Program Overview

The University of Strathclyde offers a BA Hons English and Creative Writing & Spanish program, which provides students with a comprehensive understanding of English literature and creative writing, as well as the opportunity to study Spanish language and culture.

Key Facts

• UCAS Code: Q3R4
• Ranked: 5th for English (Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024) / 1st in Scotland for Creative Writing (Complete University Guide 2025)
• Study abroad: Available
• Applicant visit day: March each year

Why This Course?

The approach to the English & Creative writing course is innovative, modern, and friendly, giving students a comprehensive understanding of English literature as a core basis for their creative work. With over 500 million native speakers, Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language in the world, and speaking Spanish will help students conduct business more confidently in countries that are becoming increasingly important in world markets.

What You’ll Study

English & Creative Writing

• Year 1: Introduction to literary studies, reading novels, plays, short stories, and poetry, including contemporary and older texts. Classes also introduce techniques in creative writing.
• Year 2: Core classes focus on literary history. Option classes focus on Scottish literature, and on the literature of humans and animals.
• Year 3: Two creative writing classes, currently on drama and on fiction. In addition to these, students can choose from options which currently include classes on Renaissance, Victorian, Twentieth Century, and American literature, among others, including an optional work placement.
• Year 4: Students can choose to write a short creative writing dissertation, consisting of a creative piece (fiction, poetry, drama, etc.) and a critical commentary. In addition, there are specialized classes in creative writing.

Spanish

• Year 1: Two streams are offered in the first year: one for students with Higher Spanish or equivalent qualification in their chosen language and another for those without. Students in both classes study contemporary Spanish language and aspects of the country’s culture and society.
• Year 2 & 3: Students continue to develop their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. In the cultural class each year, they learn more about the history, politics, literature, and cinema of Spain and Spanish-speaking countries.
• Year abroad: Honours students spend a year abroad after Year 3, usually working as an English teaching assistant, gaining experience on a work placement, or studying at a foreign institution.
• Year 4: In their final year, students concentrate on translation, written and oral language, and interpreting. They also have the chance to write a dissertation in Spanish.

Course Content

• Year 1: English 1A & 1B, Spanish 1A, and Spanish 1B
• Year 2: Writing Through Time 1&2, Spanish 2A, and Spanish 2B
• Year 3: Writing Short Fiction & Poetry, Dramatic Writing, Spanish 3A, and Spanish 3B
• Year 4: Dissertation, Spanish Honours Spoken Language, and elective classes

Learning & Teaching

• English & Creative Writing: In Year 1 and Year 2 core classes, each class involves two lectures and one tutorial per week. In the second year, option classes have one lecture and one tutorial per week.
• Spanish: Emphasis is given to the acquisition and deployment of practical language skills, with the use of technology in the classroom and outside through web-based learning and streamed Spanish television.

Assessment

• English & Creative Writing: Most classes are assessed by a mixture of essays or other written work. For some classes, there are exams, and in some cases, oral work is assessed.
• Spanish: Assessment methods include written examinations, including translations, writing for a specific purpose, essays, and continuous assessment ranging from online grammar tests to group projects.

Entry Requirements

• Highers: Standard entry requirements: AAAA (including English plus at least one other social science subject); Minimum entry requirements: AABB (including English at B plus at least one other social science subject)
• A Levels: ABB-BBB
• International Baccalaureate: 32-30
• Irish Leaving Certificate: Two H2 passes and three H3 passes including English
• HNC: Social Sciences: Year 1 entry: A in Graded Unit; Maths National 5 B, or equivalent

Fees & Funding

• Scotland: £1,820
• England, Wales & Northern Ireland: £9,535
• Republic of Ireland: If you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status.
• International: £21,550
• University preparation programme fees: International students can find out more about the costs and payments of studying a university preparation programme at the University of Strathclyde International Study Centre.

Placements

Every one of the flexible BA options gives students the chance to gain valuable industry experience as part of a credit-bearing work placement class in their third or fourth year.

The Flexible BA

With the BA (Honours) degree, students can choose from subjects in Humanities, Social Sciences, and Business, with two of their three subject choices taught by the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences. The BA degree is a four-year course allowing students to try new subjects, develop their own ideas, build a broad range of knowledge, and enhance their employability.

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Outline:

• Year 1
• Introduction to literary studies, reading novels, plays, short stories, and poetry, including contemporary and older texts.
Classes also introduce techniques in creative writing.
• Core classes focus on literary history.
Option classes focus on Scottish literature, and on the literature of humans and animals.
• Year 3
• There are two creative writing classes in year 3, currently on drama and on fiction.
In addition to these, you can choose from options which currently include classes on Renaissance, Victorian, Twentieth Century and American literature, among others including an optional work placement.
• Year 4
• You can choose to write a short creative writing dissertation, consisting of a creative piece (fiction, poetry, drama, etc) and a critical commentary.
In addition, there are specialized classes in creative writing.

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Assessment:

• Most classes are assessed by a mixture of essays or other written work.
For some classes there are exams, and in some cases, oral work is assessed.

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Teaching:

• In Year 1 and Year 2 core classes, each class involves two lectures and one tutorial per week.
In the second year option classes there is one lecture and one tutorial per week.
• The rest of your teaching is in your other two subjects.

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Other:

• The program offers the opportunity to use creative writing skills as part of your approach to literary criticism.
• With more than 500 million native speakers, Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language in the world.
Speaking Spanish will help you conduct business more confidently in countries that are becoming increasingly important in world markets.
• Studying with us will give you the chance to become a fluent linguist and, with our year abroad programme, an opportunity to experience living, working and/or studying in another country.
• Our BA degrees in Humanities & Social Sciences are initially broad-based.
In Year 1, you'll study three subjects, including your chosen subject(s).

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• Scotland: £1,820
• England, Wales & Northern Ireland: £9,250

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Overview:

• Founded in 1796 as Anderson's Institution
• Received its Royal Charter in 1964, becoming the University of Strathclyde
• Consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the UK for engineering and technology
• Home to the Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), a world-leading research center in metal forming
• Notable alumni include Sir James Black (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine), Sir David Murray (former CEO of Rangers Football Club), and Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell (astrophysicist)

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Student Life:

• Over 23,000 students from over 100 countries
• 150+ student clubs and societies, including sports teams, cultural groups, and academic societies
• Student support services include counseling, health, and disability support
• Campus facilities include a sports center, library, and student union

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Academics:

• Offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in engineering, science, business, law, and social sciences
• Faculty includes world-renowned experts in their fields
• Teaching methodologies emphasize hands-on learning and industry engagement
• Academic support services include tutoring, writing centers, and language support
• Unique academic programs include the Strathclyde MBA, which is ranked among the top 100 MBAs in the world

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Top Reasons to Study Here:

• Excellent reputation for teaching and research, particularly in engineering and technology
• Strong industry connections and opportunities for internships and placements
• Specialized facilities such as the AFRC and the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
• Vibrant student life with a diverse and inclusive community
• Located in the heart of Glasgow, a vibrant and cosmopolitan city

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Services:

• Counseling and mental health support
• Health center with a range of medical services
• Accommodation services with a variety of on-campus and off-campus options
• Library resources with over 1 million books and journals
• Technology support including IT services and free Wi-Fi
• Career development services with support for job searching, CV writing, and interview preparation