You will encounter a dynamic blend of classic and countercultural literature, popular and unpopular culture taught by published scholars and professional writers.

The English undergraduate programme will give you the opportunity to experience and explore a range of literary and non-literary texts from the Renaissance to the present day, and from the West Indies to the West Midlands. It features a balanced curriculum of canonical writers and genres such as Shakespeare, Milton, the Romantics and the great Victorian novelists, alongside the challenges to this tradition offered by Modernism, 1960s radicals and those marginalised by class, gender, sexuality and race.

Throughout, you will be given the theoretical, philosophical and contextual tools with which to critically examine the process of literary production and reception, and to make informed judgements about literary value and cultural capital.

The primary focus of the BA (Hons) English single honours degree is on literary study, but it also offers you the flexibility to study modules in English Language, so you can continue to develop the combined interests in literature and language encountered in schools and colleges, and thus valuable for those wishing to enter the teaching profession.

Find out more - support sessions this Summer

Would you like to know more about studying English, and what it’s like to study here?

Why not come along to one of our support sessions where you will have the opportunity to meet staff and current students within The School of Humanities.

• Wednesday 15 May, 2pm
• Wednesday 12 June, 2pm
• Wednesday 10 July, 2pm

These sessions aim to answer any questions or concerns you may have about coming to University and you will also be given the opportunity to take a tour of our Humanities facilities.

Book your place here >>

Meet the Team 

The English faculty boasts two National Teaching Fellows, two novelists, and a Leverhulme research fellow. Areas where the team have gained particular recognition recently include: travel and transcultural literatures; contemporary literature and culture; Romanticism; pedagogic research on using digitalised archives and online teaching techniques in the literary classroom.

Our research and postgraduate activities are organised through the Centre for Transnational and Transcultural Research.

The staff directory below provides a brief outline of the main teaching interests within the team. See our individual profiles for details on research interests and wider professional activities.