From Beowulf to the Booker Prize, the English Department at Royal Holloway prides itself on offering both the full historical range of English literature and the latest developments in the field.
On the English course at Royal Holloway University of London you have the opportunity to discover the earliest works in English, deepen your knowledge of Shakespeare, find out what else is great about Renaissance literature, revel in the 18th century and unpack the Victorians.
You will also uncover both Modernism and Postmodernism, explore literary criticism, pursue your own creative writing and analyse the latest developments in English literature Ð poetry, prose, and drama Ð from around the world.
Studying at one of the UK's most dynamic English departments will challenge you to develop your own critical faculties. The course's structure allows you to develop a sound understanding of key periods, genres, authors, and ideas before progressing to choose from subjects ranging from Medieval Dream Vision to Drama and Witchcraft to World War I Poetry to Science Fiction. Towards the end of your studies, you will have the chance to complete a dissertation on a subject of your own choice.
Why choose this course?
- The course units are taught by nationally and internationally known scholars who are specialists in their fields.
- You will gain a solid knowledge of the whole range of English literature from its beginnings to its latest developments, ranging from Chaucer and Shakespeare to Conrad, James Joyce and Salman Rushdie.
- You will have the opportunity to study unusual, non-traditional subjects such as the body in the 18th century, time in modern literature and adaptations of Shakespeare.
- The structure gives you both a strong background and scope to choose your favourites for further study.
- You can combine your study of English literature with drama, creative writing, philosophy or a range of other disciplines.
Employability & career opportunities
Choosing English at Royal Holloway means a strong emphasis will be placed on your employability. The skills that you gain from our rigorous degrees, such as research, presentation, teamwork, negotiation and communication, will prepare you for a broad range of careers.
We offer a range of activities and opportunities to help enhance your employability and prepare for the choices ahead. We currently run work placement schemes with The Daily Telegraph, the BBCÕs Newsnight and publishing companies. During your second year, you will meet with your personal tutor group to work on personal development planning.
Our recent graduates have very successfully entered a wide range of careers including law, journalism, publishing, finance, business, teaching, marketing and the media, as well as gone onto postgraduate study in a variety of fields.
