Dr Sarah James, Head of School: The School of English at the University of Kent is ambitious and inclusive committed to excellence in critical and creative practice. We believe that English is a subject that allows us to ask searching questions about the world and our place in it. Literary texts are central to our study of course and through them we encourage our students to engage with the local and the international, the historical and the contemporary, preparing them to make a difference in the world. From the moment you arrive you will become part of our intellectual community of students teachers and researchers, taking part in conversations that push our subject into new areas of cultural and social inquiry. Crucially, you'll take charge of your own learning and you'll have the intellectual freedom to grow both as a person and as a student of literature.

Dr Juha Virtanen, Lecturer in Contemporary Literature: In the first year of your undergraduate degree you are challenged to extend your intellectual horizons. The transition from studying in a school or college setting to university is an exhilarating one and our first-year modules are designed to give you an introduction to the enormous scope of English as a subject, offering you an excellent stepping stone to university study. In your second and third years, you choose from a broad range of specialist modules giving you the freedom to choose your own academic path. 

David Flusfeder, Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing: We're committed to the highest quality literary fiction and the most exciting and innovative contemporary poetry. We see no reason why our students shouldn't be ambitious enough to achieve it. We will teach you everything we know about writing and give you the time and the space to produce your own style. You'll have the chance to make your voice heard.

Dr Sarah Dustagheer, Senior Lecturer in Early Modern Literature: In your second year you get to make some really profound decisions about the direction of study, building on your first year and you're introduced to new literatures, new genres and new theories. And the great thing about being at Kent is that you're surrounded by places that have inspired some of the greatest writers, Marlowe, Chaucer and Dickens and we really encourage our students to think beyond the seminar room and the lecture hall. 

Amy Sackville, Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing: I'm drawing it all together into one great compendium, enchantment narratives in the 19th century, transformations, obsessions, seductions, the angel in the house become the maiden in the tower, the curse come upon her, folk tales and fairy tales retold, it's an old obsession. I still remember those first febrile encounters, propped up in the corner of my bed scribbling away late into the night in the old cheap editions I still have somewhere and I have never outgrown that undergraduate ardour, Lamia, La belle dame, the Lady of Shalott.

Dr Vybarr Cregan-Reid, Reader in English and Environmental Humanities: In your final year, you take specialist modules which are directly informed and inspired by the individual and collaborative research projects of our academic staff. These modules are continuously evolving and represent the very cutting edge of research in the subject area. Your choices may open your eyes to emerging genres from Chaucer all the way through to the graphic novel. With over 30 modules to choose from this period of your degree represents an exhilarating finale to your academic career with us.
Professor David Herd, Professor of Modern Literature: The School of English is a large and thriving department but we work hard to ensure that all students feel supported and involved. We strongly believe that education extends well beyond the classroom and during your journey at Kent you will be immersed in a rich and exciting literary culture. We work hard as a school to educate the next generation of creative thinkers and the accomplishments of our alumni never cease to amaze us.