English

English literature is the study of how writers have used language to construct meaning, record experience and imagine other ways of being in the world. It takes seriously the claim that stories, poems and plays are not merely entertainment but forms of thought, ways of exploring what it means to be human in different times and places. Engaging with literature closely and analytically changes the way you read, write and think, and the skills it cultivates are among the most transferable in any humanities degree.

At the University of Northampton this part-time programme offers a dynamic and diverse engagement with English literature, allowing you to explore a wide range of themed strands and in-depth topics according to your own interests and curiosities. Teaching is delivered by dedicated tutors who are active researchers, bringing their own scholarly work into the classroom and maintaining a connection between the study of literature and ongoing critical debate. The programme offers a supportive and exploratory environment in which you can develop your love of literature and build the writing, analytical and critical skills that will serve you in your career and beyond.

The part-time format makes this programme accessible to those with professional, family or other commitments, and the curriculum is designed to help you connect your reading and thinking to your broader life and goals.

Graduates move into a wide range of careers including publishing, journalism, education, the civil service, marketing, communications, the arts, charities and creative industries. The close reading, analytical writing and interpretive skills developed on an English degree are valued wherever careful communication is required. Many also continue to postgraduate study in literature, creative writing, journalism, education or related fields.