The months before I was accepted to study English with Creative Writing at Queen’s were characterised by my own fixation. I was extremely concerned with making the correct decision, worried that firming the wrong offer would spell utter misery for my future. I now look back fondly on all of my googling and fretting, forever thankful that I ended up here. Allow me to talk you through my decision — this is why I chose to study English with Creative Writing at Queen’s, and why you should too!

First impressions

As I am sure many can relate, my first visit to Queen’s began with being totally awed by the resplendent Lanyon building. I believe that my mother decided I should attend Queen’s the first step she took out of the taxi! It is wholly irrefutable that the university has a very charming campus, but we found the facilities to be just as pleasing. 

The Seamus Heaney Centre

On our initial visit, in September of 2024, the Seamus Heaney Centre had recently opened. The Heaney Centre is the hub of Creative Writing at Queen's: a picturesque tribute to the late Seamus Heaney, who studied English at the university. The facility is just two minutes from main campus, and hosts regular literary events such as readings, ‘write-nights’, and even the occasional book launch. Weekly writing workshops are also run, where students are offered a cordial environment to receive feedback on their work. The development of the centre, and its bustling events tab demonstrate just how treasured the craft of writing is at Queen’s, and gave me a lot of hope that I might be surrounded by likeminded individuals.

The Seamus Heaney Centre - just a two minute walk from main campus

The McClay Library

When studying literature, one thing a student requires is an adequate library. I was introduced to the McClay Library at the open day, where I was given a tour of the building. The McClay boasts three floors: containing 1.2 million literary and scholarly works, plus 2,200 reader spaces. The eclectic selection of study areas particularly appealed to me; I loved the idea of sitting in a new spot each day — at the time of writing, I have been at Queen’s six months, and can confirm I am still working my way around! 

My absolute favourite thing about the McClay library is the C.S. Lewis Reading Room. As someone who was raised on children’s classics like the The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: walking through a replica of the iconic wardrobe door truly never gets old. At first glance, I figured the room was merely an exhibit, so being permitted to sit and study inside without so much as a booking feels like such a privilege. As soon as I saw the sprawling map table, I knew I would be very content here.

The entrance to the C.S. Lewis Reading Room

Course content

The course content naturally weighed heavily on my decision, and I poured laboriously over the module list, reading each description. Stage one is structured in such a way that first years get to dip their toe into all regions of the subject. The modules ‘English in Transition’ and ‘Introduction to English Language’ especially intrigued me. 

‘English in Transition’ is a compulsory module taken in the first semester that provides an overview of the key periods of English literary history by jumping backwards through time each week. Beginning in 1928 with Virginia Woolf’s Orlando and spanning all the way back to Shakespearean times, I really appreciated how the module (and therefore wider course) does not expect students to have read the entire canon and know of every classic. 

‘Introduction to English Language’ also seized my attention. I was excited at the prospect of studying linguistics, as I had no prior experience whatsoever in the field. The ability to dabble in this area — without doing a linguistics degree, is something I really loved — it was a low commitment way to test my interest, while still prioritising Creative Writing. Ultimately, what really compelled me to select this course is that English at Queen’s is not merely a literature degree, but a holistic experience that incorporates all three strands, particularly if you do as I did and choose the Creative Writing pathway.

The chance to pursue writing as part of my degree really sweetened the deal, and so far, ‘Introduction to Creative Writing’ has been endlessly enjoyable. Each lecture is taught by a published writer, and it is always a thrill to hear about their accolades. 

Texts I studied as part of the module 'English in Transition'

Social life and clubs and societies

While I was wildly excited about the course itself, a little research made it abundantly clear that I could also have a vibrant social life at Queen’s. Browsing the Students' Union website, I got a sense of the bountiful range of events hosted each week, and really enjoyed the variety of this list — from daytime activities such as cookie decorating, photo-journaling and so much more: to an absolute plethora of special evenings in the union bar (I was particularly struck by trash bingo) — it really seemed like they had something for everyone. 

What stood out to me most was the information about clubs and societies. This was something I did copious investigation into when researching potential universities, as joining a society was at the very top of my university bucket-list. The QSU offers over 240 clubs and societies, and lists them in an A-Z format on their website. I spent countless hours trawling through this inventory: reading the descriptions of each society and searching their Instagram pages.

When I say this list is extensive...I mean it! From crochet to caving; running to rubber ducks, there is bound to be something that you love. But the possibilities extend outside of your comfort zone, beyond things that you have done in the past, to fantastic opportunities to try something completely new. In my first semester alone, I attended a fencing demonstration, completed a five-week beginner’s archery course, and learnt how to play Dungeons and Dragons: something I had always wished to do, but never had the chance.

I believe that I have grown so much as a person during my time here at Queen’s, and that is down to the wealth of experiences I've had. 

My cohort and I in the union bar

Advice to prospective students

If you are considering coming to Queen’s, the best advice I can give you is to make thorough use of the resources at your fingertips. You really can ascertain so much from digging through the website. And while my own dedication may have been a tad excessive, it still instilled a wealth of confidence in me that I had selected correctly. 

Areas I would draw your attention to are as follows: 

• The Student Blog — includes student testimonials, day-to-day experiences, favourite spots and inside scoops. 
• Accommodation tours — Elms BT1, BT2 and BT9 all have 360° virtual tours available on the website, great for a refresh before submitting your application.
• The QSU Instagram page — A word to the wise: a great way to browse through the various Instagram pages relating to Queen’s (as there are a lot of them!) is to check out the QSU’s following tab. 

If you have any burning questions, please do chat to a student ambassador, or get in touch with the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Science. Happy decision making!

Find out more

Take a Virtual Tour of Queen's

Student life at Queen's

The Benefits of Joining a Club/Society at Queen’s

Elizabeth Noble English with Creative Writing | Undergraduate Student | Ireland Hello there! My name is Elizabeth, I am a current first year, studying English with Creative Writing at Queen’s. So far, my time in Belfast has been an absolute whirlwind, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. From studying the course of my dreams, to joining eight societies in the first semester, I certainly know how to keep busy! I feel very proud to be the Vice-President of Queen’s Book Club, where I work to foster a passion for reading in students of all backgrounds. My degree has been a true pleasure thus far, with new literature to sink my teeth into each week, and the opportunity to hone my craft as a writer under the guidance of published authors. I have truly found a home here, and can often be seen dashing across campus, attending various events and retreating to the library.