Welcome to your English Literature and Creative Writing course

Welcome to University of Staffordshire

We know you're already passionate about your subject, which is why we're excited you've chosen University of Staffordshire as the place to turn possibility into reality.

To give you an insight into what life as an English Literature and Creative Writing student is like, your course leaders have prepared introductions to the course and further activities.

A big hello from your English and Creative Writing Team

Welcome to English and Creative Writing at Staffordshire University and congratulations on securing your place with us.

We’re really looking forward to meeting you and exploring the exciting world of literature and writing with you over the next 3 years.

There is a busy programme of activities over Welcome Week, with plenty of opportunities for you to get to know the team and your fellow first years. There are sessions which introduce you to essential things you need to know, social opportunities and a chance to start the work on the course.

See you in September

Mel, Philippa, Steve and Mark

First activity

In the first few weeks we will be exploring the beginnings of The Story of English and introducing key aspects of The Craft of Writing (2 of your 1^st year modules). Reading will be provided for you when you arrive. We will also be providing you with the books you need for the first year of the course.

Course Delivery

We are really looking forward to welcoming you to your classes. Group sizes are small to help you learn in a relaxed and supportive environment. You will be set reading and writing tasks for the weeks ahead once we get into the term. We will also issue you with your free book packs.

You will be allocated a member of staff who will be your Academic Mentor for the duration of your degree. They will help you to navigate your first few weeks at uni and to support you in your learning and your academic and career ambitions.

We teach entirely via workshops (which combine lectures and seminar tasks) so that you can put what you learn straight in to practice.

All of our classes are in-person, on campus, with a member of staff to guide your study, and with a break for coffee (cake is optional). There are weekly opportunities for you to have one-to-ones with your tutors to help you with classes and prepare for assessments.

Before you start

There are many things you can be doing to prepare yourself for studying literature and writing.

Dip into David Lodge’s The Art of Fiction (a series of very short and accessible essays on how literature works).

Why not start a daily writing diary in which you challenge yourself to observe with care and write about one thing (object, place, phenomena) that you have not written about before. Try to encompass all 5 senses in your pieces of writing about your chosen point of focus. Think of it a little bit like a sketchbook, but for writing.

Try to draft and edit these pieces as you go along.

Listen to this podcast on Shakespeare’s sonnets https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000x6tr

Or try out some of the tricks explored by the writers talking about writing in this podcast

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00187qz

Larger texts on our first-year modules include Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte and Nineteen Eighty-four by George Orwell. You will receive free copies of these but perhaps you could borrow a copy from a library and read ahead over summer?

Equipment needed

You will need access to Office 365 (provided free through the University and available on all University computers and loan laptops). You can download this and install it on your own laptop for free.

Download software

Course Trips

We are arranging a series of trips to the theatre and sites of cultural interest.

See our previous trips

Groups and societies

The Students’ Union has a club or society for every taste and interest – from sports teams to folklore.

English and Creative Writing students have recently started a Creative Writing society with other students from across the university. They would love you to join and help out.

https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/staffscws/

We also have the Media Mixer for creatives to find their team – you’ll be able to meet up with actors, film-makers, sound designers, animators and many others to collaborate with.

View all societies

Open Mic evenings

We have regular Open Mic evenings, held in the Drama Studio, where students and staff can share their own or their favourite work; there is always music and often comedy. If you don’t fancy reading, you can just grab a drink and support your fellow students.

Meet the team

Dr Melanie Ebdon

Senior Lecturer

I am a Senior Lecturer in Literary Studies and Course Leader for the English Literature & Creative Writing degree. I teach across a variety of modules but my research interest is in contemporary British novel-writing.

Melanie's profile

Dr Mark Brown

Course Director

As well as being Course Leader for English and Creative Writing, Mark teaches on First Year core modules and American literature modules on Crime Fiction, the Contemporary, Modernism and Beat Writing. He also supervises MA and PhD students.

Mark's profile

Steve Hollyman

Senior Lecturer

I am a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing (Fiction) with an interest in experimental ergodic literature – both print and digital.

Steve's profile

Amy Blaney

P/T Lecturer (Hrly)-English & Creative W

What to expect on Welcome Week

We're so excited for you to join us on campus and to welcome you to where you matter. During your welcome week you'll be able to meet our friendly student services teams, connect with new friends, join societies, explore on-campus venues attend club nights and much more.