BA (Hons) English with Creative Writing · GULBachelor's degree · 3 years
Request information University profile
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 core theory with research methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project and professional skills development.

BA (Hons)
Award
3
Years
Full-time
Study mode
100%
in work/study (15m)

About this course

BA (Hons) English with Creative Writing is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at GUL, based in Goldsmiths College. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.

For English studies graduates from this provider, 100% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 65% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £26,000. (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
Strong70

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
Exceptional100

Limited evidence Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 100% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Excellent80

Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 80% (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 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 suppo

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
  • 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 literary study with workshop-based creative writing practice. You'll usually begin with close reading across poetry, prose and drama, and introduction to critical theory and literary history from medieval texts through to the present. In your second year, a course like this normally moves from foundational literary history into modern and contemporary writing, including global anglophone work, alongside creative or applied writing workshops where you develop your own craft. By year three, you'll typically choose from specialist options such as creative writing, Shakespeare & early modern, contemporary fiction, critical theory, world literature, and publishing pathways, whilst also undertaking research-led seminars and an extended independent literary project.

Who it's for

This course suits students with strong interest in literature, writing and critical analysis. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent qualifications; the typical UCAS tariff among recent entrants was 144–159 points. You'll need to be prepared for sustained independent study, close reading and creative composition. The course is open to anyone meeting the entry criteria, regardless of background. Check Goldsmiths' admissions pages for specific entry requirements and support for applicants from underrepresented groups.

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. National Graduate Outcomes data shows starting salaries (at 15 months) typically range from £23,000 to £30,000, rising to £24,650–£34,800 after five years. Earnings vary by role and sector. Graduates pursue careers in publishing, education, media, arts administration and beyond. 90% of students continue past their first year, indicating strong course completion and progression.

University & format

This BA (Hons) is taught full-time over 3 years at Goldsmiths, University of London, a public university based in London. Instruction is in English. The degree is awarded by a recognised UK degree-awarding body, so your qualification is nationally recognised. Goldsmiths 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.

The teaching on my course
83%
Learning opportunities
83%
Assessment and feedback
77%
Academic Support
83%
Organisation and management
25%
Learning resources
78%
Student voice
61%

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
  1. 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted

    Your application needs a reference before you can send it.

  2. 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  3. 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

  4. 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline

    18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.

Show 5 later dates
  1. 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens

    Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.

  2. 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers

    Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.

  3. 2027 entryClearing opens

    Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.

  4. 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  5. 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

Published entryCCC typical offer · not stated

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

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.

Entry & how to get in

Typical offer (from the provider)The university’s course page lists a typical A-level offer of CCC not stated. Always check the provider for the current offer and subject requirements.
Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent80% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 144 - 159 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 GUL'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

QualificationShare
A-levels or equivalent80%
Other10%
a previous degree5%
another higher-education qualification5%

Entry & your chances

An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.

Competitive entry

Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.

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.

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

Your points will drop onto the distribution above, with an honest above / within / below read.

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 gradesA*AAA-level equivalent admitted students held
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 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time

    UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. 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
£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

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.

StudyKit · free

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.

Graduate earnings: this course

WhenMedianTypical rangeGraduates
15 months after£26,000£26,000 – £32,00015
3 years after£23,000£17,000 – £27,500135
5 years after£27,500£21,000 – £34,000160

Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23.

Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course

100%
in work or further study 15 months on
65%
in highly skilled work or study
80%
continue past their first year
65%
find their work meaningful
65%
say work fits their future plans
  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
£26,000
£23,000 – £30,000
After 3 years LEO
£23,000
£19,975 – £28,200
After 5 years LEO
£27,500
£24,650 – £34,800
national 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.

100 of 100

were in work or further study

15 months after graduation

70% working30% working and studying0% in further study65% in highly skilled work or study

Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; 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 £27,500Peer median £29,000Middle 50% £25,500–£31,500
35th 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.

  • Artistic, literary and media occupationsSOC 2020 341 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £33,824
  • Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
  • Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660

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: 35; response rate: 50%. 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 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

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

100% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £26,000. 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 70% · in work or study 100% · continued 80%.

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

Entry is competitive. Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was 144 - 159 UCAS points. Use the calculator on this page to see where your predicted grades would put you; many universities also make lower contextual offers.
Set by GUL. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
For English studies graduates from this provider, 100% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 65% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £26,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
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.
No obligation

Request information about BA (Hons) English with Creative Writing

Prospectus, key dates, entry and funding, free to your inbox.

No spam · unsubscribe anytime.