Department of English

Imagine a world without fiction or creative writing

There would be no myths and legends, no fairy tales at children’s bedtime, no novels or short stories, no fan fiction or romance literature, no films or television dramas or video games, no song lyrics, or memoirs.

We wouldn’t know ourselves — because reading and writing help us understand who we are as individuals and societies.

Studying English literature or Creative Writing enables you to explore what it means to be human, and to engage with and write about the lived experiences of others in the world. Our academics are at the forefront of cultural change, innovation, and new forms of thinking. We publish widely across literary studies and creative writing. Our research focuses on creative practice, and global written and visual cultures, English literary traditions and genres from the medieval to the digital age.