English

Reading literature is a form of exploration. It takes you into minds and worlds that are not your own, across centuries and cultures, and asks you to make sense of what you find there using the tools of close attention, historical understanding, and critical argument. English literature as a university discipline goes far deeper than reading widely: it teaches you to read precisely, to understand the contexts in which texts were produced and received, and to articulate your responses and interpretations with rigour and clarity.

At the University of Leicester, this three-year, full-time programme includes a foundation year for those who need to build their academic foundations before progressing to degree-level study, and a year abroad that allows you to study literature in a different academic and cultural environment. The programme ranges from medieval writing to the globalised literature of the present day, taking in British, American, and international traditions, and you will have genuine freedom to shape your studies around your own interests at every stage. The department's approach to literary study treats exploration and discovery as central: you are encouraged to follow your intellectual curiosity and to develop an increasingly independent critical voice as you progress through the programme.

A typical entry tariff of 120 points reflects an accessible admissions threshold. English graduates from Leicester go on to careers in publishing, journalism, teaching, the civil service, law, marketing and communications, arts administration, and broadcasting, as well as a wide range of other professional fields that value the ability to read closely, think independently, and communicate ideas with precision and persuasion. The research and analytical skills the degree builds are among the most transferable in the graduate market.

Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in English literature, creative writing, journalism, or education, while others move directly into careers that draw on the particular combination of empathy, intelligence, and clarity that a literature degree develops.