English Literature and Music
English literature and music are both arts that work through time, creating meaning through sequence, pattern, and the careful organisation of material that unfolds in the reader's or listener's experience. Studying them together at Liverpool Hope University opens up rich connections between two disciplines that have influenced each other throughout history, from the ballads and songs that shaped literary tradition to the operas, tone poems, and song settings that drew directly on literary texts. Liverpool itself is an ideal city for this combination, with its thriving cultural scene, literary festivals, independent bookshops, and the renowned Central Library nearby, as well as The Reader Organisation in Calderstones Park, an inspiring hub for literature lovers.
Over three years of full-time study you will engage with literature across periods and forms, developing close reading skills, critical analysis, and the ability to write and argue with precision. On the music side you will develop your understanding of music history, theory, analysis, and performance or composition depending on your chosen pathway, learning to listen and think analytically about musical works from a wide range of traditions. The sandwich year placement and work placement opportunities allow you to apply your skills in professional creative or cultural environments before you graduate, while the year abroad gives you the opportunity to experience literature and music in a different cultural setting.
Graduates from English literature and music go on to careers in arts administration, publishing, music journalism, education, broadcasting, cultural programming, heritage, and the creative industries broadly. The combination of analytical writing skills, cultural knowledge, and creative engagement you develop is valued across any role that requires clear communication, critical thinking, and cultural awareness. Postgraduate study in either discipline, or in interdisciplinary areas such as cultural studies or musicology, is also a natural continuation.