Keele ranked among Top 10 universities in UK for Creative Writing

Keele has ranked among the Top 10 universities in the UK to study Creative Writing in an esteemed national newspaper ranking. 

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 has seen Keele ranked 9th in the UK for its Creative Writing course, scoring highly for the teaching quality and student experience on the course. 

The Times university guide assesses universities on a range of factors including research quality, graduate prospects, and teaching excellence. 

With a supportive community of academic researchers and published, prize-winning writers including novelists, poets, playwrights and screenwriters, Keele’s Creative Writing course sets students up for a career in writing and other creative industries with a broad and deep understanding of a wide range of literary texts, genres and cultures. 

It is also one of a handful of UK university programmes that offers a first publishing credit via its Creative Writing anthology, 'The Things we Write'; semester-long work placements with the city's creative industries; and a student-managed departmental website dedicated to experiencing submission and commission opportunities online. It also has a thriving visiting author and literary event programme, alongside regular open mics, theatre trips, and a UniSlam team.   

Professor Siobhan Talbott, Head of the School of Humanities at Keele, said: “We're delighted that in the recent Times University Guide, Creative Writing at Keele was ranked in the Top 10 in England. This reflects the high quality of teaching that our students receive, as well as the value added by work placements with Stoke’s Creative Industries, regular Open Mic events, and theatre trips.  

“Keele’s Creative Writing programme is one of only a handful in the UK that offers students a first publishing credit via its Creative Writing anthology, ‘The Things we Write’, and students enjoy our thriving visiting author and literary event programme.”