Course summary

Studying an undergraduate English degree at the University of Birmingham will enable you to explore past and present cultures and societies, through a wide range of perspectives and in a variety of different literary genres. Our internationally renowned academic staff offer a huge range of literary specialisms across the full historical range to the present day. Our degree offers you an exciting core programme in English Literature, while also giving you the opportunity to explore pathways in the closely related fields of Creative Writing, Drama, Film Studies and English Language. You will have access to unparalleled resources for the study of Shakespeare, through our world leading Shakespeare Institute, not only looking at the poetry and plays of Shakespeare himself, but how these works have been interpreted, reworked and reimagined by diverse audiences. Why study this course? Get ahead start in the graduate market – Kick start your career with our employability modules, including options that provide a minimum of 70 hours' work experience within a sector you're interested in, assist organisations with developing, planning and pitching their business proposals and get involved with public engagement projects. Personalise your degree – You can incorporate optional Creative Writing, Drama, Film or English Language and Linguistics modules throughout all three years of your degree programme, as well as study everything from Old English to the latest novels from a diverse range of authors such as Ralph Ellison and Monica Ali. Do more than read books – take advantage of the wide ranging expertise within our academic community and delve into the study of social media, marketing, textual production, video games, comics, film and TV, music and art. Get on board with the bard – where better to study Shakespeare than in the town where he was born! Make use of our internationally renowned Shakespeare Institute based in Stratford-upon-Avon and collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company and take part in fun and interactive study trips, such as the Stratford Residential, which includes creative sessions led by RSC artists and tickets to an RSC performance. A city that values literature as much as you do – Did you know that inspiration for parts of The Lord of the Rings came from our very own campus (our clock tower Old Joe is thought to be the black tower of Isengard)! Explore Birmingham’s literary scene and get involved with the numerous on-campus writers groups, including our very own newspaper, radio and TV stations. Delve into the various city-wide literature festivals and take advantage of our exceptional resources, including our special collections and archives in the Cadbury Research Library and the Library of Birmingham, Europe’s largest regional library. Top 10 for English in the Guardian University Guide 2022 Top 15 for English in the Complete University Guide 2022 Top 30 for English Language and Literature in the QS World Subject Rankings 2022