Everything you need to know...
International/EU: £15,860 per year (£1,200 for placement year)

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Course summary
- Explore all aspects of English, with modules in literature, language and creative writing
- Determine your direction of study and discover the areas that most fire your interest
- Get a head start in the writing and publishing industries by teaming up with industry partners on live briefs and accredited work placements.
- Give yourself the best chance to succeed and thrive, by developing your personal skills, awareness of resources and commitment to the subject
If you’re passionate about all areas of English, then this course is for you. You will analyse an exciting variety of literary texts, discover the relationship between language and the world around you, and develop your creative voice in a range of genres and forms.
How you learn
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
On this course, you will be encouraged to think critically. You’ll respond to existing debates, develop a distinctive and confident writing voice and engage with the world through English language and literature. You'll be joining a welcoming academic and creative community that values your experience, perspective and contribution.
During the foundation year, you will develop a good foundation of knowledge, to help you thrive in your University studies, but also the personal skills and awareness of resources that will help you manage your studies effectively and be self-motivated
You learn through
- specialist lectures, seminars, live brief projects and tutorials
- an innovative range of assessments
- small and large group sessions
- creative problem solving
- critical reflection
- generating and pitching ideas
- workshopping your writing
- working with different audiences
- live readings and performances
- writing and sharing your work online and offline
- field trips and writing retreats
Course leaders and tutors

Fraser Stevens
Lecturer in Performance, Course Leader for the Foundation Year in HumanitiesFraser is artist/scholar and lecturer in Acting and Performance.
Applied learning
Work placements
In your second year, of the full degree, you’ll raise your professional profile through a placement module. You’ll have the chance to collaborate with external partners, undertake a work placement or develop your own enterprise.
Previous students have worked with local schools and local children’s charities to develop materials and resources. Many have also gained experience in industries like publishing, event design and public relations, and some have even started their own businesses.
Live projects
You’ll get regular opportunities to showcase your knowledge and skills to our industry and community partners. You’ll work independently and in teams throughout your studies, bringing your ideas to life in response to real briefs.
In the foundation year, you will undertake a series of projects that respond to real world debates.
Field trips
We run regular local, regional and international field trips at no additional cost such as writing retreats, festivals and theatre visits. These start right from the beginning of the foundation year and continue throughout your studies. Students in previous years have visited London Book Fair, as well as events in Montreal, Canada and Zagreb, Croatia. They also took part in the Festival of Debate, Doc/Fest film festival and Off the Shelf literature festival, and attended the ZEE-Jaipur Literature Festival in London.
Networking opportunities
We work with renowned festivals such as Off the Shelf and Doc/Fest and bring literary agents, publishers and high profile writers to Sheffield to work with our students. You can take part in networking events and masterclasses, giving you a head start into the writing and publishing industries.
You’ll also have the opportunity to work with leading researchers. We have a strong alumni network and will encourage you to connect with partners outside of the University to give you the best career opportunities possible.
Future careers
Our students have gone on to careers in
- the creative industries
- marketing, communications, media
- local and regional government
- the charity sector
- education
- social work
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour | Keeping safe on Campus

Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
On this course you’ll have access to
- co-working spaces with flexible desks, large screens, a laptop library, comfy seating, and a shared kitchen
- a wide range of learning resources, including access to an extensive collection of specialist books, databases and journals
Entry requirements
All students
48 UCAS points, including 24 points from one A Level, BTEC or equivalent; prior learning options available for students that have been out of education for a number of years, but can show some commitment to the subject (e.g. evidence of some creative writing when applying to Creative Writing course). GCSEs – English Language at C, but no requirement for Maths.
If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: Talent Accelerator | Credits: 120 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Year 2
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: Craft And Form | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Describing Language | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Linguistic Creativity | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Local To Global: Literary Explorations | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Year 3
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: Ideas Into Action | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Imagined Futures: Literature, Time And Hope | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: What's The Story? Long And Short Fiction | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: A Fine Line: Poetry And Poetics | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Exploring Second Language Learning | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Foreign Language | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Foundation Studies In Tesol | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Style And Interpretation | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Talk And Interaction | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: The Literature Of Things | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Year 4
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: Placement Year | Credits: - |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Final year
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: Changing Lives: Literature And Social Movements | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Counter-Culture And Creativity | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Creative Writing Major Project | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Exploring English Education | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Foreign Language | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Language, Learning And Wellbeing | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Language Research Project | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Life On Earth: Writing And Environment | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Literature Research Project | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Make It New: Experimental Writing | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Reading And The Mind | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Revealing Gender | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Tesol Classroom Teaching And Reflection | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: The Ends Of The Earth: Literature And The Anthropocene | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: The Spectacular City: Exploring Urban Spaces | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Writing For Change: Writing And Advocacy | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Writing For Young People | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2023/24 is £9,250 per year. These fees are regulated by the UK government and are therefore subject to changes in government policy. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2023/24 is £15,860 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.

Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
Additional costs for English courses (PDF, 218.6KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.