Program Overview
The BA English Literature with Foundation program is a four-year degree that provides students with a comprehensive understanding of literature from across the globe and across genres and periods. The program emphasizes critical analysis, knowledge of literary texts, and cultural context. Graduates develop skills in writing, research, and communication that prepare them for careers in the communications and media industries, creative industries and publishing, and the education sector.
Program Outline
This four-year programme includes a foundation year that leads directly into the three-year course. Literature is characterised by extraordinary richness and diversity. Throughout your studies, you will explore texts from across the globe, across a range of genres and periods. the creative and critical ability to examine texts in detail, and draw your own conclusions knowledge of a variety of literary texts — including poetry, prose, drama and film — from a range of periods an awareness of the ways in which literature responds to cultural context, and how texts accrue new meaning. You will be taught by experts from the Department of English Literature, whose expertise and research spans everything from medieval poetry to contemporary American fiction.
Outline:
Foundation Year:
The aim of the foundation year is to prepare you for your English literature degree. As you progress, each stage builds on your prior learning: Gain a thorough grounding in study at degree level. Core modules will develop key skills to support your learning. The Academic Skills module helps you to acquire successful study skills, including academic writing, research and referencing, critical thinking, teamwork, effective study techniques and time management. The Study for Success module enables you to develop as a successful student in this field, building on your strengths and targeting key skill areas. The Identities module explores ideas of identity under four themes: national/race identity, gender, changing identities and a sense of self. It covers a wide range of texts and objects, including film, novels and novellas, poems and plays and cultural documents.
First Year:
Engage in lively debate about approaches to the study of literature. You will undertake critical and research exercises, with close study of selected texts from a number of different periods.
Second Year:
You will be given the opportunity to explore a breadth of English literature, delving into texts within historical periods and generic traditions.
Third Year:
Undertake more specialised and independent literary study, choosing your modules from a wide range of options. To this end, we prioritise small-group learning within a friendly and supportive environment. Your learning will take place through a combination of lectures, seminars, practical classes and workshops delivered by our supportive staff. The skills you'll develop are particularly attractive within: communications and media industries creative industries and publishing the education sector. Prospective employers value the intellectual training, versatility, and resourcefulness that you will gain during your degree studies in English literature. In the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020/21, 95% of our leavers are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation (Based on our analysis of HESA data © HESA 2023, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020/21; includes first degree English Literature responders).
Other:
Every year, the Department hosts a Royal Literary Fund Fellow: a professional writer whose role is to advise students on their writing technique. As well as assisting with your essays and coursework, the Fellow can offer feedback on your personal pieces. Throughout your degree, you will have access to the University's substantial and varied collection of rare books, archives and manuscripts. In your final year, you'll have the opportunity to handle and study these fascinating texts, including the world's largest collection of Samuel Beckett manuscripts. You can also take a placement module on languages and literature in heritage, education or the media. In your second year, you can spend a semester studying abroad at one of our partner institutions in Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe and the USA.
New UK/Republic of Ireland students
£9,250
New international students:
£22,350
