Creative Writing and English Literature

This four-year course provides an alternative route into higher education if you don't have the traditional qualifications or can't meet the entry requirements for an undergraduate degree. It's an excellent way to develop your academic and professional writing skills, as well to learn about how the mass media impacts everyday life and society.

The foundation year is designed to prepare you for the challenge of studying at undergraduate level. As you continue your degree you'll develop your own distinct creative writing style and gain an understanding of literary history and major genres in poetry, drama and prose. Following successful completion of the foundation year, you can progress on to a choice of English related courses, such as the English Literature BA or the full three-year Creative Writing and English Literature BA.

Assessment

You'll be assessed in a variety of ways throughout the course, with 87.5% of your grades coming from coursework and 12.5% from exams. Examples of coursework include portfolios of reflective writing, digital portfolios, essays, reports, presentations, discussion and seminar skills.

Entry requirements

In addition to the University's standard entry requirements, you should have:

• At least one A level (or a minimum of 40 UCAS points from an equivalent Level 3 qualification, eg BTEC Subsidiary/National/BTEC Extended Diploma)
• English Language GCSE at grade C (grade 4) or above (or equivalent)

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements. If you are a mature student with significant work experience, you are invited to apply for this course on the basis of the knowledge and skills you have developed through your work.

Modular structure

The modules listed below are for the academic year 2018/19 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time. Year 1 modules include:

• Critical Thinking (core, 15 credits)
• Identity, Power and Society (core, 15 credits)
• Media, Crime and 'Race' (core, 15 credits)
• Reflecting on Self and Society (core, 15 credits)
• Researching Discrimination (core, 15 credits)
• Researching Inequality (core, 15 credits)
• Social Issues in Context: Text to Essay (core, 15 credits)
• Writing London: A World City (core, 15 credits)

After the course

Graduates have gone on to successful careers in publishing, editing and related industries as well as publishing their own creative work. This course is also excellent preparation for further study or research. Creative Writing graduate and Somali-British poet Warsan Shire recently collaborated with Beyonce on her new album, Lemonade. The album, which sees the American superstar recite extracts from five of Warsan's poems, has catapulted Warsan into stardom in the US. Having graduated from London Metropolitan University in 2011, Warsan published Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth that same year and was named the first Young Poet Laureate of London in 2014.

What is an extended degree?

Extended degrees provide applicants with an alternative route into higher education. If you do not have traditional qualifications or cannot meet the entry requirements for an undergraduate degree, you may still be able to gain entry by completing an extended degree. Extended degrees include a Year 0, which is also known as a foundation year. Once you successfully complete your first year of study you will progress into Year 1 of an undergraduate degree.