You will study the work of a wide range of writers, focusing on how they create their works. You will learn about form and genre. You will explore a range of narrating voices by reading texts selected to illustrate this range. In a similar way, you will learn how characters are constructed, how to handle dialogue, how to manage time and sequencing and many other elements of the craft of writing, which will be generally helpful and occasionally inspiring in your own writing. You will be introduced to contemporary developments in literature by considering the work of a number of Irish writers, who will address the class and provide valuable insight into the writing process.
Study Abroad
Scholarships Available
- Duration:
- 4 Year(s)
- Next Intake:
- 2024/2025 September
- General Entry Requirements (IB)
24
- General Entry Requirements (A-Level)
CCC
- Country Specific Entry Requirements:
- Visit the UCD Global Undergraduate Entry Requirements webpage.
Curricular information is subject to change.
If your interest in literature extends to an ambition to write creatively, this degree programme will support that ambition through classes, workshops, and seminars dedicated to the development of your creative talent. In the final year, you will work on – and complete to high standard – a substantial writing project. To help you reach this standard, you will be advised and directed by one of the supervisors on the Creative Writing team.
About this Course
First Year
Modules include:
- Creative Writing 1 & 2
- How to Read Poetry
- Writing the Body
- 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
- Ten Poems
- The English Novel
- UCD Special Collections: Archival Resarch Methods
For detailed information on subject content click here.
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 in-depth Creative Writing modules including: Poetry Workshop, Fiction Workshop, Creative Non-Fiction Workshop.
Students will also choose from a wide range of specialist English modules such as Making Shakespeare, Gender & Sexuality in the 18th Century, Austen’s Peer, Yeats, Reading Ulysses, Reading Beckett, The Theatre of Martin McDonagh.
Fourth Year
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.
Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.
Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.
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.
Writer, editor, literary agents and critics, content creator, copywriters, broadcaster/journalist, public relations, business, law, politics, teaching, management consultancy, humanities research and many others.
UCD English, Drama and Film offer a wide range of postgraduate courses, including the MA and MFA in Creative Writing.
See www.ucd.ie/englishdramafilm/study/ for more details.
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.
“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
BA Humanities English with Creative Writing (DN530/ENS6)
Undergraduate (Level 8 NFQ, Credits 240)