English and Creative Writing

English and Creative Writing is a combination that develops two deeply related and mutually enriching pursuits. English literature trains you to read closely, to understand how texts are constructed and what they mean in their historical and cultural contexts, and to write analytically about the full range of literary production in the language. Creative writing extends that literary awareness into practice, teaching you to write with craft and intentionality, to develop your own voice, and to produce work in a range of forms including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and scripts.

The disciplines strengthen each other, as the close reader becomes a more attentive writer and the practising writer becomes a more discerning reader.

At Teesside University, this four-year, full-time programme includes a foundation year that introduces students to the academic and intellectual culture of higher education, exploring social science disciplines, research methods, academic standards, and the personal development skills that underpin successful university study. The main programme then takes you through English literature and creative writing, building both your analytical understanding of texts and your creative practice across a range of forms and contexts. You will develop the study and transferable skills that are relevant to your studies and to your future career, working towards a graduate profile that combines literary knowledge with creative capability.

Graduates of English and Creative Writing work in publishing, journalism, media, teaching, communications, public relations, copywriting, and the arts. Many build portfolio careers that combine creative practice with professional employment, while others move into roles in the cultural sector, education, or public communication. Postgraduate study in creative writing, English literature, or education is a common path for those who wish to develop specialist academic or creative expertise.

The combination of analytical and creative skills is broadly valued across any profession that depends on the ability to work with language purposefully and well.