English Literature

What would I study and how do courses differ?

You will study a range of literature from across time and cultures and courses differ enormously from institution to institution. It seems an obvious thing to say, but a great deal of your time will be spent reading a combination of core texts, critical writings and areas of your own academic interest. There will also be a requirement to submit essays on a rolling basis throughout the course. It is likely that you will have very little supervised contact time with your tutors – perhaps 10 hours of lectures and tutorials per week. The rest of your time will be spent in the library or consuming literature in the academic venue of your choice.

All English Literature courses will have a requirement to study writing from a range of contexts, but some are more prescriptive than others. Some courses will adopt a chronological approach, studying a range of literature from Anglo-Saxon times through to the present day; others allow greater freedom of choice from the beginning and have a selection of core modules that sit alongside a range of options.

Are there any essential or recommended A Levels?

You must have an A Level in English Literature. Other subjects that support an English Literature application include English Language, History and Classics, but there is no requirement to hold these qualifications. You will be expected to produce a number of essays over the course of study, so A Levels in essay subjects would be regarded favourably.

Which is the best university for English and what are the typical grade requirements?

Many universities offer highly regarded courses. The following list is by no means exhaustive; Cambridge, Oxford, Bristol, Kings College London, Durham, Exeter, York, Warwick, St Andrews, Edinburgh, Nottingham, Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester.

Most universities will make an offer in the A*AA – AAB range, but this varies from course to course and some will be as high as A*A*A.

Is there any special advice for Oxbridge applicants?

Any kind of ‘literary’ activity is valuable here: attending talks and events, creative writing, journalism, theatre/film –all of these both in and out of school. Be sure to make the most of opportunities as and when they occur, and just as importantly go out and find these opportunities yourself. You live a short journey away from one of the most vibrant cultural hubs in the world: use it to your advantage.

By far the most important aspect to distinguish the very best English applicants is an independent and ambitious engagement with reading and thinking well beyond the requirements of the A-Level course. Oxford and Cambridge candidates are required to sit the ELAT. This is a written test which examines your ability to read texts

closely, synthesize information and write coherently. For more information, see the weblinks below.

What is important for my personal statement or interview?

The crucial factor will be your ability to show that you are well-read, culturally aware, and able to articulate your original thoughts with care and precision. Do not be coy about basing some of what you say around your A Level texts, but remember that what may distinguish you from the other candidates is what you have studied and experienced independently and outside the classroom. It is imperative that you demonstrate a breadth of reading in your personal statement and that you have engaged with your choice of texts. Find an area or classic author that you enjoy and spend time getting to know their world view.

Do I need to do work experience?

There is no requirement to undertake work experience directly relevant to the course. If you are able to find a placement which gives you experience of working, say, in a high-profile cultural environment – journalism, publishing, the arts – then this will of course be valuable evidence to show your engagement with the subject outside the curriculum.

Additional information

“Some people say that an English degree won’t help you get a job because it’s not a ‘vocational’ subject: it doesn’t teach you a specific skill for a particular kind of job. The people who’ll actually be hiring you know better. What potential employers want most is someone with motivation, intelligence, and proven ability to work. Getting an English degree shows that you have all of those qualities. The ability to communicate is also very valuable for almost any job. Studying English teaches you how to write clearly and effectively. Most courses also require presentations and seminar discussions to develop your spoken communication skills. All that reading is useful, too. Studying English literature at degree level teaches you how to analyse complex information with the help of sophisticated ideas and theories. That ability to read, reflect, and critique – and then synthesise your conclusions clearly – is essential to many kinds of work – as is the ability to construct and defend an argument.”

Am I likely to be called for interview?

Oxford and Cambridge always require interviews before offering places; other universities may do so, but this is fairly unlikely. Some universities will require you to complete a written task in place of an interview.

Is there any particular reading I should do?

Nothing specific. You should aim for a balance of breadth and depth. You should certainly be in the habit of reading novels regularly, and the more poetry, drama and Shakespeare you can engage with the better. Intelligent non-fiction and journalism will be helpful in encouraging the development of your own views. While you should aim to read widely, it would be a good idea to show a sense of connection in some of what you read: it is always impressive, for example, to show that you have read widely around the subject of your curriculum study, increasing your contextual awareness. Keep an eye on the shortlists of the major fiction prizes e.g. the Man Booker.

Show an awareness of English Literature as a living and constantly evolving subject by reading publications such as the Times Literary Supplement, the London Review of Book and the New York Times Review of Books. These mostly contain in-depth articles on literary and political subjects masquerading as book reviews, many written by experts in their fields. Newspaper supplements are also worth regular attention (e.g. the Review section in Saturday’s Guardian). Also consider periodicals such as The Spectator, The Economist, Literary Review.

Useful websites: University Applications

For a broad overview of the degree subject use the Why Study English Literature? website. The ELAT test is for Oxford applicants For Career choices click here.

Related degrees

English Literature is, of course, a subject which combines extremely well with other subjects, and many Joint Honours degrees are available, varying from university to university. These may well be excellent choices for you, but do bear in mind that your interest and expertise in, say, Spanish 20th Century Literature is very likely to be something you can bring in to play in a straight English Literature degree borrowing a paper from Modern Languages, say, or in a dissertation, without necessarily taking Joint Honours. Most humanities subjects e.g. History, Philosophy can combine with English Literature.