English Literature

Go beyond the traditional canon of English Literature literature to study texts from many different genres and contexts. On this course you will have opportunities to engage with classic texts by writers like Shakespeare, Dickens and Austen, but may also find yourself reading:

Native American writing
Radical poetry
Avant-garde writing
Speculative fiction
LGBTQ+ rights literature
Experimental writing
Literature of the Caribbean
There is flexibility to tailor the course to your interests, with lots of optional modules to choose from and opportunities to specialise in specific themes or eras.

You will have the opportunity to take part in sessions with prominent literary figures through the York Literature Festival. This event runs every year in partnership with the university. In recent years the Festival has attracted authors including Margaret Atwood, Will Self, Polly Toynbee, Ian McMillan and Michel Faber. You can also join our field trips, which take us to places like London, Whitby and Stratford-Upon-Avon.

As you progress through the degree you will become an increasingly skilled reader, writer and critic. A degree in English Literature will help you build personal and professional skills that can lead to many exciting careers. Throughout the course you will build your confidence in:

Analysing
Writing
Researching
Forming arguments
Working collaboratively
Communicating ideas

As part of our commitment to helping our students gain professional skills and experience, this course includes a dedicated employability module. This allows you to gain professional experience in a setting relevant to your career goals.