English Literature

English Literature is the study of texts in the English language across time, place and genre, asking what they mean, how they are constructed and what they reveal about the human experience and the societies that produced them. It trains close attention to language and form, develops your ability to construct and evaluate complex arguments, and opens you to the full range of human thought and emotion that literature expresses. A degree in English Literature is also an invitation to develop your own intellectual and creative voice, as engaging seriously with texts changes not only how you read but how you think and write.

At the University of Warwick this three-year full-time degree draws on the strengths of one of the world's highly regarded English departments, where research-active academics bring their work and enthusiasms directly into their teaching. You will engage with literature across periods and traditions, developing both breadth of reading and depth of critical understanding. The programme includes a year abroad option, giving you the opportunity to study literature in an international context and broaden your cultural perspective.

Warwick's English degree is designed to spark genuine intellectual and creative engagement with literature and with the world it reflects and shapes.

English Literature graduates go on to an exceptionally wide range of careers. Many find roles in publishing, journalism, the media, education, communications, public relations and arts administration. Others work in the civil service, law, business, marketing, third-sector organisations and creative industries.

The skills the degree develops, including close reading, persuasive writing, critical thinking and the ability to engage with complex ideas and communicate them clearly, are valued by employers across virtually every sector. For those wishing to continue their studies, the degree provides excellent preparation for postgraduate work in English literature, creative writing, journalism, library and information management or education.