English Literature

English literature is the study of texts as human acts of imagination and communication, asking what they mean, how they work, and why they matter. It encompasses poetry, fiction, drama, and non-fiction across a wide sweep of periods and traditions, from medieval manuscripts to contemporary writing, and develops your capacity to read with care and depth, to think critically about language and form, and to construct and defend well-reasoned interpretations. The discipline is not confined to a fixed canon but engages with how literature relates to history, culture, politics, and identity.

At the University of Roehampton, this three-year full-time programme includes a foundation year for students who would benefit from additional support before engaging with the full degree, making it an accessible route for those with the intellectual curiosity to study literature at university level but who may be coming from non-standard academic backgrounds. The main programme immerses you in the diverse and dynamic study of literature, from works that have defined centuries of critical thought to contemporary writing that challenges received assumptions. You will read widely, develop your own analytical voice, and learn to engage seriously with the secondary scholarship that shapes how texts are interpreted.

The programme includes a sandwich year and work placement provision, giving you practical professional experience before you graduate. The typical entry tariff is 104 UCAS points.

English literature graduates are among the most versatile in the humanities. Journalism, publishing, teaching, copywriting, public relations, arts administration, the civil service, law, and social research are among the most common careers. The ability to read carefully, write clearly, and think critically about language and meaning is valued across virtually every professional field.

Many graduates also go on to postgraduate study in literature, creative writing, education, journalism, or related disciplines.