Creative Writing Literature, Language, Linguistics

School of Humanities

News and events from the University of Brighton's Humanities programme areas

Thinking about choosing an English, linguistics or creative writing degree?

Here are a set of short videos by academic staff who teach literature, language, linguistics and creative writing exploring some of the subjects we teach and/or the approaches we use.

Anticipation for Rebecca by Suzi Bamblett

A Creative Writing MA graduate who’s about to publish her debut novel has had an article published on the Daphne du Maurier website, her favourite writer, ahead of the Netflix adaptation of the famous book.

Did you know our English students can get one-to-one support from professional writers?

This year the University of Brighton has two Royal Literary Fund Fellows, published writers Julia Crouch and Dr Hannah Vincent – students can book sessions to focus on their specific writing needs, from essay planning to structuring an argument, to critical thinking, to rewriting and editing.

Exploring claims to Beethoven’s legacy

Humanities researcher Dr Aakanksha Virkar Yates appears on a BBC Radio 3 documentary this Friday 25 September (midday) to discuss Beethoven’s artistic and philosophical legacy and his influence on politics in the early 20th century.

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New book by lecturer explores the dialogue of online sex

Online Sex Talk and the Social World: Mediated Desire by Chrystie Myketiak investigates online conversations about desire that take place in one community over an 18 month period.

My Clearing journey: Humanities graduate Olivia Weatherill

“I’d known I’d wanted to go to university very early on as a teenager.”

“My degree gave me a unique perspective on writing and creating that I still reflect upon”

When she graduated, alumna Cat van Maanen put her Media and English Literature course learning to immediate practice setting up Conker Magazine.

“It felt safe for me to be my authentic self for the first time and be automatically accepted for that too”

George Green graduated in English Language and Linguistics in 2014 – he told the university’s alumni team about his experience.

Think Humanities courses aren’t vocational enough? British Academy report says otherwise

Qualified for the Future (May 2020) demonstrates the tangible benefits of skills developed in the arts, humanities and social sciences to the UK workforce, economy and society, not only now but in the future.

Keep moving forward – Clearing 2020

If you thought you knew where you were headed but you’re considering a change of direction, Clearing 2020 is the moment for you to take another look at your plans before you decide.

Decolonising the Curriculum Issue 3

A new issue of Decolonising the Curriculum, teaching and learning about race equality, is out now. Content is written by University of Brighton staff, students and alumni.

Meet the staff: Jess Moriarty

Dr Jess Moriarty is leader for the Creative Writing programme and course leader for Creative Writing MA and English Literature and Creative Writing BA(Hons) .

Nothing’s Changed, a poem by Veneta Neale

Hear work from MA Creative Writing student Veneta Neale performed by Michael R Bowes.

Why do I want to decolonise our curriculum?

I have just handed in my dissertation to complete my BA in English Literature.

Meet the staff: Vedrana Velickovic

Dr Vedrana Velickovic is a Principal Lecturer in Literature and teaches across modules on single and joint honours degrees in English Literature, Creative Writing, Media and English Language.

Meet the staff: Stephen Maddison

Professor Stephen Maddison is head of the School of Humanities.

In conversations: Jess Moriarty and Veneta Neale

Watch Creative Writing lecturer Dr Jess Moriarty in conversation with current MA Creative Writing student and BA(Hons) Creative Writing graduate Veneta Neale.

Dr John McCullough, creative writing lecturer wins major literary prize

John’s poetry collection, Reckless Paper Birds, has won this year’s £15,000 Hawthornden prize for literature.

munroe bergdorf photographed by evening standard

English Language and Media graduate Munroe Bergdorf signs major book deal

Bloomsbury has won an 11-way auction to publish the first book by the model, activist and writer who studied English Language and Media at Brighton.

Live Q&A with BAME creatives hosted by English students gets over 2.4k views

Usually at the end of their practice module students host an event of presentations, speakers and networking – but this year due to COVID19, they hosted a successful online event which included a Facebook Q&A with black, Asian and minority ethnic creatives.

Creative Writing MA graduate publishes second novel

Patricia Osborne is a novelist, poet, and short story writer who graduated from the University of Brighton in 2019 and is just about to publish her second novel, The Coal Miner’s Son.

Got questions before you start at Brighton?

We have put together the most frequently asked questions from our recent School of Humanities online Q&A.

Join our School of Humanities online Q&A event: Thurs 30 April, 1-3pm

Got any questions about studying the Humanities at Brighton? If you’re an applicant or thinking of applying then sign up for our online chat with lecturers from English, philosophy, politics, globalisation, history and history of art and design.

Apply now for new £2,500 international scholarships

For academic year 2020-21 we’re launching international scholarships available to new full-time international students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught degrees holding an offer.

Careers advice from Head of Employability Clare Dawson.

Clare gives expert advice on employability, CVs, placements, dealing with knock-backs and how to ease the pressure of choosing your career path.

Language Attitudes, National Identity and Migration in Catalonia by Mandie Iveson

English language lecturer wins award for book

Mandie Iveson’s book Language Attitudes, National Identity and Migration in Catalonia has won the prestigious Premi Crítica Serra d’Or award.

Hacks from Literature student

English Literature student and online ambassador Misti has written a series of hacks that she has found useful during her time on the course.

The image is of a man addressing a crowd of students in a countryside setting

BBC Bitesize interview with Creative Writing lecturer about original ideas and how to find them

Is there such a thing as an original idea? Creative Writing senior lecturer Dr Craig Jordan-Baker is one of the contributors to the debate on BBC Bitesize.

Creative Writing lecturer celebrates debut novel

The Nacullians by Craig Jordan-Baker is a dark comedy that charts the tensions and traumas of one family and their relationship with the city they inhabit and is published in May this year.

English Lit student praised in Brighton Poetry Festival competition

Congratulations to Hazel Rogers whose poem Train Writing was runner up in the student category.

Come to Brighton Election Question Time!

On 5 December (6pm) join Caroline Lucas (Green MP, Brighton Pavilion), Joe Miller Conservative Candidate, Brighton Kemptown), Adam Imanpour (Labour Candidate, Brighton Pavilion) and Beatrice Bass (Liberal Democrat, Hove and Portslade) at Moulsecoomb Campus for a question time debate in the lead up to the General Election.

Creative Writing tutor is Costa Prize nominee

Dr John McCullough, lecturer on the University of Brighton’s Creative Writing MA, has had his new book Reckless Paper Birds shortlisted for the 2019 Costa Poetry Awards.

creative writing students who won poetry slam

Slam victory for students

University of Brighton creative writing and English literature students showcased their wondrous wordplay by triumphing over University of Sussex students in a festival poetry ‘slam’.

Student view: creative writing workshops

“Any writer knows that the most painful, but most rewarding part of writing is getting feedback. So, despite how terrifying it may sound, this process is unavoidable if you are doing a Creative Writing degree. But that’s not necessary a bad thing…” Chloe, English Literature and Creative Writing student.

John Bercow at the University of Brighton: “We degrade parliament at our peril”

Just before he stepped down as Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt Hon John Bercow MP launched an impassioned defence of the parliamentary system in a guest lecture.

Dr Jess Moriarty podcast

Listen to creative writing lecturer Jess discuss encouraging students to use their own life stories in their writing, working for the SU in her younger years, The Big Read, and her emotional moment with Munroe Bergdorf at this summer’s graduation ceremony.