Course summary

Like John Keats, who compared his reading to 'travel...in the realms of gold', we recognise that exploration and discovery are at the heart of literary study. Our degree puts a wide range of English literatures at your disposal, leading you from the Middle Ages to the globalised literature of the present day; at every step, you will have freedom to organise your studies around your own interests, and to focus on areas of greatest appeal to you. Our English BA offers a comprehensive overview of English literature in its various manifestations, taking you through the development of literary culture in English, from its early stages to its fragmentation into multiple international literatures. The level of coverage offered by our English degree means that you will graduate with an unrivalled breadth of knowledge and an extensive range of skills. Flexibility is at the heart of our courses: a variety of option modules will allow you to shape your studies around your own interests, while you chart the development of English from the late medieval period to the present day. The expertise of our staff ranges across a number of fields, from gothic literature to detective fiction, and from drama to creative writing, giving you access to a broad sweep of topics and themes. We also offer employability modules in teaching and publishing, allowing you to gain invaluable real-world experience in these areas. You will experience the full range and diversity of poetry, drama and prose written in English, encountering every major current and figure, from medieval romances to the early modern stage, and from the Romantic movement to the post-war period and beyond. You will also discover how English literature has adapted to reflect various conditions throughout its long history, and how the latest critical approaches can enable you to engage with its varied forms and content. Our teaching staff are active researchers in a large number of different fields, from Caribbean literature to writing on medicine, and from the Victorian period to the post-colonial era. Particularly strong areas of expertise include early modern literature, the Victorian period, the twentieth century, and creative writing. You can also complement your literary study by taking options in related disciplines, such as American Literature, Film Studies, History, Creative Writing, Teaching English as a Foreign Language, or modern languages.