Royal Holloway, University of London

By combining the study of creative writing with English, you'll become an informed and critical reader as well as a confident and expressive writer - whether specialising as a poet, playwright, or author of fiction.

Studying at one of the UK's most dynamic English departments will challenge you to develop your own critical faculties. Learning to write creatively and critically analyse in tandem, you'll be exposed to a huge variety of literature while you develop your own writing practice. Studying English will allow you to place your writing within a wider cultural context of literature throughout history, considering key texts and acquiring a sound understanding of significant periods, genres, authors and ideas.

Modules are taught by nationally and internationally known scholars, authors, playwrights and poets who are specialists in their fields who write ground-breaking books, talk or write in the national media and appear at literary festivals around the world. This means the course you take covers the most up-to-date ideas, whether in Creative Writing, Victorian Literature, Shakespearean studies or contemporary literature.

Find your voice as a writer and develop writing techniques, learn how to create, criticise and shape an artistic work: a valuable life skill with uses beyond writing poetry, plays or novels. From journalism and website creation to advertising and academic publishing – you'll be able to use the skills you pick up in character, voice, ambiguity, style and cultural context.

o Writing practice at the heart of your learning experience.
o Taught by high-profile, award-winning writers.
o Create and shape artistic work – ideal skills for a career in media or publishing.
o Choose one of three distinct pathways: fiction, poetry, or playwriting.
o Access to a thriving culture of creative writing.

Psychology is the study of how people think, react and interact. It is concerned with all aspects of behaviour and the thoughts, feelings and motivations that underlie such behaviour. It is an important subject because it relates to the whole range of human experience, from visual perception to complex social interactions.

Study psychology at Royal Holloway University of London and you’ll develop a thorough understanding of theories and approaches to the understanding of human behaviour across different core areas of Psychology, without limiting study to any specific area.

Join our three-year course and you will be able to customise your learning in your final year, selecting from a number of optional modules including Consciousness & Cognition, Human Neuropsychology and Criminal and Forensic Psychology.

You’ll study in a department ranked 3rd in the UK for research (THE, REF Institutions ranked by subject, 2022), learning with academics who are experts in their fields, and contributing your own findings to this leading research culture with a final year research project.

Royal Holloway's Department of Psychology is among the best-equipped psychology departments in the country where post- and undergraduates may benefit from the department's advanced technology. This includes an on-site magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner for studying brain structure and activity, instruments for recording electrical changes in the brain (EEG) and other cutting-edge facilities to augment your learning.

Follow your passion for psychology, clinical psychology and mental health and you’ll graduate with excellent employability prospects in a variety of different fields. Notable alumni include the leading bioscience innovator Professor Jackie Hunter CBE, founder of the Terrence Higgins Trust Dr Rupert Whitaker, and Dr Christian Jarrett – author of The Rough Guide to Psychology.

o Study the most up-to-date and exciting findings in psychology.
o Learn with internationally recognised experts in their fields.
o Develop psychological research skills and practice how to think critically about research.
o Benefit from the department’s advanced research facilities.
o Customise your degree in your final year, selecting from a number of optional modules.

This combined degree option gives you the opportunity to combine your studies of Politics (50% of the course) with Philosophy (50%). This will deepen your understanding of politics as well as introduce you to key elements of philosophy such as ancient philosophy and reason, argument and persuasion.

Politics at Royal Holloway invites you to explore the ideas and ideologies, as well as the processes, institutions and issues that are fundamental to understanding the politics of our times. You will gain a solid foundation in politics and political theory and as you progress, the flexible nature of the course allows you to specialise in fields such as European integration, democratic theory, British and American politics, political communication and young people’s politics. You will develop your understanding of power relations at all levels of social life and gain insight into the role of identity, ideology, interests and institutions in shaping the modern world.

At Royal Holloway we have a unique approach to Philosophy that looks beyond the narrow confines of the Anglo-American analytic or the European tradition of philosophy focus on both traditions, their relationship and connections between them. The result has been the creation of a truly interdisciplinary and collaborative course that brings together academic staff from departments across the university.

With the opportunity to examine (amongst other things) the mind and consciousness, aesthetics and morals, the self and others, the range of subjects available to Philosophy students at Royal Holloway guarantees that there will be something on offer that really engages you during your time with us.

o Explore Anglo-American analytic philosophy and the European tradition.
o Specialise in topics that most interest you.
o Understand how philosophy informs modern policy-making.
o Reflect on the wider implications of political decisions.
o Research placement opportunities with staff and outside organisations.

Our School of Business and Management has a fresh and intellectually challenging approach to management research and education. Studying Business and Management at Royal Holloway means that you will learn from internationally renowned experts who will share their research and experience so that you gain current and relevant management skills and knowledge. The valuable context that this degree will give you, combined with the interpersonal and transferable skills, will lead to excellent management career prospects.

You will build on your skills and abilities in all the key areas of management, including strategy, international business, marketing and consumption as well as accounting. Our balanced approach to research and teaching guarantees high quality teaching from subject leaders, cutting edge materials and intellectually challenging debates. You will receive individual attention and flexibility to acquire, if desired, expertise within a specialist field.

This course will allow you to develop a creative approach to problem solving that produces effective management results along with how to provide direction, assess progress, and adapt your approach to changing circumstances.

We're committed to preparing our students for graduate-level jobs after university and we continually review and refresh our courses to ensure they align with current trends and employer requirements.

o AACSB accredited - the longest-serving accrediting body and largest business education network worldwide.
o Hear from industry speakers from across different sectors.
o Examine core managerial activities and leadership models.
o Understand the key concepts of corporate and business strategy.
o Learn about internships and part-time employment.

Our Department of Law and Criminology has a reputation for high quality research and teaching. Whilst studying Law at Royal Holloway you will explore the fundamental principles of justice, equity and equality within the framework of English and European law. This degree is for anyone looking to start a career in law, whether as a barrister or a solicitor, it is also for those who are interested in the legal system and the ways in which laws are made and upheld. You will be equipped with a wide range of transferable skills which are highly sought after by employers in a wide variety of fields.

You will consider the different laws which apply to different legal problems within the legal system. This will enable to understand how the law regulates agreements between individuals and the relationship between the individual and the state. In addition to acquiring invaluable legal skills in research and oral presentation, you will have the opportunity to choose from a range of subjects in fields such as family law, medical law, company law and international law along with criminology options in terrorism, sentencing and penal policy and gender and crime.

Our balanced approach to research and teaching guarantees high quality teaching from subject leaders, cutting edge materials and intellectually challenging debates. You will receive individual attention and flexibility to acquire expertise within a specialist field.

For students starting their LLB degree after 21 September 2021, the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is the new way to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. Doing the SQE provides more flexibility in how you train to become a solicitor and we have secured an agreement for our students with a provider of the training needed after your degree, subject to terms and conditions. For students wishing to qualify as a barrister, the Common Protocol on legal education agreed between the Solicitors Regulatory Authority and the Bar Standards Board recognises Royal Holloway as a qualifying law degree provider, which means that on successful completion of this course you will have fulfilled the academic stage of training to become a barrister.

o Understand the key features of English and European law.
o Develop an understanding of doctrines and principles underpinning common law.
o Develop skills to evaluate legal developments, analyse legal texts and develop independent thinking.
o Develop key legal research and communication skills.

Choosing to study Drama and Theatre Studies at Royal Holloway will put you at the centre of one of the largest and most influential Drama and Theatre departments in the world. Here, you'll grapple with the big questions: about ourselves and our cultures, about how we make meaning and tell stories, and about ourselves in relation to other cultures, other times, and other forms of storytelling.

You'll create performances, analyse texts, and bring a range of critical ideas to bear on both. On this course the text and the body, thinking and doing, work together. There's no barrier between theory and practice: theory helps you understand and make the most of practice, while practice sheds light on theory. By moving between the two, you'll find your place as an informed theatre-maker, and by studying a variety of practices, by yourself and with others, you'll get knowledge of the industry as a whole, and learn how your interests could fit into the bigger picture.

We are top-rated for teaching and research, with a campus community recognised for its creativity. Our staff cover a huge range of theatre and performance studies, but we're particularly strong in contemporary British theatre, international and intercultural performance, theatre history, dance and physical theatre, and contemporary performance practices.

You'll be taught in incredible performance spaces you won't find anywhere else, each perfectly enhancing our teaching and research strengths.

o Gain insight into the theatre industry as well as theory.
o Consider contemporary British theatre, international and intercultural performance.
o Learn about theatre history and politics.
o Go beyond drama with dance, physical theatre, and contemporary performance practices.
o Links with organisations such as the National Theatre, Royal Court and Tate Modern.

US students would be eligible to study at undergraduate level by achieving the grades noted in one of the following qualifications.

If a student is unable to sit externally assessed AP tests, we can consider three AP classes on a case-by-case basis. When a Subject Specific Requirement is involved, we would ask for an AP Test or College Class. College Classes would require a minimum of 30 credits at grade A/B and can be used to meet an SSR. This can replace one AP Test in our current offer.

We can consider other qualification combinations on a case-by-case basis, as assessed by our Admissions Team.

Advanced Placement Tests (APs) -
The standard entry requirement for applicants with American qualifications is Advanced Placement Tests. You will need grades of 3-5 in at least 2 AP Tests. Some subjects require subject-specific APs, please review individual course pages for more information.

SAT -
Score of 1040-1200 overall in the New SAT reasoning test with one AP grade 3-5. Some subjects require subject-specific APs, please review individual course pages for more information.

ACT -
Composite score of 21-27 in the ACT Examinations (including the ACT writing test) with one AP grade 3-5. Some subjects require subject-specific APs, please review individual pages for more information.

A Levels & International Baccalaureate (IB) -
If you have taken A levels or the IB Diploma you will be considered for direct entry onto our undergraduate programmes. Specific grade requirements are in the course finder entry for your chosen course.

Associate Degree -
Associate Degree with a GPA of at least 3.0 (year 1 entry; year 2 entry may be considered by a case by case basis).

College Board number -
If you need to send us official transcripts of your standardised tests please quote Royal Holloway's College Board number (CEEB number) 4899.