BA (Hons) English with Creative Writing · GULBachelor's degree · Duration varies
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Goldsmiths, University of London · Undergraduate

BA (Hons) English with Creative Writing Bachelor's degree at Goldsmiths, University of London

BA (Hons) English with Creative Writing at GUL combines literary study with creative practice, covering core theory, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project, and professional skills development.

BA (Hons)
Award
Years
Part-time
Study mode
Goldsmiths College
Location

About this course

BA (Hons) English with Creative Writing is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at GUL, based in Goldsmiths College. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.

For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for English & Literature, see the sections below.

Curriculum & modules

Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.

Year 1 5 modules
  • Explorations in LiteratureCompulsory30 credits
    Module details

    This module will introduce you to a wide range of works from the literary canon, from ancient Greek texts in translation to the contemporary, covering the major genres, and embodying significant interventions or influences in literary history. You'll focus on reading primary texts voraciously and discovering - or rediscovering - diverse writers and cultures so that you can make informed choices from more specialized modules later in your degree. Not being limited to a period, genre or single app

  • GenreCompulsory30 credits
    Module details

    This course introduces you to the pleasures and possibilities of a wide range of literary genres, including the novel, short story, poetry, life writing, creative non-fiction, speculative fiction, the graphic novel, drama, screenwriting, film, performance, and more. You'll explore works that exemplify the defining features of particular genres, as well as texts that disrupt or challenge those conventions. Through close reading and a focus on technical craft, you will learn to question how langua

  • Foundation Workshop in Creative WritingCompulsory30 credits
    Module details

    This workshop combines the study and practice of poetry and fiction in order to give you the opportunity to explore both genres, to develop your knowledge of form and technique and to lay the foundations of your own creative writing practice. The workshop, led by a creative-writing practitioner, will combine writing exercises with critical analysis of literary works from a broad range of cultures and eras, in addition to providing the opportunity to discuss your own work. A pass in this module i

  • Critical WritingCompulsory15 credits
    Module details

    The module aims to explore the topic of critical writing generally and in discipline-specific contexts so you can continually develop your skills by applying them to your ongoing critical and creative work. You will learn critical writing as a skill that helps you to develop your research and creative practice alongside the completion of academic work. You will learn to critical analyse and evaluate existing texts and your own work through a diversity of critical perspectives.

  • Contemporary Creative IndustriesCompulsory15 credits
    Module details

    In this module you will develop your practical understanding of, and critical perspective on, the ways in which creative work is commercially produced, disseminated and 'consumed'. You will gain an overview of the contemporary creative industries' foundational concepts, occupational roles, stakeholders, organizations, business practices and personalities. As well as studying dominant modes of industrial production and consumption, you will consider practices through which creators and their supp

Year 2 7 modules
  • Creative Writing WorkshopCompulsory30 credits
    Module details

    You'll build on the knowledge and skills, creative and literary, acquired through the level-one Foundation Workshop by continuing to explore and expand the creative writing genres of fiction and poetry. The focus will be increasingly on developing the body of your creative work. You'll choose between a workshop in prose fiction and a workshop in poetry, so that you'll be able to specialise further in one genre; your course convenor will advise you in your choice. During workshops, writing exerci

  • Writing in Revolutions and SocietyCompulsory30 credits
  • Special Topics in EnglishCompulsory30 credits
    Module details

    Within this module, you will choose and study from a selection of specialist topics in literary studies. Indicative topics include American Gothic; Aesthetics; Homer and Contemporary Literature; Shakespeare Then and Now; Language and Society; and Post-1945 Poetry.

  • The Goldsmiths ProjectCompulsory15 credits
  • Work Placement (English)Optional15 credits
    Module details

    Students who select this module are required to source a placement and undertake 10 days of unpaid work at a host institution. You will have the opportunity to relate your degree subject to real-life situations, develop a range of transferable skills and gain sector-specific experience, thereby enhancing your employment prospects. Guidance and support in sourcing the placement is provided by the Careers Service. The work is normally carried out over 1 day per week, but it can be more pending the

  • The Goldsmiths ElectiveOptional15 credits
    Module details

    Our academic Schools are developing exciting elective ideas to allow you to broaden your education, either to develop vocationally orientated experiences or to learn more about contemporary society, culture and politics. You'll be able to choose safe in the knowledge that these modules have been designed for non-subject specialists and to bring students from different disciplines together. For example, you may want to take introductions to areas such as Law, Education, the digital industries, th

  • Weird FictionsOptional15 credits
Year 3 2 modules
  • Modern and Contemporary LiteraturesCompulsory30 credits
    Module details

    This module will enable students to understand the development of fiction over the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, the move from modernism to post-modernism, reflecting the variety and complexity of writing from across the Irish, British, and American canon. Students will examine texts through the lens of form (modernism, realism, postmodernism), genre (the historical novel, the avant-garde, detection, feminist writing, and more) and identity, (regional, racial, ethnic, gendered, sexual or

  • Challenging World Literature: Diversity and DifferenceCompulsory30 credits

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 course combines the study of English literature with dedicated training in creative writing. You'll usually start with close reading of poetry, prose and drama across periods, alongside critical theory foundations and contexts from medieval to contemporary work. As you progress, you'll move into modern and contemporary literature, including global anglophone writing, while developing your own writing through workshop-based craft modules. In the final year, you'll specialise in areas such as creative writing, Shakespeare & early modern literature, contemporary fiction, critical theory, world literature, or publishing pathways, culminating in an advanced critical seminar and independent dissertation project.

Who it's for

This course suits students seeking to develop both analytical and creative abilities in English literature and writing. It's designed for those who want to balance study with other commitments, given its part-time structure. Whether you're interested in literary criticism, creative writing practice, or combining both, the flexible specialisations, such as core theory, research methods, and independent projects, allow you to shape your learning around your interests and goals.

Careers & job market

Across English and Literature courses nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Of those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles or pursuing further study. Graduate earnings data shows that starting salaries typically fall between £23,000 and £30,000 at 15 months post-graduation, rising to £24,650–£34,800 after five years. These figures reflect national outcomes; your individual prospects will depend on your choices, experience, and the roles you pursue.

University & format

This BA (Hons) is studied part-time at Goldsmiths, University of London, a public university. The language of instruction is English. Goldsmiths awards degrees that are nationally recognised as UK degrees.

Applicant information

The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.

Published entryCCC typical offer

Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.

2027 entry deadlineApply directly to the provider

Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates

PlacementPublished placement option

Work placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.

Open daysBook an Open Day Explore upcoming events

See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.

2026 entryLive availability check

Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.

Entry & how to get in

Typical offer (from the provider)The university’s course page lists a typical A-level offer of CCC. Always check the provider for the current offer and subject requirements.
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check GUL's official course page for the current offer.

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.

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 byApply directly to the providerfor this course
UCAS codeQ3W8quote this on your application
  1. 1
    Register on UCAS Hub

    Create your UCAS application and add this course (code Q3W8). One application covers up to five choices.

  2. 2
    Write 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.

  3. 3
    Submit by Apply directly to the provider

    Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.

  4. 4
    Reply to your offers

    When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.

  5. 5
    Results 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 GUL 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£22,000 / yr

Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).

Check fees at GUL →

For students who normally live in England

illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
Check providertuition used per year, no published course home fee, total not estimated
total borrowing, course length not published

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

Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for

All GUL funding →
No verified named award is shown for this provider yet.

That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.

We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.

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Still deciding what to study?

StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.

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.

  1. 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
  2. 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in english & literature · 2–5 yrs
  3. 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
  4. 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 – £30,000
After 3 years LEO
£19,975 – £28,200
After 5 years LEO
£24,650 – £34,800
national rangeaxis £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.

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 Outcomes
55%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled
90%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuation

How 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.

Where they work

  • Publishers
  • Media & broadcasters
  • Marketing & PR agencies
  • Charities & public sector

Who studies here and in this subject?

Provider- and UK subject-level context.

Goldsmiths College

All students7,910
International40.3%
Aged 25+31.9%

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 Goldsmiths College

754 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.

Violent Crime 274Anti Social Behaviour 123Vehicle Crime 88Criminal Damage Arson 87Public Order 45

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 GUL from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.

Tuition fees

International tuition is £22,000 / 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 GUL’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 GUL and gov.uk before you apply.

Common questions

Set by GUL. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
See the career and earnings data for English & Literature below (national Graduate Outcomes / LEO figures).
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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