University of Essex
Literature and Creative Writing (Including Year Abroad) BA (Hons)
University of Essex

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews of 45 graduates of Literature and Creative Writing (Including Year Abroad) BA (Hons) and other courses in Literature in English at University of Essex for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Literature in English.

The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in Literature in English

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 £23500 £26500
25-75 percentile range £21000 - £25500 £18500 - £25000 £21000 - £31000


Salary of all UK Graduates of Literature in English

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £23570 £22388 £25760
25-75 percentile range £20603 - £27250 £16473 - £27538 £19613 - £33154

Course Description

All writers are first of all readers and all readers are writers, for without the active participation of readers a book is never fully realised. Our BA Literature and Creative Writing offers a unique approach to the practice of reading and writing, combining more familiar British and American perspectives and readings with other influential schools of writing, from the study of tradition and myth to the innovative practice of the Workshop of Potential Literature or Oulipo in France.

You deepen your knowledge of literary tradition across a variety of genres in order to develop your practical skills of understanding, expression and invention. Pursue your love of reading and explore some of the most important novels, poems, and plays from the United States, the Caribbean and Europe while developing your own writing through a variety of planned readings and writing exercises. We’ll teach you to be your own editor; critically judging your own and others’ work is invaluable in transforming your work from something good to something great.

At the beginning of your course, you receive a highly focused introduction to the study of literature alongside intensive modules in creative writing, covering myth, innovation and tradition, prose, and poetry. A module on writing for radio allows you to go into a studio and record a radio play. You then progress to look at a range of specialist topics such as:

  • experimental writing and surrealism
  • myth and fairytale
  • translating novels for the screen
  • American literature
  • Shakespeare
  • science fiction

Our course develops your abilities as a reader and writer while allowing you to take options from the other courses within our Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies including filmmaking, journalism and drama.

Essex has nurtured a long tradition of distinguished writers whose work has shaped literature as we know it today, from past giants such as the American poets Robert Lowell and Ted Berrigan, to contemporary writers such as mythographer and novelist Dame Marina Warner, and Booker Prize-winner Ben Okri.

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 Literature and Creative Writing (Including Year Abroad) BA (Hons) at University of Essex

30% Managers, directors and senior officials
15% Natural and social science professionals
5% Quality and Regulatory Professionals
5% Finance Professionals
5% Information Technology Professionals
5% Business, Research and Administrative Professionals
5% Business and public service associate professionals
5% Engineering professionals
5% Teaching Professionals
5% Quality and Regulatory Professionals

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for Literature in English

Requirements for international students / English requirements

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

    • 6.5
    • Graduate Degrees
    • 6.0
    • Undergraduate Degrees
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Literature and Creative Writing (Including Year Abroad), BA (Hons), if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Costs

Tuition Fees Literature and Creative Writing (Including Year Abroad) BA (Hons)

England UK £9250 year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 year 1
Scotland £9250 year 1
Wales £9250 year 1
Channel Islands £9250 year 1
Ireland £9250 year 1
EU £19500 year 1
International £19500 year 1

Additional fee information

Fees displayed are for 2024-25 entry. Fees may increase for each academic intake and each academic year of study.

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:

August 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

UCAS application code:

QW31

University Rankings

#30
University Guru Meta Ranking
of University of Essex

among 379 universities in England UK
based on 32 different rankings

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

Rankings of University of Essex in related subject specific rankings.

Arts Visual & Performing

    • #22 
    • #24 
    Creative Writing
    CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
    [Published 14 May, 2024]

Languages & Literature

    • #58 
    • #69 
    English
    CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
    [Published 14 May, 2024]

See all 32 university rankings of University of Essex

About University of Essex

The University of Essex, is a public, research university where curiosity prevails and thinking outside the box isn’t just encouraged, it’s expected. Based in the county of the same name, Essex, the main campus is located in Wivenhoe Park, near Colchester. It is home to the university’s three faculties, Humanities, Science & Health and Social Sciences, as well as a very large community of local rabbits, and other small fauna typical of the English countryside.

List of 921 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Essex - Course Catalogue

Student composition of University of Essex

undergraduates:
12070
postgraduates:
3690
Total:
15760
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Where is this programme taught

Colchester Campus
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Similar courses

Program University Student satis­faction Unem­ployed Drop­out Tuition (UK) Tuition (Inter­national) UCAS Tariff City
Creative Writing and Film and Theatre BA (Hons) University of Reading 62% 0% 10% £9250 £22350 135 Reading
On campus Full-time
Creative Writing and History BA (Hons) Aberystwyth University - 0% 3% £9000 £16520 129 Aberystwyth
On campus Full-time
English Literature and Creative Writing BA (Hons) University of Brighton 42% 5% 15% £9250 £13842 115 Brighton
On campus Full-time
English Literature and Creative Writing (with integrated foundation year) BA (Hons) Aberystwyth University 77% 5% 15% £9000 £16520 134 Aberystwyth
On campus Full-time
Film and Creative Writing BA (Hons) University of Essex 69% 5% 10% £9250 £19500 149 Colchester
On campus Full-time
Literature and Creative Writing (Including Year Abroad) BA (Hons) University of Essex - 5% 10% £9250 £19500 120 Colchester
On campus Full-time
English Literature and Creative Writing BA (Hons) Aberystwyth University 66% 5% 0% £9000 £16520 118 Aberystwyth
On campus Full-time
Creative Writing and Theatre BA (Hons) University of Reading 79% 0% 10% £9250 £22350 145 Reading
On campus Full-time
Creative Writing BA (Hons) Liverpool John Moores University 76% 10% 20% £9250 £9250 £16100 £17750 135 Liverpool
On campus Full-time
Creative Writing (Including Year Abroad) BA (Hons) University of Essex - - - £9250 £19500 - Colchester
On campus Full-time

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FAQ about Literature and Creative Writing (Including Year Abroad) BA (Hons) University of Essex

  • Tuition fees for this programme are 9250 per year for UK students. In addition to the tuition fees you should also take into consideration the average monthly cost of living for students in the UK.

  • The median salary of graduates of this course was £23000 15 months after graduation, £23500 3 years after graduation and £26500 after graduation.

  • Managers, directors and senior officials (30%), Natural and social science professionals (15%), Quality and Regulatory Professionals (5%), Finance Professionals (5%)

  • Literature and Creative Writing (Including Year Abroad) BA (Hons) is taught on campus and cannot be taken online at University of Essex.

  • It is moderately difficult to get accepted into this course. The average UCAS tariff score of this course is 120 which is among the Percentile among all Creative Writing students in the UK.