Welcome to English Literature and Creative Writing

Studying English Literature encourages the exploration of one of the most diverse, stimulating and challenging of disciplines. It cultivates sensitivity towards language and seeks to answer some provocative questions. Our courses cover the entire range of English literature, from the early-Medieval period to the present day, while also developing your knowledge of critical theory and the diversity of approaches to literature. 

The Creative Writing programme at Swansea is in the top rank of British writing programmes.  Led by a team of acclaimed writers, it offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in an exceptionally broad spectrum of writing genres and skills. Wales has a rich lyric tradition, and the programme prides itself in combining Welsh, British and international dimensions. It draws students from all over the world – recent participants include people from the USA, Canada, Nigeria, Norway, India, Bhutan, Spain, France, Australia and China. 

Swansea is the birthplace of one of the 20th Century’s greatest poets, Dylan Thomas, and the university runs the annual International Dylan Thomas literary prize – the world’s richest award for writers under 40. This link with the literary industry is at the heart of Swansea’s Creative Writing programme, bringing students into contact with agents, editors, publishers, writers, performers, and producers.