Description

Creative Writing and English Language allows you to develop your own creative potential with words while also getting to grips with language and linguistics.

Creative Writing emphasises the importance of engaging with the wider world of literature in order to develop your own writing. You’ll have the opportunity to study brilliant writing from the past, as well as learning from contemporary creative practitioners. In the English Language modules, you will consider questions such as ‘what is language?’ and learn about how it is structured and articulated. You will have the choice of a range of modules giving you the opportunity to study topics such as how we convey meaning and how language varies according to different speakers and situations.

Creative Writing emphasises the importance of engaging with the wider world of literature in order to develop your own writing. You’ll have the opportunity to study brilliant writing from the past, as well as learning from contemporary creative practitioners. Our course is led by a team of exciting, award-winning writers, and we also have a lively programme of visiting writers and guest speakers. As a student here, you’ll be part of the York Centre for Writing, a hub for innovative new creative work with strong links to the wider literary community and to the publishing industry. 

Through events such as the York Literature Festival, our students benefit from studying and learning directly from internationally-acclaimed writers. Recent Festival and University guest writers have included Margaret Atwood; award-winning poets Simon Armitage and Daljit Nagra; Booker-nominated York novelist Fiona Mozley; innovative graphic novelist and illustrator Graham Rawle; and Bradford noir-writer A.A. Dhand. We also have regular visits from industry professionals and innovators, including agents, publishers and literary activists.

How does language allow us to express social identities and cultural values? In what way is language a psychological process? This programme explores these fascinating areas and much more by analysing real-life language. Our students organise a lively programme of languages and linguistics-related events, including guest speakers, trips, conferences and social activities with opportunities to be involved in staff research as a volunteer or paid researcher.

As part of this course you will have the opportunity to apply to study abroad in your second year in exciting destinations including Japan, North America, Poland, Spain or Sweden. Assessment is through a variety of methods including essays, presentations, online work, class tests and examinations. Popular careers for our graduates include teaching, publishing and journalism, advertising and marketing, management, IT, social work and speech and language therapy. Many of our graduates also go on to study at Postgraduate level.