ENGLISH, DRAMA AND CREATIVE WRITING courses at Salford

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.  

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. 

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.

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.  

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.