BA (Hons) English and Creative Writing · West LondonBachelor's degree · 4 years
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The University of West London · Undergraduate

BA (Hons) English and Creative Writing Bachelor's degree at West London

BA (Hons) English and Creative Writing at West London. You'll engage with established texts across literary traditions, then put theory into practice through writing projects that challenge and refine your voice.

BA (Hons)
Award
4
Years
Full-time
Study mode
80%
continuation

About this course

BA (Hons) English and Creative Writing is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at West London, based in Ealing / Brentford. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.

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.

7.0
/ 10
2 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Solid61

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)

Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Excellent80

Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2021-23. Continuation 80% (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.

Level 3 6 modules
  • Personalised LearningCompulsory
    Module details

    The Personalised Learning module is intended to equip you with the study skills needed to successfully progress onto level 4, the first year of undergraduate study. Tutor group sessions are an integral part of the module, where you will consolidate your learning and frame it in the context of your subject area. The module will focus on various aspects of study skills, such as those skills related to reading and writing, learning approaches, problem-solving techniques, critical thinking, research

  • Academic performanceCompulsory
    Module details

    Assessment: Apply a range of academic skills to a debate within psychology. Identify and locate appropriate sources of academic information and give examples of these. Construct and defend an academic argument by applying research to a real case scenario. Cite information effectively using APA referencing.

  • Creative Research in Media and DesignCompulsory
    Module details

    This module will introduce you to research methods for communicating and extracting data. You will have an opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of: research through exploration research language, ethics and approaches quantitative research qualitative research.

  • Contextual Studies in Media and DesignCompulsory
    Module details

    On this module, you will gain a basic knowledge and understanding of media and design in relation to cultural studies. You will explore specific cultural effects and current ongoing topical debates, to develop an understanding of the different roles, audiences, and interest groups involved.

  • Creative SectorsCompulsory
    Module details

    This is a specialist module with a career-led and practical focus that will introduce you to the more 'hands on' side of the media and design and communications industries. You will be required to demonstrate some understanding of your chosen subject specialism and future career path.

  • Foundation Major ProjectCompulsory
Level 4 7 modules
  • English Literature I: History, Form and GenreCompulsory
    Module details

    In the first half of this module you will focus on the novel and the development of the genre using examples from the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth century literature. Concentrating on works (or extracts from works) by Samuel Richardson, Charlotte Brontë, Herman Melville, James Joyce and Toni Morrison, through lectures and seminars you will explore the novel form, and ask why it became the dominant mode of literary expression over the course of these three centuries. In the second half of

  • English Literature II: Critical ApproachesCompulsory
    Module details

    Introducing you to a range of critical approaches to understanding literature, this module will cover formalist, biographical, historicist, gender, psychological, sociological, reader-response, structuralist, postcolonial and deconstructionist models of engagement with literary texts. The aim is to provide you with the tools you need to examine writing, writers, and our engagement with their works.

  • Foundations of Creative WritingCompulsory
    Module details

    This module will introduce you to the practice of creative writing. It will give you an overview that includes practical challenges, approaches to plot and narrative and considerations about composition and process. You will explore various forms of creative writing from conventional fiction to creative nonfiction, writing poetry and performing writing. The aim of this module is to help you develop a positive and disciplined approach to your writing.

  • Foundations of Creative Writing IICompulsory
  • Media and Communications: Theories and DebatesOptional
    Module details

    In this module you will be introduced to the key theories, concepts and debates about the relationships between media forms, institutions and audiences. Some of the key themes covered in the module include representation, institutions, audiences and effects. The media forms studied will be drawn from film, broadcasting, photography, advertising, the internet and the printed press.

  • Video ProductionOptional
    Module details

    Learn the basics of video production and film grammar, developing your skills as a filmmaker. Using hands-on exercises, you will learn photography, video, lighting, sound and scriptwriting.

  • PodcastingOptional
    Module details

    Dive into the world of audio production and storytelling through podcasts. Enhance your voiceover skills, audio recording, sound design and web design/publishing skills.

Level 5 8 modules
  • Literature and Modernity: 1900-1960Compulsory
    Module details

    In this module you will investigate the shifting conceptions of modernism and modernity in literature written in English between the turn of the twentieth century and 1960. You will study important exemplars of literary modernism in the larger context of twentieth century art, culture and politics. The core texts covered will differ from year to year but a typical selection will feature at least five major works from a selection of the following authors: Katherine Mansfield, James Joyce, T. S. E

  • The Canon ReloadedCompulsory
    Module details

    On this module you will look at adaptations in the context of relevant cultural, critical, historical and technological factors. In addition, you will examine how and why certain texts are valued, and improve your abilities in research, academic writing and presenting effectively.

  • ScreenwritingCompulsory
  • Creative Writing WorkshopCompulsory
    Module details

    Building on your creative writing studies at level 4, you will have the opportunity on this module to work on writing projects and take them through the three stages of production, namely getting started, drafting and completion. A range of published creative writers will give talks throughout the module, providing further insights.

  • WorldbuildingOptional
    Module details

    Explore the migration of form and content between different texts and media, with a focus on fiction. Underpinned by explorations of intertextuality and convergence culture, theories of adaptation, intermediality and transmedia storytelling are explored through key examples from film, literature, TV, videogames, new media, visual arts, and many other media.

  • Critical Approaches to New and Social MediaOptional
    Module details

    On this module you will examine the changes that impact social and cultural issues as we make greater use of social and digital media technologies. You'll also have the opportunity to gain an understanding about the accompanying globalisation of media in political, financial and cultural networks.

  • Industry ExperienceOptional
    Module details

    You will begin with a structured induction process, during which you will be guided in researching the job market, understanding professional responsibilities, preparing a CV plus cover letter and undertaking a mock interview. Additionally, you'll be guided in contacting and negotiating with a potential host organisation/employer or client to secure your industry experience.

  • Visual Media CulturesOptional
Level 6 5 modules
  • Contemporary Writers and the CityCompulsory
    Module details

    On this module you'll explore literature by contemporary authors who focus on urban and architectural settings, themes and predicaments. You will cover these focal points in the context of contemporary debates concerning the status of the metropolis in a globalised world.

  • British and Irish Drama since 1945Compulsory
  • Writing for PerformanceCompulsory
  • Creative Writing: The Short StoryCompulsory
    Module details

    This module seeks to develop your storytelling skills, using the short story format to explore narrative, characterization, setting, and style.

  • Dissertation OR ProjectCompulsory

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

You'll study close reading and critical thinking across poetry, prose and drama from medieval times to the present day, grounded in the historical contexts in which texts were written. In Year 1, you'll work through foundational modules in literary analysis, literary history and critical theory. As you progress, you'll broaden into modern and contemporary writing, including global anglophone literature. The course emphasises creative and applied writing alongside critical study, typically through workshop-based modules. In your final year, you'll pursue specialist options, such as Shakespeare and early modern literature, contemporary fiction, world literature, critical theory, or publishing pathways, alongside advanced seminars and an extended independent dissertation project.

Who it's for

You're drawn to reading widely and thinking carefully about how language works. You enjoy writing, whether fiction, poetry, essay or experiment, and want space to try different forms without pressure to specialise too early. You're keen to understand the tradition you're writing within, and you appreciate honest feedback on your work. This course suits you if you want rigorous study alongside creative freedom: you won't simply be told what to write, but you'll develop the critical awareness and technical skill to make deliberate choices. You may be aiming for a career in publishing, journalism, education, or the arts; others simply want to become a sharper, more confident writer before deciding what comes next.

Careers & job market

Across English and Literature courses nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after leaving university. National earnings data shows graduates in this field earned £23,000–£30,000 when starting out, rising to £24,650–£34,800 by five years post-graduation. Roughly 55% of working graduates are in highly skilled roles or continuing their studies. You may progress to publishing, arts administration, secondary teaching, librarianship, law, or communications, fields that value the analytical and written skills you'll have developed. Many also use the degree as a foundation for further study in creative writing, English literature, or related disciplines.

University & format

The University of West London, based in Ealing and Brentford, is a recognised UK degree-awarding body offering this BA (Hons) degree taught full-time in English over 4 years. The university holds Silver status 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
75%
Learning opportunities
86%
Assessment and feedback
60%
Academic Support
95%
Organisation and management
41%
Learning resources
36%
Student voice
31%

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.

Entry & how to get in

Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent90% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 96 - 111 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 West London'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 equivalent90%
No / unknown prior qualifications5%

Entry & your chances

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

Accessible entry

Accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications and UCAS points. If you're worried about grades, this course has historically taken a wide range, and contextual offers may apply.

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 gradesBCCA-level equivalent admitted students held
UCAS codeQW12quote this on your application
  1. 1
    Register on UCAS Hub

    Create your UCAS application and add this course (code QW12). 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 West London 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

Home£9,790 / yr

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

Check fees at West London →

For students who normally live in England

illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
£9,790tuition used per year, published course home fee
illustrative borrowing over 4 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 West London 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 outcomes, 15 months on: this course

80%
continue past their first year
  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.

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

continued or completed

continued into the next year or completed their qualification

Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Published threshold met. Sample size is not included in this snapshot. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.

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

Published home tuition is £9,790/year for this course. 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.

🎯

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 7.0 out of 10: NSS 60.6% · continued 80%.

Who studies here and in this subject?

Provider- and UK subject-level context.

The University of West London

All students17,690
International27.1%
Aged 25+48.3%

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 Ealing / Brentford

2,092 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.

Anti Social Behaviour 612Violent Crime 415Vehicle Crime 242Shoplifting 181Public Order 154

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

Tuition fees

International tuition is set per course by West London; 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 West London’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 West London and gov.uk before you apply.

Common questions

Entry is historically accessible, accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was 96 - 111 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 West London. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. 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).
The published home tuition is £9,790 per year for this course. 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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