English Literature BA (Hons)
University of Reading
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( 4.2) View reviews

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Different course options
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Qualification

Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

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Location

Main Site

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Study mode

Full Time

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Start date

OCT-24

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Duration

3 Years

Course info

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Qualification

Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

Location

Main Site

Study mode

Full time

Start date

OCT-24

Duration

3 Years

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English
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A level
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Scottish Higher
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Access to HE Diploma
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Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
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Extended Project
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GCSE/National 4/National 5
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International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
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Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
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England
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Course info

Explore a range of writers from across the globe and every period of history, from the middle ages right up to the present, with our BA English Literature course.Our English Literature degree will enable you to examine in greater detail authors and genres that you may already know (from tragedy to Gothic, from Shakespeare and Dickens to Plath and Beckett). But it will also introduce you to aspects of literary studies that may be less familiar to you, from childrens literature to publishing ...Read more

Explore a range of writers from across the globe and every period of history, from the middle ages right up to the present, with our BA English Literature course.Our English Literature degree will enable you to examine in greater detail authors and genres that you may already know (from tragedy to Gothic, from Shakespeare and Dickens to Plath and Beckett). But it will also introduce you to aspects of literary studies that may be less familiar to you, from children's literature to publishing studies and the history of the book. Our academics have published research on everything from medieval poetry to contemporary American fiction, and they will help you to develop your own literary enthusiasms.Our first year core modules ensure that all of our students have the advanced skills in literary analysis necessary for undergraduate work. We explore the different ways that literary texts respond to their cultural context (Genre and Context); we trace the development of poetry in English over time and across the globe (Poetry in English); we examine how literary texts accrue new meanings in the process of interpretation (Research and Criticism). You can take additional modules in other subjects in your first year, but you also have the option to study creative writing; non-fiction persuasive writing, or twentieth-century American literature. In the second year, you choose modules that range from Renaissance lyric poetry to contemporary fiction. In the third year, your module choices are more diverse and specialised: you can do archive work on Studying Manuscripts, or look at the politics of literature in Writing Global Justice. Everyone in our department, from new lecturers to professors, teaches at every level of the degree: this gives you the benefit of our expertise and makes you part of the conversation about the ways that English Studies is developing. The 2022 National Student Survey results are out and 88% of students on the BA English Literature course agreed they were satisfied with the teaching.On this course, you will have the option to study creative writing modules throughout your degree. Our lecturers and professors of creative writing are all writers who work at the highest professional levels.Throughout the degree, we prioritise small-group learning within a friendly and supportive environment. In your first and second years, you will have a mix of lectures (which can be quite large) and seminars.We believe that the study of English Literature is a discursive process in which we learn by sharing our ideas. For this reason, all our third year teaching takes place in seminars taught by research-active experts in the field. We will provide detailed and thorough feedback on your written work. This is crucial to your development as a writer, whether you intend a career in creative or professional writing.For more information, please visit the Department of English Literature website.


Placement

Throughout your degree you will be thinking about the career choices that will enable you to thrive after graduation: we will help you put in place the skills and experience that you need to launch that career. Our innovative placement scheme gives you the chance to undertake an academic placement in commerce, industry or the arts. You can also take a placement module on languages and literature in heritage, in education, and in the media. Students on our Literature, Languages and Education module also undertake a short placement to explore the ways in which the skills and knowledge gained in their studies have direct application to the workplace.

Key stats

WUSCA ranking
WUSCA student ranking
These are the 2023 rankings, based on ratings given by past and current students.
28/81
CUG Subject Ranking
CUG Subject Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2024
39th
CUG Ranking
CUG Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2024
34th
English Studies (Non-Specific)
Drop-out rate
Drop-out rate
The percentage of students who didn't finish the course.
Calculated by 100% - (% of students continuing course + % of students completed course)
100 - 91 = 9% Drop-out rate Source: UNISTATS, 2019
9%
Employment rate
Employment rate
The percentage of students in full-time work 6 months after finishing their course.
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
90%
Average salary
Average salary
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
English Studies (Non-Specific) graduate salary at this uni
£18,000
UK English Studies (Non-Specific) graduate salary
£19,000
What students say
S
Sophia
27 Feb 24

Best: Wide range of societies, lovely big green campus Worst: Price of sports society’s..Read more

S
Shanel
02 Feb 23

There is everything you..Read more

Modules

Modules (Year 1)
Modules (Year 2)
Modules (Year 3)
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Entry requirements

Exam type

A level

A level:

BBB Grades / Points required

Scottish Higher:

ABBBB Grades / Points required

Access to HE Diploma:

D:18,M:27 Grades / Points required

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal:

M2,M2,M2 Grades / Points required

Extended Project:

B Grades / Points required

GCSE/National 4/National 5:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme:

30 Grades / Points required

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016):

DDM Grades / Points required

A level English Literature or a related subject at grade B. Related subjects: English Language & Literature, English Language, Drama & Theatre Studies, Creative Writing.

Higher English Literature or a related subject at grade B. Related subjects: English Language & Literature, English Language, Drama & Theatre Studies, Creative Writing.

Must include at least 12 level 3 credits in English Literature or a related subject. Related subjects: English Language & Literature, English Language, Drama & Theatre Studies, Creative Writing.

Principal subjects must include English Literature or a related subject. Related subjects: English Language & Literature, English Language, Drama & Theatre Studies, Creative Writing.

In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification provides to students for University study, we now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer.  Eligible applicants would receive two offers,  our usual offer plus an alternative offer of a B in the EPQ and one grade lower in their A level subjects

GCSE Maths C (or 4), English Language or English Literature C (or 4).

Higher Level English Literature or a related subject at 5. Related subjects: English Language & Literature, English Language, Drama & Theatre Studies, Creative Writing.

Modules taken must be comparable to A level English Literature or a related subject. Related subjects: English Language & Literature, English Language, Drama & Theatre Studies, Creative Writing.

Popular A-level subjects

English Studies (Non-Specific)

Top 5 A-levels taken by students who study this subject at uni.

English Literature
71%
History
35%
English Language
28%
Psychology
21%
Religious Studies & Theology
12%
HESA

Tuition fees

Students living in

England

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from England

This is the fee you pay if you live within England. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within England. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Scotland

This is the fee you pay if you live within Scotland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Scotland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Wales

This is the fee you pay if you live within Wales. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Wales. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Northern Ireland

This is the fee you pay if you live within Northern Ireland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Northern Ireland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Channel Islands

This is the fee you pay if you live within Channel Islands. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Channel Islands. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£22,350 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from EU

This is the fee you pay if you live within the European Union. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within the European Union. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£22,350 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from International

This is the fee you pay if you are an International student. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you are an International student. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

UCAS/IDP Connect

Latest reviews

Latest English Literature reviews

English Literature
English Literature
S
Sophia
27 Feb 24
Art and English Literature BA (Hons)
Best: Wide range of societies, lovely big green campus Worst: Price of sports society’s...
Read more
S
Shanel
02 Feb 23
PhD English Literature
There is everything you...
Read more
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How English Literature students rated:

Student rating
( 4.1) 35 reviews
5 star
26%
4 stars
63%
3 stars
11%
2 stars
0%
1 star
0%

How all students rated:

Student rating
( 4.2) 1,792 reviews
5 star
35%
4 stars
55%
3 stars
9%
2 stars
1%
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Uni info

University of Reading
University of Reading , Reading

The University of Reading has a single aim: to make the world a better place for all....

Student rating
( 4.2) View reviews
CUG ranking
34th
University of Reading
Room 208 Pepper Lane Reading Wokingham RG6 6AH United Kingdom
Nearest train station: Basingstoke  0.3 miles away

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