English Literature

English literature is a discipline that develops your ability to read with care, think critically and write with precision, while also introducing you to some of the most powerful and illuminating works ever produced in the English language. It spans centuries and continents, from medieval manuscripts to contemporary fiction, from British canonical texts to postcolonial writing from across the globe, and it asks you to consider not just what texts mean but how they produce their meanings and in what contexts they do so. At the University of Reading, this three-year full-time degree includes a foundation year option, a sandwich year, a year abroad and a work placement, making it an unusually rich and flexible programme for those who want both academic depth and practical experience.

You will encounter literature from the Middle Ages to the present day across genres including poetry, fiction, drama and life writing, developing skills in close reading, literary analysis, contextual interpretation and critical argument. Reading's programme is noted for the breadth of its literary range and for the quality of its supervision of student work, including creative writing alongside critical study. The year abroad places your reading in an international context, and the placement year gives you the experience of applying your communication and analytical skills in a professional environment.

A typical tariff of around 120 points is expected.

English literature graduates are among the most versatile in the humanities, entering careers in publishing, journalism, education, public relations, communications, the civil service, arts management, television and film, law and business. The degree develops transferable skills in reading, writing, research and argument that are valued across all knowledge-based professions, and many graduates go on to postgraduate study in English, creative writing, journalism or teacher training.