Course summary

Overview Studying Creative Writing and English Literature at Worcester allows you to develop your skills as a writer while exploring literature from the sixteenth century to the present day. You'll explore how literature reflects, challenges, and influences society, analysing the techniques and approaches used by a range of authors whilst applying them to your own creative work. The majority of your learning will take place in small group seminars, meaning you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get to know your fellow students through close-reading activities and writing workshops. From your very first week, you’ll be able to network and continue doing so throughout your degree. You will also have the opportunity to participate in local and regional literature festivals, attend book discussions and open mic nights, and engage with Worcester’s vibrant literary community. You may also represent the University at national events such as UniSlam and take part in the Verve Poetry Festival. These experiences will support your creative development and help you build professional networks across the country. In your final year, you will undertake either a creative writing project or a literary dissertation, allowing you to take your interests further with a topic or genre of your choice. Our students have received recognition for the quality of their writing, with Creative Writing projects eligible for the Black Pear Press Prize for Fiction and the V. Press Prize for Poetry, and Literature dissertations considered for the Early Modern Research Group Prize for Interdisciplinary Research. You’ll study in – and explore the literary heritage of – an ancient Cathedral city steeped in history, having been the location of the final battle of the English Civil War. Our students benefit from research trips to the Cathedral Library, with its priceless collection of rare books and manuscripts, as well as the twelve miles of archives stored within our University library, The Hive. Key features

• Stand out with opportunities to win prizes such as the Black Pear Press prize for fiction, the V. press prize for poetry and the Early Modern Research Group prize.

• Opportunities to play an active role in local and regional literature festivals, related events and a work project module.

• Study diverse literatures emanating from the sixteenth through to present day – and encompassing both ‘canonical’ and ‘marginal’ texts

• Take part in regular open mic nights, hosted either by the University or Worcester's welcoming and vibrant writing community.

• Experience in writing for a range of digital, print, audio, visual and performance platforms.