Overview

Literature offers a way of understanding the world through story, language and culture, spanning everything from medieval poems to graphic novels, film and video games. The BA (Hons) English Literature at the University of Birmingham lets students shape a genuinely personalised degree, choosing pathways in creative writing, film or English language alongside core literary study. Teaching draws on the expertise of researchers who regularly appear in national media and major publications, supported by resources such as the Cadbury Research Library and the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon. The course suits students who want to read widely and critically across centuries and forms, building toward an independent dissertation in their final year.

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What You'll Learn

• Critical reading skills and a broad historical grounding in literature, from earliest English to postmodernity

• Literary study across four historical periods, including Shakespeare, the Renaissance and the twentieth century

• Optional pathways in Creative Writing, Film, or English Language from the second year

• Themes that cut across periods, such as the Gothic, gender and sexuality studies, or literature and the environment

• Single-author study of writers such as Jane Austen, Virginia Woolf or George Orwell

• Genre fiction and popular culture, from fantasy and sci-fi to children's literature

• Practical, employability-focused study through an optional placement module

• An independent 10,000-word dissertation on a self-chosen topic

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Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to critically analyse literary texts across multiple historical periods, genres and forms, applying a range of theoretical approaches. They will be equipped to construct clear, well-evidenced written arguments, having developed this skill through varied assessment methods and increasingly specialised study. Through an independent dissertation and optional pathway modules, students will strengthen their ability to conduct original research or apply their literary skills to creative writing, film or language study. Graduates will leave with strong analytical, critical thinking and communication skills, well suited to further study or a wide range of careers in publishing, media, law, teaching and beyond.