Whether you want to walk in Shakespeare’s footsteps or unpick the latest trends in romantasy, BA English Literature at the University of Birmingham will help you define your own literary adventure. Come to Brum and write the next chapter of your story.
Go beyond books and immerse yourself in reading art, comics, film, marketing materials, music, social media, theatre, TV and video games. Study the literature you love with a personalised degree suited to your passions and interests.
My favourite module has been Children's Literature - it was shocking to learn that I could study childhood books in university! It's been really interesting to explore children's literature from an analytical, adult and literary perspective and from a child's perspective, and then compare the two.
Approach your degree from another perspective with our BA Liberal Arts programme. This may offer you an alternative way to study modules in your preferred subject areas.
By choosing Birmingham, you'll be joining the Daily Mail University of the Year 2027.
With outstanding graduate employability outcomes and high student satisfaction just two of the reasons for our success, there has never been a better time to be join us.
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for English in the UK
Complete University Guide 2027
We are committed to providing high-quality teaching, learning and support. Our strong results in the most recent NSS (2026) show that our students are happy with their experience. The University of Birmingham has been ranked 1st in the Russell Group, with English among 16 subject areas that have been placed at number one.
For English, we have been ranked 1st in the Russell Group across three themes:
At Birmingham, studying English Literature opens up a world of opportunity. Join in on everything from city-wide literature festivals to department exhibitions and archival work, learning from experts that regularly contribute to the modern media landscape.
Our academics and researchers explore texts and ideas that span seven centuries and thousands of literary works, from medieval poems to twenty-first century digital media. Their contributions and insights often feature in news articles, television programmes, and books.
Our English students embrace opportunities across the university: from making the leap to study away from home, to joining societies and getting involved in festivals and events.
As the UK's second city, Birmingham is a cultural and creative hub. Our industrial roots paved the way for a rich offering of museums, shops, restaurants and venues. Discover our city for yourself!
English literature in the city:
Study in a department that covers a huge selection of literary specialisms across the full historical range to the present day. With Shakespearean connections and access to archives and texts, our degrees offer a wealth of resources.
From podcasting to brain monitoring, our state-of-the-art facilities empower our students to create, perform, collaborate and explore in new and exciting ways.
We’ve partnered with Springpod to create a Subject Spotlight on English Literature, presented by our very own Professor John Holmes. This Spotlight provides a way for you to find out what it would be like to study an English Literature and Creative Writing degree.
Hear more about studying at Birmingham. Chat to one of our friendly students to find out more about your favourite course, our beautiful campus and life in our vibrant and cultural city.
Study at the University of Birmingham and learn from world-class experts — leaders in global teaching and research experience.
At Birmingham, you’ll have plenty of support to help you adjust to university life:
Your degree is designed to help you achieve 120 credits per year, which equals about 40 hours of learning each week. This includes lectures, seminars, workshops, independent study, revision, and assessments.
You’ll be assessed in different ways to suit each module. At the start of a module, you’ll be told how and when you’ll be assessed. Methods will vary but may include coursework (e.g., essays), group or individual presentations and projects, exams, reports or computer-based assignments.
Feedback: You will receive timely feedback on each assessment, so you can learn from it and improve your performance in future assessments.
The modules listed for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
The optional module information listed for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available, we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.
Orients you in the study of literature at university, giving you a broad historical grounding alongside the critical and analytical skills to make sense out of anything you read. Expand your literary encounters through an ‘Approaches’ module.
2026/27 Session
The following must be taken:
Optional modules:
Students should choose one 'Approaches' option from the following list (parts A & B must be taken together):
Hone your interests through optional modules focussing on literary periods (e.g. Aspects of Modernism, Reading the Renaissance, Our Digital World) or on themes that cut across period (e.g. The Gothic, Sexuality and Gender Studies).
2027/28 Session
Students will be expected to complete 20 credits in each of four period families (Medieval, Early Modern and 18th C, the Long Nineteenth Century, and 20th-21st century) as well as Shakespeare in their first two years of study.
Students must choose three modules per semester. At least four English Literature modules must be taken.
Block A:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Gothic | 20 |
| Imagined Worlds: Genre Fiction and Popular Culture | 20 |
| Shakespeare: Elizabethan | 20 |
Block B:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Eighteenth-Century and Romantic Literature | 20 |
| Literature 1950-Present | 20 |
| Restoration and Revolution | 20 |
Block C:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Earliest English | 20 |
| Popular Fiction Before the Novel | 20 |
| Reading the Renaissance | 20 |
Block D:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Colonial/Postcolonial | 20 |
| Literature and Environment: Crisis and Resistance | 20 |
| Shakespeare: Jacobean | 20 |
Block E:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Our Digital World | 20 |
| Rags and Riches: Wealth and Poverty in American Literature and Culture | 20 |
| The Social Life of Literature | 20 |
Block F:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Aspects of Modernism | 20 |
| Gender and Sexuality Studies | 20 |
| Victorian Literature | 20 |
Students are able to follow a pathway in one of the following disciplines through stages 2 and 3:
• Creative Writing
• Film
• English Language
Students who choose to follow a pathway are required to take two modules in their chosen pathway at stage 2, one module in semester 1 and one module in semester 2. Students who choose to follow a pathway at stage 2 are not required to continue studying their chosen pathway at stage 3.
Students who do not follow a pathway at stage 2 will be unable to follow a pathway at stage 3.
It is not permissible to change pathway between stages 2 and 3.
Students not following a pathway may choose one Employability module.
Creative Writing pathway modules
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| British Theatre | 20 |
| Drama and Media Writing | 20 |
| Editing: Theory & Practice | 20 |
Film pathway modules:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Film Genre | 20 |
| Film Theory and Criticism | 20 |
English Language pathway modules
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Stylistics | 20 |
| The Structure of English | 20 |
Realise your ambitions through a 10,000-word dissertation on a topic you develop, alongside a series of optional, research-focussed modules, ranging from single-author studies (e.g. George Orwell, Virginia Woolf, Jane Austen) to thematic explorations (e.g. The Figure of the Witch: 1400-1700, Multiple Voices: New York City Poetics, 1960-a1985).
2028/29 Session
The following must be taken:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Dissertation in English Literature | 40 |
Students must choose two modules per semester. Optional modules: Students must choose at least two English Literature modules. Optional modules: A maximum of one module from each of English Literature Blocks A, B, C and D can be chosen. Optional modules: Students who chose to follow a pathway at stage 2 may continue to follow the same pathway at stage 3. Students following a pathway must choose two modules in their chosen pathway at stage 3, one in each semester. Optional modules: Students not following a pathway may choose one Employability module.
BLOCK A
BLOCK B:
Block C:
BLOCK D:
Employability Modules:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Professional Skills | 20 |
| Professional Skills - Freelance | 20 |
Film pathway modules
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Adaptation: Theory and Practice | 20 |
| Children's Film and Television | 20 |
| Film and Television Authorship | 20 |
| Screen Performance | 20 |
| Screenwriting: Film | 20 |
Creative Writing modules
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Adaptation: Theory and Practice | 20 |
| Extreme Fictions | 20 |
| Sympathetic Texts | 20 |
English Language modules
The Professional Skills Module allows students to take part in an internship that they can apply for from a bank of placements provided by the college, or an internship that they land by themselves externally, as a means of promoting hands-on learning.
In the College of Arts and Law, we're committed to helping you become career-ready. With our intercalated options, we offer undergraduate students the opportunity to take an additional year and dive into industry, language and more.
To secure a place at Birmingham, you'll need to meet our general entry requirements as well as those specific to your course.
AAB - see below for full requirements.
6,6,5 - 32 points overall.
BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM.
Number of A levels required: 3
We prefer applications from students with at least one A level in an Arts, Humanities or Social Science subject.
If an applicant is not taking either A Level English Literature or A level English Language and Literature, then we require at least a grade 7 in GCSE English Literature.
Applicants who take the EPQ and meet our offer criteria will be made the typical offer for their programme of choice, plus an alternative offer which will be one grade lower plus a grade B in the EPQ. This offer would apply if you make Birmingham your firm choice.
Applicants who take the Core Maths qualification and meet our offer criteria will be made the typical offer for their programme of choice, plus an alternative offer which will be one grade lower plus a grade B in Core Maths. If you are also taking A-level Maths, you will not be eligible for an alternative offer through studying Core Maths. This offer would apply if you make Birmingham your firm choice.
Applicants who have achieved (or who will achieve) any level 3 graded examination in music performance at grade 8 or above (e.g. ABRSM, Rockschool, Trinity College London) and outline that on their UCAS application will be made the typical offer for their programme of choice, plus an alternative offer which will be one grade lower plus the Music qualification. This alternative offer would apply if you make Birmingham your firm choice.
Applicants who play sport at county level or above will be made the typical offer for their programme of choice, plus an alternative offer which will be one grade lower. This alternative offer would apply if you make Birmingham your firm choice. If you have already received a one grade reduction through one of our performance athlete schemes (e.g. our Elite Dual Career Athlete Pathway programme), then you will not receive an additional reduction - we will apply a maximum one grade reduction on an offer.
If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification or a Presessional English course.
If you have a conditional offer for Birmingham where English is a requirement, you can take a Presessional English course as an alternative to retaking IELTS or a similar qualification. We offer on-campus courses all year round starting from September, including additional online courses in the summer term. Teaching takes place in small classes with no more than 18 students to maximise class participation.
The University tuition fee covers the cost of your tuition, examination and graduation, and includes membership of the Guild of Students.
per year for domestic (UK) students for 2026/27
*The University will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year. If Parliament agrees on an increase in tuition fees, the University will increase fees for each year of study, normally in line with these changes and will communicate any change in the fees to you without delay. The fee for September 2026 entry is £9,790 for UK students. If you decide to do a placement year, you will only pay 15% of the agreed tuition fee for that year. If you are applying for 2027 entry, you will be advised of the annual tuition fee once it is confirmed by the Government.
To help with the cost of studies, undergraduate students from the UK can apply for student finance through the Student Loans Company. The support available is made up of a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan which helps to cover living costs.
At Birmingham, we believe that financial worries should not be a barrier to accessing higher education. That’s why we offer a range of additional financial support for students through scholarships, bursaries and other awards.
If you're a UK student and starting university in September 2026, find out more about what financial support is available to you.
We want to help you reach your full potential. Explore our wide variety of scholarships available for international students.
Whatever your journey to university looks like, we’re here to support you every step of the way. For all undergraduate courses at Birmingham, you apply online through UCAS. The UCAS website has lots of information and advice around the process.
Application deadline for September 2026 entry. Applications close at 18:00 GMT.
View further information on how to apply for undergraduate courses, including advice for UK and overseas applicants.
If you have a question about our admissions process, including how to apply, your offer and how to track your application, please speak to our team.
Studying a degree in English at Birmingham is an unparalleled opportunity to not only engage with a diverse cultural, textual and linguistic discipline, but also to develop highly sought-after skills:
These skills last a lifetime and qualify you for many possible career sectors, such as:
Our English Literature students have gone on to secure roles such as 'Founder', 'Marketing Executive', and 'Project Manager', working for organisations such as:
The University has commissioned Cturtle as our data partner for tracking our alumni destinations. The data above is a subset from 43,666 alumni who completed their course up to 31 July 2024.
We’re consistently one of the top UK universities targeted by leading graduate employers
High Fliers ‘Graduate Market in 2026’ report
Receive one-to-one careers advice, including guidance on your job applications, writing your CV and improving your interview technique.
Meet employers face-to-face at on-campus recruitment fairs and employer presentations.
Our aim is to make sure that success in your studies leads you on to a fulfilling career. Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offer support to help you identify your options, develop your skills and gain access to opportunities that propel you towards your career goal.
Hear from some of our inspiring alumni who have gone on to work for leading employers such as the UK Space Agency and BBC Sport.
Your experience studying at Birmingham will give you the opportunity to discover new experiences, develop different skills and make friends for life.
Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community, and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.
Coming to Birmingham to study might be your first time living away from home. In our student accommodation, you can enjoy your independence in safe, welcoming and sociable surroundings.
Our cosmopolitan city has a unique history and so much to see and do. With an ever-changing food and drink scene, a vibrant nightlife and plenty of culture, our city is more than somewhere to study.
Whoever you are and wherever you come from, we are committed to providing the best possible support to our students, both before you start and throughout your time on campus.
Our beautiful campus is the place where our diverse community comes together to learn and socialise. Like a town of its own, it’s just minutes from the hustle and bustle of the UK’s second city.
Explore your options for combining subjects and shape your degree around your interests, whilst developing key skills for the world of work.
Our intercalated opportunities offer the chance to take a year out from your existing course to study within another field. This takes place usually between year 2 and year 3 of your programme.
Explore our beautiful campus from wherever you are. Get a feel for the wide range of historic and modern spaces and state-of-the-art facilities.
