English and Creative Writing BA (Hons)
Develop your creative skills under the guidance of published authors, poets and playwrights on our English and Creative Writing degree course.
Key information
UCAS code:
QW38
Typical offer:
112-120 UCAS points to include a minimum of 2 A levels
Showing content for section Overview
Overview
Take your love of literature to a higher level and refine your writing skills with academic rigour on our English and Creative Writing degree course.
Explore literature through an academic lens in theory and in practice, enhancing your understanding of each through participation in the other.
You'll learn to analyse literature as a critic, historian and linguist, and from the perspective of future creators, storytellers, playwrights and poets – all of which will transform your writing skills. Develop techniques for producing short stories, poetry and plays, and learn to dissect, critique and perform your own writing.
By the end of your degree, you’ll open up professional career paths and postgraduate routes eager for writing and literary expertise, including editing and publishing, teaching, and broadcasting.
Course highlights
- Take part in Portsmouth's annual Comic Con for the latest developments in creative writing and literature, popular culture, fan communities, and technology – course lecturers and students are panelists
- Build your writing portfolio by contributing to our course blog The Eldon Review and our local news zine Star & Crescent
- Contribute to cultural preservation projects with staff members, such as the Portsmouth Literary Map and the Writing Literary Portsmouth blog, to enhance your research practice
- Learn from experts in both creative writing and English literature: from published novelists and industry-active writers, to renowned specialists of 19th to 21st-century literature and culture
- Gain valuable professional experience by taking an optional placement
- Spend a year or a semester studying abroad to discover another culture and way of learning
- Take advantage of our extra-curricular Institute-Wide Language Programme to improve your linguistic skills and earn credits
Contact information
Contact AdmissionsEntry requirements
BA (Hons) English and Creative Writing
Typical offers
- A levels - BBB-BBC
- UCAS points - 112-120 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent, including a relevant subject (calculate your UCAS points)
- BTECs (Extended Diplomas) - DDM-DMM
- International Baccalaureate - 25
You may need to have studied specific subjects – find full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept
Selection process
Applicants without relevant qualifications will be asked to provide a portfolio to support their application.
For more information on how to put together a portfolio, read our Creative Writing courses portfolio guide.
English language requirements
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
See alternative English language qualifications
We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.
If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
We look at more than just your grades
While we consider your grades when making an offer, we also carefully look at your circumstances and other factors to assess your potential. These include whether you live and work in the region and your personal and family circumstances which we assess using established data.
How to prepare for this course
Here are two ways you can get ready for all the exciting writing you'll be doing over the next three years.
Reading books
We have some recommended titles you can check out:
- ‘The Writer’s Journey’ (Christopher Vogler)
- ‘The Seven Basic Plots’ (Christopher Booker)
- ‘From the Beast to the Blonde’ (Marina Warner)
- ‘The Creative Writing Handbook’ (edited by Steve Earnshaw)
- ‘Save the Cat’ (Blake Snyder)
All of these appear in module reading lists on our Creative Writing courses, so buying them could be worthwhile – or you could wait until you can access them in our University Library or on our Moodle pages after starting this course.
Writing
Write every day; don’t throw any of it away.
Writing's the easiest and most important way to prepare for a creative writing course. The more you write, the more you’ll:
- discover your voice
- hone your technique
- become more self-reflective
You don’t have to pen a major publication or a future blockbuster screenplay either. You can start small by keeping a diary, journal, or setting up your own blog, and adding entries to those.
Facilities and specialist software
Writing and scripting software
Pen film, TV and stage masterpieces using industry-wide scriptwriting software such as Celtx and Final Draft.
Open Access Suite
Our open-plan space includes PCs and Macs equipped with Adobe Creative Suite and other professional software.
University Library
Our University Library is home to not only publications you'll need for your studies but also rare archives and special book collections that will help kindle your writing fire.
Course-related projects and blogs
Portsmouth Literary Map
Explore Portsmouth's rich literary heritage and contemporary literature scene through an interactive map and blog
Writing Literary Portsmouth Blog
Our blog explores the literary depths of Portsmouth, featuring local and famous authors and their relationships with the city.
Careers and opportunities
An excellent writer and speaker will prosper in a vast field of career opportunities.
You’ll graduate from this course with outstanding writing and speaking skills, as well as proofreading and grammar proficiency. All of these qualities will help you from the moment you write your first job application.
You’ll also have developed excellent skills in imagination, empathy, and research, which are valuable assets to any employer.
Graduate areas
Areas graduates from our Creative Writing courses have worked in include:
- creative writing (prose, poetry, script)
- advertising and marketing
- arts and events management
- local and community broadcasting
- teaching
- stand-up comedy
- travel industry
Graduate roles
Roles graduates from our Creative Writing courses have gone onto include:
- novelist
- poet
- playwright
- teacher
- copywriter
- journalist
- theatre manager
- editorial assistant
Graduate destinations
Some of our graduates have landed spots in big companies and organisations, including:
- BBC Radio 1
- Red Magazine
Ongoing careers support
Get experience while you study, with support to find part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities, and work experience. You can also venture into freelancing, or set up and run your own business with help from the University Startup Team.
Towards the end of your degree and for up to five years after graduation, you’ll receive one-to-one support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy to help you find your perfect role.
Placement year (optional)
After your second or third year, you can complete an optional work placement to gain professional experience and enhance your skills. It's also a great incentive for employers once you graduate.
You can work for a company, organisation or agency, or you can go self-employed and start your own business with fellow students or by yourself.
Whatever you decide – or even if you just want some employability advice – our exclusive Creative Careers team can support you every step of the way.
Creative Careers
Our in-faculty Creative Careers team has extensive recruitment experience and knows the creative sector well, making it easier for students to find placements within the creative industries.
They can guide you through every step of the application process, including:
- Searching for the ideal job through their database of vacancies
- Giving tips on how to write an interesting CV that will catch employers' attention, no matter the role
- Organising mock interviews, so you can hone your technique and familiarise yourself with the recruitment environment
- Writing your startup business proposal – if you're going down the self-employment route
The team will continue to give you support throughout your placement year.
What you can do on a placement year
If you're thinking of doing a placement but not sure what role to take or where to go, we can steer you in a direction that fits your aspirations.
Check out our Creative Careers team's blog to find out where fellow film, media and communication students have interned during their studies.
Placement experiences
Placement students on our Creative Writing courses have worked in a variety of roles in commerce, publishing, entertainment, and education. Others have chosen to work for themselves.
Among these experiences are:
- Digital content creator at the head office of a major retailer
- Trainee editorial assistants at The London Magazine and Star & Crescent
- Writing and publishing novellas and poetry collections as a freelancer
- Content writer for a Brixton music promotion company
- Teachers in schools
Modules
Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits.
In each year, you need to study modules worth a total of 120 credits. For example, 4 modules worth 20 credits and 1 module worth 40 credits.
What you'll study
Core modules in this year include:
- Body Politics – 40 credits
- Telling Tales – 20 credits
- Tips, Tricks, Techniques – 20 credits
- True Stories – 20 credits
- The Short Story: Murder, Madness and Experimentation – 20 credits
There are no optional modules in this year.
Core modules for this year include:
- Literary Prizes and Public Acclaim – 20 credits
Optional modules in this year include:
- Film, Media and Communication Study Exchange – 60 credits
- Finding Form - Fiction – 20 credits
- Finding Form - Nonfiction – 20 credits
- Creative Writing For Film – 20 credits
- Crime Writing – 20 credits
- Dystopian and Apocalyptic Environments: Ecocrisis in the Literary Imagination – 20 credits
- Finding Form - Fiction – 20 credits
- Finding Form - Nonfiction – 20 credits
- Women's Writing in the Americas – 20 credits
- Creative Writing and Critical Thinking – 20 credits
- Research in Practice – 20 credits
- Bloody Shakespeare: the Politics and Poetics of Violence – 20 credits
- Creative Writing and Critical Thinking – 20 credits
- Engaged Citizenship Through Interdisciplinary Practice – 20 credits
- Finding Form - Speculative Fiction – 20 credits
- Modern Foreign Language (Institution-wide Language Programme) – 20 credits
- Press and Public Relations – 20 credits
- Professional Experience – 20 credits
- Puritans to Postmodernists: American Literature – 20 credits
- Research in Practice – 20 credits
- Space, Place and Being – 20 credits
- Student Enterprise – 20 credits
Core modules
- English Literature Dissertation – 40 credits
- Or Creative Writing Dissertation – 40 credits
Optional modules in this year include:
- Advanced Screenwriting – 20 credits
- Fact and Fiction – 20 credits
- Fan Fiction – 20 credits
- Holocaust Literatures – 20 credits
- US Masculinities – 20 credits
- Consuming Fictions: Food and Appetite in Victorian Culture – 20 credits
- Magical Realism – 20 credits
- Time, Temporality, Contemporary Fiction – 20 credits
- Travel Writing: Global and Local Engagements – 20 credits
- Writing Project (With Publishing) – 20 credits
On this course, you can do an optional work placement year after your 2nd or 3rd year to get valuable experience working in industry.
We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your situation and ambitions. You’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year.
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
Exchanges and study abroad
In your second or third year, you can choose to study abroad at one of our partner universities in Europe, Asia, Australia or North America. All classes are delivered in English and you'll still be able to get both your tuition fee and maintenance loans. You may also qualify for a government travel grant.
How you're assessed
You’ll be assessed through:
- short stories
- a novel in progress
- a screenplay
- a collection of poems
- a video production
- presentations
- reports
- a research portfolio
- examinations
- dissertation/project
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.
You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.
Teaching
Teaching methods on this course include:
- workshops
- seminars
- lectures
- one-to-one tutorials
There's an emphasis on giving you the freedom and choice to develop the skills you need to succeed wherever your career takes you.
How you'll spend your time
One of the main differences between school or college and university is how much control you have over your learning.
We use a blended learning approach to teaching, which means you’ll take part in both face-to-face and online activities during your studies. As well as attending your timetabled classes you'll study independently in your free time, supported by staff and our virtual learning environment, Moodle.
Term dates
The academic year runs from September to June. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter.
Supporting you
The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used to at school or college, but you'll also get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:
Types of support
Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.
You'll have regular contact with your personal tutor in learning activities or scheduled meetings. You can also make an appointment with them if you need extra support.
In addition to the support you get from your personal tutor, you’ll also have access to a Faculty student support advisor. They can give you confidential, impartial advice on anything to do with your studies and personal wellbeing and refer you to specialist support services.
You'll have help from a team of faculty academic skills tutors. They can help you improve and develop your academic skills and support you in any area of your study.
They can help with:
- improving your academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations)
- delivering presentations (including observing and filming presentations)
- understanding and using assignment feedback
- managing your time and workload
- revision and exam techniques
If you need support with software and equipment or you want to learn additional skills (including skills not covered on your course), our creative skills tutors provide free workshops, activities and one-on-one tutorials. Skills you can learn include life drawing, film camera operation and video production.
Computing support staff are always available to give technical support in the Faculty's computer suites during normal working hours. There's also some support available from 5.00pm to midnight at busy times of the year.
As well as support from faculty staff and your personal tutor, you can use the University’s Academic Skills Unit (ASK).
ASK provides one-to-one support in areas such as:
- academic writing
- note taking
- time management
- critical thinking
- presentation skills
- referencing
- working in groups
- revision, memory and exam techniques
If you have a disability or need extra support, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) will give you help, support and advice.
Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.
You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.
If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.
They'll help you to
- discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
- liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
- access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
- liaise with external services
Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from a librarian who specialises in your subject area.
The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.
If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees
- UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,250 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
- EU students – £9,250 a year, including our Transition Scholarship (may be subject to annual increase)
- International students – £18,100 a year (subject to annual increase)
You won't pay any extra tuition fees to another university for taking part in a study/work abroad activity if you choose to do it for the whole academic year. During a year abroad you'll only have to pay a reduced fee to the University of Portsmouth.
Funding your studies
Find out how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.
Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.
Additional course costs
These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.
Additional costs
Our accommodation section show your accommodation options and highlight how much it costs to live in Portsmouth.
You’ll study up to 6 modules a year. You may have to read several recommended books or textbooks for each module.
You can borrow most of these from the Library. If you buy these, they may cost up to £60 each.
We recommend that you budget £75 a year for photocopying, memory sticks, DVDs and CDs, printing charges, binding and specialist printing.
If your final year includes a major project, there could be cost for transport or accommodation related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.
You’ll need to cover additional costs, such as travel costs, if you take an optional placement or placement abroad.
These costs will vary depending on the location and duration of the placement, and can range from £50–£1000.
During your placement year or study abroad year, you’ll be eligible for a discounted rate on your tuition fees. Currently, this discount amounts to 90% of the year’s fees.
Tuition fees for that year are:
- UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £925 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
- EU students – £925 a year, including Transition Scholarship (may be subject to annual increase)
- International students – £1,800 a year (subject to annual increase)
The costs associated with your specific destination will be discussed during your second year, as well as possible sources of additional funding.
Apply
How to apply
To start this course in 2024, apply through UCAS. You'll need:
- the UCAS course code – QW38
- our institution code – P80
If you'd prefer to apply directly, use our online application form.
You can also sign up to an Open Day to:
- Tour our campus, facilities and halls of residence
- Speak with lecturers and chat with our students
- Get information about where to live, how to fund your studies and which clubs and societies to join
If you're new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.
Applying from outside the UK
As an international student you'll apply using the same process as UK students, but you’ll need to consider a few extra things.
You can get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region.
Find out what additional information you need in our international students section.
If you don't meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.