BA English Literature with Creative Writing

Explore literature from all angles with our BA English Literature with Creative Writing course.

English literature and creative writing are a perfect combination at degree level:

The two sides of the degree complement and challenge each other. The great writers from the past and present who you study will inspire and influence your writing. Meanwhile, creating your own work will help you understand technique and form in ways that will sharpen your analysis of literary texts.  

You will learn from active, prize-winning authors from our Department of English Literature. These academics have years of experience with the nuts-and bolts of writing, and they will closely read and advise you on your work. 

Our academics have also published research on everything from medieval poetry to contemporary American fiction, and they will help you to develop your own literary enthusiasms. 

English literature

In English literature, you will examine well-known authors and genres, such as tragedy and gothic literature, Shakespeare and Plath. You may also encounter topics such as children's literature, publishing and the history of literature. Our academics have published research on everything from medieval poetry to contemporary American fiction.

As you progress through your degree, your module choices become more diverse and specialised. Topics of study can range from archival work to the politics of literature. Everyone in the English Department, from new lecturers to professors, teaches at every level of the degree: this gives you the benefit of our expertise and makes you part of the conversation about our research and its impact outside the classroom. We place a strong emphasis on small-group learning within a friendly and supportive environment. In your first and second years, you will have a mix of lectures and seminars. 

You will develop advanced skills in literary analysis. For example, you will:

Creative writing

In Creative writing, you will be introduced to all the major forms, including: 

In your second year you can specialise in the areas you feel most excited by. In your third year, you’ll participate in our masterclasses. These are advanced modules in your chosen literary form, where you will read and discuss very recently published texts, identify and write about the themes that are currently popular and fresh,  and be encouraged to pursue publication yourself as part of the module assessment. You can also write at a greater length by choosing to do a creative writing dissertation.

We are committed to teaching through the workshop model. These small group sessions are the heart of Reading’s writing community: guided by one of our lecturers, you and your fellow students will gain confidence as your share your writing and help each other improve. 

You will also have the opportunity to publish your work – and gain experience in editing and publishing – by participating in our online creative magazine.

Find out more about our creative writing studies, including information about our academics, on our Department’s creative writing webpage. 

Your learning environment 

We place a strong emphasis on small-group learning within a friendly and supportive environment.

In your first and second years, you will attend a mix of larger-scale lectures as well as seminars of no more than 14 people. In your third year, all of your studies will take place in seminars taught by research-active experts.

Our team of poets, fiction and non-fiction writers provide detailed and thorough feedback on your written work within 15 working days. This is crucial to your development as a writer, whether you intend a career in creative or professional writing.

Learn more about what to expect during your studies on our Department’s How you’ll learn webpage.

For more information, please visit the Department of English Literature website.

Throughout your degree you will be thinking about the career choices that will enable you to thrive after graduation. We will help you develop the skills and experience you need to launch that career.

Our innovative placement scheme gives you the chance to undertake an academic placement in commerce, industry or the arts. You can also take a placement module on languages and literature in heritage, in education, and in the media.

Students on our Literature, Languages and Education module also undertake a short placement to explore the ways in which the skills and knowledge gained in their studies have direct application to the workplace.

In your second year, you can spend a semester studying abroad at one of our partner institutions in Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe and USA. 

You can also choose to do your degree over four years, and spend your third year studying abroad.