English

The study of English encompasses more than a thousand years of literature, from the Old English of Beowulf through the Renaissance, the Romantic period, Victorian fiction, and modernism, to the extraordinary diversity of contemporary writing in English from around the world. It is a discipline that trains you to read closely, think critically, and write with precision and force, engaging with language not only as a vehicle for content but as a medium in which meaning is made, contested, and transformed.

At Royal Holloway, this BA English asks you to explore over a millennium of literary history and to think both critically and creatively about how the English language and literature can respond to the challenges we are facing today. You will encounter a wide range of texts, genres, and critical approaches, developing your analytical skills alongside your sensitivity to literary language. The programme includes a sandwich placement year, a year abroad, and a work placement, giving you professional and international experience as part of the three-year full-time degree.

Graduates of English degrees pursue careers across an extraordinarily wide range of sectors, including publishing, journalism, teaching, the civil service, law, marketing, communications, public relations, and the arts. The ability to read carefully, argue persuasively, and write with clarity is valued in almost every professional context. Many graduates also go on to postgraduate study in English literature, creative writing, journalism, or education, building on the critical and creative skills developed during the degree.