BA (Hons) Creative Writing Bachelor's degree at Keele University
BA (Hons) Creative Writing at Keele University. Keele's Creative Writing BA invites you to cultivate a distinctive authorial voice whilst engaging with literary texts, genres and cultures from across the world.
About this course
Develop your voice as a writer with a Creative Writing BA at Keele University. Explore a wide range of literary texts, genre and cultures. Learn more. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Creative Writing is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at Keele University. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For English studies graduates from this provider, 65% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 45% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £24,000. (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.
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)
Limited evidence Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 65% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2021-23. Continuation 75% (2021-23; 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.
- Writing FictionCompulsory
Module details
Introduces key characteristics of fiction. Gain understanding of how these can be employed to explore meaning of a text. Engaging with prose writers from around the world, learn how to analyse core elements such as narrative voice, structure and evocation of place, and develop ability to write short, creative prose pieces.
- Writing for ChildrenCompulsory
Module details
Explores children's writing from different periods and cultures. Consider imagination and myth, politics of representation, construction and subversion of gender roles. Think about voice and vision. Explore storytelling techniques and transformative power of narrative.
- Delivery, Performance, and Other Platforms: All the Writing SelvesCompulsory
Module details
Prepares you for studying creative writing at university, introducing all the 'writing selves' needed when seeking publication and building authorial profile. Explore self-narratives, new journalism, guerrilla-writing, and broadcasting platforms. Gain practical foundation in performing work publicly on/offline.
- Writing PoetryCompulsory
Module details
Introduces characteristics and structure of poems through examination of 5 key 'modes' of poetry. Learn how to identify characteristics and structural elements through lecture input, discussion and consideration of example poems. Deploy understanding into writing own poetry and share/discuss creative work.
- Writing ScriptsCompulsory
Module details
Introduces key dramatic principles required to write scripts for stage and screen. Drawing on texts from contemporary theatre, film and television, learn fundamental skills, developing understanding of character, dialogue, and structure. Work towards writing original script.
- History in Media and Film: The Presentation of the Past in Contemporary CultureOptional
Module details
Consider 'public history', examine representations of the past in visual culture, and discuss importance of these representations to collective memory, constructions of identity, and contemporary politics. Develop key skills for Humanities students.
- Popular Music & PlatformsOptional
Module details
Introduces key theoretical and practical aspects of popular music, exploring socio-cultural context, functions, performers, markets, and scenes. Examine popular culture, fandom, and sound recording. Learn about music dissemination, consumption, and sharing on digital platforms.
- Becoming a Cultural CitizenOptional
Module details
Provides foundational tools and skills to develop student profile. Learn about different pathways in cultural or creative field while developing identity as cultural critic, creative, and citizen. Explore and map personal and professional development goals.
- Voices and Audiences: Building Your Professional Communication SkillsOptional
Module details
Introduces many ways that literary knowledge and communication skills will be useful in future employment. Study range of poems, speeches, and plays, learning to employ effective rhetorical strategies to communicate professionally with different audiences.
- Genre, Forms and ModesCompulsory
Module details
Develops and deepens understanding of how narrative forms, genres and modes are used in creative writing. Introduces forms of creative prose besides fiction. Equip texts with structures and techniques necessary to develop own writing.
- Sources of WritingCompulsory
Module details
Develops knowledge of key ideas about creative processes behind writing of original texts (poetry and prose). Explore processes, increase understanding of influences and sources that inspire new writing. Prepare for independent study project in third year.
- Local Literature in ActionOptional
Module details
Reflects on what writing can do in the world. Develops place-writing skills, supporting creation of vivid settings. Includes practical training to equip skills to conceive and plan ways of working with communities outside university.
- Screenwriting: Principles and PracticesOptional
Module details
Forms gateway to worlds of professional screenwriting and story development. Introduces key screenwriting concepts explored in practical, writing-based seminars. Analyse range of film and TV industry texts and produce screenplay samples.
- Literature and SocietyOptional
Module details
Extends knowledge of different literary approaches and theories, exploring topics such as feminism, race studies, ecocriticism, and history of emotions. Explore how literature reflects and influences social issues. Deepen skills in critical analysis.
- Literature, Creativity and the Cultural IndustriesOptional
Module details
Builds on introductions to cultural platforms/industries and to adaptation/script-writing. Focused study of how the New Vic Theatre adapts texts for the stage. Explore how theatre as cultural industry produces social value. Reflect on societal impacts of cultural industries.
- Promotional CulturesOptional
Module details
Investigates histories and politics of marketing, advertising and consumerism, considering how and why promotional culture became key component of contemporary economies and societies. Think critically about social and political impacts.
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 develops your voice as a writer while you explore a wide range of literary texts, genre and cultures. A course like this typically begins with foundations in close reading, critical writing across poetry, prose and drama, and the major critical theories that shape literary study. As you progress through Year 2, you'll usually encounter modern and contemporary literature, including global anglophone writing, and undertake workshop-based creative writing to develop your craft. In your final year, you'll specialise in areas such as Creative Writing, Shakespeare & Early Modern texts, Contemporary Fiction, Critical Theory, World Literature, or Publishing Pathways, and complete an extended independent literary research project alongside advanced critical seminars at the edge of the field.
Who it's for
This course suits you if you read widely, write with genuine commitment, and want to develop your voice under experienced guidance. You'll thrive here if you enjoy both creating original work and discussing how literature works, analysing technique, form and cultural context. The blend of writing workshops and literary study means you're equally comfortable at the desk with a draft and in seminars unpacking a text. You should expect rigorous feedback, collaboration with peers, and the discipline of revising your own work repeatedly. If you aspire to publish, teach writing, or work in publishing or the creative industries, this degree gives you substantive skills and a body of completed writing to build on.
Careers & job market
Across English and Literature courses nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of completing their degree. According to national Graduate Outcomes data, starting salaries for this field range from £23,000 to £30,000. After three years, graduates earn between £19,975 and £28,200 nationally; by year five, the range broadens to £24,650–£34,800. Around 55% of working graduates move into highly skilled roles or continue with further study. Your own path may lead towards publishing, education, freelance writing, arts administration or communications, fields that value both creative ability and analytical rigour.
University & format
This is a full-time Bachelor's degree awarded by Keele University, a university founded in 1949. The course runs for 3 years and is taught in English. Keele University is a recognised UK degree-awarding body; its degrees are nationally recognised. The university holds a Gold award for teaching quality from 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.
- 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.
Contextual Offer Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
Placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
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 | 90% |
| another higher-education qualification | 5% |
| a foundation course | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
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.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
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.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code W800). 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.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at Keele University →For students who normally live in England
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.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
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.
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.
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 | £24,000 | £22,500 – £27,000 | 15 |
| 3 years after | £22,000 | £17,000 – £25,000 | 95 |
| 5 years after | £27,500 | £23,500 – £32,000 | 100 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 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
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.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. 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.
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 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
- Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
- Media ProfessionalsSOC 2020 249 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £40,895
- Customer service occupationsDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations
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: 80; 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.
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.
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 RecruitmentIs 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
65% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £24,000. 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 7.5 out of 10: NSS 85.9% · in work or study 65% · continued 75%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Keele University
Language and area studies across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Keele University
88 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
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 Keele University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Keele University; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. 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 Keele 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 Keele University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Keele University
English & Literature at other universities
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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