​​Welcome to Creative Writing Foundation Year. My name is Danny Rhodes and I am your Course Director. I’m also a writer. Together, we are going to embark on a creative journey, one I hope will challenge and inspire. ​I will first meet you during Welcome Week, where we will begin that journey.

Danny Rhodes
Course Director

Your Teaching Timetable

Teaching for your course will begin w.c 21 September 2026.

To help you plan your first few weeks, you can view an overview of the teaching activities for your course.

View your first semester teaching timetable.

On a mobile device, click the arrow next to “Search” at the top right of the page to view your timetable.

If your course is taught in groups, the overview will show activities for all groups. You will only need to attend sessions for your allocated group.

Once teaching begins, your individual timetable and group allocation will be available in MyTimetable provided you have completed online registration and created your computing account.

Your Semester 1 Modules

The Fearless Learner

The Big Picture*

*All Foundation Year students take The Big Picture during Semester 1. The module includes shared lectures and smaller seminar and pastoral groups.

Seminar groups are arranged broadly by subject area so that discussions, examples, and activities can connect to your intended degree course.

The Unitimetables page shows an overview of all scheduled teaching for the module. You will not be expected to attend every seminar shown there.

Your confirmed lecture, seminar, and pastoral group will be available in MyTimetable once course registration and group allocations have been completed.

Key dates

Academic Calendar: Semesters

View key dates for this Academic Calendar for 2026-27 including when teaching starts and finishes and when you break for holidays.

Welcome

​There will be two Welcome Week sessions for you to attend. The first will be open to all Foundation Year students in the University. The second will be specifically for Foundation Year students studying the Humanities. This will involve a general induction, course specific information, a social activity and a chance to meet your Personal Academic Tutor.​

Getting started

​Your studies will be made up of lectures (taught in large groups) and seminars/workshops (smaller groups) alongside tutorials where you can meet your tutor on a one-to-one basis. All of your studies will take place on campus, except for organised field trips. Module Blackboards provide detailed information on your modules, assessments, reading lists and other learning resources. You are encouraged to bring a hard back notebook and to engage in as much reading as possible.​

In Semester 1 you will study:

The Fearless Learner
This module is designed to settle you into university study and to understand what academic work looks like in your subject area. Early sessions will focus on confidence, curiosity and the idea that not-knowing is a normal and productive part of learning. Students will begin to think about what makes a strong answer in different disciplines, using simple frameworks such as standards, evidence, reasoning and limits, before applying these ideas in seminars and group activities.

The Big Picture
The Big Picture helps you find your place in university and the wider world. Through lectures, seminars, and guided online learning, you’ll see how university differs from school and workplace training, and how your subject and other ones, too, connect to real issues. The aim is disciplined curiosity and growing confidence across university disciplines.

In Semester 2 you will study:

The Power of Arts, Humanities and Education
Teaching on this module will consist of a series of lectures built around three themes (identity, internationalism, and Information) which you will study in-depth over the course of the semester. These seminars will be supported by a series of seminars where you will develop your own research project.

Canterbury in the World
Canterbury is a city of global significance in faith, literature, and culture. In this module, you will explore the sacred places, historical archives, and archaeological sites that tell the story of Canterbury’s global connections. Through field trips and class discussions, you will delve into the lives of the people who have shaped both Canterbury and the world. As active participants in the Canterbury story, you will uncover how this city continues to matter and how your perspective adds to this unfinished narrative.

Student Success Modules
These bite-sized modules are designed to help you settle in and develop core skills such as critical thinking and digital literacy, and you'll explore ways you can take an active role in creating a more sustainable future.

Your Must Do Tasks

Once you have been invited to register for your course, there are some key tasks you'll need to complete to make sure you are ready to become a CCCU student. 

Registration invitations are sent towards the end of August. We'll send yours to the email address you used when you applied, so please check this inbox regularly to make sure you don't miss any important information.

Pre-course reading

​For an informative introduction to craft we suggest Writing Tools: 55 Essential Strategies for Every Writer by Roy Peter Clark.​

International student success programme

International students: don't miss out! Make sure you register for our international student success programme which provides practical advice on preparing to live and study in the UK.

Contact details

Have a question?

Speak to our friendly team for support.