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De Montfort University · Undergraduate
BA (Hons) Creative Writing and Drama Bachelor's degree at De Montfort University
BA (Hons) Creative Writing and Drama at De Montfort University. Rather than studying them separately, you'll develop your craft across both disciplines and discover where your artistic strengths lie.
BA (Hons)
Award
3
Years
Full-time
Study mode
80%
in work/study (15m)
About this course
Combine creative writing and drama performance in this dynamic programme to develop your craft and explore a wide range of artistic opportunities. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Creative Writing and Drama is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at De Montfort University. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Language and area studies graduates from this provider, 80% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 55% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £23,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for English & Literature, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
8.3
/ 10
Excellent
3 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Strong73
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Graduate outcomes
In work or further study 15 months after graduating
Excellent80
Limited evidence Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 80% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Exceptional95
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 95% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 4 modules
- Exploring Creative Writing
Module details
Explore a wide range of short-form writing, including international strict form poetry, free verse, flash fiction, and historical flash fiction. Develop clarity of expression and conciseness while practising redrafting and editing.
Assessment: Collaborative Writing (20%) and Short Form Portfolio (80%)
- Journeys and Places
Module details
Post-disciplinary approach to journeys and places using techniques from diverse areas. Themes include journeys, spaces, welcome, (im)mobilities, representation, gender and placemaking, belonging, and sustainability.
Assessment: Subject-specific Coursework 1 (30%) and Coursework 2 (70%)
- Revolutions: Staging Plays
Module details
Develop performance skills relevant to chosen theatrical texts. Analyse linguistic and narrative structures of plays and explore critical and technical perspectives through practical workshops.
Assessment: Solo Performance or Presentation (60%) and Essay (40%)
- Shaping Ideas
Module details
Year-long module developing your writing practice with existing creative projects. Plan, research, and develop projects through workshopping, character development, and place writing techniques.
Assessment: Feedback Report (20%) and Creative Work & Reflective Commentary (80%)
Year 2 4 modules
- Making Theatre and Performance
Module details
Develop skills in theatre and performance making, exploring approaches like directing and physical theatre. Critical analysis of performance texts and independent research.
Assessment: Performance (70%) and Reflective Viva or Essay (30%)
- Exploring Work and Society
Module details
Prepare and support post-degree pathways. Focus on skills, capabilities and knowledge for professional environments. Engage with UN Sustainable Development Goals and themes of race, gender, identity, and geopolitical issues. Subject-specific workshops on writing and publishing.
Assessment: Written Portfolio or Recorded Presentation (100%)
- Story Craft
Module details
Explore story in the broadest sense including poetry, hypertext, and scripted work. Cover narrative arcs, characterisation, pace, dialogue, and story structure. May include writing for stage and screen with focus on narrative structure.
Assessment: Story Craft Proposal (40%) and Story Craft Creative Work (60%)
- Theatre Company: Production
Module details
Work as part of a theatre company to stage a performance. Process involves realising a production from initial research to final performance. Gain experience in ensemble work, performance skills, and technical and creative demands of theatre.
Assessment: Creative Project (70%) and Reflective Viva (30%)
Year 3 9 modules
- Screentime
Module details
Develop skills in writing for a range of screen genres and platforms. Writing for and with screens provides opportunity to revitalise creative processes such as drafting, editing, publishing, reading and researching. Genres include podcast, poetry films, TV and film scripts, web novels, flash fiction, and games.
Assessment: Screentime Reflection (30%) and Screentime Project (70%)
- Writing and Publishing
Module details
Provide professional skills and knowledge of the writing industry in global context. Encompass enterprise and entrepreneurship education. Topics include international publishing trends, copyright, digital marketing, translation rights, e-publishing, print-on-demand, and self-publishing.
Assessment: Marketing Plan (30%) and Publication Project (70%)
- Performance, Identity and Activism
Module details
Explore cabaret performance from a practical perspective, examining how theatre can address politics and emancipate communities. Engage with political activism through performance using intersectional perspectives, race, gender, sexuality, class, and disability.
Assessment: Performance (60%) and Essay/Presentation (40%)
- Professional Performance PracticeOptional
Module details
Opportunity to perform in an off-campus venue following successful audition. Work with professional director to prepare, rehearse, and perform in public production. Focus on developing professional working skills.
Assessment: Performance (80%) and Reflective Portfolio (20%)
- Negotiated ProjectOptional
Module details
Alternative option if audition for Professional Performance Practice is unsuccessful.
- Live ArtOptional
Module details
Explore experimental performance practices, including body art, living sculptures, and autobiographical performance. Work with partners and collaborators, engaging with critical concepts and ethical debates surrounding these art forms.
Assessment: Performance (70%) and Viva (30%)
- Staging TextsOptional
Module details
Focus on decisions made when staging plays, exploring staging choices and their relationship to critical perspectives. Analyse theatrical performances using evidence like digital materials, interviews, and prompt books.
Assessment: Presentation (40%) and Creative Portfolio (60%)
- Education and Performing ArtsOptional
Module details
Explore performing arts education policy, pedagogy, and curriculum design with focus on contemporary performance pedagogy. Examine the role of performing arts in evolving English education system and apply creative methodologies to project work.
Assessment: Practical 1 and 2, Creative Pitches (50% each)
- Uncreative WritingOptional
Module details
Rethink the premise of Creative Writing as self-expression. Heighten attention to language in everyday life. Explore playful history of Uncreative Writing including chance procedures, collage, conceptual writing, found and appropriated texts, and experiments with artificial constraints.
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This programme combines creative writing and drama performance to develop your craft across a wide range of artistic opportunities. You'll usually begin with foundations in close reading, critical writing across poetry, prose and drama, and the key ideas that inform literary criticism. Year 2 typically moves into modern and contemporary literature, including global anglophone writing, alongside workshop-based writing practice. You'll progress to specialist options in later stages, such as creative writing, Shakespeare and early modern texts, contemporary fiction, critical theory, world literature, and publishing pathways. By Year 3, you'll undertake advanced seminars and an extended independent research project, applying what you've learned to your own creative and critical work.
Who it's for
You should have a genuine interest in writing and performance, whether that's crafting fiction, exploring character, devising new work or experimenting with theatrical form. You'll thrive if you're willing to take creative risks, respond to feedback and collaborate with peers across writing and drama. The course suits people who want hands-on experience over pure theory, and who see writing and performance as interconnected rather than separate skills. Most entrants came in with A-levels or equivalent; typical tariff was 112–127 points. Expect intensive studio time and peer critique as part of your regular working week.
Careers & job market
Across English and Literature disciplines nationally, 85% of graduates were in work or further study 15 months after graduating. Of those in work, 55% were in highly skilled roles. National data showed starting salaries (15 months after graduation) ranging from £23,000 to £30,000, rising to £24,650–£34,800 after five years. Earnings and progression vary widely by role and sector. De Montfort holds Bronze for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
University & format
This BA (Hons) is studied full-time over 3 years at De Montfort University, a public university. The language of instruction is English. De Montfort is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, and this degree is nationally recognised. The university received a Bronze award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Application timelineWhat happens next
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Published entryBCC typical offer
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Contextual offersPublished by this provider
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
PlacementPublished placement option
Paid placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
Open daysOpen Days - Book your place
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Typical offer (from the provider)The university’s course page lists a typical A-level offer of BCC. Always check the provider for the current offer and subject requirements.
Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent95% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 112 - 127 pointsThe most common UCAS tariff band among accepted students. This is what entrants had, not a stated requirement.
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check De Montfort University's official course page for the current offer.
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 95% |
| another higher-education qualification | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Offer-based entry
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Your UCAS points0
▾
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Add your grades to see where you land
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
Apply by13 January 2027, 18:00 UK timefor this course
Typical gradesBBBA-level equivalent admitted students held
UCAS codeW905quote this on your application
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code W905). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask De Montfort University whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Homeup to £9,790 / yr
International£16,800 / yr
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at De Montfort University →For students who normally live in England
illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
£9,790tuition used per year, illustrative full-time England fee-cap scenario
illustrative borrowing over 3 years
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Funding matched to this course
All De Montfort University funding →Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
undergraduate students with household income £50,000 or less
Check eligibility →students with household income £50,000 or less
Check eligibility →Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.
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Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check
Careers & earnings
What English & Literature graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £23,000 | £17,000 – £30,000 | 20 |
| 3 years after | £20,000 | £15,000 – £23,500 | 140 |
| 5 years after | £24,500 | £19,500 – £28,500 | 160 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
80%
in work or further study 15 months on
55%
in highly skilled work or study
95%
continue past their first year
90%
find their work meaningful
60%
say work fits their future plans
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in english & literature · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs English & Literature nationally
Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£23,000
£23,000 – £30,000After 3 years LEO
£20,000
£19,975 – £28,200After 5 years LEO
£24,500
£24,650 – £34,800national rangethis course’s medianaxis £18,500 – £36,000
National figures for English & Literature graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
80 of 100
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
85% working0% working and studying0% in further study55% in highly skilled work or study
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with English & Literature courses at the same study level.
This course £24,500Peer median £29,000Middle 50% £25,500–£31,500
11th percentile
Compared with 1,436 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 30% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 25% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
- Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
- Artistic, literary and media occupationsSOC 2020 341 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £33,824
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 55; response rate: 55%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How English & Literature graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
85%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across English & Literature courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes55%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled90%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuationHow AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where English & Literature graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Publishers
- Media & broadcasters
- Marketing & PR agencies
- Charities & public sector
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit English & Literature graduates.
English GraduateRibbons and Reeves LimitedEnglish, Maths & Digital Skills ManagerHIT TrainingEnglish Certification Examiner (Written & Oral) – Paid TrainingPearsonEnglish Supply Teachers - Oldham and RochdaleTradewind RecruitmentLive from the StudySmarter job board · as of 2026-08-01.See all matching jobs
Is this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
💷
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
📈
Where graduates go
80% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £23,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
🎯
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
⭐
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.3 out of 10: NSS 72.9% · in work or study 80% · continued 95%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
De Montfort University
All students23,155
International31.8%
Aged 25+27.3%
Language and area studies across the UK
Students75,355
Aged 25+23.7%
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around De Montfort University
4,747 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Violent Crime 1557Public Order 619Anti Social Behaviour 570Shoplifting 499Criminal Damage Arson 362
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is English & Literature right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to De Montfort University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £16,800 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check De Montfort University’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with De Montfort University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at De Montfort University
English & Literature at other universities
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
Entry is offer-based and set by the university. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was 112 - 127 UCAS points. Use the calculator on this page to see where your predicted grades would put you; many universities also make lower contextual offers.
What are the entry requirements?
Set by De Montfort University. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
What do graduates go on to do?
For Language and area studies graduates from this provider, 80% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 55% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £23,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
What will it cost me?
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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