Five reasons to study English literature and creative writing at Surrey
What makes our degrees in English literature and creative writing different from the rest? Our academics run through five reasons why you should choose Surrey as your first choice for a degree this September.
The staff on my course are brilliant. The literature academics and creative writers know their areas so well and are excited to share and build their knowledge with their students.
Leon, English Literature with Creative Writing BA (Hons) student1. Taught by experts as practitioners in the field
Our academics are all published writers, researchers and poets, renowned in their chosen specialisms.
James Wilkes joins us as Poet in Residence for 2026. James is a poet, writer and educator who is interested in creating experiments and situations where people can play with words in new ways. His own work has been inspired by the archives of the Pioneer Health Centre, ancient landscapes in Dorset and Orkney, and translations of Old English riddles and Renaissance songs. Students engage with guest authors on campus, including most recently, crime writers Tom Hindle and Leon Craig.
The modules offer a chance to explore things that are not necessarily in the ‘canon’ of English literature - we study politics, ideologies, history, philosophy and so much more!
Emma, English Literature BA (Hons) student2. Facilities
The Surrey Library is open 24/7 during term time. It is also home to Archives and Special Collections, which curates over 100 collections to support study and research, including several of the renowned illustrator EH Shepard (Winnie-the-Pooh and The Wind in the Willows).
Newly refurbished podcast and publishing rooms sit in the heart of our facilities; Surrey is also home to the independent publisher Veer Books.
3. Rankings
- The University of Surrey is ranked in the UK's top 5 [4th] for English in the Daily Mail University Guide 2026.
- Both creative writing and literature in English are in the UK's top 15 for overall student satisfaction* in the 2026 National Student Survey.
* Measured by % positivity based on Q1-24 for all institutions listed in the Guardian University Guide league tables.
4. Experiential learning
Our learning steps outside the classroom wherever possible, with class visits to the London Anime and Gaming Convention, Watts's Gallery, Warner Brothers’ Studios ‘The Making of Harry Potter’, visits to historic sites, museum exhibitions, local queer history tours and an annual literary tour of London. Staff and students also had a presence at the GAIN Gaming convention in Guildford for 2026 as well as at the 2026 Guildford Gaming conference.
5. Events
We thrive on hosting events which are exciting and relevant to our students and the wider literary world. In 2025, our Poetry Festival showcased work from our undergraduate and masters students, as well as International Poets including the last reading from Tim Atkins before his retirement.
The Surrey Writers’ Festival invites the best established and up and coming authors to campus to explore the theme of ‘Crime’ – through readings, round table discussions and panel interviews. Our highlight of summer 2025 was hosting a special two-day tribute to 250 years of Jane Austen, complete with new adaptation of Mansfield Park performed by Guildford School of Acting (GSA) students, topped only by the 2026 celebration of the Bronte sisters, featuring a newly adapted stage version of Villette, performed by GSA actors.
Explore our English literature and creative writing programmes.
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