University of Chester
Creative Writing and English Literature BA (Hons)
University of Chester

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews of 15 graduates of Creative Writing and English Literature BA (Hons) and other courses in literature in English at University of Chester for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in literature in English.

Overall student satisfaction
77 /100
15 total respondents

Primarily based on data from undergraduate degree students.

The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in English Studies

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of literature in English at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £23000 £18000 £22500
25-75 percentile range £19500 - £25000 £14500 - £22500 £16500 - £26500


Salary of all UK Graduates of English Studies

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £22685 £20368 £24203
25-75 percentile range £19753 - £26218 £15488 - £25125 £18208 - £30488

Course Description

A Combined Honours degree at Chester gives you the opportunity to study two subjects. You will spend a fairly even amount of time studying each subject area, with possible opportunities to declare a major – minor towards the end of your studies.

Creative Writing

Unleash your creativity and discover what makes good writing great as you produce and reflect on your own fiction, poetry and drama.

This course helps you to develop the skills and techniques to become a creative writer in poetry, drama and fiction (flashes, short stories, novels), and also to write critically. We have a number of highly successful published writers of fiction and poetry in the Department, who can share their insights with you.

Learn how your own work fits into the wider world of literature and contemporary publishing. Study the works and techniques of successful poets, novelists and dramatists to inform your own writing; choose from a number of optional and specialist modules; and pursue and complete a writing project of your own choice.

The Department’s commitment to contemporary literature and its contacts with eminent authors allow us to place your degree studies in Creative Writing in an exciting wider context. We will also give you guidance on how you can get your work published, so that you can share your success with others. At Chester, we pride ourselves on teaching Creative Writing in a professional but supportive environment.

English Literature

Discover the power of words, from the earliest times to the present day, as you delve deep into new worlds.

You will study an exciting variety of novels, poems and plays. You might find yourself looking for the psychological undercurrents in a fantasy novel, applying feminist theory to a Renaissance courtly sonnet, studying the motif of the vampire in Gothic horror or exploring the treatment of love in the comedies of Shakespeare.

There’s the chance to write a dissertation on a topic of your choosing, exploring your interests. You will develop key skills for the future; our students learn how to frame a convincing argument, express it in discussion, analyse writing in all styles and work independently.

We offer an engaging and supportive atmosphere in which ideas about literature are shared. Group discussion is at the heart of the degree, making the study of literature exciting, varied and dynamic. You can customise your degree as you progress, so by the third year you might be taking several optional modules as well as working on a dissertation that you have created, where you will work individually with a lecturer to complete the project.

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

Current jobs

Required skill level of job after 15 months

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Creative Writing and English Literature BA (Hons) at University of Chester

15% Elementary occupations
15% Business and public service associate professionals
10% Media Professionals
10% Teaching Professionals
5% Sales occupations
5% Administrative occupations
5% Business, Research and Administrative Professionals
5% Caring personal services
5% Artistic, literary and media occupations
5% Customer service occupations

Grading & Study Time

**For Creative Writing, assessment varies from module to module:** you will compile portfolios of creative writing; write critical and self-reflective prose; and also do a range of other kinds of assessed work. There are no formal written exams. **For English Literature, assessment methods vary, and may include:** coursework essays, seminar papers, oral presentations, resource-based learning exercises, portfolios, learning diaries, and a small number of formal examinations.

Entry Requirements / Admissions

Minimum Required UCAS Tariff

The Department requires one of the following subjects at GCE A Level: a Humanities-based essay writing subject such as English Literature, English Language, English Language & Literature, Philosophy, Religious Studies, History or Classical Civilisation.

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for literature in English

Qualification requirements

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

The Department requires one of the following subjects at GCE A Level: a Humanities-based essay writing subject such as English Literature, English Language, English Language & Literature, Philosophy, Religious Studies, History or Classical Civilisation. A Level General Studies accepted; Welsh Baccalaureate accepted alongside A Levels/BTEC/OCRs.

Requirements for international students / English requirements

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

    • 6.5
    • All Degrees
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Creative Writing and English Literature, BA (Hons), if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Costs

Tuition Fees Creative Writing and English Literature BA (Hons)

EU £9250 year 1
England UK £9250 year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 year 1
Scotland £9250 year 1
Wales £9250 year 1
Channel Islands £9250 year 1

Additional fee information

The University may increase these fees at the start of each subsequent year of your course in line with inflation at that time, as measured by the Retail Price Index. These fee levels and increases are subject to any necessary government, and other regulatory, approvals.

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

How to apply

Application deadline:

January 1, 2025

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Possible Entry Points:

  • year 1 (Default entry point)
  • year 2
  • year 3

University Rankings

Positions of University of Chester in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of University of Chester in related subject specific rankings.

Arts Visual & Performing

    • #20 
    • #23 
    Creative Writing
    CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
    [Published 08 June, 2023]

Languages & Literature

    • #62 
    • #74 
    English
    CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
    [Published 08 June, 2023]

See all 13 university rankings of University of Chester

About University of Chester

The University of Chester, as the name suggests, is a university located in Chester. The university is formally affiliated with the Christian faith, but they make it clear in their mission statement that students of all faiths or no faith at all are welcome at their university. Chester operates from a total of six campuses, five of which are in Chester, the other in Warrington, with the main campus building being known as Parkgate Road Campus.

List of 330 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Chester - Course Catalogue

Student composition of University of Chester

undergraduates:
8005
postgraduates:
3300
Total:
11305
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Where is this programme taught

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