is english literature creative writing

Creative Writing vs. English Literature

What's the difference.

Creative Writing and English Literature are both disciplines that involve the study and appreciation of written works, but they differ in their focus and approach. Creative Writing is more focused on the practice of writing and developing one's own unique voice and style, while English Literature is more concerned with analyzing and interpreting existing works of literature. Creative Writing allows for more freedom and experimentation in writing, while English Literature often involves more critical analysis and interpretation of established literary works. Both disciplines, however, require a deep appreciation for language and storytelling.

Further Detail

Introduction.

When it comes to studying the written word, two popular disciplines that often come to mind are Creative Writing and English Literature. While both fields involve a deep appreciation for language and storytelling, they differ in their focus and approach. In this article, we will explore the attributes of Creative Writing and English Literature, highlighting their unique characteristics and similarities.

One of the key distinctions between Creative Writing and English Literature lies in their respective curriculums. In Creative Writing programs, students are encouraged to develop their own writing skills through workshops, seminars, and individualized feedback. They have the opportunity to experiment with different genres and styles, honing their craft under the guidance of experienced writers. On the other hand, English Literature programs typically focus on the study of literary works from various time periods and cultures. Students analyze and interpret texts, exploring themes, characters, and literary techniques.

Skills Development

While both Creative Writing and English Literature require a strong command of language and critical thinking skills, they emphasize different aspects of writing. Creative Writing programs aim to cultivate students' creativity, imagination, and ability to craft compelling narratives. Students learn how to develop characters, create vivid settings, and construct engaging plots. In contrast, English Literature programs focus on analytical skills, interpretation, and literary criticism. Students learn how to deconstruct texts, identify themes, and analyze the historical and cultural contexts in which they were written.

Career Opportunities

Another important factor to consider when choosing between Creative Writing and English Literature is the potential career paths that each field offers. Graduates of Creative Writing programs often pursue careers as authors, poets, screenwriters, or editors. They may work in publishing, journalism, advertising, or education. On the other hand, graduates of English Literature programs may find opportunities in academia, research, writing, editing, or cultural institutions. They may also pursue careers in fields such as marketing, public relations, or communications.

Community and Networking

Both Creative Writing and English Literature programs provide students with opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals and build a supportive community. In Creative Writing workshops, students receive feedback from peers and instructors, allowing them to improve their writing skills and gain valuable insights. They also have the chance to attend readings, literary events, and conferences, where they can network with established writers and industry professionals. Similarly, English Literature programs offer students the chance to engage in discussions, debates, and collaborative projects with fellow students and faculty members. They can participate in literary societies, book clubs, and academic conferences, expanding their knowledge and building relationships within the literary community.

In conclusion, Creative Writing and English Literature are two distinct disciplines that share a common love for language and storytelling. While Creative Writing focuses on developing students' writing skills and creativity, English Literature emphasizes the analysis and interpretation of literary works. Both fields offer unique opportunities for personal and professional growth, allowing students to explore their passion for literature and writing in different ways. Whether you choose to pursue a degree in Creative Writing or English Literature, you can be sure that you will be embarking on a rewarding and enriching academic journey.

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Free online English Literature / Creative Writing courses

Creative writing and critical reading

This free course, Creative writing and critical reading, explores the importance of reading as part of a creative writer’s development at the postgraduate level. You will gain inspiration and ideas from examining other writers’ methods, as well as enhancing your critical reading skills. Examples will cover the genres of fiction, creative ...

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This free course offers an introduction to the Aeneid. Virgil’s Latin epic, written in the 1st century BCE, tells the story of the Trojan hero Aeneas and his journey to Italy, where he would become the ancestor of the Romans. Here, you will focus on the characterisation of this legendary hero, and learn why he was so important to the Romans of ...

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Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus

What does Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus tell us about the author and the time at which the play was written? This free course, Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus, will help you to discover the intricacies of the play and recognise how a knowledge of the historical and political background of the time can lead to a very different ...

Approaching poetry

Do you want to get more out of your reading of poetry? This free course, Approaching poetry, is designed to develop the analytical skills you need for a more in-depth study of literary texts. You will learn about rhythm, alliteration, rhyme, poetic inversion, voice and line lengths and endings. You will examine poems that do not rhyme and learn ...

Approaching prose fiction

Do you want to get more out of your reading? This free course, Approaching prose fiction, is designed to develop the analytical skills you need for a more in-depth study of literary texts. You will learn about narrative events and perspectives, the setting of novels, types of characterisation and genre.

Approaching plays

Do you want to get more out of drama? This free course, Approaching plays, is designed to develop the analytical skills you need for a more in-depth study of literary plays. You will learn about dialogue, stage directions, blank verse, dramatic structure and conventions and aspects of performance.

Approaching literature: reading Great Expectations

This free course, Approaching literature: reading Great Expectations, considers some of the different ways of reading Great Expectations, based on the type of genre the book belongs to. This is one of the most familiar and fundamental ways of approaching literary texts. The novel broadens the scope of study of a realist novel, in both literary ...

The poetry of Sorley MacLean

Sorley MacLean (1911-1996) is regarded as one of the greatest Scottish poets of the twentieth century. This free course, The poetry of Sorley MacLean, will introduce you to his poetry and give you an insight into the cultural, historical and political contexts that inform his work. MacLean wrote in Gaelic and the importance of the language to ...

Exploring Virginia Woolf’s Between the Acts

This free course introduces Virginia Woolf’s last novel, Between the Acts (1941), with the aim of understanding how she writes about time, memory, and ideas about identity. It also considers why Woolf’s fiction is often considered difficult. Selected extracts from her essays on writing help to clarify some of these perceived difficulties, ...

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English Literature with Creative Writing BA Honours

UCAS code: QW38

Discover the power of words on our Literature and Creative Writing BA degree. Our engaging program will teach you to write critically and creatively, helping you to stay relevant, inventive, and enriched.

You are currently viewing course information for entry year: 2025

Next start date:

September 2025

Fees (per year)

Home: Not set
International: £23800

Entry requirements and offers

A-Level: AAB
IB: 34 points

View contextual offers

UCAS Institution name and code:

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Clearing - How to apply

What is clearing.

Each year, universities may have spaces left on their courses after the application window has closed in June.

UCAS Clearing is your opportunity to snap up one of these places, even if you didn't apply to the university prior to the June deadline.

It also gives you a second chance to go to university if you didn't get the grades you needed for your firm and insurance offers.

How do I get in touch?

Our Clearing entry requirements may differ from those advertised; contacting our friendly advisers is the best way to find out if you’re eligible for a place.

You can get in touch through live chat or our hotlines. Call us on 0800 073 5050 , or if you’re an international student calling from outside the UK, call: +44 191 222 5000 .

Not available in Clearing This course is not available in Clearing 2024. This means there are no spaces available for Clearing 2024. If you can't find vacancies in your original course or subject area, try exploring other subjects in a related field. Search our courses in Clearing

Course overview

Our English Literature with Creative Writing BA brings together criticism and creativity, with opportunities to study and create poetry, prose, film, and plays.

Whether you’re polishing a short story, learning about literature and postcolonialism, or writing your own poetry, you’ll be working alongside our world-leading researchers and internationally acclaimed writers and filmmakers.

At our Newcastle Centre for the Literary Arts, you’ll meet famous creative artists. You can join workshops on everything from finding an agent to creating a fantasy language. You can also get experience in arts management.

You'll also have the flexibility to choose how much creative writing you do. Find out more in our modules section

At the end of this three-year degree, you will have the critical skills to analyse a wide range of literature. You will also have developed the practical skills necessary to produce creative writing of a professional standard and build a literary career.

You’ll be ready to take further steps towards a career in the creative arts. You will also have critical and creative skills that many other employers value highly.

Download information about this course as a PDF

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19. View our Academic experience page , which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25. See our terms and conditions and student complaints information , which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Quality and ranking

Professional accreditation and recognition.

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.

Modules and learning

The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Featured module

Develop your knowledge, understanding and experience of a range of creative approaches to writing.

Optional module availability Student demand for optional modules may affect availability. Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May. To find out more please see our terms and conditions

You'll be introduced to a variety of literary texts; poetry, prose, plays and film. You'll build a foundation in the critical and theoretical skills you need for your studies in stages 2 and 3.

You explore different ways of approaching creative writing. You will develop your creativity and gain experience in writing in different forms.

Before you start your degree you'll choose between the following pathways:

English Literature with Creative Writing - on this pathway you will spend a third of your time on creative writing and two thirds studying English literature.
English Literature and Creative Writing - on this pathway you will split your time equally between creative writing and English Literature.

When you graduate, your degree transcript will show either 'English Literature with Creative Writing' or 'English Literature and Creative Writing', depending on which pathway you choose in stage 1.

English Literature with Creative Writing pathway

English literature and creative writing pathway.

You will advance your understanding of literature through the ages, and take at least one pre-19th-century module alongside at least one focusing on modern or contemporary topics.

In Creative Writing, you will develop your craft and literary techniques in prose, theatre script, poetry or screenwriting.

You will take one of the following modules:

You will take one and may take up to three of the following modules:

You can take one of the following optional modules:

You will take two of the following modules:

You will take one and may take up to two of the following modules:

You will be supported in the production of an original piece of literary work in an area of your interest, in either prose, theatre script, poetry or screenwriting. Your portfolio will bring together everything you’ve learnt about creative writing and allow you to devise a project that demonstrates your individuality.

You'll choose four specialist options in literature, taking modules that cover both pre-19th century and post-19th century topics.

Current options include The Victorian novel, British and international children’s literature, Romantic poetry, Caribbean literature and film, Medieval literature, American literature, and Contemporary Documentary. Or, you can also do a work placement in the cultural industries.

English Literature with Creative Writing Pathway

You will take one, and may take up to three of the following modules:

You may choose the following optional module:

English Literature and Creative Writing Pathway

You will take three of the following modules:

We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They are based on the modules chosen by our students in 2023-24.

Teaching time is made up of:

scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present.
structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision

Teaching and assessment

Teaching methods.

You can normally expect to spend around 10 hours per week attending lectures, seminars, workshops and film screenings. You also spend around 25 hours per week on class preparation, reading, writing, and other kinds of independent research recommended by your tutor.

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through a combination of:

Assignments – written or fieldwork

Examinations – practical or online

Portfolio submission

Presentations

Reflective report/journal

Seminar tasks/exercises

Skills and experience

Practical experience.

Our Creative Writing instructors are all practicing professional writers, filmmakers and playwrights. They model their teaching to provide similar experiences to those in the creative industries.

When you study English Literature at Newcastle, you will also enjoy regular field trips organised by the School. These include visits to:

The Wordsworth Trust (Dove Cottage)
Seven Stories (the National Centre for Children's Books)
various city theatres including Northern Stage, Live Theatre and Theatre Royal as well as the Tyneside Cinema

Business skills

Our modules provide a huge number of transferable skills.

You will learn to:

work independently
manage projects
write clear and persuasive prose
analyse complex datasets and sources.

You'll have the opportunity to gain real-world work experience in the cultural industries in Stage 3. We also offer modules in partnership with the Careers Service in Stage 2 and 3.

Employability

Employability and the engagement of literature with the wider world go hand-in-hand in this degree.

Many of our literature modules, particularly in Stage 3, model their assessments on the kind of tasks you might be employed to do:

constructing marketing briefs
drafting website copy
curating exhibitions
writing persuasive arguments
writing enthralling creative fiction.

Beyond our modules, there are plenty of extracurricular opportunities. These range from freelance work for Newcastle’s student newspaper to paid internships in our department.

In particular, the Newcastle Centre for Literary Arts hires students to work on everything from event management to app design. The centre also runs workshops with professionals in the creative industries.

Opportunities

Study abroad

You can study abroad for one semester in your second year as part of this degree. In Europe we have links with:

Ghent University, Belgium
Leipzig University, Germany
Groningen University, Netherlands
Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands

We also have links with universities in other parts of the world, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and the USA, including, but not limited to:

Monash University, Australia
University of Sydney, Australia
McGill University, Canada
University of Hong Kong
University of Vermont, USA

Find out more about Study Abroad .

Work placement

During your degree, you’ll have multiple opportunities to undertake a meaningful work placement. In your second and third years, you may choose to take the Career Development Module which offers academic credit for 50 hours of placement. You can choose to carry out your placement via part-time work, volunteering or in a local school. You will be assessed through a mixture of written work, presentations, and professional skills assessment.

In addition, you'll have the option to spend 9 to 12 months on a work placement with University support from our dedicated Careers team to help you secure your dream placement in the UK or abroad. Work placements take place between stages 2 and 3.

You'll gain first-hand experience of working in the sector, putting your learning into practice, and developing your professional expertise. Previous placements have been in a range of sectors, including:

Journalism and Broadcasting
Sustainable Energy
Digital Media and Marketing
Museum and Heritage
Travel and Tourism

If you choose to take a work placement, it will extend your degree by a year. Placements are subject to availability.

Find out more about work placements.

Facilities and environment

You'll be based in the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics. The School is located in the Percy Building, which is at the heart of our city-centre campus. You'll join a lively community of students, academics, writers, and professionals.

You'll have access to:

a digital media lab – for students with documentary and film-making modules
a PC cluster
a student-led café
plenty of spaces to work and socialise

You will have exceptional library provision from our award-winning Library Service. It houses over one million books and a huge range of electronic resources.

Our literature and creative writing teaching is linked to the Newcastle Centre for the Literary Arts (NCLA) programme. This will give you regular contact with leading creative artists. You'll also have access to a diverse programme of events, including spoken-word events and creative writing courses.

Find out more about the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics .

You'll have the support of an academic member of staff as a Personal Tutor throughout your degree to help with academic and personal issues affecting your academic progress.

Peer Mentors will help you in your first year. They are fellow students who can help you settle in and answer questions you may have when starting university.

Your future

Industry links.

Our alumni include:

Peter Straughan (screenwriter of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy)
Andy Bird (former chairman of Walt Disney International)
Neil Astley (writer and founder of Bloodaxe publishing house)
Teresa Graham, CBE (policy maker, government advisor and advocate for women in business) )
John Yorke (former head of Channel 4 drama and former Controller of BBC Drama Production)
Pippa Crerar (Political Editor, The Guardian)
Ruth Sunderland (Business Editor, The Daily Mail)

Students studying this degree develop a range of valuable skills, which they can transfer to many different sectors. Your literary training can be used in journalism, librarianship, and teaching and our graduates have gone into a variety of career areas including marketing, law, politics.

Our graduates have achieved success working in the film and TV media industry as well as in videogame and software development.

Sorry, you need JavaScript to view this video

Follow in their footsteps

Nationality: British
Graduated: 2015
Now working as: Author

'You can’t beat the experience of having an expert and engaged tutor read your work and say "Not quite", "Not quite", and then, finally, "That’s it!"'.

Find out what Will liked the most about studying English Literature with Creative Writing at Newcastle University and how this degree helped him in his career as an author.

Read about Will's journey .

Careers support

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information .

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements and offers below apply to 2025 entry.

Other UK and the Republic of Ireland qualifications

Contextual offers.

Through one of our contextual routes, you could receive an offer of up to three grades lower than the typical requirements.

What is a contextual offer? Find out more and if you’re eligible for this or our PARTNERS Programme supported entry route.

Qualifications from outside the UK

English language requirements, entrance courses (into).

International Pathway Courses are specialist programmes designed for international students who want to study in the UK. We provide a range of study options for international students in partnership with INTO.

Find out more about International Pathway Courses

Admissions policy

This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.

University Admissions Policy and related policies and procedures

Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course.

Tuition fees and scholarships

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year).

The 2025 home fees have not yet been confirmed (see ‘Home Fee Students’ information below).

Home students starting in 2024 entry £9,250 is the maximum fee that we are currently permitted to charge for home fee-paying students. This is set by the UK government.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Home students starting in 2025 entry The 2025 home fees have not yet been confirmed. In November 2024 the government increased the maximum fee level to £9,535 for 2025/26. We expect to confirm our Undergraduate Home fees for 2025/26 in December 2024.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our undergraduate scholarship page for more information.

Year abroad and additional costs

For programmes where you can spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad, you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year.

Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.

Find out more about:

scholarships for UK, EU and international students
Student Loans and Government financial support for UK and EU students

Open days and events

You'll have a number of opportunities to meet us throughout the year at our on-campus and virtual open days.

You'll be able to:

explore our beautiful campus
find out about our vibrant city
discover what students think about studying at Newcastle

You'll also have the opportunity to speak to academic staff and find out more about the subjects you're interested in.

Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually.

We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University. Visit our events calendar to find out when we're visiting your region.

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Apply through UCAS

To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:

the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college

If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.