University Celebrates First Ever PhD in Creative Writing

A mature student who started his course at the University of Suffolk during the Covid 19 pandemic is celebrating becoming the institution’s first student to complete a PhD in Creative Writing.

It is a double celebration for 75-year-old Andrew Worrall who has also had his work longlisted for an international prize.

Andrew, who now lives in Ipswich, will graduate in October as the University’s first ever PhD in Creative Writing.

He is also waiting to hear if his unpublished novel, The Inheritance of Peter Tye, will make it to the shortlist for the McKitterick Prize which is for first novels written by people over 40.

His PhD journey started with a delve into family history and his desire to present his material in a different, creative way and the result is his semi-autobiographical novel featuring his findings.

“I was looking into my family history and had acquired a lot of family history material from archives over the years and I wanted to present it in a story,” said Andrew who enjoys writing in cafes and whose working life has included teaching and time as an educational advisor.

“The people that interested me especially were very poor, almost invisible and struggling in 19th Century Ipswich.

“I wanted to give these people a voice they never had and this was my opportunity.”
He said these people were in and out of prison and some were even transported, including an unfortunate 14-year-old ancestor called Charlotte who was sent to Australia for her crime of stealing three dresses from someone in Woodbridge.

“I thought about doing it as an historical novel. I came across some great stories but wasn’t sure how to tell them.”

A chat with an Ipswich-based friend came up with the name of Dr Amanda Hodgkinson, Associate Professor English and Creative Writing, at the University of Suffolk.

“I read some of her work, thought it was wonderful, got in touch and sent her some of my writing.

“She said she would help but that I’d need to sign up for a PhD and this was back in 2020, just as Covid 19 hit, so we did everything online for more than two years,” said Andrew who, at that time, was based in Staffordshire.

“Writing and research are very solitary activities, but I have had wonderful support from Amanda and formed strong friendships with other PhD creative writers – even though everyone else was very much younger than I am, and I have always found staff at the university very approachable.”

Commenting on Andrew’s journey, Dr Hodgkinson said: “I am so delighted for Andrew, and we all send him our congratulations.

“His story proves our PhD in Creative Writing can be done at any age and offers students an opportunity to really pursue their writing studies with the support of staff here.

“I am sure his story and journey will inspire others to explore their creative writing here with us at the University of Suffolk, whatever their age.

“On the course, students develop skills as a creative writer, reader and researcher, broadening their knowledge of the production and reception of literature under the supervision of award-winning authors and lecturers.

“Andrew will always be the University of Suffolk’s first PhD Creative Writing student, and we have our fingers crossed for the shortlist announcement in the summer for the McKitterick Prize to see if he is on it.”

Students enrolled on the MA Creative and Critical Writing course have the opportunity to see their work in print and past projects have included the hugely successful four-book series Suffolk Folk, Suffolk Arboretum, Suffolk Reflections and Suffolk Haunts which are anthologies of local county stories on different themes.

To find out more about all the English and writing courses available at the University of Suffolk go to www.uos.ac.uk 

The University of Suffolk is holding a Postgraduate Open evening on Wednesday 30 April from 4pm. For more information go to Postgraduate Open Evening - Wednesday 30 April | University of Suffolk