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Creative Writing English Literature TEFL & Publishing School of Cultural Studies
www.uwtsd.ac.uk
Why Study at Trinity Saint David?
As part of the School of Cultural Studies, based on the Lampeter campus of Trinity Saint David University, the staff team includes expertise in textual scholarship and in such areas as Medieval, Early Modern studies, Romanticism, Contemporary Literature and Welsh Writing in English, as well as the teaching of English as a Foreign Language. The School is home to the Centre for Creative Writing whose staff includes prize winning and acclaimed authors such as Dic Edwards, Menna Elfyn and Samantha Wynne- Rhydderch all of whom take a full and active role in the teaching of creative writing at all levels. The staff and students also make use of the Roderic Bowen Library which holds over 35,000 rare books manuscripts and first editions.
The University has a long and distinguished tradition of teaching English and Creative Writing. The University’s first Professor of English was appointed over a century ago; and we were also one of the first Universities to offer Creative Writing at undergraduate and post-graduate level in the UK from the mid1990s. Building upon this tradition and links with publishers over many years, including the University of Wales Press, we have recently developed a joint honours degree in Publishing. We are also one of the few Universities to offer specialist TEFL training as an optional pathway on our degrees. In addition to our core Single honours degrees, you can also take advantage of a range of joint or combined honours programmes offered on the campus linking with subjects as diverse as Philosophy, Chinese, Religious Studies, Anthropology, Archaeology, History, and Psychology, Digital Humanities.
Staff are good at explaining things
Our size means that we are able to offer a diverse range of approaches to teaching. As well as lectures, you
will take part in small scale seminar, tutorial and workshop sessions where you will be able to develop a full range of analytical, critical, practical and creative skills. Our size also means that you will be joining a community where staff and students know each other. In addition you will have a personal tutor linked to your subject who will get to know you well and offer you support throughout your time with us; and you may wish to take advantage of our excellent student support services which offer advice and support on study, personal and health issues, finance, and careers. The University has seen one of the greatest increases in the level of student satisfaction in Wales in the National Student Survey (NSS) this year.
90% - NSS 2014
Students with an interest in teaching may also wish to consider our degree in English and Education.
Life here is great because it is small and friendly where you’re a name not just a number. Catrin Jones, Graduate
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Careers and Employability Our courses have been designed to be both academically and creatively challenging and rewarding and to give students the best possible employment opportunities, through the use of a range of traditional and non-traditional modules and assessment methods. In addition to subject knowledge, writing and critical reflection skills you will gain experience in the key transferable skills such as time and project management, working to brief, team work and team leadership. Our TEFL and Education pathways offer direct teaching practice experience; and internships are available through the project modules on the Creative Writing and Publishing degrees, or through extra-curricular links.
Our employability rate of over 90% consistently (excluding students who go no to further study) is one of the highest in the country. Our students go on to careers directly linked to their degree subject --- teaching, teaching English as a Foreign Language, Publishing, Journalism --- but also into a wide range of perhaps surprising jobs including Events Management, Archiving, Public Relations, and a wide range of Third Sector opportunities.
(Graduate)
Why Study at the Lampeter Campus Trinity Saint David? Lampeter is a distinctive university campus in a distinctive setting. It was founded in 1822 and was the oldest degree-awarding institution in England and Wales apart from Oxford and Cambridge. Set around the early nineteenth century St David’s Building, the campus combines a long academic tradition with innovation in teaching and a modern library, computer and support facilities.
The Student Researcher, or to take part in the many literary events and trips we organise.
Perhaps the most notable feature of the university campus at Lampeter is its size: we have around 900 undergraduates, over 80% living in halls of residence on campus. A place in hall is guaranteed for all first-year and final-year students; others have little difficulty in finding rented accommodation in the town or surrounding countryside, and an There is an active Students’ Union which is the hub for many social and accommodation office is there to sporting activities; and in particular assist. Due to our location, the costs you may wish to become part of the of living in Lampeter are lower than in many other parts of the country. team producing and contributing This means that your student loan to publications supported by the goes further in Lampeter. School, The Lampeter Review and 4 | www.uwtsd.ac.uk
Average weekly rent according to accommodation category (latest NUS data, 2013)
Weekly rent in Lampeter campus accommodation, 2015/16
Savings per week
Savings per year (38 weeks)
Self-catering single
£97.08
£68
£29.08
£1105.04
Self-catering en-suite
122.81
£84
£38.81
£1474.78
Lampeter itself is a thriving small town in the heart of West Wales and provides a beautiful and safe environment in which to live and study. The local police force, DyfedPowys, regularly report the lowest crime rates in the country with both personal and household crime levels half the average for England and Wales. Both the university and the town enjoy a strong sense of community. We like to think that the friendly atmosphere is conducive to study and that it complements
our reputation for strong academic support. The MSN website places Lampeter in the top ten university towns in the UK.
‘Lampeter is a small market town with a friendly atmosphere and a close knit community. I am lucky to enjoy small classes where I caninteract with my tutors’ Erica Stratham
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Study Abroad and International Opportunities As part of your degree you will have the opportunity to study abroad for a semester in your second or third year with one of our partner Universities in the US or Canada. We also offer shorter field school experiences (a single module can be taken abroad). Bursaries are available to support international travel.
Staff are supportive and accessible
86% - NSS 2014
Admissions Each year we accept about 50 students onto these degrees. Applicants are welcome from those with A levels or similar qualifications in Humanities disciplines including English Literature; but we also welcome others with formal or experiential qualifications. All applicants are judged on individual merit and you will be encouraged to attend an Open or Visit Day which is, crucially, an opportunity for you to get to know us as much as it is for us to get to know you.
The facilities are a mixture of tradtional and modern ‌ My experience on the course has been very positive. I have enjoyed my three years here. Catrin Jones, Graduate
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Explore our Degrees
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Creative Writing BA Creative Writing -- UCAS code W801 BA Creative Writing and English -- UCAS code QW38 BA Creative Writing and Publishing -- UCAS code 5RW2 BA BA BA BA
Creative Writing and Philosophy -- UCAS code WV85 Classical Studies and Creative Writing -- UCAS code 5GTS Creative Writing with Education Studies -- UCAS code 385V Creative Writing with Digital Humanities -- UCAS code 194T
MCreW Master of Creative Writing -- UCAS code J2G5
The cliché says that everyone has a novel in them. You may also have poetry, plays, screen-plays, short stories, in you. Creative writing also develops the skills of creative thinking, problem solving, team work and communication vital in so many careers beyond those of writing itself. These degrees will enable you to develop your creative writing skills across a range of genres, building from small scale writing portfolios to large projects. You will work with published writers, editors and academics in small workshops and seminars developing not only writing but also reflective skills; you will also gain knowledge of the commercial contexts and opportunities for writers and have the opportunity to work with both in-house and external publishers and publications – an opportunity that can be further explored in combination with publishing. 10 | www.uwtsd.ac.uk
On our degrees all creative writers study aspects of literature to inform their own writing, but if you are particularly interested in the ways in which literature, culture, and thought of various kinds informs writing then you may consider joint honours degrees with English literature, Classical Studies or Philosophy. Here you might study the importance of the contemporary novel, mythology to storytelling, aesthetics and creativity. If you are interested in the ways in which writing and all aspects of creative and cultural activity are reliant upon and being changed by advances in technology then you may consider our new and innovative degree with Digital Humanities which draws upon expertise in computing science and digital media to equip you to be a writer or communicator in the 21st Century.
All students are able to take advantage of option modules offered from a wide range of disciplines within the Faculty.
Typical modules:
You might also consider our innovative four year Masters of Creative Writing (MCreW) which enables you to build on your interest in writing at masters level by working even more closely with writers and industry and cultural partners. This programme is funded in the same way as undergraduate degrees and culminates in an extended individual project developed under the guidance of a published writer in a field of your interest.
Through the study of published examples from a range of contemporary writers these modules focus on the development of formal writing skills and reflective understanding of aspects of writing. You will produce an individual portfolio of work in response to a range of tasks.
Writing Poetry, Writing Prose, Writing Drama:
The Business of Writing: Through practical projects, workshops and visiting speakers, this module explores the commercial realities and opportunities for writers, examining issues such as the role of the publisher and self-publishing, pitching ideas, editing and grant funding.
Persuasive Language: Creativity, Copywriting and Text editing: This module will a number of techniques used in the production of persuasive language in commercial writing. It will focus on the production of and reflection upon targeted copy working to briefs and will include an introduction to issues such as house styles, proof-reading, copy and structural editing.
The Conference: Under the close guidance of tutors you will organise and participate in a conference, assuming responsibility for both the planning and running of the event, including its contents, overall theme, structure, publicity and promotion, and day-to-day administration. The module will require students to work effectively both as individuals and as part of a team.
The Project: This module allows you to develop a project of your choosing – a novel, a poetry collection, a blog for example – as part of a workshop group and through individual tutorials with a published writer in your field.
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English Literature BA English – UCAS Code Q300 Many other joints and combined honours available: For example:
BA Creative Writing and English -- UCAS code QW38 BA English and Publishing -- UCAS code 329B BA English with TEFL --UCAS code Q300
BA English with Education Studies -- UCAS code QVL5 BA Chinese Civilisation and English -- UCAS code T13Q
MEngLit Master of English -- UCAS code Q2J0
If you are a lover of books and reading our degrees might be for you. The study of English literature at TSD combines tradition with innovation. Taking advantage of our unique library holdings, the core of our degree is the study of literature from the Renaissance, including Shakespeare, to the present day. You will explore literature as creative practice and how writing and writers both emerge from and shape their broader cultural and political contexts; and you will be encouraged to express your own views in relation to a variety of critical and theoretical approaches to literature. The study English is also offered in combination with Creative Writing or Publishing.
You will have the opportunity to apply your skills and enthusiasm in a practical way in modules on areas such as archiving and conference organisation. All students complete a large dissertation or project in their final year. Taking advantage of the unique subject mix and heritage of the Lampeter, you will have the opportunity to study option modules from a range of disciplines including Medieval literature and Classical literature; or you might choose to opt for one of our many joint honours or combined degrees which link the study of English literature with the study of other humanities disciplines including History, Theology, Anthropology and Chinese Studies.
In the course of your degree you will develop research, analytical, reflective and presentation skills all of You may also choose to opt for which make English graduates, and ours in particular highly employable. our combined degrees with 12 | www.uwtsd.ac.uk
Education which combine the study of literature with modules on the history of and approaches to teaching and included a formal teaching practice module; or a more focused pathway in English and Teaching English as a Foreign Language. You might also consider our innovative four year Masters of English which enables you to build on your interest in English Literature at masters level by working on advanced topics of your choice in literature from the Medieval to the Post-Modern, underpinned by further study in critical and theoretical approaches. This programme is funded in the same way as undergraduate degrees and culminates in an extended individual project developed under the guidance of active researchers in a field of your interest.
Typical modules: Historicising Texts:
Critical and Cultural Theory: Contemporary Literature:
This module will introduce you to the ways in which history, ideas and politics shape literature but also how literature shapes them and our understanding of them. This wide enquiry will be focused around a different historical period in any given year and so you might for example consider ways in which Dracula emerges from Victorian anxieties about sex and empire and yet has come down to us in a variety of forms both popular and serious.
This module not only introduces you to the ways in which literature and culture has been theorised in the 20th Century by considering Marxist, Feminist, Psychoanalytical and other approaches to reading but also encourages you to explore debates between differing approaches, challenge their assumptions and arrive at you own conclusions.
This module examines a wide range of contemporary literature from Zadie Smith to Harry Potter, and considers the place of writing in a fast changing world which both celebrates literature and predicts its imminent extinction.
The Dissertation: You will have the opportunity on this module to develop a large scale piece of research and writing on a topic of your own choosing under expert one-to-one tuition. This may be developed from authors or topics you have studied on the degree, or from your own interests. Joint and combined honours topics can also be explored.
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TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) BA English with TEFL --UCAS code Q300
For historical reasons, which will be explored on the degree, English is the international language of political, business and cultural exchange. This degree will position you to become a teacher of the language both at home and abroad. This degree combines the study of English literature with a specialist focus on the theory and practice of teaching English as a Foreign Language. TEFL modules will give you both a firm grounding in the structures of English; an insight into the history of the teaching of English; and a theoretically informed practical experience of teaching English as a foreign, academic or second language in a variety of class-room contexts.
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Typical modules: The Theory and Methodology of Teaching English as a Foreign Language: This module will provide you with a grounding in theories concerning learner acquisition and use of English as a second language. It also focuses upon the range of classroom methodologies which have grown from these theoretical concerns. The module aims to provide you to place your developing skills within the wider context of TEFL - both as an academic discipline and as a pragmatic skill.
Teaching Grammar and Acquiring Assessment Skills: This module will equip you with an understanding of English grammar and the commonly employed analytical tools used in its description and explanation and with the confidence to pass on grammatical knowledge to second language learners. The module also considers the issues of how grammar can be taught and assessed at a range of different levels in relation to the needs of different types of language student.
TEFL Essentials: This module focuses on developing the knowledge and skills learned on the other TEFL modules in practical class-room contexts. Guided by a mentor you will research, develop and deliver a series of TEFL classes in a real-world setting and producing appropriate lesson plans and reflective material.
Dissertation: You will have the opportunity on this module to develop a large scale piece of research and writing on a topic derived either from your study of literature or from your TEFL expertise under expert one-to-one tuition.
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Publishing BA Creative Writing and Publishing -- UCAS code 5RW2 BA English and Publishing -- -- UCAS code 329B
Building upon links with a variety of publishers, and our own history of developing and supporting publications, these degrees combine the study of English literature, or the study and practice of Creative Writing, with knowledge and understanding and practical experience of the evolving world of Publishing. They focus upon areas such as editing, production and associated skills within the cultural and commercial contexts of publishing, supplemented by an understanding of marketing and the law as they relate to publishing. And in particular they explore the impact on traditional production and consumption of new technologies.
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Alongside the development of your understanding of the history of publishing, you will be introduced to some of the practices of the publishing industries, particularly as they relate to the use of software and digital environments. You will work in small workshop and project groups throughout your degree. You will build on this knowledge and experience in practically focused modules where working individually or as part of a team you will produce material to an industry standard. This will include working as part of a team on the production of a student magazine/ ezine. You will also learn about issues such as copyright and the law as it relates to publishing.
Under expert academic and commercial guidance, in the final year you will undertake a major project and/or placement which may involve working on a publishing project with the University of Wales Press, the University or an independent publisher, or developing your own business plan or material.
Typical modules: Contemporary Print Publishing:
Copywriting and Text editing:
This module will examine some of the practices of contemporary print publishing, covering issues such as: typography, colour theory, grids, document layout, and ethics in digital image manipulation and representation. Its focus will be upon the creative application of digital processing, page layout design principles, and techniques for desktop publishing.
Underpinned by a theoretical understanding of theories of communication, this module will introduce you to the production of and reflection upon targeted copy working to briefs and will include an introduction to issues such as house styles, proof-reading, copy and structural editing.
The Business of Writing: The module will introduce you to the commercial realities of creative writing. Seminars will focus upon to directed practical work which will form the basis of assessment. Areas of focus for the weekly
seminars would typically include: book and periodical publishing; writing for the media; the role of the copywriter; submitting a manuscript.
The Publisher’s World: Working with the industry, this module will enable you to understand marketing and sales principles, and develop critically informed skills in applying them to meet the demands of modern world of publishing. You will explore current campaigns and issues such as understanding markets, consumers and influencers and their associated needs, preferences and behaviours and the legal and ethical contexts of sales and marketing.
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Meet some of the staff …. Prof. Menna Elfyn
Dr Peter Mitchell
An award-winning writer of over 20 volumes of poetry, of stage plays, playscripts, libretti, travel essays, a journalist, filmmaker and tireless promoter of the Welsh language, Menna’s work has been studied as part of Welsh literature GCSE, ‘A’ Level, and degree courses at universities in Wales and at colleges in America.
Peter researches and teaches in areas linked to early modern literature, and particularly the cultural and intellectual history, philosophy and theology of medicine, body and soul, particularly anatomy
Dr Dic Edwards: As part of the Centre for Creative Writing, Dic is senior lecturer in Creative Writing. His many published plays are regularly performed throughout the world. He is also a published poet and short story writer. Dic is editor of The Lampeter Review.
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Dr Jeni Williams Jeni is an academic, poet and cultural commentator. Centrally interested in issues of marginality, Jeni has focused on issues of gender and culture in her research and teaching. She is deeply interested in the identity politics of marginalised nationalities.
Further information For further information, please contact Dr Paul Wright HoS Cultural Studies - p.wright@uwtsd.ac.uk 01570 424856
Find us at: English and Creative Writing at Trinity Saint David University
And check out: lampeter-review.com/
The information contained in this booklet is correct at the time of publication, but is subject to change as part of the University’s policy of continuous improvement and development.