BA (Hons) English and Creative Writing

Studying English is viewed as a traditional subject with a long history of providing impeccable academic credentials. This course combines stylistics, language and literary theory with creative practice, to help you understand the theories behind writing, to understand your writing style and voice, and to improve your understanding of how language is used in society. It also offers a vocational element.It has a number of distinctive features by combining humanities with creative freedom, allowing you to explore emerging genres such as games narratives and graphic storytelling. It has innovative, open and participatory content that includes digital streamed performances and online workshops pitched at schools. It has global student collaborations focusing on intercultural narration, and includes digital entrepreneurship, which is the monetising of creative work via YouTube and Social Media, meaning that students work towards publication-ready outputs.Research-inspired (and research-led) teaching is embedded in the course through academic expertise derived from research activity and publications, including active involvement with national and international scholarly organisations and conferences. Lecturers are all active researchers and practitioners whose research and practice informs their teaching.Key course benefits;- Broad range of modules, such as fantasy, children’s writing, film or journalism.- Enhance your critical thinking and judgment, developing the communication skills sought by employers.- Second year writers’ retreat in Whitby, staying next door to the Abbey and the graveyard, which was an inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula.- Inspiring programme of visiting lecturers – which has previously included Mez Packer, Commonwealth Prize nominee and author, and Lyle Weir, performance poet and singer-songwriter. - Significant links with a wide variety of employers and media practitioners, such as Writing West Midlands and Theatre Absolute, many of whom offer professional experience opportunities.- Opportunity to participate in an exciting range of educational and cultural field trips, for example, to view modern adaptations of Shakespeare’s work at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre Company (RSC) in Stratford-upon-Avon. - Opportunity to join societies such as The Literature Society and The Coventry Words Magazine Society, which organise visits by writers and writing events, as well as overseeing editorial and production for the creative writing magazine.