Humanities

The Department of Humanities offers a range of innovative, dynamic courses, including undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in English and creative writing, postgraduate degrees in philosophy, and the Foundation Year in Arts and Humanities. The Kingston Language Scheme, which offers a wide range of foreign language courses to students, staff and the public, is also organised by the Department, as are English for Academic and Professional Development courses, including pre-sessional English provision.

Our degree courses engage with material shaped by diverse experiences, expose our students to new ideas and creative techniques, and develop vital professional skills. Our graduates are confident and well equipped to deal with the challenges of the contemporary world. In particular, they have highly developed critical thinking and communication skills, which are among the skills that are most prized by employers. Our graduates go on to build successful careers in, among other areas, the creative and cultural industries, education, government, and the charity sector. Many of our graduates are the recipients of scholarships and awards for their critical, creative or professional work.

Research is central to what we do. Our cutting-edge research, which informs our teaching, comprises both innovative scholarship and collaborative projects that bring the Department's staff into dialogue with researchers from across the world and with community organisations in the local area. The Department of Humanities is associated with several research units. The Centre for Research in Modern European Philosophy (CRMEP) is internationally recognised as the leading centre for research in continental philosophy in the UK. The Race/Gender Matters research group focuses on critical and creative engagements with race, gender, sexuality and the environment; and the Writing Cultures Group brings together staff from across Kingston School of Art whose practice engages with the cultural and artistic significance of the written word. The Department also provides a supportive environment for a large number of philosophy, English literature and creative writing PhD students.

Subjects in the Department of Humanities

Creative Writing

Perfect the art of writing imaginatively, on a variety of topics, through expert tuition from our award-winning published authors, playwrights and experimental poets.

English for Academic and Professional Development

The English for Academic and Professional Development Programme offers a wide range of courses in academic and professional writing and speaking.

English

The study of English at Kingston encourages students to take an active part within a supportive and academically stimulating environment.

Foundation Year Humanities and Arts

Or foundation year offers an entry route into university for those who lack A-levels, have A-levels in unrelated subjects, or mature students.

Kingston Language Scheme

Kingston Language Scheme (KLS) is a university-wide programme that provides high-quality language courses to everybody – Kingston University students, staff and the wider community.

Philosophy (CRMEP)

The Centre for Research in Modern European Philosophy is the leading centre for postgraduate-level study and doctoral research in continental philosophy in the UK.

Staff in the department

Humanities news and activities

Contact us

Heads of Department of Humanities: Dr Matthew Birchwood and Dr Martin Dines.

Department of Humanities undergraduate course administrator: Sandra Da Silva.

Department of Humanities postgraduate course administrator: Karen Hobbs.