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English and Creative Writing Undergraduate Admissions FAQs

• When is your application deadline?
• What are your entry requirements?
• If I meet your offer, am I guaranteed a place?
• Can I defer entry for a year?
• Will this affect my application adversely?
• Do you interview applicants?
• Do you require a portfolio from Creative Writing applicants?
• Can I take Creative Writing without taking English Literature?
• What is the difference between English Literature with Creative Writing (UCAS code Q3W8 ) and English Literature, Creative Writing, and Practice (UCAS code QW38)?
• Can I study part-time?
• Am I guaranteed on-campus accommodation?
  
• What are the requirements for a scholarship?
• Can I transfer into your second year from another university?
• What opportunities do you offer for study abroad?
  
• I have already applied and been accepted to one degree scheme, but I would like to change to another. What should I do? Please explain Lancaster’s unusual first year (Part I).
• When can I visit the university?
• What will I study if I come to Lancaster?
• How many teaching contact hours can I expect?

When is your application deadline?

Applicants who apply after the initial 15th January deadline will normally still be considered. The last date for applications in the main UCAS cycle is 30th June.

What are your entry requirements?

English applicants

Our standard offer is three A-levels at AAA/AAB with one of the As in English Literature or English Combined. We occasionally make lower offers and sometimes accept students who fall slightly short of the requirements.
We do not admit anyone without an English Literature or English Combined A-level or equivalent. (Students with only an English Language A-level or only an English Literature AS-level are ineligible.) We accept General Studies and Critical Thinking A-levels. We accept two AS-levels in place of one A-level (but not English Literature AS-level in place of English Literature A-level).

Equivalent qualifications

• Scottish Highers AAABB / AABBB with A in Advanced Higher English
• IB 34 points overall with 16 points from best 3 HL courses, including 6HL points in English
• French Baccalaureate 14-15 overall with at least 14 in English
• European Baccalaureate 82%-85% with at least 9 in English
• German Abitur 1.4-1.7 overall with at least 13 in English
• Cypriot Apolytirion 18.5-19 points overall with at least 18.5 in English
• Mature Students Access to HE diploma with mostly distinction grades, including distinction in all available English Literature units
• USA students US high school diploma with GPA of at least 3.5 plus 3 AP courses with grades 5, 5, 4 (5 in English)

Our offers do not include the Welsh Baccalaureate. Applicants with this qualification will be made an offer on the basis of three A levels (or equivalent) in the usual way. However, we do acknowledge the value of the Welsh Baccalaureate and this may be taken into account when the results are announced in the summer.

If I meet your offer, am I guaranteed a place?

Yes, if you meet the exact offer. (We do not guarantee places on the basis of equivalent UCAS points, although we do sometimes allow variations on the exact offer.)

Can I defer entry for a year?

Yes.

Will this affect my application adversely?

No.

Do you interview applicants?

Not usually: we will contact you if we want an interview.

Do you require a portfolio from Creative Writing applicants?

Not usually (we will contact you if we want one), but you need to indicate interest and involvement in creative writing in your personal statement.

Can I take Creative Writing without taking English Literature?

Yes, as part of the Creative Arts degree scheme (UCAS code W900) or as a minor with English Language (UCAS code 3QWV), or as one of your three Part I subjects. We do not offer a single honours degree in Creative Writing. We do, however, have robust M.A. and Ph.D. Creative Writing programmes.

What is the difference between English Literature with Creative Writing (UCAS code Q3W8 ) and English Literature, Creative Writing, and Practice (UCAS code QW38)?

In the first year there is no difference; in the second and third years, English Literature with Creative Writing is 75% English Literature, 25% Creative Writing; English Literature, Creative Writing, and Practice is 50% English Literature and 50% Creative Writing.

Can I study part-time?

Yes, you can spread your degree over a five-year period. Please be advised that we do not offer evening courses and that course times change from year to year.

Am I guaranteed on-campus accommodation?

Yes, if you make Lancaster your firm choice and return the housing forms by the deadline.

What are the requirements for a scholarship?

The University offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to undergraduate students. Please see http://www.lancs.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/fees-and-funding/scholarships-and-bursaries/ for more details of opportunities for 2012 entry.

Can I transfer into your second year from another university?

No, but you may apply for first-year entry from another university. You will need a good reference from your current university and we may request an interview.

What opportunities do you offer for study abroad?

Please see the International Office page on studying abroad as part of your degree scheme.

I have already applied and been accepted to one degree scheme, but I would like to change to another. What should I do? Please explain Lancaster’s unusual first year (Part I).

Lancaster requires all first-year students to study three subjects in order to broaden their knowledge base, allow for flexibility to change majors (28% of our students change their major schemes), and to offer time to settle in. Students need only pass each subject to progress to Part II and first-year marks do not contribute to the final degree classification. English Literature is a subject that needs to be informed by other disciplines: philosophy, history, psychology, foreign languages, and linguistics all enrich its study. If you are keen to do nothing unrelated to English, you could study English Language and Creative Writing as your other two subjects.

When can I visit the university?

Applicants to whom we make offers will be invited to a departmental open day in February or March. For all other applicants or prospective applicants, the university holds annual visit days in August and September and campus tours and departmental drop-in sessions throughout the year. Please see the page on Visiting the University.

What will I study if I come to Lancaster?

Our handbooks will give you an idea of what students are currently studying. It includes reading lists and information about assessments. If you go to our staff pages, you can learn more about our faculty and our research interests. Handbooks can be downloaded from resources for current students.

How many teaching contact hours can I expect?

In the first year, students study three subjects. English Literature and Creative Writing each constitute 1/3 of the total contact hours. There are three contact hours per week for English Literature and three contact hours per week for Creative Writing.

In the second and third years, English Literature students receive nine contact hours a week; Creative Writing and Practice students also receive nine contact hours. Most of our Part I teaching and all of our Part II teaching is conducted by faculty with PhD. Additionally, tutors hold office hours each week, which students can attend as often as they wish. Our department also offers additional lectures, readings, field trips, workshops, and reading groups.