English literature and creative writing degrees

At Brighton you’ll use writing to investigate and challenge ideas, and explore diverse texts and their contexts, and develop your own writing and critical skills.

We take a decolonised approach to literature that is progressive and contemporary, while celebrating the historical and cultural contexts of writing. This means you might study early modern literature and Shakespeare, as well as examining Black British literature and issues such as identity and diversity.

Our creative writing degrees will guide you in crafting your writing skills so that you can create work for a variety of genres, opening your options to work across many rewarding creative industries. Whether you dream of writing novels, working as a scriptwriter or copywriting for an advertising agency, at Brighton our module choices and experienced lecturers will support you in realising your goals.

Trips, research projects and hands-on opportunities connect theory with practice and enable you to develop as a confident thinker and writer.

Undergraduate degrees

Opportunities to specialise

Our Creative Writing BA and English Literature BA degree courses offer the opportunity to focus on a specialist subject. From year 2 of your course you can choose a specialist pathway, or carry on with your more general degree for a broad view of the subject along with your choice of option modules.

On our specialist pathways, you'll focus on your specialist subject through core modules and the option modules you choose, and you'll graduate with that subject in your degree title.

Our pathways at the end of year 1 are:

Postgraduate degrees

PhD courses

At Brighton, we are keen to support innovative PhD students working on different approaches to creative practice. We have over 30 creative writing PhD students exploring a diverse range of styles and genres and who are using distinct research approaches to push and evolve writing boundaries.

We also have research centres and groups which focus on the school's particular strength in arts and wellbeing; memory, narrative and histories; decolonisation; and sexuality and gender.

Meet us

Humanities and social science degree courses

Why study an English literature and creative writing degree at Brighton

Focus on your interests

You'll be able to shape your course, choosing modules that appeal to you and that match your personal interests and career ambitions.

This means our graduates go on to fulfilling careers across sectors from publishing to the media.

A group of students facing their teacher in a field

Learning in and outside the classroom

Meet and learn from visiting writers and publishing professionals. There'll also be opportunities for field trips and working on projects within the community, in a city celebrated for its culture.

You can also get involved in activities with the student-led Creative Writing Society.

Staff member talking to two students in a garden

Staff who bring the subject to life

You'll learn from academics passionate about the field, whose innovative research in literature, creative writing, media, linguistics and language reflects in your classroom experience.

Our team includes award-winning novelists, poets and scriptwriters.

Meet our students

Charlotte Kidd, English Literature and Creative Writing BA(Hons)

"This course has redefined my expectations of university. I am now not only confident in terms of career prospects, but my creative writing has taken new and exciting directions. I’m continually supported and inspired by the lecturers and staff who facilitate my creativity and writing. They encourage me to be bold with my work."

Theo Roe-Allen, Creative Writing BA(Hons)

"Studying Creative Writing at Brighton has given me an enormous boost in confidence. The opportunity to share my work with peers, and to engage with other people has been incredibly valuable in developing my skills. As an aspiring novelist this course has exceeded my expectations in giving me the knowledge and tools needed to improve my writing."

Julie Rae, Creative Writing MA

"The course has been invaluable to my creative practice, and I’ve loved every second. I’m not just a better writer, but an intentional one who experiments with form and language. I also have a deeper understanding of critical theory. Because of the research and skills I’ve gained, and the support I’ve received from lecturers, I’ve had the confidence to apply to study for a PhD at Brighton"

What jobs can I do with an English literature or creative writing degree or masters?

Many of the skills you’ll gain are transferable, so there are many jobs where your qualification would be useful.

10 jobs you could do with a literature or creative writing degree course or masters.

Editor
Copywriter
Screenwriter
Novelist
Content manager
Social media manager
Advertising creative
Press officer
Journalist
Teacher

Explore more

Follow our Humanities and Social Science blog

Read the latest news from across all subjects in the school and hear about upcoming events.

School of Humanities and Social Science

Find out about the school in which our literature and creative writing degrees are based.

Built-in careers advice

As well as targeted workshops, we have an annual employability event where you can meet employers and attend advice sessions and presentations by graduates and speakers.

What's going on at Brighton?

My study exchange experience

Many of the courses in the School of Humanities and Social Science offer an opportunity to study abroad for a semester in the second year.

University of Brighton ranked among top 4% of universities worldwide

The University of Brighton has earned a place among the world’s leading universities.

Literature student helps spread the love of reading

Blathnaid Burns, an English Literature BA(Hons) student, recently helped deliver the university’s Read to Succeed programme.

Bestselling author helps Brighton Creative Writing students prepare for careers at final year showcase

Brighton-based author Dorothy Koomson helped inspire the next generation of writers as University of Brighton Creative Writing students marked the end of their degrees with a final-year showcase designed to celebrate their work and kickstart their creative careers.