Birmingham City University - ENGLISH AND CREATIVE WRITING - BA (HONS)

Birmingham City University

ENGLISH AND CREATIVE WRITING - BA (HONS)

Our BA (Hons) English and Creative Writing degree course will support you in developing a rigorous and creative writing practice, while also honing your critical and analytical abilities. You will develop your writing, close reading, and research skills, and learn to craft different kinds of original writing – from critical argument to fiction...

Our BA (Hons) English and Creative Writing degree course will support you in developing a rigorous and creative writing practice, while also honing your critical and analytical abilities.

You will develop your writing, close reading, and research skills, and learn to craft different kinds of original writing – from critical argument to fiction. In the School of English, you will be taught by respected academics and practitioners offering diverse modules.

You will study literature from various major periods, movements, and genres.

 

You will also have the opportunity to produce audio drama, screenplay, short stories, and poetry. Your degree will allow you to tailor your studies to your interests and career aspirations with both a local and global outlook.       

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS COURSE?

English and Creative Writing allows you to examine how language and literature engage with societies and cultures past and present, to develop a rigorous, creative, and disciplined writing practice, and to express insights into contemporary concerns, affecting the way you and others see the world.

Through workshops with published authors, you will hone your writing craft, experimenting with forms including audio drama, screenplay, short fiction, poetry, and the novel. You will produce polished pieces of writing using creative and analytical approaches that complement your study of English.

You will benefit from student-focused and research-informed teaching in a friendly, supportive learning environment where you will be taught by respected academics and expert practitioners who foster a community of experimentation, innovation, and inclusivity.

Our graduates are characterized by their inventiveness, critical thinking, and intellectual curiosity, reflected in the skills and abilities that enable them to adapt to various career paths and employment opportunities. Throughout your studies, you will develop a range of transferable skills valued in the creative industries and beyond.

The School is committed to contributing to the cultural life of Birmingham and the wider West Midlands. We do this by working closely with partner colleges and schools, maintaining close links with cultural institutions such as the Birmingham and Midland Institute (BMI) and Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (BMAG), and working with agencies such as Writing West Midlands. In all of this, we seek to widen participation and provide opportunities for the community to engage with the discipline and the University.

Entry Requirements

Essential Requirements:

112 UCAS tariff points.

GCSE: 

  • Minimum of 5 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above one of which MUST include English Language
  • Must have been achieved at the point of enrolment.

IELTS:

  • Minimum overall score of 6.0, with 6.0 in writing and no less than 5.5 in the remaining three skills.

Career Prospects

The School's employability programme includes sector- and industry-specific skills in creative writing, drama, linguistics, and literature, as well as transferable skills like literacy, numeracy, time management, communication, teamwork, initiative, creative thinking, self-direction, discipline, independence, information gathering, and interpersonal skills. Students will have opportunities to engage in problem-solving and problem-based learning through individual assessments and collaborative practice modules. The School is dedicated to developing strong links with employers in Birmingham and the West Midlands, with language and Creative Writing modules involving employer and industry engagement. The Work Placement module allows students to develop skills in a sector-specific context while ensuring academic aims and objectives are met. The School also seeks opportunities to build further links with partner organizations in the region, such as Creative Black Country, Birmingham Literary Festival, Birmingham Museums Trust, Arvon Creative Writing Foundation, Flatpack Film Festival, West Midlands Screenwriters' Forum, and other schools within the University.

Course Details

English and Creative Writing allows you to examine how language and literature engage with societies and cultures past and present, to develop a rigorous, creative and disciplined writing practice, and to express insights into contemporary concerns, affecting the way you and others see the world. Through workshops with published authors you will hone your writing craft, experimenting with forms including audio drama, screenplay, short fiction, poetry and the novel. 

You will benefit from student-focused and research-informed teaching in a friendly, supportive learning environment where you will be taught by respected academics and expert practitioners who foster a community of experimentation, innovation and inclusivity. Throughout your studies, you will develop a range of transferable skills valued in the creative industries and beyond.

Year One

CORE modules (totalling 100 credits):
Literature, Drama and Origin 20 credits
Foundations of Language 20 credits
Foundations of Creative Writing 20 credits
Craft of Writing 20 credits
Key Critical Concepts 20 credits
OPTIONAL modules.
Literature and Conflict 20 credits
Language in Action 20 credits
Modern Drama

Year Three

CORE modules (totalling 80 credits):
Writing the Novel 40 credits
Major Project 40 credits
OPTIONAL modules.
Writing Creative Nonfiction 20 credits
Writing Short Films 20 credits
Nature Writing 20 credits
Forensic Linguistics 20 credits
Language and Gender 20 credits
Teaching English as a Foreign Language 20 credits
Literature, Art and Philosophy 20 credits
The Gothic 20 credits
Psychology in Victorian Literature 20 credits
Speculative Fiction 20 credits
Shakespeare Studies 20 credits
Moral Philosophy 20 credits
Milton’s Epic 20 credits
Film 20 credits
World Literature 20 credits
The Uncanny 20 credits
Corpus Linguistics

*The information’s are correct at the time of publishing, however it may change if university makes any changes after we have published the information. While we try our best to provide correct information, It is advisable to call us or visit university website for up to date information.

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