UCAS code

Q306

Encounter new perspectives, discover great creative minds, and develop your abilities as a thinker and communicator on our English Literature programme. This degree emphasises literature as a dynamic social and political force that actively shapes the world in which we live. Our modules respond to urgent contemporary concerns such as the environment, race and racism, identity, and disability. You will also have the opportunity to study texts from a wide range of authors, genres, periods and cultures.

This degree will advance your critical thinking, your understanding of social and cultural differences, and your effectiveness as a persuasive communicator—all key skills that you will need in the workplace.

Studying English Literature at Leeds prepares you for an exciting and fulfilling professional future. Graduates pursue careers in media, publishing, journalism, education, the charities sector, cultural industries and creative arts, or enter fields including management, marketing, and business, where strong analytical and communication skills are prized.

Our expertise

The School of English is ranked fourth in the UK for research. Our student-centred teaching is always evolving, drawing on the latest research and ideas, and on the expertise of staff who are at the cutting edge of literary studies. The School has many creative writers and practitioners, including the Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage. It is home to Poetry@Leeds, which brings together emerging and established poets, and we host events and readings by writers from around the world. The highly respected literary magazine, Stand, is produced in the School, and we support a number of student publications, including our annual Tenterhook.

Facilities

The School of English has a large informal study space where students meet and work between classes and hold English Society events. There are many attractive places to work on campus. Our Student Union runs a huge range of societies and offers great food options, while The Edge is a state-of-the-art sports facility just a few minutes’ walk from the School. As a campus university close to the centre of a vibrant city, everything is within easy reach and there are plenty of part-time work opportunities.

The University of Leeds is a partner of the National Poetry Centre, the national home for poetry, performance, learning and literacy based in Leeds.

The School of English has its own print studio, allowing you to learn traditional typesetting and printing techniques and print your own works.