BA (Hons) English Literature at Durham University

If you have a love of reading and a sense of intellectual adventure, English Literature could be the perfect degree for you. Not only does English Studies provide a thorough grounding in the ‘great tradition’ of English literature - from Chaucer and Shakespeare through to plays, poems and novels written in the 20th and 21st centuries - and in literary theory, but it also offers a wide range of imaginative and research-led modules. The comprehensive syllabus combines traditional areas of literary study with new and developing areas of the discipline.

Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Humanities  |  Department: English Studies  |  Duration: 3 years full-time  |  Study mode: full-time  |  Intake: September 2027  |  Location: Durham, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

The first year will focus on advancing the skills of critical analysis and argument you have already acquired in your education to date. This includes close reading and analysis of texts, such as the awareness of formal and aesthetic dimensions of literature and of the affective power of language, alongside the introduction of more advanced concepts and theories relating to literature. Compulsory modules include Approaches to Literary Studies, Introduction to Drama, Introduction to the Novel, Introduction to Poetry, Romance and the Literature of Chivalry, Epic and the Literature of Legend.

Career pathways

Our graduates are highly valued by employers. They progress into a diverse range of careers and sectors, including arts and theatre management, broadcasting, publishing and journalism, business, accounting, marketing and advertising, teaching, higher education, law, third sector and government positions.

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