English Literature and Creative Writing
Why study English Literature and Creative Writing at Warwick?
Creativity can arise anywhere. But there’s something inspirational about being in an environment infused with spontaneity and energy. These are attributes that can only aid your creative writing. They are attributes that have long been associated with Warwick’s English Literature and Creative Writing degree.
This degree first allows you to gain an understanding of English Literature from its mythological origins to the here and now. It then enables you to find your own voice as a writer. And, due to the varied and innovative ways that assessment is provided, the course gives students the opportunity to develop an impressive portfolio of work before they graduate.
There’s an acclaimed list of writers associated with the course too, which includes the likes of A.L. Kennedy, David Vann, Sarah Moss, David Morley, and Maureen Freely.
How will my degree by structured?
Modes of Reading is one of four core modules you’ll take in your first year – it’s where you’ll be introduced to the practices of criticism and start to work with a variety of critical approaches.
Modes of Writing will introduce you to writing poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and writing for performance and new media. You’ll study ‘Medieval to Renaissance English Literature’, and appreciate it through the context of contemporary beliefs and social developments.
And in Modern World Literatures, you’ll develop the critical and communication skills to discuss literature from 1789 to the present, or you can choose to continue or begin to learn another language.
Modules you might take at Warwick
How will I be taught?
Most core modules in your first year are taught by means of one lecture and one seminar per week in terms one and two. In your second and third years, optional modules are normally taught by means of one seminar per week (1.5 hours duration). Practising writers deliver teaching through workshops and work placements. Also, writers and publishers visit and work with you in our Writers' Room, the first purpose-built space for writers in a UK university.
How will I be assessed?
Assessment is a combination of traditional essays and written examinations together with creative projects, portfolios and performance. For example, in our Shakespeare and Selected Dramatists of his Time module, student creative work recently included film and radio adaptations, musical compositions, painting, sculpture and photography inspired by Shakespeare's texts.
Entry requirements
We require Advanced or Higher level qualifications in English Literature, normally grade A (predicted or achieved). A level English Language is acceptable in addition to English Literature, but is not normally acceptable as a substitute. Combined A level English Language and Literature is acceptable, providing you can show evidence of wider reading in literature in your Personal Statement.
You must also be able to demonstrate a convincing commitment to creative writing.
We now interview online. Having reviewed your UCAS application, we will write (by email) asking some applicants to submit a portfolio and to answer some questions. The portfolio can include poems, creative non-fiction, short stories, a play or screenplay, or a combination of genres. It should be between eight to ten pages long, entirely original and not include any schoolwork or assessments. The questions are intended to see how you think about texts and about the nature and role of creative writing. The answers need not be long!
The portfolio and answers should be submitted promptly by email – there will be full details in our email. Having read your portfolio and answers, we would then be able to make offers (via UCAS in the usual way) to successful applicants and to invite you to a post offer visit day in February or March so we can –finally – meet each other.
Study abroad
You'll have the opportunity to spend a year abroad at one of the University's partner institutions in Europe, America or Asia.
Warwick Writing Programme
By choosing the English Literature and Creative Writing degree you'll also be part of a larger programme of ideas and practice – the Warwick Writing Programme – an internationally-acclaimed programme drawing authors, students and staff from across the world.
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