English and Creative Writing graduate, Priya Rohella, is a novelist, copywriter, and creative writer currently working on a sequel to her first novel, Through the Eyes of a Servant, and publishing her first children’s book. She shares her insight into studying English at BCU, and things she didn’t expect it would teach her.
When I started my English degree at Birmingham City University, I expected to read widely, write essays, and analyse texts until my brain felt like a well-thumbed paperback. What I didn’t expect was how much it would reshape what I’d learned during A-Level, how I create stories, and how I work now as a dual author and copywriter.
Here are a few things that surprised me most.
1. An English degree is the opposite of A-level study
In secondary school, both GCSEs and A-Levels prepare you to write within rules and guidelines. We study past papers, the same set texts, the same theories, and we’re often encouraged to add more and more to our writing.
When I arrived at university, one of the first things I was told was to forget everything I thought I knew about creative writing at school level. University was about your voice.
There are no rigid formulas in creative writing, only creativity, clarity and strong foundations in grammar and structure. That shift was both freeing and daunting. Instead of asking, ‘What does the examiner want?’, I began asking, ‘What am I trying to say?’
2. Creative writing is about more than just stories
Before starting my degree, I assumed creative writing meant novels and short stories.
In reality, I studied literature, language, screenwriting and explored different creative industries. The course allowed flexibility, choosing modules that reflected my interests and ambitions. That freedom helped me understand that storytelling exists everywhere: in publishing, marketing, education, and beyond.
3. Learning happens outside the classroom
I expected my degree to be mostly classroom-based, but I was happy to find out that learning extended beyond classroom lectures.
We had creative exercises across campus, library visits, and workshops that encouraged us to observe the world around us. Creativity wasn’t confined to a seminar room, it was something we actively practised in different environments. The experience reminded me that inspiration often comes from stepping away from your desk. Creativity thrives in different environments.
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4. Independence is everything
University demands independence in a way school never quite does.
During my time at BCU, studying, assessments, and my final dissertation required real self-discipline. With friends taking different modules and schedules rarely aligning, much of the responsibility rested on me.
That independence strengthened my work ethic and prepared me for life beyond university. BCU’s learning spaces, cafés, and library facilities across campus provided supportive environments to focus and grow.
Looking back, my English and Creative Writing degree didn’t just develop my writing, it reshaped how I think, create and approach opportunities.
I now work as a novelist and copywriter, currently writing a sequel to my debut novel, Through the Eyes of a Servant, and publishing my first children’s book. Alongside this, I visit local schools and universities to share my journey and encourage young writers to discover the wonder of creative writing.
