Creative Writing (Including Year Abroad) BA (Hons)
University of Essex
Student rating
This is the overall rating calculated by averaging all live reviews for this uni on Whatuni.
( 4.3) View reviews

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Different course options
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Qualification

Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

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Location

Colchester Campus

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Study mode

Full Time

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Start date

OCT-25

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Duration

4 Years

Course info

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Qualification

Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

Location

Colchester Campus

Study mode

Full Time

Start date

OCT-25

Duration

4 Years

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Subjects

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Creative Writing
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A level
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Access to HE Diploma
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International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
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Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
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England
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Northern Ireland
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Course info

Explore the urge to create and build new worlds, to share language and stories with others. On our course you work on the craft of writing through a multi-genre approach, through and across a variety of writings from fiction and poetry, to non-fiction, psychogeography, performance writing and beyond.At Essex we offer an unusual approach to the practice of writing, combing innovative and traditional methods in order to develop your writing skills and abilities to judge your work critically, ...Read more

Explore the urge to create and build new worlds, to share language and stories with others. On our course you work on the craft of writing through a multi-genre approach, through and across a variety of writings from fiction and poetry, to non-fiction, psychogeography, performance writing and beyond.At Essex we offer an unusual approach to the practice of writing, combing innovative and traditional methods in order to develop your writing skills and abilities to judge your work critically, while expanding your knowledge across different modes and genres. In the Centre for Creative Writing we encourage a culture of experiment and creativity, enabling you to feel part of a community of writers.Uncover the history and theories of writing practices through studying familiar as well as unfamiliar writings from Ovid’s Metamorphoses to Wordsworth, and Kae Tempest, as well as writers taking alternative approaches to text production, from contemporary revisionings of fairytales, to new nature writing, science fiction, and the experimental language play of the French Oulipo group.You will enhance your skills by engaging with a range of techniques, practical exercises and creative approaches and opportunities, including:- Discover how words and ideas move across the world and are transformed through translation- Write an independent creative project developed over eight months in your final year- Explore the psychological foundations of creativity in relation to myth- Surrealism and Defamiliarisation- Creative use of social media- Writing for radio and playwritingEssex has nurtured a long tradition of distinguished writers whose work has shaped literature as we know it today, from past giants such as the American poets Robert Lowell and Ted Berrigan, to contemporary writers such as mythographer and novelist Dame Marina Warner, and Booker Prize winner Ben Okri.Our course offers a varied, flexible and distinctive curriculum, focused on developing your abilities as a writer, while allowing you to take options from the other courses within our Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies including literature, filmmaking, journalism and drama.

Key stats

WUSCA ranking:
WUSCA student ranking
These are the 2024 rankings, based on ratings given by past and current students.
35/101
CUG Subject Ranking
CUG Subject Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
24th
CUG Ranking
CUG Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
30th
Literature in English
Drop-out rate
Drop-out rate
The percentage of students who didn't finish the course.
Calculated by 100% - (% of students continuing course + % of students completed course)
100 - 85 = 15% Drop-out rate Source: UNISTATS, 2019
15%
Employment rate
Employment rate
The percentage of students in full-time work 6 months after finishing their course.
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
95%
Average salary
Average salary
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
Literature in English graduate salary at this uni
£18,000
UK Literature in English graduate salary
£18,000
What students say
R
Rose
06 Mar 25

For me my only issue is early and late lessons as I don’t live on campus and so travel to these lessons can be rather..Read more

E
Edward
06 Mar 25

Staff are encouraging. Su is very active. There are many societies. The location is spacious and within striking distance of both the countryside and the city. The university is..Read more

Modules

Modules (Year 1)
Modules (Year 1)
Modules (Year 2)
Modules (Year 2)
Modules (Year 3)
Modules (Year 3)
Modules (Year 4)
Modules (Year 4)
IDP Connect

Entry requirements

Exam type

A level

A level:

BBB Grades / Points required

UCAS Tariff:

112 - 120 Grades / Points required

Access to HE Diploma:

D:6,M:39 Grades / Points required

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme:

29 - 30 Grades / Points required

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016):

DDD Grades / Points required

Including an essay-based subject.Offers will be made in the range of BBB to BBCor 120-112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of the equivalent of 2 full A-levels

Offers will be made from a minimum of the equivalent of 2 full A-levels

We can only accept QAA approved Access to HE Diplomas

Or three Higher Level certificates with 555-554. Either must include a Higher Level essay-based subject grade 5. We are happy to consider a combination of separate IB Diploma Programmes at both Higher and Standard Level. Exact offer levels will vary depending on the range of subjects being taken at higher and standard level, and the course applied for. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for more information.

Offers will be made in the range of DDM to DMMor 120-112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of the equivalent of 2 full A-levelsEntry requirements for students studying BTEC qualifications are dependent on subjects studied. Advice can be provided on an individual basis.

Popular A-level subjects

Literature in English

Top 5 A-levels taken by students who study this subject at uni.

English Literature
59%
History
26%
English Language
24%
Psychology
24%
English Language & Literature
20%
HESA

Tuition fees

Students living in

England

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from England

This is the fee you pay if you live within England. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within England. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Scotland

This is the fee you pay if you live within Scotland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Scotland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Wales

This is the fee you pay if you live within Wales. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Wales. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Northern Ireland

This is the fee you pay if you live within Northern Ireland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Northern Ireland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Channel Islands

This is the fee you pay if you live within Channel Islands. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Channel Islands. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£19,500 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from EU

This is the fee you pay if you live within the European Union. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within the European Union. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£19,500 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from International

This is the fee you pay if you are an International student. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£19500 Per year

UCAS/IDP Connect

Latest reviews

Latest Creative Writing reviews

Creative Writing
Creative Writing
R
Rose
06 Mar 25
MA Creative Writing
For me my only issue is early and late lessons as I don’t live on campus and so travel to these lessons can be rather...
Read more
E
Edward
06 Mar 25
PhD Creative Writing
Staff are encouraging. Su is very active. There are many societies. The location is spacious and within striking distance of both the countryside and the city. The university is...
Read more
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How Creative Writing students rated:

Student rating
( 4.3) 29 reviews
5 star
38%
4 stars
52%
3 stars
10%
2 stars
0%
1 star
0%

How all students rated:

Student rating
( 4.3) 2,427 reviews
5 star
42%
4 stars
45%
3 stars
12%
2 stars
1%
1 star
0%
Search reviews that mention

Uni info

University of Essex
University of Essex , Colchester

The University of Essex is proud to be the academic home of the inquisitive, the brave, and the bold....

Student rating
( 4.3) View reviews
CUG ranking
30th
University of Essex
University of Essex Wivenhoe Park Colchester Essex CO4 3SQ United Kingdom
Nearest train station: Hythe   0.6 miles away

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