University of Liverpool

What you'll study

This programme combines historical and thematic approaches to literature in English with modules in literary theory, research methods and optional interdisciplinary topics. In the first year you study core modules that introduce close reading, literary history and fundamental theoretical approaches while developing academic skills in writing and research.

• Periods and genres: modules typically cover medieval and early modern literature (including Shakespeare), Romantic and Victorian writing, 20th-century and contemporary fiction and poetry.
• Theory and criticism: modules introduce key critical traditions such as formalism, Marxism, feminism, postcolonial theory and new historicism.
• Options and specialisms: these allow you to explore areas such as American literature, Gothic and popular fiction, gender and sexuality, postcolonial studies, medieval literature, film and adaptation, and creative writing.
• Research and dissertation: in the final year you undertake a substantial independent project or dissertation under staff supervision, supported by research-methods training.
• Additional opportunities: students can often take language modules, participate in placement or internship schemes, and make use of the University's special collections for primary-source work.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to have a good set of secondary-school qualifications. Typical offers for A-level students fall within the range commonly required for humanities degrees; equivalent international qualifications such as the International Baccalaureate diploma are accepted. GCSE or equivalent English language qualifications are usually required, and international students must demonstrate English proficiency through an approved test if their prior education was not in English.

The Admissions team also considers personal statements, references and, where applicable, relevant experience. Mature applicants and those with non-standard backgrounds are encouraged to apply and may be assessed on a combination of qualifications and experience.

Career prospects

Graduates from English Literature go into a wide variety of careers that value analytical thinking, communication and research skills. Common career paths include:

• Publishing, editing and literary agencies
• Journalism, media and digital content creation
• Teaching and education (many graduates progress to teacher training/PGCE)
• Public relations, marketing and communications
• Library, archive and heritage work
• Law, civil service and graduate training schemes
• Further academic study at Master's and doctoral level leading to research or university teaching

Work placements, volunteering and dissertation projects can help build sector-specific experience and employer contacts while you study.

Why study at University of Liverpool

The University of Liverpool's School of the Humanities and Social Sciences has a long tradition of teaching literature alongside active research in areas such as early modern drama, Romanticism, Victorian studies, twentieth-century literature and contemporary theory. Students benefit from small-group teaching in later stages, supervisors for the dissertation, and access to the University's libraries and special collections for archival work.

Located in a city with a rich cultural and literary life, the programme offers opportunities to engage with local festivals, theatres and writing events, and to take part in placements and collaborative projects. The department also encourages interdisciplinary study and provides support for careers and employability throughout the degree.