English and Creative Writing

English and Creative Writing is a combination that works because reading and writing are not separate activities but aspects of a single sustained engagement with language and meaning. The close, critical study of literary texts develops your understanding of how writers make decisions about form, voice, structure and tone, while the practice of writing yourself demands that you face those same decisions and develop your own judgments about them. The two disciplines sharpen each other, producing graduates who can both analyse and make literature.

At Teesside University, this programme is delivered through distance learning in part-time mode, making it accessible to students who need a flexible approach to their studies. You will develop close reading techniques across a range of texts and genres, from novels, poetry and drama to non-fiction and experimental writing, engaging with the critical approaches that allow you to interpret and evaluate what you read. Alongside this, you will develop your own creative practice across multiple forms, learning to write with greater range, control and awareness of craft.

The distance learning format means you can study from wherever you are, engaging with course materials, seminars and creative workshops online without needing to be physically present on campus.

Graduates of English and Creative Writing programmes develop strong analytical and communication skills that transfer across a wide range of professional contexts. Many go on to careers in publishing, journalism, copywriting, content creation, education, arts administration, and the broader creative industries. Others develop as independent writers, often combining creative work with other professional roles.

The skills in critical reading, persuasive writing and creative thinking that the degree develops are valued in virtually every sector. Postgraduate study in creative writing, English literature, or journalism is a natural next step for those who want to deepen their expertise.