English with Creative Writing

If your interest in literature extends to an ambition to write creatively, this course will support that ambition through classes, workshops and seminars dedicated to the development of your creative talent. In the final year, you will have the option to work on, and complete to a high standard, a substantial writing project in the field of either Creative Writing or English Literature. To help you reach this standard, you will be advised and directed by one of the supervisors on the Creative Writing or English Team.

You will study the work of a wide range of writers, focusing on how they create their works. You will learn how characters are constructed, how to handle dialogue, how to manage time and sequencing, and many other elements about the craft of writing that will greatly enhance your own skill. You will be introduced to contemporary developments in literature by considering the work of a number of Irish and international writers, who will guest lecture and provide valuable insight into the writing process.

Click here to Download Course Pathways document

First Year

Modules include: Creative Writing 1 & 2 • How to Read Poetry • Reading World Literature • Literature & Crisis • Contemporary Irish Writing • Literary Genre As well as a range of English with Creative Writing modules, students will benefit from an additional subject stream. Options include: Drama Studies • Film Studies • French • German Beginners • German Non-Beginners • Greek & Roman Civilisation • History • Irish Studies • Music • Spanish Beginners • Spanish Non- Beginners

Second Year

Modules include: Intermediate Creative Writing 1 & 2 • Critical Theory • Medieval Literature • Irish Literature in English • Renaissance Literature • Romanticism • Victorian to Modern Literature • Modern American Literature • UCD Special Collections: Archival Research Methods

Third Year

You will choose from a range of options that will enable you to broaden your horizons and enrich your academic experience: • Apply for a competitive internship in an area that interests you and/or relates to your area of study • Study abroad for a trimester/year to develop your language skills and immerse yourself in a new culture • Deepen your knowledge by studying a range of Creative Writing modules including: Poetry Workshop • Fiction Workshop • Creative Non-Fiction Workshop • Literary Editorship • Writing the Environment • Students will also choose from a wide range of specialist English modules such as Making Shakespeare • Gender & Sexuality in the 18th Century • Jane Austen & her Peers • Yeats • Reading Ulysses • Reading Beckett • The Theatre of Martin McDonagh

Fourth Year

In addition to a 10,000-word Creative Writing or English Literature dissertation, students will choose from a wide range of advanced English modules, including: Contemporary Historical Fiction • Detecting Fictions • Contemporary Irish Writing • Memory & the Irish Stage • Contemporary Irish Women’s Poetry • Modern American Poetry & Poetics Students will also partake in advanced Creative Writing Workshops.

Students can study in various EU and non-EU destinations through the Erasmus and Study Abroad programmes, in partnership arrangements between UCD and universities across the world.

Graduates work as writers, editors, literary agents, critics, content creators, copywriters, broadcasters/journalists; and in public relations, business, law, politics, teaching, management consultancy, humanities research, and many other areas.

UCD English, Drama and Film offers a wide range of postgraduate courses, including the MA and MFA in Creative Writing. See www. ucd.ie/englishdramafilm/study/postgraduate for more details.

• Level 5/6 QQI-FET


• Open Learning Entry Route


• Mature Entry Route


• DARE Entry Route


• HEAR Entry Route


• University Access

By joining the UCD College of Arts and Humanities you will be part of a vibrant community of students and faculty who are committed to creating a more sustainable, just and equitable future. Our courses are designed to equip students with the best education in their chosen arts and humanities subjects. Our research and teaching and learning connect with many of the SDGs, most notably:

• SDG 4: Quality Education -Promotes inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality - Advances gender equality by addressing social norms, histories, and cultural practices that contribute to gender disparities.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities - Encourages understanding and action against social, economic, and political inequalities.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities - Enhances cultural understanding and heritage preservation, fostering sustainable communities.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions - Promotes peace, justice, and strong institutions through critical inquiry into human rights, ethics, and governance.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals - Encourages global partnerships and collaboration by fostering international understanding and dialogue.

Our programmes equip students with critical thinking, empathy, and cultural awareness, essential for addressing complex global challenges.

“Studying English with Creative Writing has allowed me to take something I love and incorporate it directly into my degree. The hardest part about writing is often finding the time to do it. The English with Creative Writing course allows me to focus entirely on something I am passionate about. The School of English, Drama and Film offers an impressive range of English modules is unparalleled and gives me the freedom to explore English and Creative Writing in great depth. This year, I was able to do an internship with the National University of Ireland. It was a fantastic practical experience, editing documents for publication and transcribing lectures from politicians.”

Djamel White, Student

Non-EU Undergraduate Fee information can be found here.

UCD offers a number of competitive undergraduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD undergraduate degree programme. For information on Undergraduate Scholarships, please see the UCD International Scholarships webpage.