English Literature

The English Literature program at Durham University offers an intellectually stimulating and comprehensive exploration of texts from across the centuries and around the world. This degree is designed to develop your analytical, interpretative, and critical skills through the study of a diverse range of literary works, from classic to contemporary writers. Students will engage deeply with texts in their historical, cultural, and theoretical contexts, fostering a nuanced understanding of literature's role in shaping and reflecting human experiences. The program is structured to allow flexibility and specialization, with options to focus on specific periods, genres, or themes, while also encouraging interdisciplinary approaches. Throughout the course, students will benefit from Durham's distinguished faculty, who are active researchers and practitioners in the field, providing mentorship and insight into current debates and trends in literature. The curriculum includes modules in literary theory, history of the English language, creative writing, and critical approaches, ensuring a well-rounded education. Moreover, the program emphasizes the development of essential transferable skills such as essay writing, research methodologies, and oral presentation, which are valuable in a wide range of careers. The vibrant university community, combined with access to extensive libraries and resources, offers an enriching environment for literary study. The degree prepares graduates for careers in education, publishing, journalism, arts administration, and beyond, or for further academic study at postgraduate level. With a focus on critical thinking, cultural awareness, and effective communication, Durham's English Literature program aims to produce reflective, articulate, and globally-minded graduates ready to engage with the literary and cultural challenges of the modern world.

Content

Single Honours in English Studies offers a comprehensive syllabus, which combines traditional areas of literary study with new and developing areas of the discipline. It aims to develop your conceptual abilities and analytical skills by exposing you to a variety of literary critical approaches, to promote and develop clarity and persuasiveness in argument and expression, and to enable you to develop, to a high degree of competence, a range of skills which are at once subject-specific and transferable. A Degree in English Studies will equip you for a wide variety of professions and employment, as well as for advanced postgraduate study of English and related disciplines.

Year 1

There are three compulsory modules in Year 1 – Introduction to Drama, Introduction to the Novel, and Introduction to Poetry – each of which introduces you to representative works in the major literary genres. There are also four optional modules, from which Single Honours students may select one, two or three. These offer the possibility to study important influences on English literature (Classical and Biblical Background to English Literature), early literature (Romance and the Literature of Chivalry and Myth and Epic of the North) and the history of the English language (English: Language, Use and Theory).

This year will focus on advancing skills of critical analysis and argument you have already acquired at A-level, critical skills in the close reading and analysis of texts, such as the awareness of formal and aesthetic dimensions of literature and of the affective power of language, and on the introduction of more advanced concepts and theories relating to literature.

Compulsory modules:

• Introduction to Drama
• Introduction to the Novel
• Introduction to Poetry.

Optional modules:

Up to three of the following (or up to two open modules offered by other departments):

• Romance and the Literature of Chivalry
• Myth and Epic of the North
• Classical and Biblical Background to English Literature
• English: Language, Use and Theory.

Year 2

Year 2 builds on the knowledge and skills developed in first year by broadening the range of literary texts and periods with which you will engage. You will study a substantial number of authors, topics and texts and gain awareness of the range and variety of approaches to literary study. The second year also develops your ability to articulate knowledge and understanding of concepts and theories relating to literature, as well as your powers of critical argument and command of written English. You will develop your capacity for autonomous learning and independence of thought by, for example, exploring, selecting from, and drawing together in an appropriate way specific texts and topics chosen from a wide syllabus.

Students must take the modules Theory and Practice of Literary Criticism and Shakespeare in Year 2 and choose up to three lecture modules and a seminar module. Some lecture modules cover historical periods, such as Medieval Literature and Victorian Literature, while others focus on key literary figures, themes or language, such as Shakespeare, American Fiction, and Old English.

Compulsory modules:

• Theory and Practice of Literary Criticism
• Shakespeare.

Optional lecture modules (taught by weekly lectures and four one-hour tutorials):

• Medieval Literature
• Old English
• Old Norse
• Old French
• Renaissance Literature
• Victorian Literature
• Literature of the Modern Period
• American Fiction.

Optional seminar modules (taught by fortnightly two-hour seminars):

• Modern Poetry
• Germanic Myth and Legend
• The Australian Legend
• Toni Morrison: Texts and Contexts
• John Milton
• Evelyn Waugh.

Year 3

In the final year you will be able to demonstrate a comprehensive and detailed knowledge of the subject, together with mature awareness of the variety of ideas relating to it. You will be able to demonstrate an ability to make connections and comparisons within your extensive range of reading. You will have developed the ability to interpret different ideas and values represented in literature, to test the ideas of others and to pursue ideas of your own. You will have acquired mature critical skills in the close reading and analysis of texts, confident powers of critical argument and a developed command of written English. You will appreciate the importance of scholarly standards of presentation and of writing accurately, clearly and effectively.

The final year includes a compulsory 12,000-word Dissertation on a subject of your choice related to English literature. The Dissertation involves guided research on a self-formulated question, the gathering and processing of relevant information and materials, and results in work of sustained argumentative and analytic power.

In addition to the Dissertation, students may choose up to three lecture modules and up to two ‘Special Topics’, which develop the skills introduced in seminar modules at Level 2.

Compulsory modules:

• Dissertation (40 credits).

Optional lecture modules (taught by weekly lectures and four one-hour tutorials):

• Old English
• Old Norse
• Old French
• Restoration and 18th Century Literature
• Literature of the Romantic Period
• Post-War Fiction and Poetry
• American Fiction.

Optional Special Topics (taught by fortnightly two-hour seminars):

• Literature, Cinema and Neuroscience
• Shakespeare on Film
• Shakespeare’s Problem Plays
• US Cold War Literature and Culture
• Writing Prose Fiction
• Fictions of Terrorism
• W. B. Yeats
• Elizabeth Bishop and Twentieth-Century Verse
• A Society of Equals? Literature, Culture and Equality
• Creative Writing Poetry
• Contemporary Mountain Writing.

Study Abroad opportunities

The Department is part of the ERASMUS programme which encourages students to study for part of their course in a university of another EU country. Currently, we are exchanging students with the University of Reykjavik (Iceland), Charles University (Prague, Czech Republic) and Heidelberg University (Germany) in their second year of study.

The University of Reykjavik has special strengths in Old Norse and houses the world’s most important collection of Old Norse manuscripts. Charles University is one of the oldest universities in Central Europe and Heidelberg is the oldest university in Germany. Both have exceptionally beautiful settings in cities renowned for their artistic and cultural heritage. Teaching is in English at all three universities.

Study Abroad

The Department is part of the ERASMUS programme which encourages students to study for part of their course in a university of another EU country. Currently, we are exchanging students with the University of Reykjavik (Iceland), Charles University (Prague, Czech Republic) and Heidelberg University (Germany) in their second year of study.

The University of Reykjavik has special strengths in Old Norse and houses the world’s most important collection of Old Norse manuscripts. Charles University is one of the oldest universities in Central Europe and Heidelberg is the oldest university in Germany. Both have exceptionally beautiful settings in cities renowned for their artistic and cultural heritage. Teaching is in English at all three universities.

Subject requirements, level and grade

In addition to satisfying the University’s general entry requirements, please note:

• We welcome applications from those with other qualifications equivalent to our standard entry requirements and from mature students with non-standard qualifications or from those who may have had a break in their study.
• We require Grade A in English Literature (or the combined English Literature and Language A Level) 
• We require a Grade A* in any subject
• We do not include General Studies or Critical Thinking as part of our offer
• We welcome enquiries regarding applications for deferred entry which may be considered in special circumstances. Please contact our Admissions Secretary.

Preferred Tests:

a. IELTS: 6.5 (no component under 6.0)

b. TOEFL iBT (internet based test): 92 (no component under 23)

c. Cambridge Proficiency (CPE): Grade C

d. Cambridge Advanced (CAE): Grade A

e. Cambridge IGCSE First Language English at Grade C or above [not normally acceptable for students who require a Tier 4 student visa]

f. Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language at Grade B or above [not normally acceptable for students who require a Tier 4 student visa]

g. GCSE English Language at grade C or above

h. Pearson Test of English (overall score 62 (with no score less than 56 in each component))

Alternative accepted tests when those listed in a.-h. above are unavailable to the applicant (if the applicant requires a Tier 4 visa to study, advice on the suitability of these alternatives must be sought from the Student Recruitment and Admissions Office):

i. Certificate of Attainment (Edexcel)

j. GCE A-levels (AQA, CIE, Edexcel, CCEA, OCR, WJEC) at grade C or above in an essay based, humanities or social science subject from the following list: History, Philosophy, Government and Politics, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Religious Studies, Economics, Business Studies, Law and Sociology. Modern or Classical Languages are not acceptable in meeting this requirement.

k. International Baccalaureate with a minimum of grade 5 in Standard Level English or a minimum of grade 5 if taken at Higher Level.

l. NEAB (JMB) Test in English (Overseas)

m. Singapore Integrated Programme (SIPCAL) at grade C or above in an essay based, humanities or social science subject from the following list: History, Philosophy, Government and Politics, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Religious Studies, Economics, Business Studies, Law and Sociology. Modern or Classical Languages are not acceptable in meeting this requirement.

n. Singapore Polytechnic Diploma and Advanced Diplomas at GPA 3.0 or above

o. WAEC and NECO Grade B3 or above from Nigeria and Ghana

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

The financing of the English Literature program at Durham University is primarily structured through a combination of tuition fees, government funding, scholarships, and financial aid options. For UK students, tuition fees are set by the government and are subject to annual updates; the current fee for home students is approximately £9,250 per year. International students pay higher fees, which can vary but are typically in the range of £18,000 to £22,000 annually. Durham University offers a range of scholarships and bursaries to support eligible students, including the Durham University Hardship Fund, which provides financial assistance to those facing unforeseen financial difficulties. Additionally, students may apply for external funding sources such as national student loans and grants, depending on their residency status and eligibility criteria.

The university also participates in the UK Government’s Student Finance system, allowing eligible students to access loans that cover tuition fees and living costs. For postgraduate students, financing options include research council funding, university scholarships, and employer sponsorships. Durham’s financial aid packages are designed to reduce barriers to access and support students throughout their studies. International students are encouraged to seek additional funding opportunities through external scholarship programs and government sponsorships available in their home countries.

Students are advised to explore the university’s dedicated financial aid webpages and contact the Student Financial Support Office for detailed guidance on available funding schemes tailored to different student profiles. Moreover, work-study opportunities and part-time employment within the university campus offer additional avenues for students to offset their living expenses during the course duration. Overall, Durham University is committed to providing comprehensive financial support structures to ensure that eligible students can pursue their studies in English Literature without undue financial hardship, enabling them to fully engage with the academic and extracurricular benefits of the program.

The Bachelor of Arts in English Literature at Durham University offers an in-depth exploration of the rich and diverse canon of English literary works. The program provides students with the opportunity to study a wide range of texts from different periods, including medieval, Renaissance, modern, and contemporary literature. Courses cover various genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and non-fiction, focusing on thematic analysis, historical context, and literary techniques. Students engage in critical thinking and develop their analytical skills through seminars, essays, and presentations. The program emphasizes the development of a nuanced understanding of cultural, social, and political contexts shaping literary production. Durham's distinctive Collegiate system fosters a vibrant academic community, encouraging collaboration and personalized mentorship. The department offers access to extensive libraries and digital resources to support research and independent study. Students are also encouraged to participate in relevant extracurricular activities such as literary festivals, writing workshops, and theatre visits. The program aims to prepare graduates for careers across various sectors including publishing, education, media, and the arts, as well as offering a solid foundation for postgraduate study in English or related fields. The curriculum is designed to be both challenging and rewarding, with opportunities for specializations in areas like Victorian literature, modernism, postcolonial studies, and literary theory. Durham's commitment to academic excellence ensures students receive a rigorous education combined with pastoral support. The course duration is typically three years for full-time students, with part-time options available. Overall, the English Literature program at Durham is renowned for its comprehensive approach, expert teaching staff, and vibrant intellectual community, making it an excellent choice for students passionate about exploring the depths of English literary heritage.