English Literature and Community Engagement

English literature and community engagement is a distinctive combination that brings the study of literature together with an active commitment to sharing and applying that study beyond the university. English literature develops close reading skills, critical thinking, and the analytical vocabulary to engage with texts across the full range of English-language writing. Community engagement adds a practical and ethical dimension, asking how the insights of literary study can be brought into dialogue with the wider public, whether through teaching, working with community groups, cultural events, or other forms of outreach.

At the University of Bristol this part-time programme offers mature students the opportunity to study for an undergraduate degree from one of the UK's leading universities while also sharing their learning in the wider community. A foundation year is available, providing additional support and preparation for those who need it before entering the main degree. The programme is designed specifically for those who may be returning to education after a period away, or who are combining study with other adult responsibilities, and the part-time mode reflects that context.

You will engage with a wide range of literary texts across periods and traditions, developing the critical skills that Bristol's English department is known for, alongside a sustained reflection on how literary knowledge is communicated and applied beyond academic settings.

You will develop close-reading skills, critical writing, research ability, and the interpersonal and communication skills that genuine community engagement demands.

Graduates pursue careers in education, community and adult learning, writing, publishing, libraries, heritage, the voluntary sector, and the arts. The degree also provides a platform for those who wish to continue into postgraduate study in English literature, creative writing, education, or community education.