English Literature

English literature is among the oldest and most wide-ranging of academic disciplines. At its most basic, it is the study of how writers use language to create meaning, experience, and understanding across an extraordinary diversity of times, places, and forms. But it is also much more than that: a training in close reading, critical argument, and imaginative engagement that develops capacities of mind and expression that have value far beyond the study of books.

At Aberystwyth University, this three-year full-time degree offers study of literary texts and cultures spanning the early medieval period to the present day. You will develop your powers of expression and critical thinking, building specialist knowledge of literary history and the theoretical frameworks that help us analyse how texts work and what they do. The breadth of the programme means you can engage with different genres, periods, and national traditions, exploring how literature in English has evolved and how it reflects and shapes the societies from which it emerged.

The department's combination of literary history, applied theory, and research skills training means you will leave Aberystwyth not just well-read but genuinely equipped to pursue literature as scholars and professionals do. The typical entry tariff is 120 UCAS points.

Graduates of English literature programmes bring a distinctive set of skills to the job market. The ability to read carefully, argue clearly, and write with precision and nuance is valued in publishing, journalism, education, law, public relations, marketing, the civil service, and the cultural sector. Many graduates pursue careers in teaching, and the degree provides a strong foundation for a PGCE.

Others go into writing, editing, and communications roles. Postgraduate study in English literature, creative writing, journalism, or library and information science is also a well-trodden path for those who want to develop their expertise further.