This single honours degree allows you to combine English Language and Literature in a cohesive and creative way. The first year is split equally between the two subjects, but in years two and three you will be able to choose to take more of your modules in either language or literature, depending on your own interests and career aspirations.

In English Language, you will be provided with a rigorous grounding in the analysis of the language. You will learn such essential linguistic tools as phonetics, grammar and discourse analysis from those who are helping develop those fields. Since we take a broad approach to language, you will also learn how to analyse the types of multimodal texts (for example combining word, image and sound) that predominate in contemporary media.

English literature offers access to the whole chronological span of English literature, from the Anglo-Saxon period to the 21st century. You will be able to study writing in English from England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, North America, the Caribbean, India and Australia. In addition, there are modules in creative writing throughout the degree.

The curriculum is not restricted to the printed word – we are intrigued by the connections between literature and film, art, music, history, language, and popular culture, and our teaching reflects these interests.

We offer a challenging course of modules drawn from each subject, supported by a friendly atmosphere and excellent staff-student relationships.

Distinctive features

• core modules that provide a solid base for all, but then allow you to carve out a programme that will best fit your interests and career aspirations
• teaching across the whole chronological and geographical span of English Literature, from the Anglo-Saxon period to the 21st century
• research-led teaching that allows you to engage with new ideas that are helping to shape the future of both English Language and Literature studies
• a reputation for theoretically informed reading, bringing texts from all periods into dialogue with contemporary concerns about gender, identity, sexuality, nationality, race, the body, the environment, and digital technology
• a strong tradition in creative writing, taught by writers making their mark on today’s culture