University of Reading
English Literature with Creative Writing BA (Hons)
University of Reading

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews of 80 graduates of English Literature with Creative Writing BA (Hons) and other courses in literature in English at University of Reading for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in literature in English.

Overall student satisfaction
83 /100
80 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 £23500 £28500
25-75 percentile range £20000 - £25500 £20500 - £28000 £23500 - £34500


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

Explore literature from all angles with our BA English Literature with Creative Writing course.

English literature and creative writing are a perfect combination at degree level:

  • In your literature modules, you will be introduced to important, exciting, diverse writers from across the centuries and the globe.
  • In creative writing, you will explore literary creativity from the inside: creating characters, shaping poems, and drawing on your imagination.

The two sides of the degree complement and challenge each other. The great writers from the past and present who you study will inspire and influence your writing. Meanwhile, creating your own work will help you understand technique and form in ways that will sharpen your analysis of literary texts.

You will learn from active, prize-winning authors from our Department of English Literature. These academics have years of experience with the nuts-and bolts of writing, and they will closely read and advise you on your work. We are ranked 11th for Creative Writing in the Complete University Guide 2023.

English literature

On your English literature modules, you will examine well-known authors and genres, such as tragedy and gothic literature, Shakespeare and Plath. You’ll also be introduced to aspects of literary studies that may be less familiar to you, such as:

  • children’s literature
  • publishing studies
  • the history of the book

During your first year, you will develop the advanced skills in literary analysis necessary for undergraduate work. For example, you will:

  • explore the different ways that literary texts respond to their cultural context.
  • trace the development of English-language poetry over time and across the globe.
  • examine how literary texts accrue new meanings in the process of interpretation.

In your second year, you can choose modules that range from Renaissance lyric poetry to contemporary fiction.

In your third year, your module choices are more diverse and specialised. For example, you can do archive work or look at the politics of literature.

Creative writing

On your creative writing modules, you will be introduced to all the major forms, including:

  • fiction
  • drama
  • poetry
  • creative-non-fiction.

In your second year you can specialise in the areas you feel most excited by. In your third year, you’ll participate in our masterclasses. These are advanced modules in your chosen literary form, where you will read and discuss very recently published texts, identify and write about the themes that are currently popular and fresh, and be encouraged to pursue publication yourself as part of the module assessment. You can also write at a greater length by choosing to do a creative writing dissertation.

You will also have the opportunity to publish your work – and gain experience in editing and publishing – by participating in our online creative magazine.

Your learning environment

We place a strong emphasis on small-group learning within a friendly and supportive environment.

Our team of poets, fiction and non-fiction writers provide detailed and thorough feedback on your written work within 15 working days. This is crucial to your development as a writer, whether you intend a career in creative or professional writing

Placement

Throughout your degree you will be thinking about the career choices that will enable you to thrive after graduation. We will help you develop the skills and experience you need to launch that career.

Our innovative placement scheme gives you the chance to undertake an academic placement in commerce, industry or the arts. You can also take a placement module on languages and literature in heritage, in education, and in the media.

Students on our Literature, Languages and Education module also undertake a short placement to explore the ways in which the skills and knowledge gained in their studies have direct application to the workplace.

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 English Literature with Creative Writing BA (Hons) at University of Reading

25% Caring personal services
20% Science, engineering and technology associate professionals
10% Sports and fitness occupations
10% Business and public service associate professionals
10% Secretarial and related occupations
5% Natural and social science professionals
5% Customer service occupations
5% Teaching Professionals
0% Finance Professionals
0% Information Technology Professionals

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for this course

Qualification requirements

Including a relevant subject/science @ C or above (80 UCAS tariff points)

Scottish Higher qualifications are considered on an individual basis

Access to HE Diploma

31-30 overall or 665-655 in 3 HL subjects.

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

If Mathematics is not taken beyond GCSE, a grade 7, (or A) in GCSE Mathematics, or Core Mathematics grade B is essential

Contextual offers for this programme are typically two grades beneath our standard entry requirement, e.g. BCC including A level English Literature or a related subject at grade B.

English language requirements

test Grade Additional Details
IELTS (Academic) 7

We require a minimum score of 7.0 overall with at least 6.0 in each element of the test (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing).

TOEFL (iBT) 100

We require a minimum score of 100 overall with no less than 20 in Listening, Writing and Reading and 21 in Speaking.

Cambridge English Advanced

We require a grade A or a score of 185 overall with no element less than 169.

Cambridge English Proficiency

We require a grade C or a score of 185 overall with no element less than 169.

PTE Academic 76

We require a minimum score of 76 overall with at least 64 in each element of the test (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing).

Institution's Own Test

Test of English for Educational Purposes (TEEP). We require a minimum score of 7.0 overall with at least 6.0 in each element of the test (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing).

Trinity ISE

Only ISE III and ISE IV are acceptable and we require a Pass in each element.

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

Costs

Tuition Fees English Literature with Creative Writing 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 £22350 year 1
International £22350 year 1

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)

University Rankings

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

Rankings of University of Reading in related subject specific rankings.

Languages & Literature

    • #41 
    • #51 
    English
    CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
    [Published 08 June, 2023]

See all 29 university rankings of University of Reading

About University of Reading

The University of Reading is a publicly funded university in Reading, Berkshire, England. Reading has four major campuses; London Road and Whiteknights campus which are located in Reading itself, with Greenlands campus being found on the banks of the River Thames. The fourth campus is known as Iskandar Puteri, in Malaysia.

List of 375 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Reading - Course Catalogue

Student composition of University of Reading

undergraduates:
11905
postgraduates:
3995
Total:
15900
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Where is this programme taught

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