English Literature
Explore how literature has shaped the world – and been shaped by it – while developing vital skills for career success.
in the East of England for undergraduates employed as managers, directors or senior officials.
Source: GOS 2025
An English Literature degree will help you rediscover the world through the eyes of others. The texts you read will transport you to mythical landscapes, Gothic castles, Victorian slums and cities of the future. They'll give you new insights into social and political upheavals, humanity’s relationship with our environment, and all the ways in which literature and language have shaped our world.
Our course will enable you to gain an appreciation of key periods, genres and writers, and to value multiple perspectives, but also allow you scope to follow your own passions and enthusiasms. You'll enhance your critical thinking skills and receive guidance and encouragement as you develop your own critical voice.
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Dr Tory Young discusses the use of second-person in Ali Smith's short story 'May' in this 60 Second Seminar.
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Boost your employability: take a placement year, learn a language, and solve real-world live brief challenges for local employers
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Our English courses ranked 12th in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2025, and 7th in the UK for student satisfaction in the Complete University Guide 2023
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Explore your passion for literature through talks and events organised by our Cambridge Writing Centre and develop your creativity through our strong links with the National Centre for Writing
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Expand your network and knowledge base at events with writers, publishers and other professionals
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Explore the rich local culture with extra-curricular trips to places like the British Library and the Barbican Theatre
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Get expert support from experienced lecturers and additional individual guidance with your writing from our Royal Literary Fund Fellows
Study at an award-winning university
We were named Times Higher Education University of the Year 2023. We've also been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework – a reflection of the outstanding education we offer our students.
Careers
I got help from someone in ARU’s Careers and Employability Service to find a placement, and ending up working for eight months as a junior content analyst in Cambridge University Press and Assessment’s Portfolio Office.
This course will help you gain vital skills particularly valued by employers.
These include narrative communication, empathy and perspective taking, problem solving and the art of persuasion, critical analysis, creativity and imagination, and digital skills.
Every year, core modules include employability sessions as well as live briefs; these give you the opportunity to collaborate on authentic workplace tasks with industry professionals from publishing companies, museums and other creative industries.
Teaching and modules
You’ll explore a diverse and exciting range of writers, discover new creative and critical approaches to literature, and find out what texts can teach us about our past, present – and future.
In Year 1 you’ll explore periods of literary history from Old English to contemporary writing and discover different approaches to critical analysis. You’ll also find out about the influence of myths, Bible narratives and fairy tales on English literature, learn about the history of the novel from ancient times to the present day, and explore in depth how to analyse the language of literary texts.
In Year 2 you’ll continue building your knowledge of literary history in modules such as Nineteenth-Century Literature and the Environment and From Modernism to the Millenium and have the chance to choose optional modules such as Science Fiction, Film Criticism and Reviewing, or Performing Shakespeare.
Finally, in Year 3, you’ll complete a major research project on a topic of your choice, as well as studying early modern drama and contemporary fiction. Optional modules include Crime and Detective Fiction, Life Writing, and Forbidden Stories: Banned Children’s Books.
Student experience
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English Literature graduate Clive Thompson talks about how the course helped him change his life and become a teacher. Read more about Clive.
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Dr Cassie Gorman discusses how the first telescopic images of the moon affected literature in this 60 Second Seminar.
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Dr Jon Stone considers how poetry is changing in the digital age in this 60 Second Seminar.
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Prof Eugene Giddens discusses one famous line and two things you may not realise in this 60 Second Seminar.
Modules are subject to change and availability, and may vary by location. If you have the choice of optional modules, these are indicated with a *.
- Introduction to the Study of Literature and Writing
- Myth, Miracle and Magic
- Reading Critically, Old English to Enlightenment
- The History of the Novel
- How Texts Work
- Into ARU
- Ruskin Module (15 credits)
- Nineteenth Century Literature and the Environment
- Crocodiles, Pirates and Moon-men: Renaissance Encounters
- From Modernism to the Millenium
- Nineteenth Century Afterlives and Adaptations *
- Professional Placement *
- Online Journalism *
- Science Fiction *
- Performing Shakespeare *
- Film Criticism and Reviewing *
- Digital Stylistics *
- Writing Creative Non-Fiction *
- Cult Media *
- Writing Short Fiction *
- Anglia Language Programme (15 credits) *
- Spectacle and Representation in Renaissance Drama
- Writing and the Present
- Undergraduate Major Project in English
- New Media Discourse *
- Literature and Exile: Displacement, Identity, Self *
- Crime and Detective Fiction *
- Renaissance Magic *
- Writing Poetry *
- Research Communication *
- Communication, Flesh, Philosophy *
- The Making of Modern Media *
- Forbidden Stories: Banned Children's Books *
- Life Writing *
- Gender and Sexuality in Britain: 1880-2000 *
- Film Journalism *
- Anglia Language Programme (15 credits) *
To prepare you for university study, you can take a foundation year at the start of this course. Find out more about foundation years.
- Foundation in Humanities, English, Media, Social Sciences and Education
You can choose to take an optional placement year as part of this course. Placements typically happen in Year 3, and your course will take four years overall. Find out more about placement years.
- Work Placement - Humanities and Social Sciences
Read profiles of teaching and research staff on this course.
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Dr Cassie GormanAssociate Professor
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Professor Eugene GiddensProfessor
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Dr Elizabeth LudlowAssociate Professor
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Dr Tory YoungAssociate Professor
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Professor Sarah Annes BrownProfessor
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Professor Jeannette BaxterProfessor
Facilities
Join our student community and benefit from award-winning learning facilities, including extensive library and IT resources.
You can also access support, should you need it, with study skills, careers advice, health and wellbeing, and more.
Our Royal Literary Fund Fellows can give you advice and guidance on with all your writing, whether it’s academic or creative.