English Literature

English literature at its most rewarding asks not just what stories say but how they say it, and why it matters. The study of literature across periods, forms, and cultural contexts develops a distinctive way of reading the world: attentive to language and form, sceptical of simple narratives, and alive to the ways in which stories shape what we take to be real. At degree level, literary study combines rigorous critical analysis with the pleasure of engaging deeply with some of the most powerful and enduring works of human imagination.

At Buckingham this two-year full-time programme delivers the intellectual content of a literary education in an accelerated format, making it possible to complete an undergraduate degree in two years rather than three. The programme explores the power of stories while also developing your own creative voice, combining the study of literature and culture with creative practice across fiction, poetry, scriptwriting, and digital media. You will engage with learning through workshops, seminars, and industry-relevant activity, building critical, creative, and professional skills simultaneously.

Buckingham's size, one of the country's smallest universities, means you will be known as an individual rather than a face in a crowd, with close contact with tutors and a genuinely personalised educational experience.

Graduates find careers in publishing, media, marketing, education, journalism, copywriting, content creation, and the broader creative industries. The combination of literary critical ability and practical creative writing competence is valued in a wide range of professional roles where both analytical and creative communication are required. Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study in English literature, creative writing, or publishing, or move into professional training in journalism, teaching, or the cultural sector.