English Language and Literature

English language and literature is a degree that studies both the systematic science of how language works and the creative and cultural achievements of literary writing in English. English language examines the grammar and structure of the language, how it varies across communities and contexts, how it has changed over time, and what its use reveals about thought and society. English literature engages with the extraordinary range of poetry, drama, prose fiction, and non-fiction that has been written in English across six centuries, from the medieval period to the present day.

At Nottingham, this three-year full-time programme brings these two disciplines together in ways that illuminate each of them: understanding how language works makes the craft of literary writing more visible, and reading literature deeply enriches your understanding of what language can do. The programme includes a foundation year for students who benefit from additional academic preparation, a sandwich placement year for professional experience, and embedded work placement opportunities, making the maximum programme duration four years full-time with the foundation year. The typical entry tariff for direct entry is 136 points.

Graduates of English language and literature programmes pursue careers in teaching, publishing, journalism, the civil service, communications, marketing, broadcasting, librarianship, and a wide range of roles where sophisticated linguistic and critical skills are valued. The ability to read carefully, write clearly, and think analytically about how language functions is applicable in virtually every professional context. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in English, linguistics, applied linguistics, or creative writing, or to professional qualifications in teaching, law, or journalism, where the analytical and communicative training the degree provides is directly relevant.