Ian Rankin receives honorary fellowship

The University of Edinburgh will enlist the help of Ian Rankin, Ron Butlin and other established authors to help students with creative writing.

The two authors are to receive an Honorary Fellowship which, the university feels will “broaden the base of writers involved with the student tuition.”

Speaking to The Journal, Ian Rankin said: “As an ex-student of Edinburgh university, it’s a thrill to receive this award. I began my writing career as a student, when I should have been doing work. It’s good to see it’s paid off at last.”

The honorary positions were also awarded to Phillipa Gregory and Rona Munro, both accomplished fiction writers.

Randall Stevenson, Professor of English literature at Edinburgh University, said: “We are delighted that some of the most successful writers in the UK will be sharing their expertise with university students. These new positions will help extend our thriving creative community.”

The fellowships are supported by the Scottish Art Council and UNESCO World City of Literature.

Previous celebrity fellows include author Margaret Atwood and Australian novelist David Malouf.