Professor of Creative Writing

About usUniversity College London (UCL) is a multi-faculty college of the University of London with a population of over 52,000 students, from more than 150 different countries. Degree programmes are provided in Arts and Humanities, Social and Historical Sciences, Education, Architecture, Building, Environmental Design and Planning, Laws, Life Sciences and Clinical Sciences (including Medicine), Mathematical and Physical Sciences, and Engineering Sciences. UCL is among the world’s top universities, as reflected in performance in a range of rankings and tables, and is ranked 9th in the world, 5th in Europe and 2nd in London in the QS World University Rankings 2025.The UCL Arts and Sciences (UASc) department is the home for the Bachelor of Arts and Sciences (BASc) which is the UK's leading interdisciplinary degree, covering arts, social sciences and sciences degree. BASc combines the breadth of interdisciplinary study across the arts and sciences with the opportunity to specialise in one or two key subject areas. There is also postgraduate taught sister programme to UCL’s Bachelor of Arts and Sciences (BASc), the new MASc in Creative Health which combines the breadth of interdisciplinary study across the arts and sciences, with the opportunity to specialise in the role of non-clinical, community-led, socially engaged approaches to public health.UCL Arts and Sciences launched a new undergraduate degree, the Bachelor in Creative Arts and Humanities (BACAH) in 2023/24. This degree is homed at UCL East and brings together critical humanities thinking with practices of writing, performance and moving images. BACAH further develops the UASc departments’ interdisciplinarity by bringing together critical humanities thinking with critical practice.The Department has a doctoral programme in Interdisciplinary Societies, Arts and Sciences which accepted its first students in the 2023/24 academic year.The department is launching a new Creative Writing MA course from 2027/28, based at the Bloomsbury campus.About the roleWe are seeking a Professor of Creative Writing to provide strategic leadership, shape the future direction of undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes, and undertake teaching and research in creative writing. The successful candidate will help define and realise the distinctive vision of the Creative Writing MA course, fostering connections between creative practice, literary culture, publishing, public engagement and interdisciplinary research.It is essential for the appointee to have experience in an area of creative writing and have the ability to develop and teach modules in the practice and study of creative writing at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.It is expected the postholder will lead a number of modules on the Creative Writing MA and the Creative Arts and Humanities BA and will contribute to curriculum development for both programmes. In addition, they will be required to undertake world-leading research and provide internationally recognised research leadership in creative writing, including: publishing high quality outputs, leading and participating in gaining grants; developing research cultures (including conference participation, utilising networks, participating in membership bodies and other similar); shaping national and international debates in creative writing and/or creative writing studies; and undertaking doctoral student supervision and recruitment.The postholder will also be required to act as a Personal Academic Tutor and supervise doctoral students.The post is based at the Bloomsbury, but some travel will be required to the UCL East campus in Stratford for departmental activities and to contribute to teaching on the Creative Arts and Humanities BA programme.This post is full-time, permanent and available from 1 March 2027 or as soon as possible after that date.This role meets the eligibility requirements for a skilled worker certificate of sponsorship or a global talent visa under UK Visas and Immigration legislation. Therefore, UCL welcomes applications from international applicants who require a visa.The advert will close at 23:59 (UK time) on Tuesday 6 October 2026. Applications will not be considered that are submitted after this date or outside of the UCL job application system.A job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page. If you have any queries about the role, please contact the UASc Head of Department, Prof Wendy Sims-Schouten at w.sims-schouten@ucl.ac.uk. If you need reasonable adjustments or a more accessible format to apply for this job online or have any queries about the application process, please contact Head of Operations for Arts and Sciences, Cristy Meadows at c.meadows@ucl.ac.uk.The UCL Ways of Working supports colleagues to be successful and happy at UCL through sharing expectations around how we work – please visit www.ucl.ac.uk/ways-of-working to find out more. This appointment is subject to UCL Terms and Conditions of Service for Academic Staff. Please visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/policies/2024/aug/conditions-service-academic-staff-0About youThe postholder must be educated to Doctoral level or have equivalent professional experience in any area relevant to creative writing.Previous experience of teaching creative writing and curriculum development is essential. In addition, the postholder must have proven experience and internationally recognised distinction in creative writing demonstrated through a sustained body of published work and evidence of significant influence on the discipline or literary culture.The ability to provide strategic academic leadership in the creative writing discipline is essential, along with the ability to initiate, sustain and lead strategic partnerships with publishers, literary organisations, cultural institutions and external stakeholders.Experience of successful mentoring and development of academic colleagues and postdoctoral researchers, as well as working with individuals or organisations outside of academia is desirable.As well as completion of the online application form, please submit a CV and covering letter identifying how you meet the person specification. Applicants should submit all documents for consideration as part of their submission, but only the CV, covering letter and application questionnaire will be reviewed as part of the shortlisting process.What we offerAs well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase schemeDefined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loanImmigration loanRelocation scheme for certain postsOn-Site nurseryOn-site gymEnhanced maternity, paternity and adoption payEmployee assistance programme: Staff Support ServiceDiscounted medical insuranceVisit to find out more.Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and InclusionAs London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here :