English Literature
Study English literature in the country that produced Shakespeare, Austen, and the Brontës. UK English degrees emphasise close reading and critical thinking.
Notable English Literature Programmes
A curated selection of top-ranked, distinctive and interesting english literature programmes across UK universities.
English Language and Literature
Where Tolkien, CS Lewis and Pullman studied and taught — the tutorial system at its finest
Oxford's English degree spans Old English to contemporary literature through its famous tutorial system. Students write weekly essays and discuss them one-on-one with leading scholars. The Bodleian Library's vast collections provide unmatched research resources. The programme produces writers, journalists, academics and professionals across every field where clear thinking and communication matter.
English Literature
UNESCO City of Literature — four-year degree in a city steeped in literary history
Edinburgh was the world's first UNESCO City of Literature, and its English programme draws on this heritage. The four-year Scottish MA allows students to combine English with another subject in the first two years. The programme covers medieval to contemporary literature with strengths in Scottish literature, creative writing and postcolonial studies. The city's literary festivals and publishing houses provide rich extracurricular opportunities.
English
Research-intensive programme in Bloomsbury — where the Bloomsbury Group lived and worked
UCL's English department is among the most research-active in the UK. Located in Bloomsbury, the literary quarter of London associated with Virginia Woolf and the Bloomsbury Group, students have access to the British Library and London's thriving literary scene. The programme covers medieval to contemporary literature with notable strengths in American literature, digital humanities and critical theory.
English with Study Abroad
Year abroad at a partner university in North America, Europe or Australasia
Exeter's English with study abroad allows students to spend a full year at a partner institution including universities in the US, Canada, Australia and across Europe. The core programme is highly rated, with strengths in early modern literature, creative writing and film studies. The study abroad year enriches perspectives and provides an international dimension to the degree.
32 universities offer this subject
King's College London
London · England · UK Rank #5
University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh · Scotland · UK Rank #6
University of Warwick
Coventry · England · UK Rank #10
University of Birmingham
Birmingham · England · UK Rank #11
University of Glasgow
Glasgow · Scotland · UK Rank #12
University of Leeds
Leeds · England · UK Rank #13
University of Southampton
Southampton · England · UK Rank #14
University of Sheffield
Sheffield · England · UK Rank #15
University of Nottingham
Nottingham · England · UK Rank #17
Queen Mary University of London
London · England · UK Rank #18
University of St Andrews
St Andrews · Scotland · UK Rank #19
Newcastle University
Newcastle upon Tyne · England · UK Rank #21
University of Liverpool
Liverpool · England · UK Rank #22
Lancaster University
Lancaster · England · UK Rank #24
University of York
York · England · UK Rank #25
Cardiff University
Cardiff · Wales · UK Rank #26
University of Reading
Reading · England · UK Rank #27
Queen's University Belfast
Belfast · Northern Ireland · UK Rank #28
University of Aberdeen
Aberdeen · Scotland · UK Rank #31
University of Surrey
Guildford · England · UK Rank #32
University of Sussex
Brighton · England · UK Rank #33
Swansea University
Swansea · Wales · UK Rank #35
University of Leicester
Leicester · England · UK Rank #37
University of East Anglia
Norwich · England · UK Rank #39
University of Essex
Colchester · England · UK Rank #43
University of Kent
Canterbury · England · UK Rank #43
University of Stirling
Stirling · Scotland · UK Rank #49
University of Hull
Hull · England · UK Rank #51
Bangor University
Bangor · Wales · UK Rank #54
Goldsmiths, University of London
London · England · UK Rank #61
Keele University
Keele · England · UK Rank #66
University of Winchester
Winchester · England · UK Rank #97
Career Pathways
Where a UK English Literature degree can take you — typical graduate starting salaries: £23,000–£38,000
Subject Overview
Featured
MA English Literature
Study in the UNESCO City of Literature. Strong creative writing and critical theory traditions.
Compare Universities
Add universities to your comparison list and see them side-by-side.
Compare Tool →Programs at Top UK Universities
81 programs across 63 universities
Covers phonetics, syntax, semantics, and sociolinguistics.
Spans Old English to contemporary literature. Intensive tutorial teaching with world-class Bodleian Library access.
Covers fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and non-fiction writing.
Covers literature from Anglo-Saxon to present day. Small-group supervisions with leading scholars.
Innovative curriculum blending English literature with creative writing and digital culture.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary with options in creative writing and film studies.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary with Scottish literature specialism.
Creative and critical approaches to literature from medieval to contemporary. Includes creative writing options and access to the Warwick Writing Programme.
Covers fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and non-fiction writing.
One of the largest English departments in the UK. Covers medieval to contemporary literature with creative writing pathways.
Covers phonetics, syntax, semantics, and sociolinguistics.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary with critical theory.
Covers medieval to contemporary literature. College-based tutorial support and seminar teaching.
Covers phonetics, syntax, semantics, and sociolinguistics.
Covers literature and creative writing with strong postcolonial and contemporary focus.
Four-year programme covering medieval to contemporary literature. Small seminar teaching.
Covers phonetics, syntax, semantics, and sociolinguistics.
Join our English Literature programme and benefit from University of Bath's research-led teaching and supportive learning environment.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary with critical theory.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary with creative writing options.
Gain in-depth knowledge of Creative Writing through our comprehensive programme, featuring expert teaching and modern facilities.
Creative writing hub with access to the Wordsworth Trust. Covers literature from Renaissance to contemporary.
Covers phonetics, syntax, semantics, and sociolinguistics.
Top-ranked English department. Covers medieval to contemporary with creative writing.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary, with modules in critical theory, creative writing and world literatures.
Covers English and Irish literature with Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry.
Covers fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and non-fiction writing.
Covers phonetics, syntax, semantics, and sociolinguistics.
Covers literature from Renaissance to contemporary with creative writing pathway.
Covers phonetics, syntax, semantics, and sociolinguistics.
Covers fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and non-fiction writing.
Covers fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and non-fiction writing.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary, with modules in critical theory, creative writing and world literatures.
Covers phonetics, syntax, semantics, and sociolinguistics.
UEA is the birthplace of UK creative writing as an academic discipline. Alumni include Ian McEwan and Kazuo Ishiguro.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary with critical theory.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary with critical theory.
Covers fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and non-fiction writing.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary, with modules in critical theory, creative writing and world literatures.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary, with modules in critical theory, creative writing and world literatures.
Covers medieval to contemporary literature with creative writing options. Beautiful campus setting in Surrey parkland.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary, with modules in critical theory, creative writing and world literatures.
Covers phonetics, syntax, semantics, and sociolinguistics.
Philip Larkin was librarian here. Strong literary heritage with creative writing options and access to special collections.
Covers fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and non-fiction writing.
Covers fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and non-fiction writing.
Covers phonetics, syntax, semantics, and sociolinguistics.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary with critical theory.
Study English Literature at Coventry University and develop expertise through a combination of lectures, seminars, and practical work.
Covers phonetics, syntax, semantics, and sociolinguistics.
Covers phonetics, syntax, semantics, and sociolinguistics.
Covers fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and non-fiction writing.
Gain in-depth knowledge of English Literature through our comprehensive programme, featuring expert teaching and modern facilities.
Covers phonetics, syntax, semantics, and sociolinguistics.
Covers fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and non-fiction writing.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary with critical theory.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary, with modules in critical theory, creative writing and world literatures.
Covers phonetics, syntax, semantics, and sociolinguistics.
Covers phonetics, syntax, semantics, and sociolinguistics.
Covers phonetics, syntax, semantics, and sociolinguistics.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary, with modules in critical theory, creative writing and world literatures.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary, with modules in critical theory, creative writing and world literatures.
Covers fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and non-fiction writing.
Covers phonetics, syntax, semantics, and sociolinguistics.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary, with modules in critical theory, creative writing and world literatures.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary, with modules in critical theory, creative writing and world literatures.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary, with modules in critical theory, creative writing and world literatures.
Covers phonetics, syntax, semantics, and sociolinguistics.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary with critical theory.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary with critical theory.
Covers fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and non-fiction writing.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary, with modules in critical theory, creative writing and world literatures.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary, with modules in critical theory, creative writing and world literatures.
Explore Creative Writing at Middlesex University, combining theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience and industry connections.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary, with modules in critical theory, creative writing and world literatures.
Covers phonetics, syntax, semantics, and sociolinguistics.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary with critical theory.
Gain in-depth knowledge of English Literature through our comprehensive programme, featuring expert teaching and modern facilities.
Strong creative writing programme with links to the Winchester Writers Festival and local literary community.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary with critical theory.
Covers literature from medieval to contemporary, with modules in critical theory, creative writing and world literatures.
Related Subjects
Scholarships for North American students
Many UK universities offer fee discounts and bursaries for international applicants — create an account to explore.