Before university I was studying A Levels in my hometown and had always aimed to continue at Higher Education level. I chose to study at Sunderland because of the flexibility and variety on a course that strives to develop student creativity.
For myself, the creative elements of the English BA course were fantastic but specific lecturers developed my knowledge of literature far beyond anything I could have expected with their outstanding attitude and extensive experience. I would certainly recommend studying this course at Sunderland to students looking to develop their breadth of knowledge of literature, and their practical and theoretical creative writing skills.
I would advise other students to make good use of the available resources, support and research facilities in order to avoid becoming overwhelmed. Being part of a University can be difficult at any stage of the process, whether in your first or fourth year, so don’t be ashamed to seek support and build a strong peer network.
Since graduating from the English BA course I have progressed onto MA English Studies with the intention of continuing onto a PhD if possible. I was recipient of the Michael Lavery Alumni Prize, and am now hoping to apply for the University’s Silver Fund Scholarship to help develop the presence of publishing in the North-East.
My involvement with the University of Sunderland has provided a multitude of experiences that I never expected, and it has been thrilling to undertake the challenges set out before me, overcoming many and learning from those I couldn’t.”
Published 17 March 2020