English

Literature has always been one of the principal ways human beings have tried to make sense of their lives, and studying it seriously means developing the ability to read with real attention, to think through complexity, and to argue carefully in writing about what matters and why. An English degree trains you in all of these things, and it does so through sustained engagement with some of the most enduring and challenging writing in the language, as well as with contemporary texts that are reshaping what literature can do and say.

At the University of Hull, this three-year full-time programme has a distinctive character shaped by the university's own literary history. Philip Larkin worked as university librarian here for many years, and Hull has a genuine literary culture that informs the atmosphere of English studies. You will study poetry, fiction, and drama across a broad historical range, from the medieval period and the Renaissance through Romanticism and the Victorian era to the twentieth century and beyond.

Critical theory, literary history, and close reading of texts all form part of the curriculum, and you will develop the ability to write lucid, well-argued literary criticism as well as to engage with broader questions about language, culture, and meaning. A typical entry tariff of 104 points reflects the programme's accessibility.

English graduates from Hull, like English graduates from any good university, move into careers where the ability to read carefully and write persuasively is valued. Publishing, journalism, the law, education, the civil service, marketing, public relations, and the cultural sector are all common destinations. The degree is also excellent preparation for postgraduate study in English literature, creative writing, publishing, journalism, or teaching, and many graduates find that the analytical and communication skills they develop open doors across a wide range of sectors.