BA CREATIVE WRITING AND ENGLISH

Develop your critical and creative skills within one innovative creative writing programme known for its industry links and teaching practices.

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Qualification
Bachelor Of Arts Degree
CAO Points
356
CAO/MU Apply code
MH111
Award Type and NFQ level
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE (8)
Study Mode
Full time
Closing Date
01 February 2027
Jump to
CAO Hub

Overview

The BA in Creative Writing and English offers you the opportunity to develop critical and creative skills within one programme, which is innovative not only for its integration of two intertwined subjects, but for its industry links and its teaching practices.

As a student of Creative Writing and English, you will learn:

  • how to develop your creative writing (fiction/ poetry/memoir/creative non-fiction) through intensive workshops
  • the practicalities of creative literary industries
  • about the development of literary genres and practices
  • about the conditions that shape literature – from history and geography to questions of gender, race, sexuality, and class

Potential pathway into Year 2 of the BA Creative Writing and English, having completed Year 1 of the MH101 Bachelor of Arts degree.

Course structure

Duration: 3 years (4 with Erasmus/Study Abroad)

First year

Semester 1

  • Students take modules in Creative Writing and English:
    • Introduction to Creative Writing
    • Foundational English 1 (Prose)
    • Climate Fiction
  • Plus choose 1 other subject, which may include Critical Skills, from the available Subject Groups 1, 2, 4 or 5.

Semester 2

  • Students take modules in Creative Writing and English:
    • Introduction to Creative Writing
    • Foundational English 2 (Poetry and Drama)
    • Literary Criticism and Theory
  • Continue with the other subject

Second year and Final year

  • English and Creative Writing
  • Optional 10 credit Elective in second year
  • Erasmus/Study Abroad option after second year

Transfer option into this degree from the Bachelor of Arts Degree MH101 - subject to meeting requirements.

Disclaimer
The modules below are indicative of the content associated with this course of study.
The modules are subject to change as the curriculum is revised and reviewed annually.
Important: The information on this page is for prospective students, MU current students and staff should use Programme Directory.

Year 1

ENC1F45 - Creative Writing And English

Credits: 45  |  Compulsory

Creative Writing And English modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

EN106

7.5

1

Y

EN107

7.5

2

Y

EN101

7.5

1

Y

EN102

7.5

2

Y

ENCW101

7.5

1

Y

ENCW102

7.5

2

Y

AN1V30 - Anthropology

Credits: 30  |  Not compulsory

Anthropology modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

AN169

7.5

2

Y

AN167

7.5

1

Y

AN170

7.5

2

N

AN171

7.5

1

N

MN1IF15 - Business (International)

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Business (International) modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

MN159

7.5

1

Y

MN155

7.5

2

Y

MN1MF15 - Business (Management)

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Business (Management) modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

MN151

7.5

1

Y

MN155

7.5

2

Y

MN1KF15 - Business (Marketing)

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Business (Marketing) modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

MN152

7.5

1

Y

MN155

7.5

2

Y

CS1V30 - Computer Science

Credits: 30  |  Not compulsory

Computer Science modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

CS192

7.5

2

N

CS181

7.5

1

Y

CS182

7.5

2

Y

CS191

7.5

1

N

LW1CF15 - Criminology

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Criminology modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

LW166

7.5

1

Y

LW165

7.5

2

Y

EC1F15 - Economics

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Economics modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

EC103

7.5

2

Y

EC101

7.5

1

Y

FN1F15 - Finance

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Finance modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

EC103

7.5

2

Y

EC101

7.5

1

Y

GY1V30 - Geography

Credits: 30  |  Not compulsory

Geography modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

GY161

7.5

1

N

GY162

7.5

2

N

GY151

7.5

1

N

GY152

7.5

2

N

GN1F15 - German For Non-Beginners

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

German For Non-Beginners modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

GN181

7.5

1

Y

GN182

7.5

2

Y

HY1V30 - History

Credits: 30  |  Not compulsory

History modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

HY124

7.5

2

N

HY132

7.5

2

N

HY126

7.5

2

N

HY121

7.5

1

Y

HY128

7.5

2

N

HY131

7.5

1

N

LW1V30 - Law

Credits: 30  |  Not compulsory

Law modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

LW158

5

2

N

LW152

5

1

N

LW157

5

2

Y

LW155

2.5

1

Y

LW156

2.5

2

Y

LW153

2.5

1

N

LW151

5

1

Y

LW177

2.5

2

N

MU1V30 - Music

Credits: 30  |  Not compulsory

Music modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

MU102A

5

1

Y

MU101A

2.5

1

Y

MU101B

2.5

2

Y

MU153

7.5

1

N

MU154

7.5

2

N

MU102B

5

2

Y

MU1TF15 - Music Technology

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Music Technology modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

MU159

7.5

2

Y

MU158

7.5

1

Y

NG1V30 - Nua-Ghaeilge

Credits: 30  |  Not compulsory

Nua-Ghaeilge modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

NG154

7.5

1

N

NG153

7.5

2

N

NG151

7.5

1

Y

NG152

7.5

2

Y

PH1F15 - Philosophy

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Philosophy modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

PH157

7.5

2

Y

PH156

7.5

1

Y

SO1F15 - Sociology

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Sociology modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SO156

7.5

2

Y

SO152

7.5

1

Y

SPA1F15 - Spanish For Non-Beginners

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Spanish For Non-Beginners modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SPA181

7.5

1

Y

SPA182

7.5

2

Y

SK1USK - Universal Critical Skills

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Universal Critical Skills modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SK1051

7.5

1

N

SK1061

7.5

2

N

SK2USK - Universal Critical Skills

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Universal Critical Skills modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SK1052

7.5

1

N

SK1062

7.5

2

N

SK4USK - Universal Critical Skills

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Universal Critical Skills modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SK1054

7.5

1

N

SK1064

7.5

2

N

SK5USK - Universal Critical Skills

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Universal Critical Skills modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SK1055

7.5

1

N

SK1065

7.5

2

N

Year 2

ENC2SM - Creative Writing And English

Credits: 60  |  Compulsory

Creative Writing And English modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

EN280

5

1

N

EN281

5

2

N

ENCW201

5

1

Y

ENCW204

5

2

Y

ENCW203

5

1

Y

EN241

5

1

N

EN244

5

2

N

EN242

5

1

N

EN203

5

2

Y

EN202

5

1

Y

EN204

5

2

Y

EN243

5

2

N

EN247

5

1

N

EN246

5

1

N

ENCW202

5

1

Y

ENCW205

5

2

Y

EN201

5

1

Y

EN249

5

2

N

ENCW206

5

2

Y

EN245

5

2

N

AC2EL - Accounting In Society

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Accounting In Society modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

AC210

5

1

N

AC211

5

2

N

GC2MEL - Ancient Mythology - Epic And Tragic Tales

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Ancient Mythology - Epic And Tragic Tales modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

GC231

5

1

N

GC232

5

2

N

AN2EL - Anti-Racism

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Anti-Racism modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

AN215

5

1

N

AN216

5

2

N

CN2BEL - Beginning Chinese

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Beginning Chinese modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

CN261

5

2

N

CN260

5

1

N

FR2BEL - Beginning French

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Beginning French modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

FR260

5

1

N

FR261

5

2

N

GN2BEL - Beginning German

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Beginning German modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

GN260

5

1

N

GN261

5

2

N

SPA2BEL - Beginning Spanish

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Beginning Spanish modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SPA260

5

1

N

SPA261

5

2

N

CAT2EL - Catalan Language And Culture

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Catalan Language And Culture modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SPA225

5

2

N

SPA215

5

1

N

PHY2EL - Climate Change And Sustainable Energy

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Climate Change And Sustainable Energy modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

PHY260

5

1

N

PHY261

5

2

N

CN2CEL - Continuing Chinese

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Continuing Chinese modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

CN281

5

1

N

CN282

5

2

N

FR2CEL - Continuing French

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Continuing French modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

FR281

5

1

N

FR282

5

2

N

GN2CEL - Continuing German

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Continuing German modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

GN281

5

1

N

GN282

5

2

N

NG2CEL - Continuing Nua-Ghaeilge

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Continuing Nua-Ghaeilge modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

NG211

5

2

N

NG201

5

1

N

SPA2CEL - Continuing Spanish

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Continuing Spanish modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SPA281

5

1

N

SPA282

5

2

N

PD2DEL - Eden Entrepreneurship Design And Innovation

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Eden Entrepreneurship Design And Innovation modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

PD217A

5

1

N

PD218A

5

2

N

MD2EL - Film And Screen Studies

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Film And Screen Studies modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

MD240

5

1

N

MD216

5

2

N

MU226

5

2

N

SPA223

5

2

N

SK2EL - Foundations In Science Writing And Communication

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Foundations In Science Writing And Communication modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SK252

5

2

N

SK251

5

1

N

TH2GEL - Good And Evil

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Good And Evil modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

TH251

5

1

N

TH252

5

2

N

EC2EL - Influential Ideas In Economics

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Influential Ideas In Economics modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

EC216

5

2

N

EC222

5

1

N

PH2LEL - Introduction To Philosophy In The Digital Age

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Introduction To Philosophy In The Digital Age modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

PH221

5

2

N

PH215B

5

1

N

TESL2EL - Introduction To Teaching English Language

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Introduction To Teaching English Language modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

TESL201

5

1

N

TESL202

5

2

N

NG2IEL - Irish Cultural Heritage

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Irish Cultural Heritage modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

ID001

5

1

N

ID001X

5

2

N

ID013X

5

2

N

ID013

5

1

N

POR2EL - Portuguese Language And Culture

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Portuguese Language And Culture modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SPA216

5

1

N

SPA226

5

2

N

KD2AEL - Prioritising People And Planet

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Prioritising People And Planet modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

AN261

5

2

N

KD212

5

1

N

FR2REL - Refresh Your French

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Refresh Your French modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

FR271

5

1

N

FR272

5

2

N

PD2SEL - Service Innovation

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Service Innovation modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

PD201

5

2

N

PD264

5

1

N

EX2EX - Skills For Success:professional Development

Credits: 5  |  Not compulsory

Skills For Success:professional Development modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

EX202

5

2

N

EX201

5

1

N

MN2EQEL - The Growth And Development Of The Irish Equine Industry

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

The Growth And Development Of The Irish Equine Industry modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

MN232

5

2

N

MN230

5

1

N

SG2EL - Wondrous People And Places: An Introduction To Celtic Literature

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Wondrous People And Places: An Introduction To Celtic Literature modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SG228

5

2

N

SG256

5

1

N

Year 3

ENC3SM - Creative Writing And English

Credits: 60  |  Compulsory

Creative Writing And English modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

EN388

5

2

N

EN301

5

1

Y

EN302

5

1

Y

EN372

5

2

N

EN303

5

2

Y

EN395

5

2

N

EN3723

5

2

N

EN341

5

1

N

EN3722

5

2

N

EN342

5

1

N

EN382

5

2

N

EN383

5

2

N

EN304

5

2

Y

EN384

5

2

N

EN3724

5

2

N

EN399

5

2

Y

EN3725

5

2

N

After Graduation

Graduates of the BA in Creative Writing and English will be equipped with:

  • skills in creative thinking
  • the ability to formulate, present and disseminate complex ideas
  • excellent communication skills
  • a highly-tuned sensitivity to language usage
  • the ability to tell and organise stories in compelling ways
  • an understanding of how to inhabit alternative viewpoints and outlooks

As such, you will be well prepared for the world of work and will have the capacity to be flexible, inventive and adaptable in your chosen career.

Entry Requirements

Leaving Certificate Applicants

Required to present (as a minimum): 2H5 & 4O6/H7, O6/H7 in Irish & third language & H5 English.

DARE

Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) is an alternative entry route to third level education for school-leavers whose disability affected their second level education.

HEAR

The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is a pathway to third level education for school-leavers from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Contact the Access Office for more information on these access routes.

This table displays the requirements for Leaving Certificate applicants.

Entry requirements table

Subject

Required

Ordinary Level Grade

Higher Level Grade

Irish

Yes

O6

H7

English

Yes

N/A

H5

Language

Yes

O6

H7

Mathematics

No

N/A

N/A

Science

No

N/A

N/A

* This course requires 3 additional subjects.

  1. EU / EFTA Applicants - Further information can be found by navigating to our EU/EFTA applicant information page.
  2. International Applicants - International (Non-EU) applicants for undergraduate programmes submit their application online via our online application portal. Applications open on 14th October 2026 and close on 1st July 2027. For further information, please navigate to our International applicant page.

Mature Applicants

Mature applicants are assessed separately to school-leavers. Mature applicants are 23 years or older by 1 January in the year of entry.

For part-time degrees the mature age is 21.

Visit our mature applicant information page - tab 3 on this page outlines application steps for this degree.

Mature applicants who have a disability

If you have a disability or specific learning difficulty (e.g. dyslexia), and require support for any required written exercise/interview/online video audition which may form part of your application assessment, you must complete an online request form and submit supporting documentation by 15 March 2027. Applications for alternative examination accommodation cannot be considered after this deadline.

Visit the Access Office for more information on available supports and required documentation.

Mature applicant deadline: 01 February 2027

How to apply

Apply online to the CAO (Central Applications Office)

The application process depends on the type of applicant you are.

Categories of applicant:

  • School-leavers (Leaving Certificate students)
  • Mature students (23 years or older by 1 January in the year of entry/21 years if part-time)
  • EU/EFTA/UK students
  • International students (outside the EU)
  • QQI (Further Education) students
  • Transferring students
  • Deferring students

Learn more about undergraduate applications and access routes.

Got a question about this course?

Maynooth University Department of English
www.maynoothuniversity.ie/english

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