English Literature
'Literature', says the poet Ezra Pound, 'is news that stays news'. Our rich and vital literary inheritance informs the way we think about the world. It expresses how we feel about ourselves and others and stimulates both intellect and imagination. Here at Reading, we believe the study of English Literature provides not only a rewarding challenge and active pleasure, but also the foundation of a critical and cultural awareness that will remain with you for life. This degree gives you an excellent knowledge of a chronological range of texts, from medieval times to contemporary popular culture and creative writing, while allowing you to tailor your course to meet your individual enthusiasms. You will develop critical confidence and the ability to express your views orally and on paper, providing you with extremely valuable transferable skills.
• World-renowned scholarship. The Department has received the prestigious Queen's Award for its work on Shakespeare studies and the Globe Theatre Project, and is an acknowledged 'Centre of Excellence' in the dynamic field of Children's Literature.
• Relaxed and supportive atmosphere with a high level of individual care. Our staff of distinguished professors and lecturers teach at every level of our course and all are involved in innovative research and pass on our enthusiasm to our students.
• Outstanding National Student Survey Score (2011) with an excellent 91% for overall satisfaction with the course.
• Excellent library resources, with over a million volumes, including the Samuel Beckett Archive, and the Archive of British Publishing and Printing.
• Our Creative writing pathway offers workshops in your first and second years, and culminates in a Creative Writing Dissertation in your final year. There's an annual Creative Arts Anthology, published by the department, which uniquely combines contributions from students, staff, local writers and famous authors from around the world.
Student experience and employment
Within the English Literature programme at Reading you will develop critical confidence and the ability to express your views orally and on paper, providing you with extremely valuable transferable skills. There are also lots of opportunities to develop skills useful for your future career. You will also have the opportunity to develop these skills and your knowledge outside the university, with our innovative placement scheme. This gives all of our students the chance to
undertake an academic placement in the arts, commerce or industry during their time with us.
Communications at work
Our unique 'Communications at Work' module enables you to combine study of the practical use of English with a short placement. Recent students, for example, have worked with the Arts Council, Harper Collins Publishing, Harpers Bazaar magazine, Saatchi and Saatchi and West Ham Utd Football Club. There are various schemes and opportunities that Reading's English Literature students get involved in to further improve their career prospects. These include a student tutoring project which can help to build essential experience for a future career in teaching. Students interested in a career in the media are given valuable journalistic experience by working on the University's award-winning student newspaper, Spark, often in key editorial roles. Recent graduates have used this wealth of skills and experience to progress to such roles as Editorial Assistant, Media Planner and Recruitment Consultant.Students who wish to enter the world of performance can gain invaluable experience by participating in campus plays, musicals, and concerts.
Study abroad
If you have initiative, imagination and curiosity, there are some exciting opportunities available for studying abroad as part of your English Literature degree. There are opportunities to study in Australia, Canada or the United States. Some of our students have gone to Rhode Island in the USA, and one took an internship through the University of Mississippi. We also run an exchange programme with the University of Valladolid in Spain. All modules are taught in English, although Spanish language tuition is available both at Reading and at Valladolid. Even if you are not planning to study abroad, you can enhance your language skills by including modules from the Institution Wide Language Programme (IWLP) in your degree.
Career prospects
A degree in English Literature opens many doors. As a Reading graduate you will enter the job market with well-developed skills of oral communication, research and writing, together with a high level of cultural literacy and critical sophistication. This is an attractive profile: Reading graduates in English Literature have taken up jobs in television, film, theatre, publishing, public relations and advertising, journalism, education, travel and tourism, events planning, retail management, and a variety of communication fields. Recent employers include the BBC, the Telegraph, Vogue, Oxford University Press, Penguin Books and Waterstones, as well as local authorities and schools.