Course summary

Wales has a rich lyric tradition, so where better to come than Swansea University to study English Literature and Welsh. Explore over a thousand years of literature from the early Medieval period to the present day, including centuries of Welsh literature. Delve into some provocative questions that writing can unveil around gender, culture and more. You will use your Welsh language skills across a range of interesting modules, looking at the Welsh language, both past and present and gaining skills in language translation. This four-year course covers both national and global literature from the poetry of protest, storytellers and study of Welsh playwriting to the Renaissance and Gothic genres, 19th century literature and contemporary fiction. You can also select modules around creative and professional writing. Our lecturers and professors are established writers whose works have been widely published, broadcast and performed. They include chief poets and winners of the Welsh Book of the Year competition. Swansea is the birthplace of Dylan Thomas, widely regarded by many literary scholars as one of the twentieth century's most influential lyrical poets, and amongst the finest of all time. The university’s links to the legacy of Dylan Thomas remain with our annual Dylan Thomas Prize for Literature and through research carried out in our Centre for Research into the English Literature and Language of Wales (CREW). Throughout this course you will also have the opportunity to get involved in projects with the Dylan Thomas Centre and the National Theatre Wales. Set in parkland overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the breathtaking Gower Peninsula, the university's location provides an excellent place to study. Students can enjoy both a thriving city and beautiful beaches and coastlines. Outside of their studies, our students benefit from our lively English Student Society, which organises a range of literary, social and cultural events. Our degree programmes aim to support students prepare for their future world of work. The third year of your course will be spent with a Year in Industry, allowing you to gain valuable work experience. You will also access support and guidance through the university’s Careers Service and Work Placement Team and all students have access to events, workshops and employer talks, including an annual conference for students in June to support final year students with the transition into employment or further study. You will have the opportunity to enhance your student experience further with the option to study abroad for a semester in countries such as Hong Kong, China, Singapore, North America and Canada. English Literature at Swansea is ranked top 10 for Overall Satisfaction (NSS 2022) and top 20 in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2023). Welsh at Swansea is ranked top 5 for Student Satisfaction, Research Quality and Graduate Prospects (Complete University Guide 2023). Graduates go on to enter careers in a wide range of sectors including education, marketing, media, translation and language planning, public services, politics and more. Those applying for this course are eligible to apply for the Coleg Cymraeg Main Scholarship of £3,000 as well as our general scholarships. Please visit our course page for more information.