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Hull’s been called the country’s “most poetic city”. Renowned poets and writers from Andrew Marvell to Philip Larkin, Stevie Smith to Tom Paulin, J.R.R. Tolkien to Winifred Holtby, all have ties to the University and city.
We’ll teach you how to harness the power of words to bring about positive change. You’ll work on real-world projects, and study global literature from medieval to contemporary.
Our current writing scene is buzzing. Join our thriving English Society and engage with world-leading authors. And share your unique voice at regular open mics and in student-run magazines.
About this course
You’ll hone your writing craft through practical workshops and seminar discussions. Developing core skills in characterisation, storytelling and creating a sense of place. And you'll experiment with different genres and forms. From fantasy and science fiction, to scriptwriting and short stories, to poetry and non-fiction.
You’ll also gain a solid grounding in English and American literature. From the medieval and Renaissance eras through to #MeToo and Black Lives Matter. You’ll cover a wide range of poetry, short fiction, drama and novels. And you’ll debate urgent issues including the environment and social justice.
There's a lot to get involved in outside of the lecture theatre, too. You can join our active, student-led English Society and HUWrites. HUWrites provides a platform for performance with showcases and student-led podcasts. You’ll also get the chance to design, edit and publish with our in-house magazines, Document 1 and Hull Scribbler.
Want to make your mark? Here's a pen
Module options
Each year, you’ll study modules worth a certain number of credits, and you need 120 credits per year. Most modules are 20 credits – so you’ll study six modules each year. Some longer modules, such as a dissertation, are worth more. In these cases, you’ll study fewer modules - but the number of credits will always add up to 120. Some modules are compulsory, some are optional, so you can build a course that’s right for you.
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The Writer’s Toolkit
The Universe is made of stories, not of atoms’ – Muriel Rukeyser. This module will help you to nourish the writer within you, and introduce you to the key concepts that will allow your imagination to flourish through writing exercises, workshops and advice from published writers.
compulsory
20 credits
Facts into Art
Discover how to convert real life into good storytelling. Extend your creative writing skills by generating ideas from daily life, and crafting them into well-conceived, skilled pieces.
compulsory
20 credits
Poetry, Performance, Play
Do you love the sound of words, the rhythm of poetry and the power of the human voice? Then this module is for you. Join us to learn how to craft your words into shape as you play with form and perform your own monologues, sonnets, haiku and more, letting your words travel out through the dark.
compulsory
20 credits
Just Read
Looking to develop your passion for reading? In this module, you’ll get the chance to work with tutors to create a personalised reading list, exploring texts that challenge and inspire you.
By analysing these texts and their historical contexts, you’ll improve your reading skills, deepen your understanding of literature, and enhance your critical awareness, while preparing for more complex concepts to come.
If you're ready to reconnect with literature and build the skills to thrive, this module is made for you.
compulsory
20 credits
Emotional and Artificial Intelligence
Explore two of the most critical issues of today: artificial intelligence (AI) and emotional intelligence (EQ). Learn to use generative AI tools like MS Copilot and critique their societal impacts, including challenges in academia and ethics. Explore EQ through literature and film, developing skills in empathy, critical thinking, and emotional management. Equip yourself for the future of work and life in an AI-driven world.
compulsory
20 credits
Transforming Stories
Study key concepts like adaptation, appropriation, and intertextuality, examining how literature transforms existing stories. Explore texts like Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Chaucer, and Shakespeare to see how myths and narratives are reworked across time and cultures. This module incorporates feminist, postcolonial, and LGBTQ+ perspectives and encourages creating creative responses, blending English Literature and Creative Writing.
compulsory
20 credits
The Storyteller’s Art
Write your own tales of transformation and adventure, drawing on the world’s greatest stories studied in this module.
core
20 credits
Green Thoughts, Blue Stories: Literature and the Environment
Explore environmental issues, focusing on 'green' (land) and 'blue' (sea) themes. Analyse Anglophone eco-writing, including Native Indian and Indigenous perspectives, and texts on pollution, climate change, and sustainability, such as Juliet Blaxland’s The Easternmost House and W. G. Sebald’s Rings of Saturn. This module fosters cross-cultural and creative approaches to global environmental crises.
compulsory
20 credits
Scriptwriting
Want to see your story come to life on stage or screen? This module is your chance to make it happen.
You’ll dive into key elements like story, plot, character development, dialogue, structure, and adaptation.
You'll hone your skills in giving and receiving feedback, refining your craft, and growing as a writer.
You’ll work closely with other creatives, sharing ideas, inspiring each other and pushing one another to reach your full potential.
By the end, you'll have the tools and experience to turn your ideas into powerful scripts that can captivate audiences. Ready to bring your story to life? So are we.
optional
20 credits
Who decides the must-read books? You do.
Featured module- compulsory
- 20 credits
Looking to develop your passion for reading? In this module, you’ll get the chance to work with tutors to create a personalised reading list, exploring texts that challenge and inspire you.
By analysing these texts and their historical contexts, you’ll improve your reading skills, deepen your understanding of literature, and enhance your critical awareness, while preparing for more complex concepts to come.
If you're ready to reconnect with literature and build the skills to thrive, this module is made for you.
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Watchlist
Dr Ed Hurst
Course overview
2 mins
Your course in their words
Student Story
2 mins
Your course in their words
Student Story
2 mins
Life on campus
University life
2 mins
Our academics
You’re taught by published poets, fiction writers, scriptwriters and scholars. People who bring their expertise, creativity and passion into everything you learn.
We’re part of the Larkin Centre research group. In REF 2021, 93% of our research was ranked world-leading or internationally excellent.3
Dr Chris Westoby
Lecturer
Chris’s debut novel, The Fear Talking: The True Story of a Young Man and Anxiety, explores his personal experiences of growing up with anxiety. He lectures in creative writing, gives guest lectures on mental health, and teaches reflective writing.
Kathleen McKay
Lecturer
Kath is a fiction writer and poet. She has published two novels, two full poetry collections and one poetry booklet, while her short stories have been anthologised and broadcast. Kath has won awards for poetry, short stories and a crime novel.
Entry Requirements
Fees & Funding
How much is it?
Future prospects
Hull counts poets Douglas Dunn and Roger McGough among its alumni. But an English and Creative Writing degree doesn’t just pave the way for a literary career. It trains you to analyse, research and communicate at a very high level. The ability to showcase a creative mind through writing is a rare skill and highly valuable to employers.
Our graduates develop skills that are prized in many professions, and acquire the adaptability to flourish in various arenas. They’ve gone on to work for a wide range of public and private sector companies and organisations, like East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Sainsbury, Marks and Spencer, the Ministry of Justice, and more.
Become part of the next generation of futuremakers
Like what you've seen? Then it's time to apply.
The standard way is to apply through UCAS. This will give you the chance to showcase your skills qualities and passion for the subject, as well as providing us with your academic qualifications.
Not ready to apply yet?
Visit our next Open Day, and see all that Hull has to offer for yourself. Talk to our lecturers about your subject, find out what university is really like from our current students, and take a tour of our beautiful campus and amazing facilities.
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Creative Writing is ranked number 1 in the UK (HEIs) for teaching on my course. National Student Survey (NSS) 2024, HEIs only.
Creative Writing is ranked in 1st place for Student Satisfaction (out of 50 institutions.). Complete University Guide 2025
All modules presented on this course page are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.