Creative Writing and English Literature

If you are a passionate reader who enjoys a broad spectrum of books, from Shakespeare to Postmodern fiction, and who also likes the idea of tapping into your own creative energy to craft it into poetry, plays or prose, then this is the perfect place to do it.

Our Creative Writing and English Literature degree offers an exploration of literary and creative writing in a rich combination of critical theory and practical workshops.

The Creative Writing modules enable you to enhance your skills and evolve as an individual writer at your own pace and in your own way, while discovering how your own writing relates to the wider realms of literary and cultural context.

In English Literature, study is wide-ranging as you investigate how literature works through a close reading of modern and traditional literature, cultural and critical analysis, and writing in different genres.

The course seeks to move you progressively through a structured series of writing assignments and exercises, working on all genres of writing in the first year, and then allowing you to specialise in Years 2 and 3.

Your work develops in a workshop environment bolstered by positive critical encouragement and direction throughout. Additional guidance is given on audience (for example, editor, agent or publisher) where appropriate.

In Year 2, the focus becomes more specific with a choice of modules that concentrate on elements of different genres such as writing for children, media writing, poetry, song and play, film and TV script. English Literature modules involve studying a group of texts representative of a period of history, a particular genre or a particular area of the world.

In Year 3, the modules look increasingly at the relationships between writing and the world beyond the University, exploring publishing, producing, community audiences, writing and teaching. There is also an opportunity to work on an extended creative project in your chosen genre with one-to-one supervision from an expert in this field. Modules tend to be closely related to the research interests of teaching staff and engage with cutting-edge developments in the discipline.

The course arms you with some fantastic transferable skills, such as confident and compelling storytelling, critical thinking and articulate expression. These abilities are valued in a variety of employment contexts including arts and entertainment as well as business and commerce.