I chose English with Creative Writing at Lancaster University because of its highly regarded reputation and the flexibility of the Creative Writing course. Being a writer has always been a life-long aspiration of mine and so far my experience of the course has been extremely positive; the way Creative Writing seminars are organised mean that you have plenty of time and feedback to help you develop as a writer and hopefully one day have some of your work published.
Both English Literature and Creative Writing lectures are overwhelmingly interesting and informative, and the members of the teaching staff here are easily approachable and ready to help. I unfortunately became ill within the first few weeks of my time here and as a result found it difficult to keep up with the work set. Luckily for me the members of staff were very understanding and with their help, and the help of the university counselling service I was able to catch up. In conclusion, when my first year on the course is over, I will certainly be looking forward to my next two.
Ibby Brown
BA Hons in the Department of English & Creative Writing, June 2009
Shakespeare 306: “Rich language, thrilling plot twists, captivating characters and some of the most hilarious scenarios you’ll every encounter. This course is an exhilarating exploration into the depths of some of Shakespeare’s finest works and if it’s an adventure you’re after then this is certainly the course for you. During the course you will experience the heartbreak of the bitterest tragedy, the merriment of the sweetest comedy and appreciate first-hand the sheer genius of the greatest writer in the English language. There are always courses that you envy people for not yet having completed, because of the pleasure that awaits them. This is definitely one.”
Women Writers 302: “A fascinating journey of discovery that gives a voice to many silenced women, this course explores a range of genres in order to gain a rich understanding of how women have re-written ‘his’tory. The life-writing is a truly remarkable read, whilst the romance section allows you to gain a real appreciation of a female perspective and the history and fantasy section present fertile ground for exploration. This course is exceptionally varied, yet a common factor that unites all the writers’ is their ability to write with a vivacity and exuberance that proves irresistible. A thrilling and innovative course and one that I feel genuinely privileged to have studied.”
Christiana Mangold
BA Hons in the Department of English & Creative Writing, June 2009
I have recently graduated from Lancaster University with a BA Hons in English Literature. I chose Lancaster not only for its fantastic reputation but the amazing support and friendliness of the University and Staff.
Throughout my time in the English Department I have thoroughly enjoyed all my courses not only the topics covered, but the continuous enthusiasm of the staff for their subjects. They are always supportive, encouraging and sometimes utterly hilarious. Yet, no matter how busy they are they always make time for a chat. I have been given a great deal of support and encouragement by the staff in the department and I will always be grateful to them for making me challenge myself further than I thought possible. With such a close-knit faculty their dedication and encouragement is paramount to the success of the Department and the students.
The diversity of the course increases as you progress, but it all remains intrinsically linked and you find yourself linking it all together in one way or another – you even manage to apply Freudian theory to everything in the end! I got to study some fantastic modules in Shakespeare, Victorian Gothic and Children’s Literature and seminars were always a joy as everyone was so eager – we always overran as we had too much to say!
All in all I couldn’t recommend the Department or the University enough. I have loved my time there and only wish it could’ve lasted longer.
Suzanne Askew
BA in the Department of English & Creative Writing, June 2009
“I have just graduated from Lancaster, after studying English Literature for three years. I chose Lancaster partly because of the structure of the course and the reputation of the department. I loved every moment of my time at university and I was particularly encouraged by the dedication of my lecturers to high levels of teaching and research, and the help that they gave me. Once I had a firm base in Romanticism and Victorian Literature in the second year I felt that I could build on this by taking half units such as Victorian Gothic, Other Victorians and the Byron and Shelley circle. I found these courses really inspiring and stimulating and at times even amusing, such as a turtle escaping in our Other Victorians' seminar.
“The highlight of the course was writing my dissertation about how Christ is transformed and inverted within Modernism; I really enjoyed researching my selected topic, engaging with literary theory and discussing my dissertation with peers and academic staff. The course challenged me to explore and write about authors whom I had previously found difficult, obtuse or boring, and I even started to like and appreciate D.H Lawrence by the end of my dissertation!
“As well as being part of the English and Creative writing department, I was very involved in the Christian Union society on campus, running on the exec and helping to organise their meetings and larger events. I also got stuck into a local church in Lancaster where I met lots of lovely and interesting people and helped out doing children's work there, and serving Danish pastries. I am looking forward to returning to Lancaster in a year to do a Masters, part time, in Romantic and Victorian Literature.”
Genevieve Seward
BA Hons 1st class in the Department of English & Creative Writing, June 2010
During my three years with the department, the possibilities of the subject were really opened up through the diverse scope of literature available in first year. The cross-section of reading from all periods and cultures gives much insight into what you want to specialise in for second and third years. Two of my favourite modules in third year were Sally Bushell's 'Where Do Poems Come From? Process, Manuscripts and Texts'- a course that gave us access to some fascinating manuscripts from the Romantic era, and Alison Findlay's 'Ceremony and Performance in Shakespearean Drama'- a completely unique, practically based module, inspiring a very creative approach to Shakespearean texts.
Above and beyond the rich and varied syllabus, the whole faculty in the English and Creative Writing Department were incredibly supportive throughout, caring for students on a one-to-one basis as well as ensuring the progress of all. Picture: Genevieve at the results party, seeing her first-class degree result.
The National Student Survey is an annual census of student opinion that has run since 2005. The survey asks final year undergraduates to provide feedback on their courses in a nationally recognised format. In the 2009 Survey, the Department of English & Creative Writing had a 97% rating for overall satisfaction.
I chose English with Creative Writing at Lancaster University because of its highly regarded reputation and the flexibility of the Creative Writing course. Being a writer has always been a life-long aspiration of mine and so far my experience of the course has been extremely positive; the way Creative Writing seminars are organised mean that you have plenty of time and feedback to help you develop as a writer and hopefully one day have some of your work published. 
“I have just graduated from Lancaster, after studying English Literature for three years. I chose Lancaster partly because of the structure of the course and the reputation of the department. I loved every moment of my time at university and I was particularly encouraged by the dedication of my lecturers to high levels of teaching and research, and the help that they gave me. Once I had a firm base in Romanticism and Victorian Literature in the second year I felt that I could build on this by taking half units such as Victorian Gothic, Other Victorians and the Byron and Shelley circle. I found these courses really inspiring and stimulating and at times even amusing, such as a turtle escaping in our Other Victorians' seminar. 
During my three years with the department, the possibilities of the subject were really opened up through the diverse scope of literature available in first year. The cross-section of reading from all periods and cultures gives much insight into what you want to specialise in for second and third years. Two of my favourite modules in third year were Sally Bushell's 'Where Do Poems Come From? Process, Manuscripts and Texts'- a course that gave us access to some fascinating manuscripts from the Romantic era, and Alison Findlay's 'Ceremony and Performance in Shakespearean Drama'- a completely unique, practically based module, inspiring a very creative approach to Shakespearean texts. 
