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English Language and Creative Writing BA(Hons)

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Intro

This course is for you if you are passionate about the study of English language and ambitious to apply your knowledge of the subject to innovative creative writing practice.

On this course you will study a wide range of genres, historical periods and styles and engage with political, cultural, and social ideas to develop your own imaginative work.

The course will suit students who are excited about the idea of exploring the structure and evolution of language in relation to their own creative writing. Award-winning tutors will help you develop your knowledge of the forms and techniques of powerful texts and respond imaginatively to historical and contemporary writing.

You will get the opportunity to work with local publishers and authors to further develop your professional understanding of writing. Trips and projects enable you to work beyond the classroom and be motivated by inspirational writers. 

See our upcoming events

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

UCAS code Q310

Full-time 3 years

Apply now with UCAS for 2023

I have been thrilled by the diverse subjects we have worked on. Inspiring teachers tease out creativity and guest lecturers provide insight that I have carried into my creative writing process.

Veneta Neale, English Language and Creative Writing BA(Hons) graduate

Course content

Course structure

Full-time students have 10–11 hours contact time a week in lectures, seminars and workshops, but you are also expected to carry out independent study. Part-time study is possible and can be tailored to suit individual needs.

There are placement opportunities available in the second year as well as field trips to theatres, museums, schools, retirement villages and other community organisations. You are also welcome to study abroad after your second year.

Our courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis in order to make sure that what you learn with us is relevant and that your course enables you to develop appropriate skills. When you apply to study with us, we will inform you of any new developments in your chosen programme through Student View.

 

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Chloe Price explains how the English Language and Creative Writing BA(Hons) has positively challenged her, the support she’s had from staff and how she has found living in Brighton

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Year 1

Modules

  • Textual Encounters: Reading, Writing, Thinking

    How do texts make meaning? How can we understand the relationships between readers, writers, and texts? This module introduces questions crucial to the study of literature and culture through examining reading, writing and thinking as dynamic and dialogic cultural practices. You'll develop the skills necessary to become an effective writer, thinker and critic, enabling you to develop informed responses to texts and ideas in dialogue with others as members of a collaborative intellectual community.

  • Stories and Storytelling

    How do stories create and communicate experiences, identities and cultural meaning? How do they work to perpetuate and challenge social structures? On this module you'll study fairy tales, myth, novels, short stories and visual narratives (for example, film, comics and graphic novels, gaming) to discuss these questions. Through reading and guided research you'll identify and pursue your own interests in critical, creative and reflective ways and produce a reading and research journal.

  • Storying The Self

    This module will introduce you to practices of storying the self in writing and digital media. Through creating a first person story combining audio script, music and still image, you will engage with the expressive complexities of autobiographical representation. The module will also give you the creative writing tools to experiment with storying the self in a variety of written genre.

  • Understanding Language

    This module introduces the study of language (linguistics) and its main branches of phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics. It will enable you to carry out analysis of real language data using different linguistic frameworks. You'll be encouraged to be more critical of your own language ability and to develop and hone communication skills whilst also developing your written work.

  • Introduction to Intercultural Communication

    This module explores intercultural communication in a technologically connected world. Through examining communication in national and individual-level communities and groups, you'll investigate how different narratives and positions emerge. You will explore the challenges and opportunities of intercultural communication in a complex, interconnected and inequitable world shaped by technology and other global forces.

  • Investigating Language

    This module provides a solid foundation in research methodologies and methods. It will develop your abilities in reading, processing and critically assessing analytical research. It will also build your skills in investigating language and linguistic patterns.

Year 2

Modules

  • Creative Writing: Process and Craft
  • Research and Practice
  • Image and Text: The Language of Comics and Graphic Novels
  • Power and Persuasion

Options*

  • Studying Travel Writing
  • Twentieth-century Literary Experiments
  • Queer Writing
  • Literature in Practice
  • Literature and Art History
  • American Literature 1850–1945
  • Multilingualism
  • Sign Language Linguistics
  • Writing for Stage, Radio and Screen
  • Media in Practice
  • Introduction to Journalism
  • Cinema and Society
  • Television Studio Production
  • Photography: From Painting with Light to Zeros and Ones
  • Documentary Filmmaking: Theory and Practice
  • Contested Stories

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Placements 

In year 2 you take a placement module which will allow you to gain professional experience in industries such as publishing, broadcasting, social media marketing, PR and the charity sector. 

Recent placement hosts include:

  • Action Medical Research
  • Action Tutoring
  • Airstream Photo Booth
  • Brighton Dome and Festival
  • British Forces Broadcasting Services
  • Epoque Press
  • Factory Films
  • The Old Market Theatre
  • Little Green Pig
  • Men’s Health Magazine
  • Prsnt

In year 3 you can choose the Community Placement module aimed at further building your professional experience. This is 30 to 50 hours of voluntary work with a not-for-profit or community organisation. The placement is assessed and contributes to your degree.

Mia Kurian, graduate

“My placement was with Metropolitan City Church Brighton as their Social Media Manager. I learnt a lot about myself and my interests and the type of career I may want to pursue. I got to try my hand at website design, something I had never done before, and it was a great opportunity for me to expand my creativity. Professionally, I gained a lot of experience that has been extremely useful in my career today. I learnt about creating brand cohesion and creating a brand image from scratch, something I’ve never done before.

"I absolutely loved it. It was an incredible learning experience as well as insightful. It allowed me to learn a lot about myself and the future I want. My placement manager was lovely and supportive and allowed me the freedom to explore my creativity.”

Final year

Modules

  • Dissertation

Options*

  • Community Placement: Theory in Practice
  • Russian Literature and Culture: The Golden Age and Beyond
  • (Re)viewing Shakespeare
  • Apocalypse, Utopia and Dystopia
  • Literature and Philosophy
  • Post-war American Literature
  • Women's Writing and Feminist Theory
  • Restoration Drama
  • Adaptations
  • Creative Writing Project
  • Goths: Texts and Contexts
  • Victorian Sexualities
  • Brighton Rocks
  • Writing the Contemporary
  • Postcolonial Literatures
  • European Literatures and Film
  • Culture Wars: Revisiting the Great Divide
  • Language, Culture and Ideology
  • World Englishes
  • Language of Gender and Sexuality
  • Language, Law and the State: The Politics of Force
  • Language Policy and Planning
  • Analysing Big Data: Quantitative Methods in Language Research
  • Conversation Analysis
  • Approaches to Analysing Discourse
  • English Language Teaching
  • Public Journalism
  • Popular Culture: Europe and Beyond
  • From Script to Screen
  • Images of War
  • The Autobiography and the Screen
  • Media Ethics and Conflict

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Meet the team

Dr Bea Hitchman, course leader

Dr Beatrice Hitchman has written two novels. Petite Mort (Serpent's Tail, 2013), nominated for the Authors' Club Best First Novel Prize, the Polari Prize, the HWA Debut Novel Prize and the Desmond Elliott Prize, and serialised as a ten-part Radio 4 drama. Her research sits at the intersection of critical and creative writing. Read Bea's full profile.

Other staff who teach on the course include:

Dr Jess Moriarty (pictured), Dr Craig Jordan-Baker, Dr Barbara Chamberlin, Simon Wilkinson, Dr Vy Rajapillai, Dr Julie Everton, Dr John McCullough and Eleanor Knight.

Dr Jess Moriarty

Dr Jess Moriarty

Careers

Prepare for your career

Your English Language and Creative Writing degree provides subject knowledge and expertise and opportunities to put what you learn into practice with work-related experience.

  • You will develop valuable transferable skills such as a critical thinking and writing, independent research and analysis.
  • The course will equip you with excellent presentation, written and oral communication skills.
  • Option modules in your second and third years span subjects including documentary filmmaking, philosophy, teaching and conversation analysis enabling you to tailor your degree to your specific career ambitions.
  • A programme of visiting writers and publishing professionals give you a window a window into the publishing industry.
  • You can opt to take a voluntary placement as part of the course and complete a practical project with a local community or voluntary organisation.
  • Workshops and spoken word events will help you find your writing voice and you will also be encouraged to enter competitions to build your confidence as a writer.

Extracurricular activities which can add to your skillset and experience include:

  • the Performance and Community Research and Enterprise Group which celebrates, challenges and researches the various modes of performance (voice, body, space, movement, language, sound, texture, shape, words).
  • the student-led Creative Writing Society.
Students on a field trip in the country side

Showcasing your talent 

The Scrivener series of talks runs twice a semester giving you the chance to talk with a professional writer about their work. This then feeds into open mic nights where you can showcase your work

As a Creative Writing student you will have the opportunity to organise your own academic conference in your final year, centred around celebrating you and your fellow students’ work. Students organise all aspects of the event and present work at the conference.

All Creative Writing students receive a weekly email digest of writing competitions and opportunities. Our aim is to encourage you to get your work to a wider audience, and think about the future.

Creative writing poetry evening

Royal Literary Fund Fellow 

If you want professional feedback on any aspect of your writing, from an essay to a manuscript, you can book a one-to-one tutorial with our resident Royal Literary Fund Fellow.

The sessions are free, confidential and independent of the university. 

You can get advice on

  • academic writing style and how to answer essay questions. 
  • all aspects of your writing, such as developing and structuring an argument to improving style.

What can I do with a language and creative writing degree?

English Language and Literature degree graduates gain a broad range of skills applicable in a variety of industries, such as:

  • journalism
  • publishing
  • authorship
  • teaching
  • advertising
  • copywriting, editing and proofreading
  • speech and language therapy
  • marketing
  • research
  • PR.

High-profile graduates from our English programmes include Paris Lees, Tanaka Mhishi and Munroe Bergdorf.

Graduates from our English programmes have gone on to careers in:

  • research
  • social media marketing
  • English tutorship
  • SEO Executive
  • law
  • publishing
  • broadcasting
  • public relations 
  • teaching
  • postgraduate studies in English language and creative writing or related areas.

Further study 

This degree opens up a range of postgraduate study options. At Brighton, for example, you could progress on to 

  • Creative Writing MA
  • PGCE English
  • TESOL MA.

You could also choose to complete your PhD at Brighton alongside our team of world-leading researchers.

Supporting your employability

Outside of your course, our Careers Service is here to support you as you discover (and re-discover) your strengths and what matters to you. We are here for you throughout your university journey as you work towards a fulfilling and rewarding career.

Connect with our careers team

  • Find part-time work that you can combine with your studies.
  • Find, or be, a mentor or get involved with our peer-to-peer support scheme.
  • Develop your business ideas through our entrepreneurial support network.
  • Get professional advice and support with career planning, CV writing and interview top tips.
  • Meet potential employers at our careers fairs.
  • Find rewarding volunteering opportunities to help you discover more about what makes you tick, and build your CV.

Whatever your career needs, we are here to help. And that's not just while you are a student, our support carries on after you've graduated.

Find out more...

Coloured background with the words Be More, Connected, Skilled, Emlployable

Entry criteria

Flexible admissions

When you apply to Brighton we want to hear about who you are. Grades are never the whole picture; we're interested in things like creativity, resourcefulness, persistence and the capacity to think big and find new ways of doing things. And we recognise that not everyone has the same background. That's why we treat everyone who applies as an individual. We recognise many qualifications and we care about all of your achievements and the experiences you've had that set you apart.

Find out more

Graphic with the text 'Potential + possibility'

Entry requirements

A-level or BTEC
Entry requirements are in the range of A-level BBB–BCC (120–104 UCAS Tariff points), or BTEC Extended Diploma DMM–MMM. Our conditional offers typically fall within this range.

A-levels must include at least one of English literature, English language, English language and literature, sociology or psychology.

International Baccalaureate
26 points, with three subjects at Higher level.

Access to HE Diploma
Pass with 60 credits overall. Humanities, history or politics courses preferred. At least 45 credits at level 3.

Studied before or got relevant experience?
A qualification, HE credits or relevant experience may count towards your course at Brighton, and could mean that you do not have to take some elements of the course or can start in year 2 or 3. 

English language requirements
IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visit our language centre

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Fees

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 14,300 GBP

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Humanities and Social Science in the 2022–23 academic year are listed here.

  • For some assessments you may be required to print large format posters for presentations at a cost of £5–£10 per poster.
  • Most coursework submissions are electronic but you may wish to print notes and should budget up to £100 for printing.
  • Course books are available from the university but you may wish to budget up to £200 to buy your own copies.
  • Some courses include an optional placement module for which students will need to cover the costs of travel to and from the placement and DBS checks as required.
  • For the Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counselling PGDip and Psychotherapeutic Psychodynamic Counselling PGDip, the following course-related costs are not included in the tuition fee:
    • Supervision fees: £1,170 for each full year. Estimated based on £45 per hour with fortnightly meetings. In some agencies, supervision will be provided at no cost. Where students have to pay, the cost will only begin when supervision begins.
    • Personal counselling/therapy: £2,000–£2,800 over the course. Estimated based on £40 per hour.
  • For a number of courses you will have the opportunity to attend field trips and off-site visits. These are optional and are not required to pass your course but under normal circumstances we would expect a budget of approximately £150 per year will cover the costs of particular trips. The amount spent would be based on location and number of trips taken.
  • You will have access to computers and necessary software, however many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2023–24.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of Brighton seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus and student village. Over the last four years Moulsecoomb has undergone a major transformation, planned with accessibility, inclusivity and sustainability in mind.

Over 900 students live here in our halls, Moulsecoomb Place and the new Mithras halls – Brunswick, Goldstone, Hanover, Preston and Regency.

On campus you’ll find professional-standard facilities and learning resources for all of our subjects and a brand new academic building Elm House, alongside the library, student centre, fitness facilities and the Students’ Union.

Moulsecoomb has easy access to buses and trains and to all the exciting things happening in our home city.

Two people walking past Mithras halls

Accommodation

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students.

Halls of residence
We have halls of residence across Brighton in the city centre, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

  • Moulsecoomb campus is linked to Mithras halls and Varley Park. All halls are self-catered.
  • Varley Park offers a mix of rooms. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there’s a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.

Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.

Modern accommodation at nearby Varley Halls

Modern accommodation at nearby Varley Park

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Students eating at the Hub

Students eating at the Hub

Local area

About Brighton

The city of Brighton & Hove is a forward-thinking place which leads the way in the arts, technology, sustainability and creativity. You'll find living here plays a key role in your learning experience.

Brighton is a leading centre for creative media technology, recently named the startup capital of the UK.

The city is home to a national 5G testbed and over 1,000 tech businesses. The digital sector is worth over £1bn a year to the local economy - as much as tourism.

All of our full-time undergraduate courses involve work-based learning - this could be through placements, live briefs and guest lectures. Many of these opportunities are provided by local businesses and organisations.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus map

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our Brighton Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more.

Students talking in a social area

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Students playing frisbee

Stay in touch

See our upcoming events

Ask a question about this course

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.
01273 644644

Subscribe to our School of Humanities blog to find out about student and staff news, and events.

Statistics

Find out more about how the academic year and degree courses are organised, and about learning and assessment activities you might get to grips with at Brighton. More specific information about this course is detailed in the programme specification (linked below). You can find out also about the support we offer to help you adjust to university life.

Course and module descriptions on this page were accurate when first published and are the basis of the course. Detailed information on any changes we make to modules and learning and assessment activities will be sent to all students by email before enrolment, so that you have all the information before you come to Brighton.

Discover Uni

Discover Uni enables you to compare information when choosing a UK university course. All UK universities publish Discover Uni data on their website.

Programme specification

The programme specification is the approved description of each course. They give a detailed breakdown of the content and structure of the course, and are updated following course changes.

Programme specification

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‹ ›

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