To find out more about how we teach and how you'll learn, please read our information on Your Learning and Teaching at BSU.

The course is taught at our stunning Newton Park campus, where you’ll be surrounded by wildlife and beautiful eighteenth century landscaping.

You'll have access to a range of excellent facilities, including:

• Commons building with its state-of-the-art classrooms, study spaces and café
• Digital labs (Mac rooms) for students learning new media
• Virtual Learning Environment to support you in your modules.

As a Creative Writing and English Literature student, you'll have access to:

• Cameras, audio recording and other equipment, available through the University's free equipment loan service
• Technical staff to help students use industry-standard software
• Library with print and ebooks, digital resources, literary magazines and journals.

As part of your degree, you could study abroad on a placement at one of Bath Spa’s partner universities.

If you’re a full-time undergraduate student starting your first year at Bath Spa University, you can apply for the Certificate in Global Citizenship, which you’ll study alongside your degree.

You’ll gain global awareness and add an international dimension to your student experience, and funding is available. On successful completion of the programme, you’ll be awarded a Certificate in Global Citizenship. This is in addition to your degree; it doesn’t change your degree title or results.

Subject-related placements are key to helping you make connections and gain experience in companies and organisations that interest you. You’ll have the opportunity to find exciting, subject-related placements, and we’ll support you to do this. Our students often work with the Bath Literature Festival, for instance, or with production companies such as the BBC.

Employability is a core part of our curriculum. You’ll develop your own projects, and have access to our renowned digital facilities, as well as to our Bath Spa Careers team who'll help you forge a fulfilling future.

Many of our graduates pursue careers in publishing or teaching. Organisations including NewScientist, Trinity College Library, DigitalBox and Cengage Learning EMEA have employed our graduates. Graduate professions include:

• Novelist
• Science magazine editor
• Children’s author
• Playwright
• Digital Marketing Executive
• Social media/content writer
• Commercial copywriter for brands or charities
• University lecturer
• Editor
• Poet
• Editorial Assistant
• Publishing Outreach Executive
• Marketing Campaigns Officer

Some graduates choose to progress onto postgraduate study. Many of our students go on to study one of our specialist MA programmes in either Creative Writing, Writing for Young People, Scriptwriting, Nature and Travel Writing, or Children’s Publishing.

There are annual prizes for the best overall performance in both core modules in years one and two, and a very special prize for the best final year English Project.

Each year, the Creative Writing department awards a range of prizes to students to celebrate the best writing produced in the final year. The department also awards the Les Arnold Prize for the top student in the second year, honouring the memory of the poet, who started the writing programme in 1992.

The Professional Placement Year (PPY) provides you with the opportunity to identify, apply for, and secure professional experience, normally comprising one to three placements over a minimum of nine months. Successful completion of this module will demonstrate your ability to secure and sustain graduate-level employment.

By completing the module, you'll be entitled to the addition of 'with Professional Placement Year' to your degree title.

Before your PPY, you'll work to identify roles of interest and secure a placement. The Placements Team will support through timetabled sessions and 1:1 appointments.

As well as completing a minimum of 900 placement hours, you will complete two assessments demonstrating your skill development, growth in professional behaviours and how the PPY has impacted your future career aspirations.