English and Creative Writing

English and creative writing brings together the study of literature and the practice of making it, and the two activities are mutually reinforcing. Reading literature carefully, attending to how writers use language, structure, voice, and form, develops your awareness of the technical choices available to any writer. Writing your own work tests that understanding and develops an intuitive feel for what works and why.

The combination creates a particularly productive learning environment, where critical engagement with texts and creative production inform and challenge each other.

At Birmingham City University, this three-year full-time BA balances the practical craft of creative writing with the analytical and historical study of literature and language. You will explore how texts are written, interpreted, and transformed across different forms and periods, developing a rich and critical understanding of English studies. In workshops with expert practitioners, you will develop your creative writing skills across multiple forms, including narrative structure, character, setting, and style.

The programme develops your ability to conduct research and examine writing at depth, producing your own original creative work that reflects genuine craft and intellectual engagement. A sandwich year and work placement opportunities are built in, giving you professional experience alongside your studies. The typical entry tariff is 104 points.

English and creative writing graduates follow varied paths. Many enter publishing, journalism, copywriting, content creation, education, and the arts and cultural sector. Others pursue writing careers alongside complementary professional work.

The analytical and communication skills the degree develops are valued across marketing, public relations, the civil service, law, and many other fields. Postgraduate study in creative writing, journalism, or English is a natural continuation.