ENG E&CW BROCHURE OCT 16 R 5 (1)

Contact us

Tel: 01243 816000
www.chi.ac.uk/english

English and Creative Writing
at Chichester

Welcome
“
“ “We are very proud of the work we do here in
English and Creative Writing and this publication
is one of the ways that we share our
achievements and describe our activities.

We provide courses at undergraduate, Masters We draw visiting writers, scholars, publishers
and PhD level, taught by an experienced, and other experts to the Department, keen to
friendly and well-published group of tutors share their work with our students and staff,
whose commitment to students is unequalled. and we encourage our students to explore the
The University dates from the mid-nineteenth rich cultural resources of Chichester, Sussex
century and we celebrate that long history, and the surrounding counties.
while investing in the buildings, people and
ideas that will guarantee our reputation for I hope you find this magazine gives you an
years to come. insight into the life of the Department and
the opportunities it provides for its students
We offer a broad range of undergraduate and staff.”
degrees in Creative Writing, Literature, Drama
Studies and Language. These provide students Professor Simon Barker,
with a range of genres and periods to explore, BA (Hons) (Stirling), PGCE (FE)
all designed to equip them with the intellectual (Wales), PhD (Wales), FRSA.
curiosity, creativity and resilience required in the
world beyond graduation. We also offer joint
degrees with other subjects in the Humanities
and share with other departments a
commitment to our students’ welfare, their
sense of belonging, and an overall atmosphere
which is conducive to independent and
shared learning.

Our lecturers and professors are highly
respected as teachers, but also in their fields of
writing and research, contributing books,
papers and broadcasts on the national and
international stages.

2 | University of Chichester

Professor Simon Barker

|3

Drama

Have you ever sat entranced in a darkened theatre and later
wondered how the actors managed to work such magic?
This course offers you a unique opportunity to go behind the
curtains of a living theatre and uncover the ancient secrets of
the vibrant world of drama.

In English and Drama Studies, we are proud of the strong connection with our famous neighbour, the
Chichester Festival Theatre. We offer modules based on the plays that are being staged there, and give
you the opportunity to join backstage tours, enter discussions with directors and actors, and enjoy
many other openings afforded by this close relationship with a living theatre. In class, you will explore
wonderful classic drama from the ancient Greeks to Shakespeare, and from Chekhov to Ibsen, as well
as those titans of the American theatre, Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller. Later, the course will
take you deep into major twentieth-century movements, inspired by the likes of Brecht and Artaud,
and a challenging variety of cutting-edge contemporary theatre that offers radically different ways of
presenting drama.

Throughout, you will be deepening your knowledge of stage-craft, and finding inspiration in the creative
decisions made by directors and actors. You’ll also be exploring the wider realms of English Literature.
There will be exciting opportunities to develop your own skills by writing television drama, stage plays,
radio drama and screenplays, under the tutorship of experts. All the while, you will be connecting to
ancient traditions that continue to thrive in all corners of the world. Who knows, maybe one day in the
future, it will be YOUR play that students watch in amazement!

“The best thing about studying our course is
that the professors are all very approachable
[…] the classes are really engaging.”

Tom Bathrick ““
Watch Tom’s video at
prospectus.chi.ac.uk.

4 | University of Chichester

Research behind the scenes

Professor Duncan Salkeld If you want to explore everyday life in “Being [at Chichester] was a turning
Shakespeare’s time, discovering the point for me in terms of self-confidence
hidden history behind his plays, study and developing a more nuanced
Renaissance drama with Professor understanding of the world. In terms
Duncan Salkeld. Internationally of my current role - I started in 'digital'
recognised for his work, Duncan has as a freelance copywriter and was
deciphered the archives of the former offered a job as an account manager
London hospitals, Bridewell and before being promoted to operations
Bethlem, in search of clues to the manager. My main focus is
scandals that swept through the standardising everyday processes to
worlds of drama in 16th and 17th free up people's energy to worry about
century England. His publications more creative things, but as it’s still a
include Madness and Drama in the Age smallish business (30 of us) I also
of Shakespeare and Shakespeare handle financial reporting, HR, problem
Among the Courtesans: Prostitution, solving, and ordering stationery! It
Literature and Drama sounds almost silly saying it, but people
1500-1650. who are comfortable reading and
writing a lot, and taking care with how
they communicate, really stand out!” “

“Luke Gibson

Graduate and
Operations Manager
at Graphite Digital.

95% of our English

and Creative Writing

students are satisfied with

the advice and support

with their studies.

National Student Survey 2016

Degrees
BA (Hons) Drama and Theatre
BA (Hons) English Literature and Drama Studies
BA (Hons) English Literature

|5

Literature

Engage your imagination, discovering a diverse range of
literature, from classical to contemporary and from popular
to canonical. Delve into cultures past and present. Encounter
new ways of thinking about the world and human identity –
all supported by expert and friendly staff.

On our core literature modules you’ll explore Elizabethan ideas of sexual difference,
enter the haunted spaces of Romantic gothic, and thrill at sensation fiction. You’ll
discover the controversies that shape contemporary literature and the identities that
inform postcolonial and women’s writing. You’ll grasp cutting-edge approaches to that
strange category, fiction, and investigate who decides what something means, and
why we sometimes prefer fictional worlds to our own. You’ll learn to analyse, argue,
edit, present and persuade.

When you’ve developed your expertise, you’ll choose from a wide range of specialist
modules – on topics from Shakespeare to Psychoanalysis and Culture, from Fantasy
to the Ethics of Reading. Perhaps you’ll analyse the strange link between fashion and
revolution, assess the global nature of the fairy tale, or probe why banned books
provoke such fear. You’ll study Drama and, if you choose, Creative Writing or
Language. You’ll participate in a vibrant research culture, enjoying trips, events and
conferences and you’ll become an expert in your own unique dissertation area. The
skills you’ll learn open a wide field of occupations, including marketing, teaching,
management, heritage, sales, librarianship, local government and journalism.

Explore satire in text and image.

“You get to learn loads more about English than
you've ever thought about before. This year I was in
Postcolonialism and I’ve never thought about
literature in that light before and it just brought a
whole new element to reading for me.”
“
James Hoogland “
Watch James’ video at
prospectus.chi.ac.uk.

6 | University of Chichester

Researching cultures past and present

Do you love fashion? Discover how fashion changed the world with Professor “ “If you’d have told me before my
Fiona Price, author of Revolutions in Taste 1773 – 1818 (2009) and Reinventing degree that I’d leave with a first, get an
Liberty (2016). With Fiona you’ll explore the gothic, the Restoration, and award for best English dissertation and
Romanticism, as well as finding out all about the brilliant and challenging women then go on to write for Topps Europe for
writers who put pen to paper before Jane Austen. brands such as Star Wars and Top
Gear, I’d not have believed you. But
Are you an adventurous thinker, excited by new ideas? Challenge your studying the English and Creative
interpretations of literature and popular culture with Professor Benjamin Writing course means that anything is
Noys. Whether you're interested in the culture of speed, the elitism of possible. Encouraged by passionate and
vampires, or what makes us laugh, explore it with the celebrated author of dedicated lecturers, I was able to
Malign Velocities (2014), The Persistence of the Negative (2010) and The Culture of achieve my full potential as I grew in
Death (2005). confidence as an empathetic writer and
editor. Since graduating, I have worked
alongside licensors such as BBC
Worldwide and Disney, founded my
own literary magazine with my best
friend (and editor!), and had my own
writing published across numerous
international magazines. I now work on
a freelance basis, producing various
editorial for publications across the UK,
including Igloo Books Ltd and One
Magazine.”

“Annabelle Carvell

Graduate and
Magazine Publisher.

Our Department of English

and Creative Writing has

90% teaching satisfaction

National Student Survey 2016

Professor Benjamin Noys Degrees
BA (Hons) English Literature
BA (Hons) English Literature and Drama Studies
BA (Hons) English Literature and Language
BA (Hons) Creative Writing and English

|7

Creative

Writing

Unlock your imagination, and learn the skills that will make
words blaze up off the page for your readers. Whether you’re
interested in fiction, poetry, or dramatic writing, your creativity
will flourish under the guidance of one of the friendliest and
most experienced Creative Writing teams in the country.

The novelist Franz Kafka once described literature as an “axe You will be taught by a dedicated team of published and prize-
for the frozen sea within us” – and, on this course, you will winning writers, including the Man Booker Prize nominee,
learn skills that allow you to break through to the molten core Professor Alison MacLeod, and there will also be inspiring
of your imagination. In a supportive environment that offers readings by visiting authors. As well as guiding you towards your
you the personal attention that is difficult to find in larger dream of becoming a published writer, like our former student
universities, you will discover how writers actively cultivate Isabel Ashdown (author of four novels), we will prepare you
their imaginations through inspiring research and reading. Later, for the wide range of careers in which our undergraduates
you will develop the drafting skills that enable you to carry your have put their writing skills to work, including teaching,
writing to completion, and find a home for it in print or online. journalism, editing, copywriting, publishing, marketing, human
We start by building fundamental skills and then feed in a wide resources and digital management.
range of options, including: novel writing, poetry, short fiction,
fantasy, environmental writing, and writing for the screen, stage,
and radio (as well as an exciting roster of specialist modules in
English Literature and Language).

“What’s really nice about the course is that you find people that you
have something in common with […] After lectures we’ll go to the SU
and workshop each other’s poetry and short stories. It’s really fun. It’s
like being part of the Dead Poets’ Society or something – like this is
university, this is what I do here. It’s amazing!”
“
Ryan Karacochi “
Watch Ryan’s video at prospectus.chi.ac.uk.

8 | University of Chichester

Creativity, environment and expression

“I currently work as a Managing Editor at
FMC, a dental communications and
publishing company. I started as a sub-
editor and was promoted a year later! I’m
also the Editor and co-founder of
Synaesthesia Magazine.

You'll study in workshops with Dr Hugh Dunkerley. “One thing is certain: I wouldn’t have met
my best friend without my English &
Are you passionate about the environment? Take an ecological perspective on Creative Writing degree, and we wouldn’t
literature with Dr Hugh Dunkerley, inspirational winner of the Hay Festival have gone on to start Synaesthesia, our
Public Lecture award for his talk on 'Poetry and Fracking' (2016). Commenting own literary magazine together. I had no
on his poetry collection Hare (2010), writer Vicki Feaver says, '“What I admire idea how much my degree would affect
about Hugh Dunkerley’s poetry is the spareness and clarity of his language: his my own writing and career prospects. My
ability to tackle the extremities of experience – death, sex, loss, the professors were inspirational and
ruthlessness of nature.' Work with Dr Dunkerley to develop your own poetic encouraged me to become a diverse
voice. reader, a thoughtful writer, and paved the
way for me to become a good editor, too.
Poetry inspired by the collections at the Pallant House Gallery. I was able to use my degree to strengthen
my career prospects, becoming a
managing editor for a medical publication
and a published short story writer, too.
Those were three of the best years of my
life – the encouragement from tutors and
the inspiration it gave me after graduating
was unparallelled. I’d do it all again if I
could!”
“
Carlotta Eden “
Graduate and
Managing Editor.

Our Department of English
and Creative Writing has
91% student satisfaction

National Student Survey 2016

Degrees
BA (Hons) Creative Writing and English
BA (Hons) Creative Writing

|9

“Language

The Department of English and Creative Writing is quite
unique in combining Literature and Language in a meaningful
way, so that the two subjects truly complement each other and
the degree is significantly enriched.

This course invites you to study some of the best texts ever written in the English language,
from medieval through to contemporary, and to consider not just their authors and the social
and cultural contexts of their work, but also the language itself. How do poems, plays and prose
works generate special meanings and effects? What is it about the structure or sound of English
that gives artistic potential to texts? How can you use language to move readers?

The study of a wide range of literary texts aims to answer such questions. In addition, you will
study non-literary texts and learn how language is used in social, political and institutional
contexts. How is language used to shape knowledge, control public opinion, build community or
distribute power? You’ll also learn about the evolution of English, from its Anglo-Saxon origins
to the present, and explore contemporary variation between accents and dialects. Finally,
moving beyond English in particular to the area of language at large, you’ll be invited to explore
such fascinating topics as animal communication, child language, language impairment and
communication disorders, and the relationship between language, mind and culture. Our
graduating students have gone on to pursue careers in speech and language therapy, teaching,
law, and journalism.

“I was a bit concerned at the beginning like what if I sit
down and I can’t understand a single thing but actually, no,
it’s really good, pretty easy going. If you’re not on board with
something, they’ll always go back and make sure you
understand everything so I would definitely recommend it.”

Debora di Stefano

“Watch Debora’s video at prospectus.chi.ac.uk

10 | University of Chichester

Researching the transformative
power of language

Explore the evolution of medical language. “I work at a marketing agency in “
Brighton and my degree is
Do you ever wonder how terms and concepts come about, or why words extremely useful in my day-to-day
mean what they do? Find out with Dr Stavroula Varella, who is researching work. I write copy for websites,
medical language and currently writing a book on illness terminology in the brochures, posters, social media,
English Language. Another book, co-written with Sue Lavender, provides a guide and also get to use some of the
to English Grammar which addresses the needs of English and Creative Writing analytical and creative skills honed
students in particular. during my degree to design
marketing campaigns for clients.”

“Callum Grantham

Graduate and Content
and Analytics Manager
at Pleece & Co. creative
marketing agency.

Our English and
Creative Writing
students ranked us
6th in the UK for
advice and support
with studies

National Student Survey 2016

Dr Stavroula Varella Degrees
BA (Hons) English Literature and Language

| 11

Your first degree
and beyond

Right from the start of your undergraduate degree you'll be invited to
participate in our exciting research environment, with events, trips and
conferences. If you catch the research bug, you can continue to MA or even
PhD with us! After all, a lot of our students say they don’t want to leave….

“The Department of English and Creative “I've read blogs and articles by PhD “ Your time at Chichester doesn’t have to
Writing undergraduate courses offer such students elsewhere who have felt anxious, end at Graduation. You could choose to
a brilliant range of modules that it is lonely and isolated; my PhD journey at continue exploring your passion for
possible to focus on the areas that Chichester has been one of the happiest literature on our Masters courses.
interest you - and to study them with experiences of my life! I've made great
enthusiastic lecturers who all research friends both in my own department and Explore the full diversity of English
and write in those fields. I particularly with PhD students from other disciplines, literature through our MA English
enjoyed the strands that engaged with and university life remains as vibrant, Literature. You’ll join in the debates
ecocriticism, and feminist literary theory. stimulating, and full of opportunity as I over the nature of literature, the future of
In response to the detailed feedback prior found it as an undergraduate.” English literature, and past and present
to and during assessment, my creative cultural experiences of writing and
writing developed rapidly. As a result of “Emma-Jane Hughes communication which are shaping our
this learning environment, and with the lives. Follow your interests with our team
guidance and encouragement of my English and Creative Writing of active researchers and committed
tutors, some of my undergraduate work alumna and PhD researcher. teachers
was published.
As one of the most established MAs in
“I chose to continue my postgraduate Creative Writing in the country, we
studies at Chichester not just because I have a long record of student successes.
knew from my own experience that the All our courses are taught by practising
expertise of the academic team novelists, short story writers, poets and
consistently delivers results, but primarily dramatists with regular visits by other
because of the generosity and warmth of writers. The final taught module includes
the supportive atmosphere they create. a session given by agents and editors,
while our staff advise on professional
issues of placing work.

12 | University of Chichester

Our Research Centres

The Iris Murdoch Research Centre experiences, test their ideas and help one
is the only centre in the world dedicated another develop their work. The Forum
to the life and work of this central provides a creative and supportive space
twentieth-century author. The Centre is for anyone interested in the Short Story
part of a wider collaborative network, form – from Creative Writing and
primarily with the University of Kingston, Literature students, to editors, lecturers,
and exists to foster research and writers and readers of short fiction –
engagement with Murdoch’s fictional and wherever they are in the world. There
philosophical work. It attracts are many ways that members can
postgraduate students and visiting participate in the Forum: by joining the
scholars and publishes its own peer- team of bloggers, taking part in online
reviewed international journal along with discussions, and by submitting material.
organising major events and conferences. You’ll study the short story form and
Murdoch’s work is taught at all levels at creative writing with the Forum’s
Chichester by the Centre Director, Dr Director, Professor Alison MacLeod.
Miles Leeson and you will be able to
engage in the latest research. Miles has Experience a range of stimulating events
published widely on Murdoch, including with the Chichester Romantic and
Iris Murdoch: Philosophical Novelist Eighteenth-Century Seminar
(Continuum) and her milieu and is Series. Subjects that have been covered
planning numerous events to celebrate include the gothic and Austen, the
her centenary in 2019. Romantic imagination, fantasy and secret
history, life writing and female friendship,
At the heart of the Sussex Centre for ‘Women, History and Sexuality’, and
Folklore, Fairy Tales and Fantasy is even the scandalous life of royal mistress,
a focus on folklore, fairy tales and fantasy Mary Robinson. Visit Chawton House
as creative forces in literature and Library for your own private class tour
culture. The Centre provides a forum and special exhibition. All these
where writers, scholars, performers, opportunities are Chichester’s
artists and aficionados can explore folk contribution to the South Coast
narratives, fairy tales and fantasy in Eighteenth-Century and Romantic
various forms including print, film, and Research Group, set up with
the visual and performing arts. It is the members from Chichester, Portsmouth,
diversity and exuberance of folktales, Southampton, Kent, Winchester and
fairy tales and the fantastic imagination Chawton to promote investigation into
that the Centre seeks to explore, discuss the eighteenth century. As part of the
and celebrate in a range of ways. If group’s work, staff member Professor
fantasy and folklore is your favourite Fiona Price has also co-edited (with Ben
genre, you’ll have the opportunity to Dew) Historical Writing in Britain 1689-
work with the Centre’s Director, 1830 (2014). If you enjoy historical
Professor Bill Gray, who is a leading novels, love Hilary Mantel or enthuse
authority on the subject. over Philippa Gregory, you can expand
your historical horizons at Chichester.
Thresholds, the online home of the
international short story forum, aims to Top: Iris Murdoch;
create a vibrant community where Middle: The Queen of the Bad Faeries by Brian Froud -
people can come to share their Sussex Centre for Folklore, Fairy Tales and Fantasy;
Bottom: Thresholds.

| 13

Expanding

your horizons
Enjoy the wealth of cultural opportunities that the
University and the surrounding area have to offer.

1

1. Get your creative juices flowing at the Otter Gallery on our
Chichester campus, where our department's Reader in
Poetry, Stephanie Norgate (a Bloodaxe poet), hosts inspiring
events as Writer-in-Residence. Also, visit Chichester's
renowned Pallant House Art Gallery and explore links
between 20th Century British literature and art.

2

3
2. Be inspired by a visit to our beautiful twin campus in sunny
Bognor Regis, or by a trip to the stunning West Wittering
Beach. Set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and with
a Blue Flag award, the beach is the perfect place for aspiring
critics and poets to chill out and read.

3. If you’re into drama, attend plays and shows at the prestigious Chichester Festival Theatre, where famous productions
preview before going on to the West End. Hear from the theatre’s directors and actors as part of your degree. You can also
have theatrical fun on campus at Chichester University’s very own theatre, The ShowRoom, or visit the independent movie
theatre, the New Park Cinema.

14 | University of Chichester

4. Love festivals? You've come to the right place! Enjoy the 4
Festival of Chichester, which offers an impressive array of
cultural and literary events, alongside jazz, blues, folk, rock,
classical, pop and world music. The English department also
contributes to the Worthing WOW Festival, which includes
performance poetry and writers’ competitions, film and
theatre. Further afield, there’s Charleston Festival, where
‘books, ideas and creativity bloom’. Our Department has
strong links with the Festival, and with the celebration of the
short story that it hosts each year!

5

5. Do you want to discover the hidden secrets of unpublished
letters or find a brilliant story buried in a mysterious
manuscript? On your degree, you can tour, research, and
attend events at the West Sussex Record Office, a mine of
undiscovered narratives. Unlock your inner detective and
experience history's hypnotic spell!

6

6. Choose from the many stimulating events that the
department hosts. Puzzle over Shakespearian mysteries,
explore the world of Oscar Wilde or be enchanted by
fantasy and folklore. Meet visiting writers, poets and
playwrights and discover what inspired them. Learn from
your lecturers, who are all published critics, novelists, poets
or playwrights. With so much to choose from, you’re sure to
find something that engages you.

7

7. Follow in the footsteps of the poets John Keats and Philip
Larkin, who found inspiration in Chichester's magnificent
church, producing two of their most famous poems, 'The Eve
of St Agnes' and 'An Arundel Tomb'. Explore an area rich in
literary associations, from Jane Austen and William Blake, to
James Joyce, H.G. Wells and Dorothy L. Sayers.

SHOW CASE | 15

The English and
Creative Writing

Experience

We think the English and Creative Writing experience is something
special. Don’t take our word for it, though. Here’s what our students
had to say.

Follow us on Favourite moment?
Facebook at Probably meeting my housemates after
/ChiUniEnglish having spoken on social media and
knowing we would get on well, learning
16 | University of Chichester about each other and different courses,
and meeting the girl who lives next
door; we both made ourselves look
stupid but now we’re inseparable.

Donna Carpenter Favourite literary adaptation?
The BBC did a good job with Great
First-year student Expectations and Dickensian but my
favourite has to be To Kill a Mockingbird.
Why Chichester?
I had only looked at big cities and the Favourite place to socialise?
size really interested me. It meant that If I want to go out and make it more of
my lectures have around 40 people an ‘event’ the SU is great, or even just
instead of maybe 200 and I felt that it staying at home or going to Costa,
would really benefit my learning. I everyone feels so comfortable around
really liked the look and feel of the one another now.
area. Although it’s a city Chi isn’t too
daunting and the university is in a Life goals?
great place. I’ve known what I wanted to do since I
was maybe 10, do my A levels, do my
degree in English, do my PGCE and
eventually teach in deprived areas,
private schools and public schools, to
decide which I find the most rewarding.
..................................

Manuella Abraham-Hagan A piece of advice? Favourite place to socialise in the “
Just be yourself. Enjoy yourself. Have area?
Second-year student fun and make new friends and new There are lots of good pubs in town,
experiences. But make sure you also and the Students’ Union bar is great.
Why Chichester? study hard.
I chose Chichester due to the fact I How has your experience been as
came here for a holiday with my family. Life goals? a mature student?
I enjoyed the peace and tranquillity that At the moment I think my important Very enjoyable, but then I am a great
I found here which I thought was really life goal is to get my degree so I can get believer in the old adage ‘you only get
nice, especially coming from a large city a good job. out, what you put in’ and I make an
like London. .................................. effort to be involved in student life.

Favourite Chichester moment? David Clayton What piece of advice would you
I guess one of my favourites is when give to another student?
we had to take an oath in poetry last Third-year student Write on a piece of paper ‘It’s always
year to be creative and respectful when later than you think’ and stick it above
workshopping. I can't believe I did that. Why Chichester? our desk. Seriously, start your essays
I first came to Chichester to visit my early, book tutorials with your lecturer,
Bronte or Austen? son when he had a summer job here. I take their advice, and redraft if
Their books are really good. But I think noticed Chichester University and was necessary. Have your work checked for
I am going to choose the Brontë sisters impressed by the look of the campus, grammar. There’s no substitute for this.
because I enjoyed reading Jane Eyre. so when I came to make my UCAS Throwing ‘all-nighters’ at the last
applications I thought of Chichester minute is not the way to go.
Favourite literary adaptation? straight away. ..................................
I haven't seen many literary adaptions
but I think how some of the popular Favourite Chichester moment? “
literary characters such as Frankenstein Taking up the trombone again (after 40
and his monster and Dorian Gray are years) and playing in the Christmas
used in Penny Dreadful is really cool. concert last year.
Although it's not a film adaption it's still
pretty intriguing how they intertwine Favourite author?
the stories together. Elizabeth Taylor, although Iris Murdoch
is creeping up on her… And Jane
Favourite place to socialise? Austen, always Jane Austen.
In the canteen you get to sit down with
your flatmates if you are in catered or
non-catered and just chill.

| 17

International

Exchange

Your experience of studying English and Creative Writing with us is
not just about the time you spend in Chichester. You’ll also have the
opportunity to spend a semester or an academic year in one of our
partner universities in Europe, Canada and the USA.

Mariah Peters studies English and Modern
Languages at Thomson Rivers University
and visited Chichester.

After making friends with international students who had
attended Chichester, Mariah knew that was the place for her.
Arriving in England, Mariah was lucky to have friends already
there to help her land on her feet. And her circle of friends
soon expanded.

“The friends I made while I was there, welcomed me with open
arms – they even threw a surprise 21st birthday party for me
after I’d only been there two and a half weeks, complete with
blindfold, balloons and a giant box of Britishness (including a
garden gnome, jars of local rain water and Bognor Sea water, a
welsh daffodil, and gingerbread men).”

She found herself immersed in endless new experiences.
Chichester gave Mariah a whole new perspective on the
world, and has left her open to a lifetime of change. She highly
recommends it to anyone in first or second year of university.

You can visit new countries and meet new people through study abroad
opportunities.

18 | University of Chichester

Craig Barker chose to study abroad at the
Columbus State University in the United States.
Craig shared his experience with us on his blog:

“The first few days here have proved to be a settling process, Craig Barker studied at Columbus State University
and have involved international student orientation sessions, as
well as one evening activity, at which past international students The second session was less serious, and included questions
were present. Now that all of the paperwork is out of the way about cultural delicacies which led to an intense discussion
I'm looking forward to getting started properly, and based on about fish and chips with tea. Who'd have thought it?”
the first half-week I'm excited about the next few months -
running until the middle of May. During my time here I'll be “Found the best coffee shop in Columbus - Maybe I've seen too
studying English, and by the looks of the syllabus I'll be kept many episodes of Friends, but part of the charm of American
busy, as I'm taking four modules with two or three sessions a life seems to be the opportunity to pass the day in a cosy coffee
week for each. Most of these fall in the early morning or late shop with friends. It took me a little while, but I finally found
afternoon, so there's plenty of time to get to know America that place in Columbus, and I intend to spend a good amount
better in between. I'm hoping to do some travelling once the of time there during the remainder of the semester. The place
semester finishes, and potentially venture outside of the state is called 'Midtown Coffee' if you're ever passing through - thank
during Spring Break. I've visited the country once before, and me later. They also put on an open mic night every Thursday as
have wanted to return since, the opportunity to study abroad well as live music on Saturday nights. I’ve been to both and
proving ideal.” they’ve proved to be good times; the place is small and quaint
so there’s a decent atmosphere almost of all of the time. It’s
“Three times a month the University hosts an event aiming to also a good place to work for a few hours; I managed to write
bring together CSU students and their international 4,000 words there in a few hours, so I guess their coffee got the
counterparts. At these events you're given the chance to learn creative juices flowing. Apparently I just missed a trivia night all
more about foreign cultures, with the international students about the UK version of The Office, so that's a shame - I
dispersed like pizza amongst the Americans contingent. Each would've aced it.”
table is then given a series of questions, and asked to find out if
answers differ depending on the respective continent. It makes Read more about Craig’s exchange at
for some interesting conversations, and the get-togethers have social.chi.ac.uk/authors/craig-barker
definitely proved worth going to. As the only Englishman at the
Uni (as far as I know) people seem genuinely interested in how
things differ across the pond, and I'm curiously inclined likewise.
I've only been to three sessions at the time of writing this, but
both were pretty cool, eye-opening in different ways, with the
first featuring an extensive debate between an American
woman and myself in regards to gun laws. It was both intriguing
and slightly terrifying to hear about her stance, and I still find
those laws very strange - I likely always will.

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