Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - English Literature and Media

A degree in English Literature and Media will help students grow from passionate reader into a critical thinker and literary scholar, while learning how to apply similar skills of analysis to other representations of the world, through cinema, television, magazines, the internet, and the ways in which people communicate with each other.

On a degree in English Literature and Media, students are introduced to writers who will open doors to contemporary worlds and cultures remote from their own, and also help them explore more familiar literature in ways that challenge their preconceptions. This means students will study literature written in English by writers from all parts of the globe, whose voices are relevant and important in our modern world. Students will also develop their critical awareness of the media, sharpen their practical skills and get their career off to a flying start. In a fast-paced, multifaceted media world, people with the ability to write, design and harness new technologies are in high demand.

Students will be taught by academic staff who bring fresh thinking to accessible, engaging courses. Some are active researchers of international standing who bring their own passion for their discipline into the classroom; others are dynamic teachers with extensive industry experience.

A core Literature module in the first year will equip students to read and interpret both traditional and contemporary literary texts critically as a scholar of English literature. Alongside this they can choose to revisit Shakespeare and consider his cultural relevance today through fictional, cinematic and TV adaptations; or to deepen your understanding of Gothic writing by tracing its origins back to the Romantic era.

In their second year students will focus on period-based literature from the Renaissance onwards and gain an understanding of literary history, from Elizabethan verse and drama, via Augustan poetry and the emergence of the novel in the 18th century, to the radical transformations of the Victorian age, and the emergence of modernity in the twentieth century. Students will also have the opportunity to consider ways of reading that go beyond textual analysis or historical context, such as understanding literature through the political or ideological lens of Marxism, feminism and post-colonial theory.

Students have the chance to specialise in their final year, tailoring their literary study to reflect their own interests. Themed options include children’s literature, young adult fiction, Renaissance tragedy, European crime fiction, literary adaptations and the culture of print in the 18th century.

The study of English Literature will enhance students' ability to analyse and synthesise complex ideas, and to express themselves clearly in both written and spoken English. These skills will be hugely beneficial to the study of Media, especially when coupled with practical skills which help to prepare students for their future career. Design their own app proposal, create a hard-hitting ad campaign, build a brilliant website and craft an inspiring feature article -- all supported by our industry- experienced team. Working across different platforms and for different audiences, students will develop a packed portfolio that will demonstrate their skills, adaptability and ambition.