Student stories
The City Lit Humanities department has a long record of helping students develop and progress. Some of our former students have gone on to have international success.
Andrea Levy - creative writing
Andrea did not start writing until she was in her mid thirties and after attending writing workshops began to write novels that reflected the experiences of black Britains. Her fourth novel Small Island won the Orange Prize for fiction, the Whitbread Novel Award, the Orange Best of the Best and the Commonwealth Writer’s Prize.
Malorie Blackman - creative writing
Malorie studied Creative Writing at City Lit and has since written over 50 books, including the award winning Noughts and Crosses and Pig-Heart Boy which was turned into a BAFTA winning television serial.
Christine McInnes - business and economics
Christine is a skilled gilder who runs her own antique restoration business, but the difficult economic climate meant that her firm was at risk of going under. She decided to join the ‘Start your own business’ course which helped her understand key aspects of business.
Read more...
Sophie McKenzie - creative writing
In just three short years Sophie went from being a creative writing student at City Lit to an acclaimed award-winning writer.
Read more...
Florence Afolabi - literature
Florence started at City Lit on a ‘Ways into literature’ course, where she proved to be an enthusiastic, engaged and thoughtful student. She has now just completed her PGCE at Roehampton University and will soon be working as a primary school teacher.
Read more...
John Conteh - creative writing
In 1970 and at the age of 19 John made his mark by winning a gold medal for Britain, boxing at middleweight in the Commonwealth Games. Recently, John signed up to the course, Ways into Creative Writing.
Read more...
Segun Afolabi - creative writing
City Lit's Ways into Creative Writing course clearly sparked a real talent, as Segun’s first book
Goodbye Lucille was awarded the Authors’ Club best first novel prize 2008.
Read more...