BA English Literature and Creative Writing
About this course
BA (Hons) in English Literature and Creative Writing is an undergraduate degree that combines the analytical study of literary texts with practical training in creative writing techniques across prose, poetry, and script. Core topics include Research Methods, Historical Research, Critical & Analytical Thinking, and Social & Cultural Analysis. Students can choose to undertake an optional work placement year or a study abroad period during their studies. The first year introduces foundational concepts through compulsory modules such as Introduction to Literary Studies, Reading Poetry, Story, Creative and Critical Practice, Talking Texts, Gothic Stories: Nineteenth Century to the Present, and Skills for Academic Success in a UK University. The second year progresses with compulsory modules including Early Modern Cultures, Modernism and Modernity, Thinking About Voice, Working With Structure, Literary Revolutions, Eighteenth Century to Romanticism, Pitch to Publication, and Skills for Academic Success in a UK University. Additionally, students can select a Humanities Study Abroad semester. In the final year, students can choose from various optional modules such as English Dissertation, Vamps and Virgins: Gothic Sexualities, Sin, Sex, and Violence: Marlowe in Context, History, Myth, Narrative: Prose Writing about the First World War, Boxing with Byron: Romanticism and Popular Culture, Shaking up Shakespeare, Creative Writing Project, Advanced Creative Writing, Twenty First Century Literature: Writing in the Present, Writing and Environment, The Craft of the Playwright, Victorian Sensation Fiction, Staging Early Modern Gender, Audio Storytelling, and Language, Strange and Enchanted.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
UCAS Tariff: 96 to 112 Tariff Points Subject requirements: There are no specific subject requirements for this course.
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What students say
Based on about 6 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 67%
- Learning opportunities: 60%
- Assessment and feedback: 65%
- Academic support: 83%
- Organisation and management: 63%
- Learning resources: 86%
- Student voice: 75%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 95%
- Left higher education: 5%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 210 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 58%
- North West: 11%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 21%
- East Midlands: 3%
- East of England: 1%
- London: 4%
- South East: 1%
- Scotland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 90%
- Access course: 5%
- Other HE qualification: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Introduction to Literary Studies
- Reading Poetry
- Story
- Creative and Critical Practice
- Talking Texts
- Gothic Stories: Nineteenth Century to the Present
- Skills for Academic Success in a UK University
- Humanities Study Abroad (40 credit)
- Early Modern Cultures
- Modernism and Modernity
- Thinking About Voice
- Working With Structure
- Literary Revolutions, Eighteenth Century to Romanticism
- Pitch to Publication
- Skills for Academic Success in a UK University
- Humanities Work Placement Year
- Humanities Study Abroad Year
- English Dissertation
- Vamps and Virgins: Gothic Sexualities
- Sin, Sex, and Violence: Marlowe in Context
- History, Myth, Narrative: Prose Writing about the First World War
- Boxing with Byron: Romanticism and Popular Culture
- Shaking up Shakespeare
- Creative Writing Project
- Advanced Creative Writing
- Twenty First Century Literature: Writing in the Present
- Writing and Environment
- The Craft of the Playwright
- Victorian Sensation Fiction
- Staging Early Modern Gender
- Audio Storytelling
- Language, Strange and Enchanted
- Skills for Academic Success in a UK University
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA English Literature and Creative Writing at Northumbria University earn?
The median salary is £20,500 after 3 years, £26,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £21,000 and £31,500. The £26,000 median after five years is £2,000 less than the UK median for Literature in English.
Are students happy with the teaching on BA English Literature and Creative Writing at Northumbria University?
67% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA English Literature and Creative Writing at Northumbria University?
The typical offer is CA at A level. The average entrant had 116 UCAS points.
Does BA English Literature and Creative Writing at Northumbria University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA English Literature and Creative Writing at Northumbria University?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.