English literature students study an exciting spread of modules ranging from literary 'classics' by canonical writers like Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and John Milton to the contemporary and the popular including work by Ian Fleming, Pat Barker and Carol Ann Duffy.

In the first year you study two core foundation modules. These are 'Reading Prose Narrative', a study of the ways in which novelists construct narratives and different techniques they employ, and 'Ways of Reading', which looks at new critical and theoretical approaches to literary texts and films. You may also choose to take other literature modules focusing on drama and poetry.

In the second year you choose from a selection of modules which are period-based and are intended to help you to understand and place texts in their socio-historical and cultural contexts. In your final year you build on your own particular interests, choosing specialist modules covering a wide range of authors, genres and issues. Currently these include Shakespeare, children's writing, American writing, science fiction, crime writing, autobiography, gender and sexuality. There are also options in literature and film adaptation, the short story, the eighteenth century novel from Defoe to Austen, and seventeenth century women's' writing.

English Literature at the University was ranked ninth in the Guardian's 2004 listings of UK English Departments. Its learning and teaching were judged 'commendable' in the Quality Assurance Agency's subject review of 2004. World Class facilities help students to progress their learning and present their coursework professionally. These include the two technology-rich learning resource centres which provide private study spaces and computer suites with 24 hour access, seven days a week and groundbreaking e-learning environment StudyNet.