Course summary

Why choose this course At the School of Literature and Languages, we use innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to literature from the past to the present, and immersive, practical methods of language-learning. Our BA (Hons) English Literature course focuses on understanding how literature works across historical periods, national boundaries, and global contexts, what it can teach us about the world we live in, and how it interacts with other subjects including visual culture, gender studies, history, politics and sociology. You’ll benefit from the expertise of a multidisciplinary group of published academics and authors who offer unique and contemporary perspectives on texts. We are ranked 7th in the UK for English by the Complete University Guide 2023, and 9th for English by the Guardian University Guide 2023. Our award-winning Professional Training Placements prepare students for roles in industry. We were shortlisted for University of the Year in The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023. What you will study On our BA (Hons) English Literature course, you’ll study vital and influential works of literature, reading and discussing contemporary works as well as classics in a wide range of genres and from around the world. Our course will introduce you to thought-provoking critical and theoretical approaches to literature. You’ll discover a range of perspectives, such as postcolonialism, psychoanalysis, and gender studies, that will enhance your understanding of literary works. You can tailor your course with a number of specialist optional modules on specific periods and themes, from the early modern to the contemporary, and from children’s literature to American fiction. Unusually for an English literature course, we also offer you the opportunity to take a Professional Training placement, enabling you to apply your skills in an industry-relevant context.