Are you passionate about literature, creative writing or exploring the origins of language? Maybe you see your future in the world of drama and performance? Perhaps you are thinking about a teaching career or work in the civic sector?  At the University of Salford, our English courses enable you to explore and nurture diverse interests.

When you study an English course with us, you will be taught by expert tutors with a vast array of experience: our English Literature staff are passionate about both the historical and contemporary landscapes of literature; our Creative Writing tutors are publishing professionals; our Language academics apply their knowledge to sectors as diverse as the media and health; and our Drama practitioners are working playwrights and dramaturgs.

We offer a foundation year, undergraduate degrees, and master's programmes. 

You will be based at a green campus which is close to the cultural benefits of both Salford and Manchester and home to the New Adelphi Theatre and studios. If you study BA (Hons) Creative Writing (Multidiscipline) or BA (Hons) English and Film, you will also be working with our state-of-the-art facilities at MediaCity.

When studying with us, you will not just be a number; instead, you will be taught in small groups which provide the opportunity for meaningful discussion with your tutors and peers.

You will be able to specialise in the areas of English that interest you, and at the end of it all, you will graduate with a portfolio of work and the confidence that you will need to make an impact from day one of your new career. Our courses are flexible—you can combine modules in the disciplines of Creative Writing, Drama, English Language, and English Literature in a variety of ways by opting for our BA (Hons) English Multidiscipline degree.

Continue reading to find out where English at Salford could take you.

DID YOU KNOW...?

Undergraduate degrees

Spend three years exploring the areas of English which interest you most. 

All of our undergraduate degrees are available as a four-year programme with a Foundation Year. Our shared English Foundation Year brings together students from English, Drama, and Creative Writing and works to offer an introduction to the critical skills that you need to engage with culture and society in the twenty-first century.

Use the menu below to explore the different undergraduate courses available. 

What are you interested in? Find the right degree course for you...

Creative Writing

Foundation Year 

These four-year courses give you a general grounding in the area before you move on to specialise in your chosen subject.

Undergraduate 

Spend three years exploring the areas of English which interest you most. You’ll gain an understanding of the general skills you’ll need, and as you progress you’ll get the chance to shape your degree how you want to.

 

Drama and Film

Foundation Year 

These four-year courses give you a general grounding in the area before you move on to specialise in your chosen subject.

Undergraduate 

Spend three years exploring the areas of English which interest you most. You’ll gain an understanding of the general skills you’ll need, and as you progress you’ll get the chance to shape your degree how you want to.

 

English Language

Foundation Year 

These four-year courses give you a general grounding in the area before you move on to specialise in your chosen subject.

Undergraduate 

Spend three years exploring the areas of English which interest you most. You’ll gain an understanding of the general skills you’ll need, and as you progress you’ll get the chance to shape your degree how you want to.

 

English Literature

Foundation Year 

These four-year courses give you a general grounding in the area before you move on to specialise in your chosen subject.

Undergraduate 

Spend three years exploring the areas of English which interest you most. You’ll gain an understanding of the general skills you’ll need, and as you progress you’ll get the chance to shape your degree how you want to.

Postgraduate courses

Build on your undergraduate and work experiences so far to further develop your skills and job prospects in a specific area.

Are you an experienced creative writer looking for new ways to hone their craft? Do you want to establish a professional career as a novelist, publisher or journalist? Check out our forward-thinking MA in Creative Writing: Innovation and Experiment.  

If you live for literature and culture and want to deepen your understanding of the complex and often disturbing forces that shape our world, our MA Literature and Culture is the course for you. 

Frequently asked questions

What is the English, Creative Writing, and Drama scene like in Greater Manchester?

We are proud that Greater Manchester's literary and theatrical history is etched on the world map. Greater Manchester has produced iconic writers such as Thomas De Quincey, Howard Jacobson, Elizabeth Gaskell, Anthony Burgess, Jeanette Winterson, and Lemn Sissay.  

Regular live events, festivals, and open mic nights cover all genres and forms, and there are a variety of bookshops, libraries, and archives to be explored.  

Greater Manchester is also a thriving hub of theatre and performance: from large-scale, globally-touring productions to fringe theatre and experimental work, there are many opportunities to experience and share work.  

Do you have any social channels I can follow you on?

The English department has Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook accounts that you can follow: here, you can learn about the activities of our staff and students. 

You can also explore the department’s research on our blog and you can read student work on Writing at Salford—a website that showcases the very best work produced by students in the English Department. 

How can I best prepare for my studies at the University of Salford?

To prepare for your studies of English at Salford, you should focus on engaging with media and culture: for instance, if you are planning to explore English Literature, you should continue to read with a critical mindset, exploring the texts that interest you; if you are going to study English Language, make sure to observe the language that surrounds you, paying attention to how language is used in the world; if you are studying Creative Writing, we recommend that you keep working on your creative practice, developing a readymade store of work to draw on during your classes; or, if you are interested in studying Drama, you should attend as many plays as you can, whether in person or online.

What career pathways have Salford graduates followed?

By studying English, you develop a range of key skills relating to critical thinking, communication, research, and creative practice, each of which are vital within the twenty-first century. Collectively, these skills provide the groundwork for a large number of careers, including writing, public relations, teaching, journalism, and academia—to name just a few.

To support your development of key skills, our programmes include a work placement opportunity, meaning that you have access to work experience while you study with us.  

How are students supported as they progress from college level study to university level?

At Salford, we understand that the transition from studying at college to studying at university can be confronting and challenging. However, when you join us, you will become a part of an inclusive community which works to support you both personally and academically: for instance, every student within English has an Academic Tutor who will help you to achieve your goals; moreover, our Disability Inclusion Service can create a Reasonable Adjustment Plan (RAP) for you if you need additional adjustments. 

We also offer a free writing course called Wordscope which focuses on helping you to develop your writing skills—tackling common writing problems such as punctuation, sentence structure, and paragraphing—easing the transition from college to university. For more information, you can take a look at the Wordscope webpage.