The degree in English Literature at Warwick is unique. Your first year will set you up with a firm grounding in literature since the Middle Ages, but then we encourage you to pursue your own distinct path: your degree will reflect your own intellectual and creative interests, giving you the flexibility to explore the world of options available to you -- prose, poetry, theatre (and more) from around the world, from ancient classics to the latest in contemporary writing, and the option to take modules from other departments.

Quick links

• Degree outline
• Degree structure
• Entry requirements
• How will I be taught?
• How will I be assessed?
• What opportunities are there to study abroad?

Degree outline

You'll take four modules in the first year which will introduce you to the different genres and approaches to studying English Literature. At the end of your first year, you'll choose to follow one of four ‘pathways’ depending on your own interests:

• English Pathway
• North American Pathway
• Theory Pathway
• World and Comparative Literature Pathway

Each pathway has three types of module:

• Core or pathway approved modules – these will give you a thorough grounding in your chosen pathway.
• Distributional requirement modules – these will expose you to broader subjects outside your chosen pathway.
• Optional modules – you’ll be able to choose from any undergraduate modules in the Department of English and Comparative Literary Studies or from modules outside the department (for example, a module from Film and Television Studies, Classics and Ancient History or Modern Languages).

Degree structure

Year one

1	Epic into Novel
2	Modes of Reading
3	Medieval to Renaissance English Literature
4	Modern World Literatures or a modern language

Years two and three

You'll take four modules in each year and there is wide scope to tailor your degree to your own interests. The degree structure varies depending on your chosen pathway (see each pathway for a full list of modules).

English Pathway

1	Three modules from the list of pathway approved modules. You must take at least one of these in year two.
2
3
4	One module from the list of distributional requirement modules – on this pathway it means any module with a predominantly non-English component.
5	Four optional modules – these can include any honours level module offered by the English department and up to one honours level module outside the department. You can take an optional dissertation in your final year.
6
7
8

American Pathway

1	Two modules from the list of pathway approved modules.
2
3	Two modules from the list of distributional requirement modules – on this pathway it means any module with a pre-1900 element.
4
5	Four optional modules – these can include any honours level module offered by the English department and up to one honours level module outside the department. You can take an optional dissertation in your final year.
6
7
8

Theory Pathway

1	Literary and Cultural Theory
2	One module from the list of pathway approved modules.
3	Two modules from the list of distributional requirement modules – on this pathway it means any module with a pre-1900 element.
4
5	Four optional modules – these can include any honours level module offered by the English department and up to one honours level module outside the department. You can take an optional dissertation in your final year.
6
7
8

 

World and Comparative Literature Pathway

1	The European Novel or European Theatre
2	One module from the list of pathway approved modules.
3	Two modules from the list of distributional requirement modules – on this pathway it means any module with a pre-1900 element.
4
5	Four optional modules – these can include any honours level module offered by the English department and up to one honours level module outside the department. You can take an optional dissertation in your final year.
6
7
8

Entry requirements

We require Advanced or Higher level qualifications in English Literature, normally grade A (predicted or achieved). A level English Language is acceptable in addition to English Literature, but is not normally acceptable as a substitute. Combined A level English Language and Literature is acceptable, providing you can show evidence of wider reading in literature in your Personal Statement.

For typical offers and details on how to apply see the University Prospectus.

How will I be taught?

Most core modules are taught by means of one lecture and one seminar per week in terms one and two. Optional modules are normally taught by means of one seminar per week (1.5 hours duration).

How will I be assessed?

Assessment is a combination of traditional essays and written examinations together with creative projects, portfolios and performance. For example, in our Shakespeare and Selected Dramatists of his Time module, student creative work recently included film and radio adaptations, musical compositions, painting, sculpture and photography inspired by Shakespeare's texts.

What opportunities are there to study abroad?

There are opportunities to spend a year abroad at one of the University's partner institutions in Europe, America or Asia.