COURSE CURRICULUM

The BA Art and Creative Writing programme at the University of Reading is a four-year interdisciplinary degree that combines studio-based fine art practice with creative writing and literary study, enabling students to develop both as visual artists and writers through an integrated, practice-led curriculum. In the first year, students are introduced to contemporary art practice through Art Studio modules that emphasise experimentation, visual enquiry, professional studio skills, and awareness of global art histories, alongside Drawing, which develops technical and expressive abilities across different materials and approaches. At the same time, students study Introduction to Creative Writing, building skills across genres, and Poetry in English, which explores poetic traditions from the Renaissance to the present across diverse cultural contexts. Optional modules broaden early learning through areas such as drama, comparative literature, translation studies, and modern American culture. In the second year, students deepen their practice through Art Studio 2 and more advanced creative writing options, including poetry, short fiction, and non-fiction, while also engaging with art history, critical theory, and literary study spanning periods such as the Early Modern, Victorian, Romantic, and Shakespearean traditions. Opportunities such as international study visits to European art centres further enrich contextual understanding of art practice. The third year focuses on developing independent artistic identity through Art Studio 3b and advanced creative writing masterclasses, alongside specialised modules in literature, adaptation, and cultural studies, including topics such as British Black and Asian voices, children’s literature, and Shakespeare on film. The final year culminates in a major independent dissertation or creative project that allows students to produce a substantial body of original writing or practice-based work in collaboration with peers and tutors. Across the degree, students are encouraged to experiment across disciplines, engage critically with theory and history, and develop a distinctive creative voice. The programme prepares graduates for careers in the arts, publishing, education, media, curation, and cultural industries, combining creative freedom with rigorous academic and professional training.