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BA (Hons) English and Creative Writing

BA (Hons) English and Creative Writing

Award

BA (Hons)

Start Date

To be confirmed

Duration

3 years

Mode

Full-time

Location

University of Bolton

UCAS Points

96

UCAS Code

QW38

The University of Bolton's BA (Hons) English and Creative Writing degree is taught by professional writers and academics in an inclusive environment tailored to your ambitions. Dynamic and industry-focused, our programme is designed to help you realise your creative potential and sharpen your critical thinking through engagement with extraordinary works of literature.

Apply Now Download Prospectus Programme Specification

Course Overview

Literature is one of the most powerful ways we can experience other lives, enjoy worlds we've never visited, and develop an appreciation for the amazing capacity of words to move, inform, persuade and inspire. Through in-depth study and analysis of a range of texts, including fiction, poetry and drama, you'll cultivate your critical skills and hone your prowess as a creative communicator.

Our innovative degree allows you to critically explore a variety of literary texts and to create imaginative works that develop your understanding of real-world issues. You'll encounter everything from fantasy prose fiction to creative nonfiction memoir, powerful poetry to cutting-edge screen and stage drama. You'll consider how crafted and artful language variously shapes our society. Live briefs developed from industry partnerships will offer choice and challenge, honing your communication and organisational skills ready for the world of work.

Creativity and critical thinking are graduate skills prized by employers. Studying literature and learning how to write imaginatively and persuasively will prepare you for a range of careers, whether as an inspirational teacher, prize-winning writer, or professional editor. Our graduates work as script editors for BBC television series, as teachers and advocacy educators, and win or are placed in major awards such as the Carcanet Prize and #Merky Books New Writers' Prize.

Highlights

Key Features

Entry Requirements

Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.

Career Opportunities

This degree gives you a unique and exceptional opportunity to enhance your creative and analytical abilities, developing your imaginative writing talents alongside the critical study of English through literature. We'll help you hone the skills and knowledge to craft confident, evocative and persuasive writing across a range of forms, with live briefs that reflect an industry need for writers of all kinds to produce professional copy to deadline.

Creativity, curiosity and self-motivation are valuable transferable skills, along with the verbal and written communication, time management and organisational attributes sought by employers across many sectors.

What can I do with this qualification?

Many English and Creative Writing graduates seek work as writers on a self-employed freelance basis, building professional portfolio careers. Public and private sector organisations such as educational institutions, retail companies, local and national government, media companies, and charitable organisations employ English and Creative Writing graduates in a range of roles, including teaching, administration, editing and publishing, advertising, journalism, general management and marketing.

You may have ambitions to study for an MA or PhD in a variety of fields, or you may decide to undertake a more vocational route and study a postgraduate course related to teaching, journalism, librarianship, or publishing.

Alternative career options

The qualification can support a range of other career paths. For some of these roles, relevant experience or postgraduate study may be required. Potential careers include:

  • Libraries
  • Social media management
  • Information services
  • Leisure and tourism
  • Web content production
  • Public relations
  • Technical writing
  • Research
  • Strategic communications
  • Journalism
  • Screen and play writing
  • Professional author (novelist/poet/memoirist)
Fees & Funding

Home/EU Fees

Year of study Total
Entry Year 2024/25 2025/26 2026/27 2027/28
2024-25 £9,250 £9,250 £9,250 - £27,750
2025-26 -

International Fees

Year of study Total
Entry Year 2024/25 2025/26 2026/27 2027/28
2024-25 £15,950 £15,950 £15,950 - £47,850
2025-26 -

Bursaries

Click here for more information about the scholarships and bursaries available to University of Bolton students.

Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2024-25 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.

The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.

How to apply

Home Applicants

If you wish to apply to multiple institutions or courses for September, then apply through UCAS

You can apply for up to 5 courses through UCAS (at the same or different institutions) for a fee of £27. Alternatively, if you only wish to apply for a single course at a single institution then a reduced applicant's fee of £22.50 is applicable.

The online application form and guidance notes are available on the UCAS website.

You will need the following information to complete your UCAS application form:

  • Institution Code Name: BOLTN

  • Institution Code Number: B44

UCAS - Universities and Colleges Admissions Service

Tel: 0870 1122211
Web: www.ucas.com

International Applicants

The University welcomes applications from international students from all over the world. We try to make the application process as simple and as fast as possible for our international applicants.

This course is not currently accepting international online applications.

Please contact Admissions by telephone on 01204 903903 or email enquiries@bolton.ac.uk

Admissions
University of Bolton
Deane Road
Bolton, BL3 5AB
United Kingdom

Tel: 01204 903903
Email: enquiries@bolton.ac.uk

Partner Organisation Applicants

Please contact Admissions by telephone on 01204 903903 or email enquiries@bolton.ac.uk

Admissions
University of Bolton
Deane Road
Bolton, BL3 5AB
United Kingdom

Tel: 01204 903903
Email: enquiries@bolton.ac.uk

Teaching & Assessment

To support you in reaching your creative and analytical potential, we call on a variety of teaching and learning methods. Lectures introduce selected literary works, and we begin making connections to critical, theoretical and historical contexts that will enrich your understanding. Seminars allow you to explore subjects in greater detail and will incorporate small group working and whole group discussion.

Meanwhile, one-to-one tutorials give you an opportunity to clarify your learning, discuss your assignments and receive feedback on your work. To support your progress on this rich and rewarding degree, we recommend you set significant time aside for independent study such as imaginative writing, library research and background reading, and preparing for seminars, tutorials and module assignments. Of course, we'll provide tailored advice and guidance on finding the self-directed study approaches that best match your study goals and personal preferences.

The University's e-learning portal, Moodle, is a great online learning tool that gives you access to additional resources for each module.

Forms of assessment include portfolios, essays, anthologies, notebook, reviews, presentations, and written reflections upon your creative work, all of which will ultimately contribute to your final module marks. This 'summative' assessment is supported by more formative approaches that do not contribute to grades or marks, but support your progress towards success on this course. For example, personal feedback on your work and contributions, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and helping you find the most effective ways to make the most of your experience with us.

We adopt a blended learning and teaching style, including online delivery and engagement where appropriate.

Modules

The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.

  • Language and Style
  • Writing the North
  • Writing for Publication
  • Critical Reading
  • Narrating the Self
  • Professional Practice 1
  • Culture and Context
  • Literary Communities
  • Writing for Social Change
  • Writing the Fantastic
  • Major Project
  • Articulating the Body
  • Back to the Future
  • Professional Practice 2
  • Histories, Anxieties and Utopias

Assessment methods

Level Assessment method
Level 1 Coursework 80%
Practical exams 20%
Level 2 Coursework 80%
Practical exams 20%
Level 3 Coursework 84%
Practical exams 16%

Learning Activities

Level Activity
Level 1 Guided independent study 66%
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 34%
Level 2 Guided independent study 75%
Placement/study abroad 4%
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 21%
Level 3 Guided independent study 79%
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 21%

The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.

Programme Contacts

Help Centre

We have the answers to your questions, find all the advice and support in one place.

Part of the University of Bolton Group

Bolton college
Alliance learning
Anderton centre2
QQA Scheme Participant

Help Centre

We have the answers to your questions, find all the advice and support in one place.

Part of the University of Bolton Group

Bolton college
Alliance learning
Anderton centre2
QQA Scheme Participant