English Literature BA (Hons)

The English Literature BA (Hons) course at the University of Liverpool offers students the opportunity to study a wide range of literary forms, genres, and themes from the early medieval period to the present day.

Introduction

Students on this course will learn to interpret literature from many perspectives, including historical, sociological, and political, making this course both intellectually challenging and rewarding. The course is taught by a staff of award-winning writers and researchers, including four BBC 'New Generation Thinkers', and is informed by original academic research.

What You'll Learn

• Detailed knowledge of the literature of a variety of historical periods
• Critical thinking
• Teamwork
• Textual analysis from multiple perspectives
• How to undertake research
• How to present and communicate clearly
• How to debate, argue, and persuade

Course Content

The course content is divided into three years, with each year offering a range of compulsory and optional modules.

Year One

In the first year, students will develop key skills and subject knowledge that will equip them for more advanced and specialized modules in the later years of the degree. Students will take four compulsory modules and choose two optional modules.

Compulsory Modules

• CLOSE READING (ENGL103) - 15 credits
• LITERATURE AND PLACE: CITY, COUNTRY, PLANET (ENGL102) - 30 credits
• LITERATURE IN TIME (ENGL117) - 30 credits
• WAYS OF READING (ENGL113) - 15 credits

Optional Modules

• READING DRAMA (ENGL119) - 15 credits
• CLASSICAL GREEK LITERATURE AND CULTURE (CLAH115) - 15 credits
• ENGLISH LITERATURE IN IRELAND: JONATHAN SWIFT TO WB YEATS (IRIS103) - 15 credits
• CRITICAL, ANALYTICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING (PHIL112) - 15 credits
• INTRODUCTION TO WORLD LITERATURE 1: PLACES AND LOCATIONS (WLIT101) - 15 credits
• THEORISING THEATRE AND PERFORMANCE (ENGL104) - 15 credits
• INTRODUCTION TO WORLD LITERATURE 2: THEORY AND PRACTICE (ENGL120) - 15 credits
• VIRGIL: LITERARY CULTURES AND CONTEXTS (CLAH102) - 15 credits
• MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY IRISH WRITING: FROM JAMES JOYCE TO SALLY ROONEY (IRIS104) - 15 credits
• THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER: ART AND PHILOSOPHY (PHIL110) - 15 credits

Year Two

In the second year, students will choose from a range of optional modules that will give them the opportunity to study texts from particular literary periods, ranging from the medieval to the modern.

Optional Modules

• DRAMA (ENGL213) - 30 credits
• BRITISH WRITING SINCE 1945: FICTION AND DRAMA (ENGL215) - 30 credits
• VICTORIAN LITERATURE (ENGL243) - 30 credits
• RESTORATION AND EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY LITERATURE: MILTON TO JOHNSON (ENGL272) - 30 credits
• WRITING MAGAZINES / MAGAZINE WRITING: HISTORY, LITERATURE AND THE PERIODICAL (ENGL299) - 30 credits
• PROFESSIONAL AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT (SOTA260) - 15 credits
• WEIMAR FILM AND LITERATURE: THE CITY AND MODERNITY (GRMN218) - 15 credits
• LATIN AMERICA IN ITS LITERATURE (LATI203) - 15 credits
• SHAKESPEARE IN CONTEXT (ENGL214) - 30 credits
• WORLD DRAMA (ENGL216) - 30 credits
• ROMANTIC LITERATURE (ENGL218) - 30 credits
• MODERNIST LITERATURE (ENGL232) - 30 credits
• KNIGHTS, ENCHANTRESSES AND ROGUES, (ENGL270) - 30 credits
• BANNED: FICTION, SEX AND THE LIMITS OF DECENCY (ENGL298) - 30 credits
• NATURE AND VIRTUE: ANCIENT ETHICS (CLAH299) - 15 credits
• ART AND VIOLENCE: VISUAL CULTURES AND THE MEDIA IN MODERN FRANCE (FREN220) - 15 credits
• WOMEN IN IBERIAN AND LATIN AMERICAN LITERATURE AND CULTURE (HISP219) - 15 credits

Year Three

The final year offers a broad range of optional modules, allowing for further specialization and a focus on specific genres and/or themes. Students will also have options to study modules in creative writing.

Optional Modules

• MILLENNIAL LITERATURE AND CULTURE (ENGL301) - 15 credits
• AMERICAN POETIC WRITING SINCE 1930 (ENGL302) - 30 credits
• DISSERTATION (SEMESTER ONE) (ENGL311) - 30 credits
• CREATIVE WRITING (DRAMA) (ENGL315) - 15 credits
• NOIR: LITERATURE, FILM, ART (ENGL321) - 30 credits
• BREAKING THE SENTENCE: LITERATURE AND FEMINISMS (ENGL347) - 30 credits
• SHAKESCENE: MAKING SHAKESPEARE ON PAGE, STAGE, AND SCREEN (ENGL368) - 30 credits
• CREATIVE WRITING (PROSE) (ENGL377) - 15 credits
• LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (ENGL383) - 30 credits
• POSTCOLONIAL LITERATURE AND THEORY (ENGL401) - 15 credits
• MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IN POSTWAR BRITAIN: HISTORIES, LITERATURES, ACTIVISMS (ENGL485) - 15 credits
• WAR WRITING (ENGL488) - 30 credits
• RESEARCHING DIGITAL CULTURES IN THE AMERICAS (HISP348) - 15 credits
• NEW TRENDS IN ITALIAN CINEMA: MAFIA, GENDER, MIGRATION AND ECO-CINEMA (ITAL321) - 15 credits
• TERROR REMEMBERED: REPRESENTING TRAUMATIC HISTORIES IN LATIN AMERICA, EUROPE AND ASIA (MODL304) - 15 credits
• REMEMBERING SLAVERY (MODL332) - 15 credits
• AESTHETICS (PHIL316) - 15 credits
• GOTHIC FICTION AND FILM (ENGL325) - 30 credits
• RENAISSANCE POETRY (ENGL327) - 30 credits
• CREATIVE WRITING (POETRY) (ENGL372) - 15 credits
• CHILDREN'S LITERATURE (ENGL373) - 15 credits
• DISSERTATION (SEMESTER TWO) (ENGL379) - 30 credits
• THE NOVEL: (ENGL386) - 30 credits
• THE FIN DE SIECLE: LITERATURE AND CULTURE (ENGL395) - 30 credits
• GAMES PLAYING ROLES (ENGL397) - 15 credits
• RE-WRITING NATURE: LITERATURE, SCIENCE AND SCIENCE FICTION (ENGL403) - 15 credits
• JAMES JOYCE: A WRITING LIFE (ENGL499) - 30 credits
• POPULAR CULTURE, LANGUAGE AND POLITICS (COMM318) - 15 credits
• COMICS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS: MEMORY AND TRANSCULTURAL MOBILITY (MODL326) - 15 credits
• PHILOSOPHY AND LITERATURE (PHIL327) - 15 credits
• DISSERTATION (OVER BOTH SEMESTERS) (ENGL380) - 30 credits
• SCHOOL OF THE ARTS WORK PLACEMENTS MODULE (SOTA300) - 30 credits

Year in Industry

This program is available with an optional year in industry. If you choose this option, year three is spent on a paid placement within an organization in industry, broadly defined. You will be supported by the School of the Arts and the department throughout, and your reflexive written account of the experience will contribute towards your final degree result.

Course Options

Studying with us means you can tailor your degree to suit you. Here's what is available on this course:

Global Opportunities

University of Liverpool students can choose from an exciting range of study placements at partner universities worldwide. Choose to spend a year at XJTLU in China or a year or semester at an institution of your choice.

Year in China

Immerse yourself in Chinese culture on an optional additional year at Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University in stunning Suzhou.

Year Abroad

Broaden your world by spending an additional year of study at a partner university abroad following your second year of study.

Semester Abroad

Take a semester of your second year of study at one of our worldwide partner institutions.

Summer Abroad

Spend a summer abroad on a study placement or research project at one of our worldwide partner institutions.

Year in Industry

Year in industry placements give you an in-depth workplace experience where you can develop your skills and apply your learning.

Language Study

Every student at The University of Liverpool can study a language as part of, or alongside their degree.

Combine This Subject

With a combined degree, you can study two subjects as part of the same degree program.

Your Experience

The Department of English is based in the School of the Arts, although teaching will take place across the campus. We are committed to small group teaching, which encourages a more rewarding learning experience, where ideas are shared and explored with your peers and tutors.

Careers and Employability

As a student in the School of the Arts, you will be supported to maximize your employability from day one. Our English degree programs are valued by employers who recognize the skills our students develop, including teamwork, project design, critical thinking, proficiency in text analysis, and communication and presentation skills.

Fees and Funding

Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider:

Tuition Fees

• UK fees (applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man, and Republic of Ireland): £9,790 per year
• Year in industry fee: £1,955
• Year abroad fee: £1,465 (applies to year in China)
• International fees: £27,000 per year
• Year in industry fee: £1,955
• Year abroad fee: £13,500 (applies to year in China)

Additional Costs

Your tuition fee covers almost everything, but you may have additional study costs to consider, such as books or stationery.

Scholarships and Bursaries

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries that could help pay your tuition and living expenses.

Entry Requirements

The qualifications and exam results you'll need to apply for this course:

Qualification

• A levels: ABB
• Applicants with the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) are eligible for a reduction in grade requirements.
• T levels: Not currently accepted
• GCSE: 4/C in English and 4/C in Mathematics
• Subject requirements: A level English (Language, Literature, or Language and Literature) at grade A
• BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma: Applications considered. BTEC in a humanities-related subject plus A level English at grade A required
• International Baccalaureate: 32 points overall with no score less than 4 and including 6 in Higher Level English or pass the IB Diploma plus 6,5,5 in 3 HL subjects including 6 in Higher Level English
• Irish Leaving Certificate: H1, H2, H2, H2, H3, H3 with H1 in English
• Scottish Higher/Advanced Higher: Scottish Advanced Highers of ABB with English Grade A
• Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced: B in the Welsh Baccalaureate, plus AB at A level to include English at grade A
• Access: Pass relevant Access to HE Diploma (Humanities/Social Science) with 45 Level 3 credits with 33 at Distinction (including all English credits) and 12 at Merit
• International qualifications: Select your country or region to view specific entry requirements

Alternative Entry Requirements

• If your qualification isn't listed here, or you're taking a combination of qualifications, contact us for advice
• Applications from mature students are welcome

English Language Requirements

You'll need to demonstrate competence in the use of English language, unless you're from a majority English-speaking country.

Pre-sessional English

Do you need to complete a Pre-sessional English course to meet the English language requirements for this course? The length of the Pre-sessional English course you'll need to take depends on your current level of English language ability.

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