phd creative writing leeds

PhD by distance learning

The faculties of Environment and Arts, Humanities and Cultures offer PhD by distance learning across most schools.

PhD by distance learning allows you to study at a time and place that suits you and, with a part-time option available, you'll have the flexibility to gain an advanced degree alongside work and other commitments.

Through completing a PhD, you will become an expert in a specialist area and gain high-quality research training.

Our PhD by distance learning programmes

Faculty of environment.

• School of Earth and Environment
• School of Food Science and Nutrition
• School of Geography
• Institute for Transport Studies

Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures

• School of Design
• School of English
• School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies
• School of History 
• School of Languages, Cultures and Societies
• School of Music
• School of Performance and Cultural Industries
• School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science
• Inter-Disciplinary Ethics Applied Centre

Creative Writing

Course overview.

What do you want to write? Whatever mode or genre you wish to explore, this MA is structured in order to help you to become the writer you want to be.

Taught by internationally-renowned writers, this MA is designed to be as creative and practical as possible within the academic requirements of a postgraduate programme.

Our MA students are a diverse group, from recent graduates looking to enhance their professional qualifications in preparation for a career involving writing, to experienced writers aspiring to have their work published or those looking to explore their passion for writing later in life.

The Student Contract

About this course

This MA puts the emphasis on “creative,” giving you plenty of time to write and incorporating a creative element into every module. The course aims to develop your writing skills in either prose or poetry, as well as fostering your creative and critical reading and exploring key issues relating to the publishing business.

Individual modules help you to learn techniques from published works and put them into practice, and to bring your own work to a reading – and listening – public. Throughout, the focus is upon your development as a writer, and prose or poetry workshops, along with individual dissertation supervision, are designed to hone your writing skills in a supportive and stimulating critical environment.

Being a "writer" generally involves a mixed portfolio of skills and attributes, and this MA provides a foundation that extends beyond the writing itself. You will meet agents, publishers, and other professionals – alongside our internationally published staff team – in order to help you to reach your potential as a writer, and also negotiate your first steps towards getting your work out into the world.

Why study with us

• Creative elements and plenty of writing time is embedded into every module.
• Learn from internationally renowned writers, whose work has received critical acclaim from across the world.
• Opportunities to get published. Annual creative writing anthologies are published by Indigo Dreams Publishing under Leeds Trinity’s very own imprint, Wordspace, which was originally established by MA Creative Writing students for an assessment.
• Become part of a thriving creative writing community. This community comes together for our monthly Open Mic nights, book launches and readings, literature festival performances and our annual Leeds Trinity Writers’ Festival.

Course Modules

You will study a variety of modules across your programme of study. The module details given below are subject to change and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

Core modules

You will study the following modules throughout your degree.

In these sessions, you will study a wide range of published works to consider the ways in which writers engage their readers. You will then experiment with these techniques yourself.

Visiting professionals from the literary world, alongside course tutors, offer insight into the business of being a writer, and provide support as you undertake a creative project that could involve anything from editing an anthology to researching publication platforms, via arranging events or planning and delivering workshops.

Building on the workshop modules, this provides one-to-one support as you complete a major piece of work in your chosen genre.

Option modules

You may study the following modules.

You will choose between either Prose or Poetry and will study two Workshop modules (1 and 2) in your chosen area. These small group sessions focus upon the development of works in progress in a supportive and critical environment.

Course structure tables

Learning and Teaching

At Leeds Trinity we aim to provide an excellent student experience and provide you with the tools and support to help you achieve your academic, personal and professional potential.

Our Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy delivers excellence by providing the framework for:

• high quality teaching
• an engaging and inclusive approach to learning, assessment and achievement
• a clear structure through which you progress in your academic studies, your personal development and towards professional-level employment or further study.

We have a strong reputation for developing student employability, supporting your development towards graduate employment, with relevant skills embedded throughout your programme of study.

We endeavour to develop curiosity, confidence, courage, ambition and aspiration in all students through the key themes in our Learning and Teaching Strategy:

• Student Involvement and Engagement
• Integrated Programme and Assessment Experience
• Digital Literacy and Skills
• Employability and Enterprise

To help you achieve your potential we emphasise learning as a collaborative process, with a range of student-led and real-world activities. This approach ensures that you fully engage in shaping your own learning, developing your critical thinking and reflective skills so that you can identify your own strengths and weaknesses, and use the extensive learning support system we offer to shape your own development.

We believe the secret to great learning and teaching is simple: it is about creating an inclusive learning experience that allows all students to thrive through:

• Personalised support
• Expert lecturers
• Strong connections with employers
• An international outlook
• Understanding how to use tools and technology to support learning and development

Alongside timetabled contact hours, full-time students should expect to spend 35 hours a week on guided independent work, reading and writing; part-time students should allow half of this.

The workshop modules are assessed mainly on creative work, alongside an initial proposal and a reflective commentary; Reading as a Writer and Writing as a Profession are assessed on a portfolio of creative and critical work; and the Dissertation is assessed purely on creative work.

Entry Requirements

Leeds Trinity University is committed to recruiting students with talent and potential and who we feel will benefit greatly from their academic and non-academic experiences here. We treat every application on its own merits; we value highly the experience you illustrate in your personal statement.

The following information is designed to give you a general overview of the qualifications we accept. If you are taking qualifications that are not included below, please contact our Admissions Office who will be happy to advise you.

• A good 2:1 in Creative Writing, English or a related subject and a personal portfolio of creative writing (2,000 words or equivalent).
• Applicants with other qualifications will be considered on their own merit. Places will be offered subject to an informal interview.

For more information on meeting English language requirements and academic requirements by country, visit our International Applicants page.

Please contact us for personalised advice on 0113 283 7123 or at  [email protected]

Fees and finance

Uk home students:.

For information about our tuition fees please visit our Student Fees and Finance pages.

If you studied your undergraduate degree at Leeds Trinity University, you may be eligible for a discount of up to 50% on the cost of your tuition fees.

International Students, including EU Students:

Visit our web page for international students .

Leeds Trinity Alumni Discount

Some Leeds Trinity graduates are eligible for a tuition fee discount on postgraduate courses of up to 50%, excluding PGCE Delivery Partner Model and Lead Partner Model, and Masters by Research courses. You will need to achieve a 2:2 or above in a Leeds Trinity undergraduate course to qualify.

How to apply

There is no official closing date for applications, but the course will be closed when it is full. We therefore encourage you to make your application as early as possible.

Please ensure you complete the application form in full and supply all the required supporting documentation when you make your initial application. Incomplete applications may be rejected.

If you need advice on your application, please contact our admissions team on  0113 283 7123  (Monday to Thursday, 9.00am to 5.00pm, or Friday 9.00am to 4.00pm) or  [email protected]

Home applicants - How to apply

Applicants who require a Student Route Visa

Applications for September 2024 entry are now closed for students requiring a Student Route Visa in order to study in the UK. Applications for 2025 entry are due to open in early October. If you require a Student Route Visa in order to study in the UK, then you must apply to us by Sunday 30 June 2024.

Part-time study is not available for international students on a Student Route Visa.

For additional information, including academic requirements by country, visit our country and region page .

International applicants - How to apply

What happens next?

Our admissions team will acknowledge receipt of your application by email.

Where applications are submitted but references are still in progress, admissions will wait for the reference(s) to be received and then will process it, and forward it to the relevant Programme Leader within five days of receipt of the reference(s).

The Programme Leader will make a decision based on your application. You may be asked to provide a reference to demonstrate your academic and non-academic experiences, or you may be invited to attend an interview. If you are successful and are made an offer, the conditions will be outlined in your offer letter. 

Applications will be acknowledged within five working days. Applicants will be contacted within 15 working days with a request for additional information, invite to an informal interview or an application decision.

Made an offer?

You should accept or decline your offer by emailing  [email protected] .

If you accept, you'll need to prove you satisfy the conditions outlined in your offer letter.

You may be asked to present the relevant supporting documentation in person to the student information point on campus, if originals are not needed you’ll be contacted and given details of how to provide the supporting documentation.

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University of Leeds

United kingdom.

The School of English at the University of Leeds offers a BA (Hons) English Literature with Creative Writing, an MA Creative Writing, an MA by Research in Creative Writing, and a PhD in Creative Writing.

Yorkshire is one of the most important regions in the history of literature in English, and amongst our alumni and former staff are notable poets and writers, including Wole Soyinka, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Geoffrey Hill, J. R. R. Tolkien, and current Professor of Poetry Simon Armitage, who is also Poet Laureate.

Leeds has fantastic facilities for Creative Writing students, and the School of English has a rich history of creative writing. We regularly host readings and talks by well-known and emerging contemporary writers, and you’ll have access to a vibrant community of researchers and creative practitioners. The highly respected literary magazine, Stand, is produced in the School, and publishes the best in new and established creative writing. We are also home to the University of Leeds Poetry Centre led by poet and critic Professor John Whale and the Douglas Caster Fellowship, currently held by Matt Howard and previously held by Anthony Vahni Capildeo, Helen Mort, and Malika Booker.

Dr Caitlin Stobie leads the BA English Literature with Creative Writing Programme and Dr Jess Richards leads the MA Creative Writing. Other staff in the creative writing team include Dr Kimberly Campanello, Zaffar Kunial, Sarah K. Perry, Dr Jay Prosser, Ross Raisin, and Prof. John Whale.

The world-class Brotherton Library has an array of archive, manuscript and early printed material in its Special Collections, including extensive archives of prominent contemporary poets including Simon Armitage and Tony Harrison. All of this will be valuable for your independent research, and the University Library offers training programmes to help you make the most of our resources.

Contact Information

School of English University of Leeds Leeds United Kingdom LS2 9JT Phone: +44(0)113 343 0110 Email: [email protected] https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/homepage/327/creative_writing_at_leeds

Bachelor of Arts in English Literature with Creative Writing +

Undergraduate program director, phd in creative writing phd +, graduate program director, master of arts in creative writing ma +, master of arts in ma by research in creative writing +.

Details of MA by Research in Creative Writing are here: https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/english-research-degrees/doc/ma-research-mar

Simon Armitage

I am the current national Poet Laureate (2019-2029). I am Professor of Poetry at the University of Leeds and was elected to serve as Professor of Poetry at the University of Oxford for 2015-2019. In Spring 2019, I held the post of Holmes Visiting Professor at Princeton University, USA. Previously, I taught at the University of Leeds, the University of Iowa’s Writers’ Workshop and Manchester Metropolitan University before my 2011 appointment as Professor of Poetry at the University of Sheffield and Visiting Professor at the University of Falmouth. I have received numerous awards for my poetry including the Sunday Times Young Author of the Year, one of the first Forward Prizes, an Eric Gregory Award, a major Lannan Award, a Cholmondeley Award, the Spoken Word Award (Gold), the Ivor Novello Award for song-writing, BBC Radio Best Speech Programme, Television Society Award for Documentary and Keats-Shelley Prize for Poetry. I won the 2017 PEN America Award for Poetry in Translation and was awarded the 2018 Queens Gold Medal for Poetry. In 1999 I was named the Millennium Poet. In 2004 I was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. I was awarded the CBE for services to poetry in 2010 and presented with the Hay Medal for Poetry at the 25th Hay Festival in 2012. As part of Britain’s 2012 Cultural Olympiad and while Artist in Residence at London’s Southbank, Armitage conceived and curated Poetry Parnassus, a gathering of world poets and poetry from every Olympic nation. This landmark event is generally recognised to be the biggest coming together of international poets in history. Prior to mainstream publication, Armitage published several limited edition pamphlets with small and local poetry presses, all now highly collectable. These included Human Geography, The Distance Between Stars, The Walking Horses, Around Robinson, and Suitcase. My first full-length collection of poems, Zoom!, was published in 1989 by Bloodaxe Books and further collections are published with Faber.

https://www.simonarmitage.com/biography/

https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/english/staff/557/simon-armitage

Kimberly Campanello

I am Associate Professor of Creative Writing and supervise PhDs in innovative poetry and Creative Writing. My poetry pamphlets and collections include Consent, Imagines and Strange Country (both on the sheela-na-gig stone carvings), Hymn to Kali (my version of the Karpuradi-stotra), and running commentary along the bottom of the tapestry. MOTHERBABYHOME, a collection of 796 conceptual and visual poems on the St. Mary's Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, Co. Galway was published by zimZalla Avant Objects in April 2019. In March 2020, I represented the UK in Munich at Klang Farben Text: Visual Poetry for the 21st Century, a three-day visual poetry festival inspired by the international concrete poetry movement of the 1950s and 60s organised by the British Council. I was awarded a 2019 Markievicz Award by Ireland's Arts Council and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. I have also been awarded residencies at the Fundación Valparaíso, the Heinrich Böll Cottage, The Studios of Key West and the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris. My poems have appeared most recently or are forthcoming in The London Magazine, 3:AM’s Poem Brut series, Blackbox Manifold, Junction Box, Tentacular, The White Review and Poetry Ireland Review.

http://www.kimberlycampanello.com/

https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/english/staff/2091/dr-kimberly-campanello

As Professor of Romantic Poetry, my research has focused on the interface of literary aesthetics and politics in the Romantic period. British responses to the French Revolution have been a central concern and, like many other Romanticists, my work in the late 1980s and early nineties was considerably influenced by the bicentenary of the French Revolution. In my case, this meant reassessing the response of British writers to events across the Channel in France and in particular focusing on the role the creative faculty of the mind - the imagination - could play in political argument. I have also been concerned to widen the scope of critical activity in the period. I was Co-Investigator (with Dr David Higgins as Principal Investigator) of an AHRC-funded Research Network entitled 'Creative Communities, 1750-1830', which involved three workshops and related activities between 2013 and 2014. This developed previous work with colleagues at Leeds on the Creativity Project, which aimed to find ways of moving beyond concepts of genius, inspiration, and originality, and towards thinking about literary creativity in terms of collaboration, connection, and development. I have a long-standing interest in contemporary English poetry. I am a poet and I also co-edit Stand magazine and am Director of the Poetry Centre. My first collection, Waterloo Teeth, was published by Carcanet in 2010 and was shortlisted for the Forward Best First Collection Prize in 2011; my second, Frieze, was published at the end of September 2013 by Carcanet.

https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/english/staff/152/professor-john-whale

Jay Prosser

My position as ‘Reader in Humanities’ allows me to pursue diverse interests in research in writing. I specialise in critical theory and creative nonfiction. I’ve written and edited many books and journal special issues, including on transsexual autobiography, photography, American fiction, and memories of the Ottoman Empire. I teach memoir, particularly family memoir, which I see as a way of telling the untold stories from cultural history. I am currently completing my own family memoir. This is a legacy of loving strangers: of the Baghdadi Jewish diaspora meeting and marrying the Chinese women who worked for them, in Southeast Asia. It’s a story of love and spice (my grandfather’s family were for generations spice traders); of refugees and prejudice. But it’s also an exploration of how empire enables intimacies between far-flung strangers. The book was shortlisted for the 2019 Tony Lothian Prize for the best unpublished biography and won the 2020 Hazel Rowley Prize for best proposal for a first-time biographer.

https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/english/staff/1076/dr-jay-prosser

Zaffar Kunial

Zaffar Kunial is an award-winning poet. He has won the Northern Writers Award, the Faber New Poet prize and the Geoffrey Dearmer Prize for his poetry. He has been a writer in Residence for the Wordsworth Trust as well as Ilkley and Ledbury Literature Festivals. Faber & Faber have published his debut full poetry collection ‘Us’ which was selected as the Poetry Book Society’s ‘Wild Card Choice’. His poetry has featured in anthologies published by Faber & Faber, Picador, Bloodaxe and The Poetry Society and he has had work commissioned by The Globe Theatre, Manchester Literature Festival and the BBC.

https://literature.britishcouncil.org/writer/zaffar-kunial

https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/english/staff/2457/zaffar-kunial

Caitlin Stobie

I am Lecturer in Creative Writing and Programme Leader for the BA English Literature with Creative Writing. I write poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction. My debut poetry collection, Thin Slices, is published by Verve Poetry Press. I am also the author of a monograph, Abortion Ecologies in Southern African Fiction, published by Bloomsbury Academic. My work is informed by the relationship between human and nonhuman bodies, focusing on environmental and medical issues. Much of my writing explores bioethics, particularly reproductive health. I am a member of the editorial team at Stand, Leeds’s international literary journal, and founder of the Leeds Animal Studies Network.

https://www.caitlinstobie.com

https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/arts-humanities-cultures/staff/1170/dr-caitlin-stobie

Ross Raisin

I am a lecturer in Creative Writing, who joined the School of English in 2021. Previous to working here at Leeds, I was a lecturer at Goldsmiths, University of London. I graduated (MA) from Goldsmiths in 2004, and from Kings College, University of London (BA) in 2001. I am the author of three novels: A Natural (2017), Waterline (2011) and God’s Own Country (2008), and have written short stories for Granta, Prospect, the Sunday Times, Esquire, BBC Radio 3 and 4, among others, and in 2018 published a book for the Read This series, on the practice of fiction writing: Read This if you Want to be a Great Writer.

I also teach for the Guardian Masterclass programme and since 2009 have been a writer-in-residence for the education charity First Story, which places writers in unprivileged schools to deliver creative writing workshops and compile anthologies of the students’ work. My new novel, A Hunger, will be published in August 2022. You can find more on me, my books and teaching on my website.

https://www.rossraisin.com

https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/staff/3268/ross-raisin

Sarah K. Perry

S. K. Perry is a fiction writer and poet from Croydon. In 2013 she was long-listed for London's Young Poet Laureate and was Cityread Young Writer in Residence in Soho in 2014. Her short story 'A Wide Neon Yell' won the Berlin Writing Prize, 2019.

https://www.sk-perry.com

Jess Richards

I’m the author of Snake Ropes, which was longlisted for the Green Carnation Prize and shortlisted for the Costa First Novel award, 2012 and the Scottish Book Awards. My second novel, Cooking with Bones, was published in 2013. Both novels are published by Sceptre, who have also published my third novel, City of Circles, in August 2017. City of Circles was shortlisted for the Kitschies Awards (novel category) in March 2018.

http://jessrichards.com/

Publications & Presses +

Stand Magazine

Poetry and Audience

Moving Worlds

Tenter Hook

Visiting Writers Program +

Recent Visiting Writers:

Naomi Booth, novelist and short story writer

Zodwa Nyoni, playwright, screenwriter, poet

Carlos Soto-Román, poet

Kendell Hippolyte, poet

Ailbhe Darcy, poet

Pascale Petit, poet

Lorna Goodison, poet

Season Butler, novelist and playwright

Nora Chassler, novelist and short story writer

Clare Fisher, novelist and short story writer

Peter Robinson, crime writer

Lucie Brownlee, novelist and nonfiction writer

Zaffar Kunial, poet

Denise Riley, poet

Sandeep Parmar, poet

Jacqueline Bishop, poet

Stephanie Burt, poet

Sean O'Brien, poet

John Burnside, poet

Kwame Dawes, poet and writer

Clem Seecharan, writer and historian

Leone Ross, fiction writer

Leontia Flynn, poet

W.N. Herbert, poet

Nick Makoha, poet

Kei Miller, poet and writer

Kathleen Jamie, poet and writer

Sinead Morrissey, poet

Reading Series +

Leeds Poetry Centre Reading Series ( https://poetry.leeds.ac.uk/ )

School of English Events ( https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/english )

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• Schools & departments

Creative Writing PhD

Awards: PhD

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Creative Writing

Introduction to Postgraduate Study at the University of Edinburgh

Join us online on 25 September to learn more about Scotland, the city of Edinburgh and postgraduate study at the University.

Find out more and register

Research profile

The PhD in Creative Writing offers committed and talented writers the opportunity to study Creative Writing at the highest level.

Supported by an expert supervisory team you will work independently towards the production of a substantial, publishable piece of creative writing, accompanied by a sustained exercise in critical study.

The academic staff you will be working with are all active researchers or authors, including well-published and prize-winning writers of poetry, prose, fiction and drama. They include:

• Dr Jane Alexander - Fiction
• Dr Lynda Clark - Fiction
• Dr Patrick Errington - Poetry
• Dr Miriam Gamble - Poetry
• Dr Alan Gillis - Poetry
• Nicola McCartney - Drama
• Dr Jane McKie - Poetry
• Dr Allyson Stack - Fiction
• Kim Sherwood - Fiction
• Alice Thompson - Fiction

Find out more about the programme and our team

Training and support

We encourage you to share your research and learn from the work of others through a programme of seminars and visiting speakers.

We have an in-house Writer-in-Residence, annual writing prizes, and a range of opportunities to learn from experts in the publishing industry.

We also offer access to opportunities provided by the Sottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities.

Our postgraduate journal, Forum, is a valuable conduit for research findings and provides an opportunity to gain editorial experience.

• Forum: postgraduate journal of culture and the arts

A UNESCO World City of Literature, Edinburgh is a remarkable place to study, write, publish, discuss and perform prose, poetry and drama.

Take a PhD with us and you will be based in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC) in the historic centre of this world-leading festival city.

Our buildings are close to:

• National Library of Scotland (where collections include the Bute Collection of early modern English drama and the John Murray Archive)
• Edinburgh Central Library
• Scottish Poetry Library
• Scottish Storytelling Centre
• Writers’ Museum
• Traverse Theatre

We have strong links with the Edinburgh International Book Festival, which annually welcomes around 1,000 authors to our literary city.

There are lots of opportunities to write and share your work, from Forum to The Selkie, which was founded by Creative Writing students in 2018 to showcase work by people who self-identify as underrepresented.

Around the city, you’ll find library readings and bookshop launches, spoken word gigs, cabaret nights and poetry slams, including events run by celebrated publishing outlets, from Canongate and Polygon / Birlinn to Luath Press, 404 Ink, Taproot Press and Mariscat.

You will have access to the University’s many literary treasures, which include:

• William Drummond library
• Lewis Grassic Gibbon library
• Hugh MacDiarmid library
• Norman MacCaig library
• W.H. Auden collection
• Corson collection
• works by and about Sir Walter Scott
• Ramage collection of poetry pamphlets

The Centre for Research Collections also holds a truly exceptional collection of early Shakespeare quartos and other early modern printed plays. These have been put together by the 19th century Shakespearean James Halliwell-Phillipps, the correspondence of Thomas and Jane Welsh Carlyle (the focus of one of the major editorial projects in Victorian studies of the last half-century), and the extensive Laing collection of medieval and early modern manuscripts.

You will also have access to letters and papers by - and relating to - authors including:

• Christopher Isherwood
• Rudyard Kipling
• John Middleton Murry
• Walter de la Mare
• George Mackay Brown
• Compton Mackenzie

Many of the University's Special Collections are digitised and available online from our excellent Resource Centre, Computing Labs, and dedicated PhD study space in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC).

Look inside the PhD study space in LLC

Entry requirements

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK masters degree, or its international equivalent, in creative writing, normally with distinction.

We may also consider your application if you have equivalent qualifications or experience. For additional information please refer to the pre-application guidance in the 'How to apply' section.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country
• English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced ( CAE ) / C2 Proficiency ( CPE ): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
• Trinity ISE : ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 62 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS , TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE , in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

• Fees and costs

Read our general information on tuition fees and studying costs:

Scholarships and funding

Featured funding.

There are a number of scholarship schemes available to eligible candidates on this PhD programme, including awards from the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

Please be advised that many scholarships have more than one application stage, and early deadlines.

• Find out more about scholarships in literatures, languages and cultures

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding

Further information

• Phone: +44 (0)131 650 4086
• Contact: [email protected]
• School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures
• 50 George Square
• Central Campus
• Programme: Creative Writing
• School: Literatures, Languages & Cultures
• College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

This programme is not currently accepting applications. Applications for the next intake usually open in October.

Start date: September

Awards: PhD (36 mth FT, 72 mth PT)

Application deadlines

Due to high demand, the school operates a number of selection deadlines. We will make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis, but hold the majority of applications until the next published selection deadline when we will offer a proportion of the places available to applicants selected through a competitive process.

Deadlines for applicants applying to study in 2024/25:

• How to apply
• Pre-application guidance

Before you formally apply for this PhD, you should look at the pre-application information and guidance on the programme website.

This will help you decide if this programme is right for you, and help us gain a clearer picture of what you hope to achieve.

The guidance details the writing samples you should send us as part of your application (either fiction or poetry, along with a shorter sample of your academic writing).

It will also give you practical advice for writing your project summary – one of the most important parts of your application.

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

King's College London

Creative writing research phd.

Key information

The PhD in Creative Writing at King’s is a practice-led course, incorporating taught elements and aspects of professional development. It is designed to cater for talented, committed writers who are looking to complete a book-length creative work for publication and sustain a long-term career in writing.

Key Benefits

Our unique programme offers students:

• a varied, structured framework for the development of their creative work, with regular feedback from experienced author-lecturers in the department through supervision and workshops
• purposeful engagement with professionals from the publishing and performance industries throughout the course, building potential routes to publication
• valuable teaching experience in creative writing at HE-level through our Graduate Teaching Assistantship scheme
• practical experience in public engagement, through curating and chairing public literary events at King’s
• a community of fellow writers and collaborative projects

English Department

We have over 100 doctoral students from all over the world working on a wide range of projects. Together with our community of postdoctoral fellows, our early career researchers both organise and participate in our thriving seminar and conference culture.

The English department is home to award-winning novelists, poets, essayists, biographers, non-fiction authors, and literary critics, who supervise creative projects at doctoral level within their specialisms.

Works by our staff have won or been shortlisted for a number of literary accolades, including: the T.S. Eliot Prize, the Forward Prize, the Man Booker Prize, the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year, the Costa First Novel Award, the Costa Poetry Award, the Somerset Maugham Award, the Commonwealth Book Prize, the Biographers’ Club / Slightly Foxed First Biography Prize, the U.S. National Book Critics Circle Award, the CWA Gold Dagger Award, the European Union Prize for Literature, the RSL Encore Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Award, the E.M. Forster Award from the American Academy of Letters, le Prix du Roman Fnac, le Prix du Roman Etranger, the Kiriyama Prize, the Republic of Consciousness Prize, the Royal Society of Literature’s Encore Award, and the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature. Many of the creative writing staff are Fellows of the Royal Society of Literature.

Their most recent publications are:

Benjamin Wood

The Young Accomplice (Penguin Viking, 2022) – fiction

A Station on the Path to Somewhere Better (Scribner, 2018) – fiction

Edmund Gordon

The Invention of Angela Carter (Chatto & Windus, 2016) – creative non-fiction

Loop of Jade (Chatto & Windus, 2015) – poetry

Anthony Joseph

Sonnets for Albert (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2022) – poetry

The Frequency of Magic (Peepal Tree Press, 2019) – fiction

Lara Feigel

The Group (John Murray Press, 2020) – fiction

Free Woman: Life, Liberation and Doris Lessing (Bloomsbury, 2018) – creative non-fiction

Homing: On Pigeons, Dwellings, and Why We Return (John Murray Press, 2019) – creative non-fiction

Daughters of the Labyrinth (Corsair, 2021) – fiction

Beethoven Variations: Poems on a Life (Chatto & Windus, 2020) – poetry

Emerald (Chatto & Windus, 2018) – poetry

Andrew O'Hagan

Mayflies (Faber & Faber, 2020) – fiction

The Secret Life: Three True Stories (Faber & Faber, 2017) – creative non-fiction

*may vary according to research leave and availability.

King's Alumni

The list of King’s alumni not only features many acclaimed contemporary authors—Michael Morpurgo, Alain de Botton, Hanif Kureishi, Marina Lewycka, Susan Hill, Lawrence Norfolk, Ross Raisin, Alexander Masters, Anita Brookner, and Helen Cresswell—it also includes major figures in literature, such as Maureen Duffy, Arthur C Clarke, Thomas Hardy, Christopher Isherwood, BS Johnson, John Keats, W. Somerset Maugham, and Virginia Woolf.

Course Detail

Our postgraduate writing students are given a supportive environment in which to enhance their technique, to explore the depths of their ideas, to sustain their creative motivation, and to prepare them for the demands of the writer’s life beyond the College.

At King's we know that writing well requires self-discipline and an ability to work productively in isolation; but we also appreciate that postgraduate writers thrive when they are part of a community of fellow authors, an environment of constructive criticism and shared endeavour.

That is why we offer our PhD students the guidance of knowledgeable and experienced practitioners. They will have frequent opportunities to interact and collaborate with peers and forge lasting connections within London’s writing industry.

Students will be expected to attend the quarterly Thesis Workshop, and also to take an active part in curating literary events at King’s, including the Poetry And… quarterly reading series. They will be invited to apply for positions teaching undergraduate creative writing modules as part of the Department’s Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) scheme.

After three years (full-time) or six years (part-time), students are expected to submit either:

• a novel or short story collection
• a poetry collection
• a full-length work of creative non-fiction

In addition, they are also required to submit an essay (up to 15,000 words) that examines their practical approach to the conception, development, and revision of their project, and which explores how their creative work was informed by research (archival, book-based, or experiential).

• How to apply
• Fees or Funding

Many of our incoming students apply for AHRC funding via the London Arts and Humanities Partnership. Please see their website ( www.lahp.ac.uk ) for more detail of deadlines, application procedure and awards available. Also the ‘Student Funding’ section of the Prospectus will give you more information on other scholarships available from King’s.

UK Tuition Fees 2023/24

Full time tuition fees:

£5,820 per year (MPhil/PhD, Creative Writing)

Part time tuition fees:

£2,910 per year (MPhil/PhD, Creative Writing)

International Tuition Fees 2023/24

£22,900 per year (MPhil/PhD, Creative Writing)

£11,450 per year (MPhil/PhD, Creative Writing)

UK Tuition Fees 2024/25

£6,168 per year (MPhil/PhD, Creative Writing)

£3,084 per year (MPhil/PhD, Creative Writing)

International Tuition Fees 2024/25

£24,786 per year (MPhil/PhD, Creative Writing)

£12,393 per year (MPhil/PhD, Creative Writing)

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

• Study environment

Base campus

Strand Campus

Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.

PhD in Creative Writing students are taught through one-to-one sessions with an appointed supervisor in their chosen specialism (fiction, creative non-fiction, or poetry) as well as through quarterly thesis workshops. They are also appointed a second supervisor whose role is to offer an additional perspective on the work being produced.

We place great emphasis on pastoral care and are a friendly and welcoming department in the heart of London. Our home in the Virginia Woolf Building offers many spaces for postgraduate students to work and socialise. Studying in London means students have access to a huge range of libraries from the Maughan Library at King’s to the Senate House Library at the University of London and the British Library.

Our PhD Creative Writing students are taught exclusively by practicing, published writers of international reputation. These include:

Benjamin Wood (Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing)

Supervises projects in fiction.

Edmund Gordon (Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing)

Supervises projects in fiction and creative non-fiction.

Sarah Howe (Lecturer in Poetry)

Supervises projects in poetry.

Anthony Joseph (Lecturer in Creative Writing)

Supervises projects in poetry and fiction.

Jon Day (Senior Lecturer in English)

Supervises projects in creative non-fiction and fiction

Lara Feigel (Professor of Modern Literature)

Supervises projects in creative non-fiction and fiction.

Ruth Padel (Professor Emerita of Poetry)

Andrew O’Hagan (Visiting Professor)

*Teaching staff may vary according to research leave and availability.

Our programme also incorporates the following taught components:

Thesis Workshop

A termly writing seminar for the discussion and appraisal of works-in-progress. These are taught on a rotational basis by all members of the creative writing staff, so that students get the benefit of hearing a range of voices and opinions on their work throughout the course.

The Writing Life

A suite of exclusive guest talks and masterclasses from leading authors, publishers, and editors, in which students receive guidance from people working at the top level of the writing industry and learn about the various demands of maintaining a career as a writer.

Recent speakers have included Amit Chaudhuri, Chris Power, Rebecca Watson, Mendez, Frances Leviston, Joanna Biggs, Joe Dunthorne, Francesca Wade, Kishani Widyaratna, Jacques Testard and Leo Robson.

Other elements of professional development are included in the degree:

Agents-in-Residence

Candidates in fiction or creative-nonfiction will meet and discuss their work in one-to-one sessions with invited literary agents, who are appointed to yearly residencies. These sessions offer writers a different overview of the development of their project: not solely from the standpoint of authorial technique, but with a view towards the positioning of their writing within a competitive and selective industry. Poetry candidates will meet and discuss their work with invited editors from internationally recognised poetry journals and presses.

Undergraduate Teaching

Through our Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) training scheme, our PhD students can apply to lead undergraduate creative writing workshops in fiction, creative non-fiction, and/or poetry, enabling them to acquire valuable HE-level teaching experience that will benefit them long after graduation.

Reading Series

Our students are required to participate in the curation of literary events at King’s. They are also responsible for curating Poetry And… , a quarterly reading in which leading poets illuminate the powerful connections between poetry and other disciplines. Students will develop skills in public engagement by chairing discussions and may also perform excerpts of their own writing.

Postgraduate Training

There is a range of induction events and training provided for students by the Centre for Doctoral Studies, the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and the English Department. A significant number of our students are AHRC-funded through the London Arts and Humanities Partnership (LAHP) which also provides doctoral training to all students. All students take the ‘Doctoral Seminar’ in their first year. This is a series of informal, staff-led seminars on research skills in which students can share and gain feedback on their own work. We run a series of ‘Skills Lunches’, which are informal lunch meetings with staff, covering specific topics, including Upgrading, Attending Conferences, Applying for Funding and Post-Doctoral Awards, etc. Topics for these sessions are generally suggested by the students themselves, so are particularly responsive to student needs. We have an Early Career Staff Mentor who runs more formal workshops of varying kinds, particularly connected to career development and the professions.

Through our Graduate Teaching Assistantship Scheme, doctoral students can apply to teach in the department (usually in their second year of study) and are trained and supported as they do so.

• Entry requirements

Find a supervisor

Search through a list of available supervisors.

Accommodation

Discover your accommodation options and explore our residences.

Connect with a King’s Advisor

Want to know more about studying at King's? We're here to help.

Learning in London

King's is right in the heart of the capital.

Research opportunities

Ageing and/as performance.

Applications are invited for full-time interdisciplinary doctoral research focused on using performance as a lens to make connections across aspects of the ageing experience which so far are treated separately and independently from one another. The work will be undertaken in the context of the Dunhill Medical Trust Reimagine Ageing Doctoral Research Programme embedded in the Interdisciplinary Reimagine Ageing Research Network.<br /> <br /> The Network focuses on improving the quality of life, functional capacity and well-being of people as they age. It is embedded in and is being co-created with community partners with the intent for meaningful interdisciplinary engagement from colleagues across the University of Leeds and with the communities whose lives they seek to improve.

<p>This interdisciplinary project aims to mobilise the term performance, across its many manifestations in different fields of research and human activity, as a lens to analyse, bring together and develop a comparative understanding of different aspects of ageing.  </p> <p>Performance is a broad term which encompasses artistic products, social behaviours and identity categories. Performance, also, signifies achievement according to a pre-established standard and in this way it can also refer to professional attainment as well as technological or physiological function.  As a research field, performance has been linked to ageing in various ways: for example in terms of access to and/or participation of older adults in the performing arts; the performance of ageing through representations in media; and finally the performance of medical and health care technologies for maintaining independence and well-being.  </p> <p>The aim is to develop a novel methodology that enables connections to be made across aspects of the ageing experience which so far are treated separately from one another. For example, the project may examine the links between the performance/function of healthcare technologies and the performance of care and disease; or the relationship between participation in the performing arts and performance of social and civic roles.  </p> <p>The award is open to full-time candidates (UK only) who meet the eligibility for a place on a PhD degree in the School of Medicine.</p> <p><a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/reimagine-ageing">The Reimagine Ageing Interdisciplinary Research Network</a> is hosted by the Horizons Institute University of Leeds. The focus is on how approaches and innovative solutions might enhance the perceptions, narratives and experience of ageing.</p> <p>The Network brings together academics, clinicians, industrial partners, charities, the third sector, and local authorities to stimulate new interdisciplinary collaborations and co-create novel, imaginative responses to the global challenge of ageing. The Reimagine Ageing PhD Programme has been funded by Dunhill Medical Trust and the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Leeds. </p> <p>Whilst the PhD students will be hosted by the Faculty of Medicine and Health the focus will be on interdisciplinary work.</p>

<p>To apply for this scholarship applicants should complete an <a href="https://prod.banner.leeds.ac.uk/ssb/bwskalog_uol.P_DispLoginNon">online application form</a> and attach the following documentation to support their application:</p> <ul> <li>a full academic CV</li> <li>degree certificate and transcripts of marks</li> <li>evidence that you meet the University’s English language requirements (if applicable)</li> <li>Applicants interested in this topic should submit an outline proposal identifying which specific area they wish to focus on. Please contact Maria Kapsali for further information</li> </ul> <p>To help us identify that you are applying for this scholarship project please ensure you provide the following information on your application form</p> <ul> <li>Select PhD in Medicine as your programme of study</li> <li>Provide the area you are interested in and briefly outline the type of research you wish to pursue relevant to the area identified</li> <li>For source of funding please state you are applying for a Dunhill Medical Trust Scholarship</li> </ul> <p>If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University’s minimum English language requirements (below)</p> <p><em>As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+ and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.</em></p>

Applicants to this scholarship in the School of Medicine should normally have an Undergraduate degree of 2:1 or above (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject area. A Master’s degree is desirable, but not essential.

The minimum English language entry requirement for postgraduate research study in the School of Medicine is an IELTS of 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid.

<p>We are offering 3 full-time PhD scholarship for UK candidates, covering a maintenance grant of £19,237 per year and UK tuition fees for three and a half years subject to satisfactory progress. The award will be made for one year in the first instance and renewable for a further period of up to two years, subject to satisfactory academic progress.</p> <p>Applicants must not have already been awarded or be currently studying for a doctoral degree. Awards will be taken up sometime in the 2024/25 academic year. Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of the University of Leeds whilst in receipt of this scholarship, with the expectation they will contribute to development of the Reimagine Ageing Network.</p>

<p>For information about the project please contact Maria Kapsali (<a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>) and/or Anne Forster (<a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>)</p> <p>For information about the admissions process please contact: <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></p>

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Undergraduate BA (Hons)

Creative Writing

Designed by writers for writers, this course will enable you to develop your portfolio of writing. You’ll be supported by award-winning poets, screen writers and novelists.

Course Overview

Institution code

Main location

Whether you want to write poetry, short stories, novels, scripts, fiction or non-fiction, you’ll learn techniques to develop an idea into a final draft. Our guidance will ensure that you write to the best of your ability and find the right audience for your work.  

As part of this course, you’ll:

• Develop your imagination
• Create your own portfolio of writing
• Learn the techniques to edit and refine your work
• Identify markets for your writing and produce submission ready pieces
• Perform and/or present your own writing
• Collaborate with other writers
• Deliver writing workshops
• Understand how you can use your skills to build a successful career   

Become an expert storyteller

All over the world, people are telling each other stories in books, marketing, advertising, film, TV, publishing, journalism and other forms of broadcast and social media. This course will help you find the stories you want to tell, and the medium in which you want to tell them. 

Develop your portfolio

You’ll have plenty of time to develop your portfolio of script, poetry, prose, or a combination of all three.  As a student on this course, you’ll be part of a safe, inclusive community for writers to create, experiment, and share their work.

A third of this course comprises the professional portfolio strand, which will give you the opportunity to develop your professional skills through a series of industry-aware challenges. An example of this might be to create your own blog, or pitch your work to a panel of professional writers. 

Study in a creative city

Leeds is home to a vibrant writing community with Leeds Playhouse , one of the largest producing theatres in the North. The Holbeck and Channel 4 both have national headquarters here. You’ll study at Broadcasting Place, in the heart of the city’s programme of cultural and literary events, including Leeds Lit Fest and Leeds International Film Festival .

Why study creative writing at Leeds Beckett University...

• L earn from experts - teaching delivered by award-winning, published writers
• Career-focused -  you'll develop employability skills throughout your course. Your professional portfolio modules will be embedded across each year of your degree and will enable you to develop industry-aware writing skills
• Set your own writing goals – support to develop the projects you want to work on.
• C ollaborative learning – receive feedback from a community of writers
• Study in a creative city - situated in the heart of Leeds city centre, with opportunities to collaborate with its thriving cultural scene  

Explore videos and blogs

Creative Writing at Leeds Beckett University Hear from students Joanne Le Grove, Thomas Dixon, and Jasvinder Oldham as they discuss their course experience.

Dark Futures: Exploring the Allure of Dystopian Fiction From analysing classic works to examining contemporary shows like Squid Game and Black Mirror, discover why dystopia resonates with us

Creative Writing at Leeds Beckett BA (Hons) English and Creative Writing students Maisie and Briony share their experience of studying creative writing at Leeds Beckett.

Students connect with employers at Humanities Careers Day At our annual careers day, students were able to meet and network with employers, attend interactive workshops from industry professionals and get bespoke feedback on their CV.

Everything you need to know

Discover all there is to know about the course, from entry requirements and fees to exploring the school you’ll be joining - we’ve got it covered.

Entry requirements

points required

If you’re unsure how to work out your UCAS points we have a UCAS Tariff Calculator which will do it for you. All you need to do is enter your qualifications and let the UCAS Tariff Calculator do the maths.

We have welcomed students from over 140 countries to study at Leeds Beckett University. If you are interested in studying with us you can find all the information you need about entry requirements and how to apply on our country specific pages.

48 from two A Levels or equivalent, excluding General Studies.

If you're applying via UCAS, find out more about how your qualifications fit into the UCAS tariff .

IELTS 6.0 with no skills below 5.5, or an equivalent qualification. The University provides excellent support for any applicant who may be required to undertake additional English language courses.

Selection Criteria

We may use selection criteria based on your personal attributes; experience and/or commitment to the area of study. This information will be derived from your personal statement and reference and will only be used if you have met the general entry requirements.

Mature Applicants

Additional entry requirements:, teaching & learning.

Independent study is a crucial part of learning at university and you will be required to undertake many hours of self-directed research and reading, and preparation and writing of assessments. Your course is delivered through a number of modules, which will help you to plan your time and establish a study routine. Outside of your lectures, workshops and tutorials, a range of support is available to assist with your independent study. Our subject-specific librarians will be on hand to direct you to the specialist learning and study-skill resources. You’ll also be assigned an academic advisor to give you tailored feedback and support.

Our silver status in the latest Teaching Excellence Framework, reflects our commitment to deliver high-quality teaching, learning and outcomes for our students.

There are no traditional exams on this course. 

What you'll learn, fees & funding hellooo.

The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2024/25 is £9250. The amount you will pay may increase each year to take into account the effects of inflation.

International 2024

The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2024/25 is £16000. The amount you will pay is fixed at this level for each year of your course.

Fees & Funding

For students entering in 2024

Additional course costs

Tuition fees.

Your tuition fees cover the cost of registration, tuition, academic supervision, assessments and examinations.

The following are also included in the cost of your course:

• 24/7 Library and student IT support
• Free wifi via eduroam
• Skills workshops and resources
• Library membership, giving access to more than 500,000 printed, multimedia and digital resources
• Access to software, including five free copies of Microsoft Office 365 to install on your PC,laptop and MAC, and access to free high-end software via the Leeds Beckett remote app
• Loan of high-end media equipment to support your studies

In many cases, costs associated with your course will be included in your course fee. However, in some cases there are ‘essential’ additional costs (those that you will be required to meet in addition to your course fee), and/or ‘optional’ additional costs (costs that are not required, but that you might choose to pay). We have included those essential or optional additional costs that relate to your course, below.

Optional Costs

• Travel, accommodation and subsistence for optional educational visits. The nature and cost of these visits will vary from year to year
• Additional travel costs may be incurred in relation live brief or work related projects

Other study-related expenses to consider:  materials that you will need to complete your course such as books (whilst the library provides access to readings recommended for your modules, you may wish to purchase your own copies of some books); you can also make suggestions for books to be added to Library stock; placement costs (these may include travel expenses and living costs); student visas (international students only); printing, photocopying and stationery (you may need to pay for multiple copies of your dissertation or final project to be printed and bound); events associated with your course such as field trips; study abroad opportunities (travel costs and accommodation, visas and immunisations). Other costs could include academic conferences (travel costs) and professional-body membership (where applicable). The costs you will need to cover for graduation will include gown hire and guest tickets, and optional extras such as professional photography.

As well as your mobile phone, you will also need access to a desktop computer and/or laptop to complete assignments and access university online services such as MyBeckett, your virtual learning environment. You can book and borrow AV equipment through the media equipment service accessed online via the student hub and located in the library at each campus. Equipment includes: 360 Cameras, iPads, GoPros, MacBooks, portable data projectors, portable projection screens, flipchart stands, remote presenters, digital cameras and camcorders, SLR cameras, speakers, microphones, headphones, headsets, tripods, digital audio recorders and PC/laptops (a laptop loans service is provided on campus in the library on both campuses). Student laptops are also available from the laptop lockers located in the libraries.

This list is not exhaustive, costs are approximate and will vary depending on the choices you make during your course. Any rental, travel or living costs are also in addition to your course fees. If you choose to study via distance learning, you may not be able to access all of the facilities listed if you are not able to visit us on campus.

Facilities | Broadcasting Place

Voted one of the best tall buildings in the world (CTBUH, 2010), Broadcasting Place is packed with the latest technology and will provide you with a creative and contemporary learning environment.

Facilities | Sheila Silver library

Leslie Silver is home to three lecture theatres and eight high-spec computer training rooms. It's also where you'll find our Sheila Silver Library, providing students and staff an effective and inspiring learning environment, as well as a range of support and resources to support your studies.

Facilities | City campus gym

Our Woodhouse Gym is located directly above The Hive within the Students' Union. The gym offers a range of cardio equipment, free weights, machines and squat racks.

Your future in our hands

There’s a lot to consider when choosing a course. Take a look at the team you’ll be working with, employability statistics and career prospects to help make up your mind.

Our Creative Writing BA helps you not only learn how to write, but how to survive and thrive as a writer. The 4 Cs – identified as the key employability skills of the future - creativity, communication, collaboration and critical thinking – are the cornerstones on which this degree is built.

Dr Alison Taft

Alison Taft is a crime writer and the author of The Disappeared and The Runaway which are published under her pen name Ali Harper. She is Course Director for Creative Writing with a particular interest in the domestic thriller.

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• [email protected]

Career Prospects

The ability to communicate effectively in English is highly sought after by employers and our graduates go on to a wide range of careers. The following are just some of the sectors and job roles that will be available to you as a creative writing graduate: 

• Arts and culture: arts administrator, creative director, communication director
• Film and TV: scriptwriter, script editor, continuity supervisor
• Gaming and digital industries: content creator, digital story-creator
• Journalism: journalist, features editor, digital copywriter 
• Marketing and advertising:  social media content creator, copy editor, public relations officer  
• Publishing: story editor, copy editor, commissioning editor
• Teaching: within schools, Further Education, Higher Education and adult education
• Writing: novelist, writing for stage and radio

You could go onto further study. For example our MA English Literature , PGCE Primary Education (3-7)  or PGCE Secondary Education (11-16) - English , GDL (Graduate Diploma in Law)  or develop your own creative enterprise.

Scholarships and bursaries

We are committed to ensuring that an education at Leeds Beckett University is open to all. If you're thinking of joining us for undergraduate study, you may be eligible for a non-repayable scholarship or bursary to help with the cost of university. To find out if you are be eligible visit our scholarships and bursaries page . We also offer a range of non-repayable scholarships for international students. To find out if you may be eligible visit our scholarships for international students page  and select your home country from the drop-down list.

Our Graduate Promise

We have a dedicated team of people who will support you with all aspects of your career planning, from day one until 18 months after you graduate.

Getting you career ready is an integral part of your university life and this is embedded throughout your lectures and seminars. Outside of your course there is a wide range of support available to help you achieve your career goals, including:

• Getting ready to apply for jobs
• Working on your CV
• Interview skills and assessment centres
• Connecting with employers and organisations

We are ranked 13th Best UK University for Careers Service (Student Crowd Awards, 2024 – the only awards based entirely on student reviews). 

Find out why...

Your Beckett experience

At Leeds Beckett your experience is important to us, find out more about what to expect from your time on this course and life at uni.

Experience Leeds Beckett

Our state-of-the-art facilities and learning environments give you everything you need to succeed.

With over 4000 rooms, in a wide range of accommodation types, we know you’ll find the right place for you.

At Leeds Beckett our student support teams will work together to give you the help you need, whenever you need it.

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From music venues and art galleries to parks, shopping and transport – we’ve got it all. We also have the best-paying jobs outside of London.

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MA Creative Writing

Leeds trinity university, different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, university information, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

MA - Master of Arts

Subject areas

Creative Writing

Course type

Course overview

What do you want to write? Whatever mode or genre you wish to explore, this MA is structured in order to help you to become the writer you want to be.

Taught by internationally-renowned writers, this MA is designed to be as creative and practical as possible within the academic requirements of a postgraduate programme.

Our MA students are a diverse group, from recent graduates looking to enhance their professional qualifications in preparation for a career involving writing, to experienced writers aspiring to have their work published or those looking to explore their passion for writing later in life.

About this course

This MA puts the emphasis on “creative,” giving you plenty of time to write and incorporating a creative element into every module. The course aims to develop your writing skills in either prose or poetry, as well as fostering your creative and critical reading and exploring key issues relating to the publishing business.

Learning and Teaching

At Leeds Trinity we aim to provide an excellent student experience and provide you with the tools and support to help you achieve your academic, personal and professional potential.

Our Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy delivers excellence by providing the framework for:

• high quality teaching
• an engaging and inclusive approach to learning, assessment and achievement
• a clear structure through which you progress in your academic studies, your personal development and towards professional-level employment or further study.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

Students need a good 2:1 in Creative Writing, English or a related subject and a personal portfolio of creative writing (2,000 words or equivalent). Applicants with other qualifications will be considered on their own merit. Places will be offered subject to an informal interview.

Leeds Trinity University has a big reputation, but one that is justified through its inclusive and personalised learning experiences. Leeds Trinity students will enjoy quality teaching and be given all the support they need to fulfil their potential. The university has two campuses, with the main campus being located on a green and spacious site in Horsforth, and the newest campus being located in the heart of Leeds City Centre. Leeds Trinity... more

• Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures
• School of English

English Literature with Creative Writing BA

(full time) 2023 start.

Course information for 2025 start

Develop your creativity and sharpen your critical abilities with this course that will equip you with valuable skills as both a reader and a writer. You’ll produce creative work across various genres, such as fiction, poetry, life writing, and travel accounts. 

You'll also learn how writers of the past and the present have used words and literary forms to express their ideas and engage with their times’ social and cultural issues. 

You’ll encounter historical and modern texts in English from around the globe, which explore themes relevant to how we live today, including race and ethnicity, gender, climate change and nature, social class, disability and wellbeing. 

Learn how to shape language to convey your ideas and experience, work in groups, discuss your writing with other students, and build an individual portfolio of work that will set you on track for a creative or cultural industries career.

The School of English supports a vibrant community of researchers and creative practitioners. It is home to the Leeds Poetry Centre, and we regularly host readings and talks by well-known and emerging contemporary writers. 

The School also produces a literary magazine, Stand, and publishes the best in new creative writing.

Our alumni and former staff include founding figures of African national literatures Wole Soyinka and Ngugi wa Thiong’o, poets of great acclaim such as Geoffrey Hill and our current Professor of Poetry Simon Armitage , and JRR Tolkien, the leading fantasy writer of all time.

Specialist facilities

The world-class Brotherton Library has an array of archive, manuscript and early printed material in its Special Collections, including extensive archives of original materials from writers old and new, from the Brontë family to Tony Harrison. 

You’ll also have opportunities to learn traditional printing and typesetting techniques using our period printing presses and learn more about print and publishing history.

Brotherton Library Laidlaw Library Edward Boyle Library

We regularly host readings and talks by well-known and emerging contemporary writers and you’ll have access to a vibrant community of researchers and creative practitioners. The highly respected literary magazine, Stand, is produced in the School, and publishes the best in new and established creative writing.

Course content

The course information shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions .

Most courses consist of compulsory and optional modules. There may be some optional modules omitted below. This is because they are currently being refreshed to make sure students have the best possible experience. Before you enter each year, full details of all modules for that year will be provided.

For more information please read English Literature with Creative Writing BA in the course catalogue.

This degree combines creativity with critical thinking, developing valuable transferable research, communication, and collaboration skills. 

In your first year, you’ll study foundational modules in English Studies and Creative Writing, designed to help you make a successful transition to university study. You'll develop your skills as a critic and as a writer, explore key literary genres, and we will introduce you to literary theory and criticism. You’ll also choose optional modules within the School of English in English Language or Theatre Studies and/or take discovery modules from other departments in the University, including modules on science fiction writing and the digital world. 

During your second year you will continue working with our creative writing experts to develop and diversify your creative portfolio. You’ll choose from a range of modules exploring how literature has evolved in the context of different periods and locations.

You’ll also choose from a wide range of options, including American or African literature, medical humanities, crime fiction, and specialist creative writing options. 

In your third year, alongside a choice of modules, you’ll start work on your final Creative Writing Project. Based on a topic of your design, this creative project will showcase your development as a critical thinker and researcher and demonstrate your ability to manage a large project and communicate effectively.

Discovery modules

Throughout your degree you will benefit from a range of opportunities to expand your intellectual horizons outside or within your subject area.

This course gives you the opportunity to choose from a range of discovery modules. They’re a great way to tailor your study around your interests or career aspirations and help you stand out from the crowd when you graduate. Find out more about discovery modules on our Broadening webpages .

Learning and teaching

We use various teaching and learning methods to help you benefit from our tutors' expertise. Group seminars are at the heart of this degree.

You'll also encounter:

• One-to-one tutorials and supervisions
• Online learning through Minerva, our Virtual Learning Environment. 

Independent study is a vital element of this course since it enables you to develop your research and critical skills and form your ideas. Our expert academics will teach you on this course, from lecturers to professors. You’ll have access to the unique and internationally important holdings of the Brotherton Library’s Special Collections, to take inspiration from and see first-hand how some of the top writers of this and previous ages went about crafting their writing.

You may also experience teaching led by published writers or professionals from the cultural industries, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus. 

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

In your Creative Writing modules, you’ll produce a creative portfolio in various genres, such as life writing, fiction, poetry, short fiction, and travel accounts. 

Your final year project comprises a long independent creative piece and a critical reflection. English modules are assessed using various methods, including exams, essays and shorter written assignments. 

Some modules may extend to online exercises such as wikis or podcasts, library exercises or oral presentations. 

Entry requirements, fees and applying

Entry requirements.

A-level: AAA including English (Language, Literature or Language and Literature).

Where an applicant is taking the EPQ in a relevant subject this might be considered alongside other Level 3 qualifications and may attract an alternative offer in addition to the standard offer. If you are taking A Levels, this would be AAB at A Level including A in English and grade A in the EPQ.

Access to HE Diploma

Pass diploma with 60 credits overall, including at least 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher. The Access course must follow a Humanities pathway and/or include English modules. An interview and a piece of written work may be required.

We will consider the level 3 QCF BTEC at Subsidiary Diploma level and above in combination with other qualifications. Please contact the Admissions Office for more information.

Cambridge Pre-U

D3, D3, M2 including D3 in English.

International Baccalaureate

35 points overall with 17 at Higher Level including 6 in English at Higher Level.

Irish Leaving Certificate (higher Level)

Irish Highers (Leaving Certificate): H2, H2, H2, H2, H2, H2 including H2 in English.

Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers

AA in Advanced Highers including English and AABBB in Highers or A in Advanced Highers English and AAABB in Highers.

Welsh Baccalaureate

The Welsh Baccalaureate is not typically included in the academic conditions of an offer made to you for this course. If you choose to undertake the Welsh Baccalaureate we would strongly encourage you to draw upon these experiences within your personal statement, as your qualification will then be taken into account both when your application is initially considered by the selection panel and again when reviewed by the admissions tutor at the time your A-level results are passed to us.

Other Qualifications

European Baccalaureate: 85% with 8.5 in English.

Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications or contact the School’s Undergraduate Admissions Team.

Alternative entry

We’re committed to identifying the best possible applicants, regardless of personal circumstances or background.

Access to Leeds is a contextual admissions scheme which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted.

Find out more about Access to Leeds and contextual admissions .

Typical Access to Leeds offer: ABB including A in English (Literature or Language and Literature) at A Level and pass Access to Leeds.

Arts and Humanities with Foundation Year

If you would like to study arts, humanities, and cultures at university, but don't currently meet the typical entry requirements for direct entry to a degree, you might be eligible to apply for the Arts and Humanities with Foundation Year course .

International

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. Contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for more information.

International Foundation Year

International students who do not meet the academic requirements for undergraduate study may be able to study the University of Leeds International Foundation Year. This gives you the opportunity to study on campus, be taught by University of Leeds academics and progress onto a wide range of Leeds undergraduate courses. Find out more about International Foundation Year programmes.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications .

Improve your English If you're an international student and you don't meet the English language requirements for this programme, you may be able to study our undergraduate pre-sessional English course , to help improve your English language level.

How to apply

Apply to this course through UCAS. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website .

Read our guidance about applying.

International students apply through UCAS in the same way as UK students. Our network of international representatives can help you with your application. If you’re unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students . We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025

International: £22,250 (per year)

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2024/25 Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students are set by the UK Government and will be £9,250 for students starting in 2024/25.

The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation only, as a consequence of future changes in Government legislation and as permitted by law.

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2025/26 Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students starting in 2025/26 have not yet been confirmed by the UK government. When the fee is available we will update individual course pages.

Tuition fees for international undergraduate students starting in 2024/25 and 2025/26 Tuition fees for international students for 2024/25 are available on individual course pages. Fees for students starting in 2025/26 will be available from September 2024.

Tuition fees for a study abroad or work placement year If you take a study abroad or work placement year, you’ll pay a reduced tuition fee during this period. For more information, see Study abroad and work placement tuition fees and loans .

Read more about paying fees and charges .

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page .

Financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our  Undergraduate funding overview .

Career opportunities

A degree in English with Creative Writing equips you with a range of valuable skills and attributes. Your skills and experience as a flexible and imaginative writer will open up a range of pathways within the creative industries. 

Our graduates have gone on to find success in areas such as the creative industries, marketing, education, journalism, law, publishing, media, business charity work, civil service, management consultancy and leadership. 

Many have also progressed to postgraduate study. 

On this course, you’ll develop your abilities as an excellent communicator who can present well-reasoned arguments and conclusions. 

Learning in groups with others and reading about human problems and social situations will develop your interpersonal skills and understanding of ethical and cultural complexities. 

You’ll have strong creative and verbal skills, and be able to conduct research, interpret complex information, think critically and express yourself clearly. Employers are always looking out for people with these critical skills.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website .

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more about Careers support .

Study abroad and work placements

Study abroad.

On this course you have the opportunity to apply to spend time abroad, usually as an extra academic year. We have over 300 University partners worldwide and popular destinations for our students include Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa and Latin America. 

Find out more at the Study Abroad website .

Work placements

Practical work experience can help you decide on your career and improve your employability. On this course you have the option to apply to take a placement year module with organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors in the UK, or overseas.

Find out more about work experience on the Careers website .

Course terms and conditions

English Literature with Creative Writing BA

Year of entry 2024, open days 2024.

Bookings for our October 2024 Open Days are now open. Book now

Course overview

Take a tour of our School

Get a taste for life as a student in the School of English as undergraduate student Malgorzata takes you on a tour of the School building as well as some campus highlights.

Develop your creativity and sharpen your critical abilities with this course that will equip you with valuable skills as both a reader and a writer. You’ll produce creative work across various genres, such as fiction, poetry, life writing, and travel accounts. 

You'll also learn how writers of the past and the present have used words and literary forms to express their ideas and engage with their times’ social and cultural issues. 

You’ll encounter historical and modern texts in English from around the globe, which explore themes relevant to how we live today, including race and ethnicity, gender, climate change and nature, social class, disability and wellbeing. 

Learn how to shape language to convey your ideas and experience, work in groups, discuss your writing with other students, and build an individual portfolio of work that will set you on track for a creative or cultural industries career.

Our expertise

The School of English has a long and prestigious history in creative writing. Creative Writing at Leeds has a great history of alumni and former staff, including Wole Soyinka, Geoffrey Hill, JRR Tolkien, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Hannah Copley, Luiza Sauma, literary agent Caroline Hardman, and our recent Douglas Caster Poetry Fellows Helen Mort, Anthony Vahni Capildeo and Malika Booker.

Our current staff includes UK Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, JR Carpenter, Kimberly Campanello, Campbell Edinborough, Zaffar Kunial, Alison Peirse, Sarah K. Perry, Jay Prosser, Jess Richards, Ross Raisin, Caitlin Stobie and John Whale. Our practices and passions run across creative and critical writing. They include: visual and experimental poetry; eco poetics; the contemporary novel and contemporary lyric poem; literature and medicine; disability studies; autofiction; and transgender memoir.

We are home to the University of Leeds Poetry Centre , which brings together the University’s strength and heritage in creative writing. It hosts regular poetry readings by visiting international poets and supports a poetry reading group.

We regularly host readings and talks by well-known and emerging contemporary writers and you’ll have access to a vibrant community of researchers and creative practitioners. The highly respected literary magazine, Stand, is produced in the School, and publishes the best in new and established creative writing.

Our creative writing community benefits from partnerships with llkley Literature Festival , Leeds Playhouse and Leeds Grand Theatre. We also support a thriving range of events and workshops with visiting writers. 

Specialist facilities

The world-class Brotherton Library has an array of archive, manuscript and early printed material in its Special Collections, including extensive archives of original materials from writers old and new, from the Brontë family to Tony Harrison. 

You’ll also have opportunities to learn traditional printing and typesetting techniques using our period printing presses and learn more about print and publishing history.

Take a look around our libraries:

Brotherton Library Laidlaw Library Edward Boyle Library

Course details

At Level 1, you will take Reading Between the Lines and Writing Matters, introducing you to university-level study, equipping you to read critically and write with rigour and persuasion. You will also take Writing Creatively to introduce you to the techniques of creative practice, and will be presented with a choice of optional modules focusing on poetry, fiction, drama, theatre and further creative approaches. At Level 2, in addition to Developing Creative Writing, you will take two English Literature core modules, Writing Environments and Body Language. These modules explore two urgent contemporary challenges, the climate crisis and personal wellbeing, and will examine how these issues can be understood and expressed through literary texts. You will also select two modules from a choice of several options, ranging historically and geographically from Medieval to Contemporary, and from Postcolonial to American. Level 2 will deepen and enrich subject knowledge and intellectual skills, preparing you for more independent learning at Level 3, where you can select from a range of specialist research modules. A final year Creative Writing Project further enhances active research skills, enabling you to define, plan and produce work on a literary subject of your choosing. After your second year of study, you may apply for transfer to an International Degree at one of a wide range of universities with which the University of Leeds has established links. You may also spend a year in industry on a work placement as an optional third year of your course.

The course information shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions .

Most courses consist of compulsory and optional modules. There may be some optional modules omitted below. This is because they are currently being refreshed to make sure students have the best possible experience. Before you enter each year, full details of all modules for that year will be provided.

For more information please read BA English Literature with Creative Writing in the course catalogue .

Year 1 compulsory modules

Writing Creatively (20 credits) - In this module you will develop your creative writing skills by focusing on a range of elements of the writer’s craft. You will learn to read texts like a writer and, through examining a range of exemplary published texts, you will study elements of the writer’s craft which may include voice, metaphor and characterisation. You will develop your critical skills through workshopping your written pieces with your peers and your tutor. Within the supportive environment of the writing workshop, you will learn to give and receive constructive criticism and, guided by this feedback, you will hone your redrafting and editing skills. By the end of the module, you will begin to see how your work fits within contemporary writing practice.

Writing Matters (20 credits) - Writing and communication skills are vital to most professional careers, but they are especially valuable in the field of English studies. This module explores debates around a canonical literary text, examining theoretical approaches and rhetorical strategies used to write about literature. Students will hone their own writing skills by engaging ethically with the text and the ideas of others, developing structured arguments, expressing ideas clearly and concisely, working with feedback, and practising writing as a process. As a result, students will cultivate a deeper understanding of how writing works, learn how to share insights with greater efficacy and sophistication, and practice how to transfer this knowledge to future workplace contexts.

Reading Between the Lines (20 credits) - This module equips students with a critical vocabulary for sophisticated literary study, introducing the creative, argumentative and exciting discipline of ‘English Studies’. Through close analysis of specific texts across a range of periods and forms, students will encounter some of the varied theories that have shaped and continue to underpin the discipline. Students will find out how an English degree might change the way we read and see the world, while developing their academic skills through guided critical reading, collaboration with peers in group presentations and seminar discussions, and a variety of assignments designed to introduce them to the different formats of assessment required throughout the degree.

Year 1 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)

Key Concepts of English Language Study: One (20 credits) Key Concepts of English Language Study: Two (20 credits) Drama: Text and Performance (20 credits) Reading Theatre, Performing Text (20 credits) Performing Text, Making Theatre (20 credits) Modern Fictions in English: Conflict, Liminality, Translation (20 credits) Poetry: Reading and Interpretation (20 credits) Race, Writing and Decolonization (20 credits) Creative Writing Workshop (20 credits) Writing Science-fiction, Fantasy & Horror (20 credits)

Year 2 compulsory modules

Developing Creative Writing (40 credits) - This module continues to provide you with the regular points of tutorial and teaching support, the learning community, and the ongoing guidance that will help you develop further the new creative writing projects that you produce in an academic environment. Regular small groups with published writers again allow you space and a professional atmosphere in which to consider your own practice of creative writing.

Writing Environments: Literature, Nature, Culture (20 credits) - This module examines what it means to live as human beings on a more-than-human planet. We’ll investigate how literary texts from different times and places have understood the relationship between nature and culture. We’ll address human impacts on the environment in relation to historical phenomena such as colonialism. And we’ll explore the insights that literature can offer at a time of concern about climate change and other environmental issues.

Body Language: Literature and Embodiment (20 credits) - This module explores the relationship between embodiment, language and representation across a range of literary forms, genres, and periods, addressing questions such as: what does it mean to be ‘human’? Can technology change who we are? How do we navigate the relationship between the body and the mind? It examines how critical theorists and creative writers and life writers have treated and imagined this relationship between material bodies and literary representation, in order to better understand both the possibilities and limitations of literary expression.

Year 2 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)

Style and Authorship (20 credits) Contemporary Literature (20 credits) Renaissance Literature (20 credits) Medieval and Tudor Literature (20 credits) Modern Literature (20 credits) Postcolonial Literature (20 credits) The World Before Us: Literature 1660-1830 (20 credits) Other Voices: Rethinking Nineteenth-Century Literature (20 credits) Script Writing (20 credits) Travel and Journalistic Writing (20 credits) Power of Language (20 credits) Theatre, Society and Self (20 credits)

Year 3 compulsory modules

Creative Writing Project (40 credits) - This module encourages independent, self-directed learning, providing a culmination to the research strand emphasised in other modules. It fosters a wide variety of responses to the challenges it offers students, since any final year project might take one of a number of forms. Most importantly, it promotes academic creativity and the exploration of individual intellectual interests.

Learning and teaching

We use various teaching and learning methods to help you benefit from our tutors' expertise. Group seminars are at the heart of this degree.

You'll also encounter:

• One-to-one tutorials and supervisions
• Online learning through Minerva, our Virtual Learning Environment. 

Independent study is a vital element of this course since it enables you to develop your research and critical skills and form your ideas. Our expert academics will teach you on this course, from lecturers to professors. You’ll have access to the unique and internationally important holdings of the Brotherton Library’s Special Collections, to take inspiration from and see first-hand how some of the top writers of this and previous ages went about crafting their writing.

You may also experience teaching led by published writers or professionals from the cultural industries, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus. 

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

In your Creative Writing modules, you’ll produce a creative portfolio in various genres, such as life writing, fiction, poetry, short fiction, and travel accounts. 

Some modules will also include wikis, podcasts, research exercises or oral presentations.

Your final year project comprises a long independent creative piece and a critical reflection. English modules are assessed using various methods, including exams, essays and shorter written assignments. 

Entry requirements

A-level: AAA including English (Language, Literature or Language and Literature).

Where an applicant is taking the EPQ in a relevant subject this might be considered alongside other Level 3 qualifications and may attract an alternative offer in addition to the standard offer. If you are taking A Levels, this would be AAB at A Level including A in English and grade A in the EPQ.

Alternative qualification

Access to he diploma.

Pass diploma with 60 credits overall, including at least 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher. The Access course must follow a Humanities pathway and/or include English modules. An interview and a piece of written work may be required.

We will consider the level 3 QCF BTEC at Subsidiary Diploma level and above in combination with other qualifications. Please contact the Admissions Office for more information.

Cambridge Pre-U

D3, D3, M2 including D3 in English.

International Baccalaureate

35 points overall with 17 at Higher Level including 6 in English at Higher Level.

Irish Leaving Certificate (higher Level)

Irish Highers (Leaving Certificate): H2, H2, H2, H2, H2, H2 including H2 in English.

Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers

AA in Advanced Highers including English and AABBB in Highers or A in Advanced Highers English and AAABB in Highers.

Welsh Baccalaureate

The Welsh Baccalaureate is not typically included in the academic conditions of an offer made to you for this course. If you choose to undertake the Welsh Baccalaureate we would strongly encourage you to draw upon these experiences within your personal statement, as your qualification will then be taken into account both when your application is initially considered by the selection panel and again when reviewed by the admissions tutor at the time your A-level results are passed to us.

Other Qualifications

European Baccalaureate: 85% with 8.5 in English.

Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications or contact the School’s Undergraduate Admissions Team.

Alternative entry

We’re committed to identifying the best possible applicants, regardless of personal circumstances or background.

Access to Leeds is a contextual admissions scheme which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted.

Find out more about Access to Leeds and contextual admissions .

Arts and Humanities with Foundation Year

This course is designed for students whose backgrounds mean they are less likely to attend university (also known as widening participation backgrounds) and who do not currently meet admissions criteria for direct entry to a degree.

The course will give you the opportunity to be taught by academic staff and provides intensive support to enable your development of academic skills and knowledge. On successful completion of your foundation year, you will progress to your chosen degree course. Find out more about the Arts and Humanities with Foundation Year

International

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. For more information contact the School of English admissions team.

International Foundation Year

International students who do not meet the academic requirements for undergraduate study may be able to study the University of Leeds International Foundation Year. This gives you the opportunity to study on campus, be taught by University of Leeds academics and progress onto a wide range of Leeds undergraduate courses. Find out more about International Foundation Year programmes.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications .

Improve your English If you're an international student and you don't meet the English language requirements for this programme, you may be able to study our undergraduate pre-sessional English course , to help improve your English language level.

UK: £9,250 (per year)

International: £24,500 (per year)

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2024/25 Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students are set by the UK Government and will be £9,250 for students starting in 2024/25.

The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation only, as a consequence of future changes in Government legislation and as permitted by law.

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2025/26 Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students starting in 2025/26 have not yet been confirmed by the UK government. When the fee is available we will update individual course pages.

Tuition fees for international undergraduate students starting in 2024/25 and 2025/26 Tuition fees for international students for 2024/25 are available on individual course pages. Fees for students starting in 2025/26 will be available from September 2024.

Tuition fees for a study abroad or work placement year If you take a study abroad or work placement year, you’ll pay a reduced tuition fee during this period. For more information, see Study abroad and work placement tuition fees and loans .

Read more about paying fees and charges .

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page .

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our  Undergraduate funding overview .

Apply to this course through UCAS. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website .

Read our guidance about applying.

International students apply through UCAS in the same way as UK students. Our network of international representatives can help you with your application. If you’re unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students . We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025

This course is taught by

School of English

School of English Undergraduate Admissions

Email: [email protected] Telephone:

Career opportunities

A degree in English with Creative Writing equips you with a range of valuable skills and attributes. Your skills and experience as a flexible and imaginative writer will open up a range of pathways within the creative industries. 

Our graduates have gone on to find success in areas such as the creative industries, marketing, education, journalism, law, publishing, media, business charity work, civil service, management consultancy and leadership. 

Many have also progressed to postgraduate study. 

On this course, you’ll develop your abilities as an excellent communicator who can present well-reasoned arguments and conclusions. 

Learning in groups with others and reading about human problems and social situations will develop your interpersonal skills and understanding of ethical and cultural complexities. 

You’ll have strong creative and verbal skills, and be able to conduct research, interpret complex information, think critically and express yourself clearly. Employers are always looking out for people with these critical skills.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website .

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more about Careers support .

Study abroad and work placements

Study abroad.

On this course you have the opportunity to apply to spend time abroad, usually as an extra academic year. We have over 300 University partners worldwide and popular destinations for our students include Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa and Latin America. 

Find out more at the Study Abroad website .

Work placements

Practical work experience can help you decide on your career and improve your employability. On this course you have the option to apply to take a placement year module with organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors in the UK, or overseas.

Find out more about work experience on the Careers website .

Related courses

Arts and humanities with foundation year ba, english and comparative literature ba, english and film studies ba, english language and literature ba, english literature ba, english literature and theatre studies ba, rankings and awards, qs world university rankings by subject.

36th in the world for English Language and Literature

Complete University Guide 2025

13th in the UK for English

Student profile: Elliot Johnston-Coates

Receiving constructive feedback from my peers and tutors has really helped my confidence to grow and inspired me to pursue a career in the creative industry. Elliot Johnston-Coates, Undergraduate