English Literature

English literature is the sustained, rigorous reading of texts in the English language across the full breadth of the literary tradition, from the earliest medieval poetry to writing published in the present day. It is a discipline that develops your capacity for close reading and careful interpretation, your ability to situate texts in their historical and cultural contexts, and your skill in constructing and communicating sustained critical arguments. Literature is both an art form and a record of human experience, and studying it seriously develops the kind of analytical, empathetic, and communicative intelligence that is valued across a very wide range of careers.

At the University of Liverpool, this three-year full-time degree gives you the opportunity to engage with literary forms, genres, and themes from the early medieval period to the contemporary. You will gain insight into how literature in English has developed over history, exploring the forces, ideas, and social conditions that shaped the writing of different periods. The programme also allows you to pursue in-depth study of particular genres, including children's literature, noir fiction, and gothic writing, alongside a broad chronological coverage.

A sandwich year provides structured professional experience, and a year abroad allows you to study English literature in an international academic context. Work placement is embedded in the degree throughout.

You will graduate with a deep knowledge of the English literary tradition alongside the analytical, research, and communication skills that the discipline develops.

Graduates go on to careers in education, publishing, journalism, broadcasting, the cultural sector, advertising, public relations, the civil service, and a wide range of business and professional roles where sophisticated use of language and critical thinking matter. Many pursue postgraduate study in English literature, creative writing, or related fields, and some go on to academic careers in research and teaching.