Are you looking to study English literature but don’t know where to even begin looking? Trying to narrow down your list of universities is difficult, especially when there is so much to consider before applying. If you’re a high achiever and are used to some fierce competition, then here are the best universities for English literature in the UK according to the Complete University Guide!
1. University of Oxford
It probably won’t come as a surprise that Oxford is at the top of the list. The grade boundaries are AAA, and you will also need to complete an admission exam as well. It’s definitely one of the hardest universities to get into for English literature, but Oxford is also one of the best ones out there. According to their website, you may have to write up to 12 pieces of written work per term on a variety of subjects, so obviously it’s a lot of work to keep up with whilst you’re at university! Although if you like to work hard and want to aim high, this is the university for you.
2. University of Cambridge
Next on the list is the University of Cambridge, one of the best universities in the UK, not just for English literature. The grade boundaries for this course are actually higher, as you need A*AA in your A Levels on top of an entrance exam! The course goes into Shakespeare and medieval literature for the first 2 years, and then branching off into more subjects during the final year. Their library also has around 80,000 books, and famous people in the world of literature such as Sylvia Plath and William Wordsworth studied at Cambridge! It’s definitely one of the best universities for English literature in the UK!
3. University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews is a small university, accommodating between 5,000-10,000 students. With their undergraduate degree, you will have the opportunity to go America! The minimum entry requirements are AABB, and you must have an A in English. This university scored 86% for research quality, so it’s obviously a university to think about as one of the best for English literature!
4. Durham University
Durham University has the same grade boundaries as Cambridge, being A*AA. However, you don’t have to do an entrance exam for this university, which is always a bonus! The course at Durham is different from both Cambridge and Oxford, as there is more choice in the modules you study. These modules include Jane Austen, American poetry, and even Nonsense Literature!
5. University College London
University College London is one of the biggest universities in the UK, and also one of the best universities for English literature. The grade boundaries for this course is AAA, but they also offer a contextual offer of ABB. A lot of the modules they teach at this university are quite traditional, such as Shakespeare and the Victorian period. You can see all of the modules they teach on their website!
6. University of Warwick
The University of Warwick’s grade boundaries are the same as York’s, which is AAA or A*AB. Some of their modules include American horror story, Ecopoetics, and Alternative Lifeworlds fiction! They definitely have a wide variety, and it’s always nice to be able to pick what you’d like to study rather than having a bunch of compulsory modules. If you’re looking for a more varied and different approach to studying English literature, this is one of the best universities to choose in the UK.
7. Loughborough University
One of the reasons Loughborough University ranks so well for English Literature is its graduate prospects. We all know it’s not one of those degree courses that lead directly to a specific career (like law or medicine for example), so graduate outcomes are important. It’s also got a cool course design, where compulsory modules include poetry, history, narratives and linguistics, and optional ones include creative writing, film studies, African American Culture and more. So you can really design your course yourself pretty much, while learning the basics and fundamentals. Plus, you can do a placement year, study abroad and learn a language if you want.
8. University of York
To get into the University of York, you either need AAA or A*AB. The course is taught through lectures, seminars, workshops, and even film screenings! They scored a 90% on research quality, and also 79% for student satisfaction, both really good figures. York has always been a prestigious university in the UK, and so it’s not a surprise that it made the list for the best universities for English literature!
9. University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh is one of the most prestigious places to study English Literature in the UK, with close links to the Edinburgh International Book Festival and venues like the National Library of Scotland. There’s loads to get involved in too, such as reading groups, writers’ groups, poetry slams, theatre, student societies, competitions, publishing opportunities and more. It’s a great place to be if you want a career in writing. It’s a 4 year course, which can involve studying abroad – especially if you’re studying English Lit alongside another language. Edinburgh is so beautiful you might not want to leave though.
10. Lancaster University
One of the most unique things about studying English Literature at Lancaster University is the location. The campus is right in the heart of a romance novel, or it seems like it anyway. It’s close to the Lake District, which is the home ground of Romantics, and the famous poet Wordsworth. It’s also historic, with The Castle Quarter feeling like the backdrop to epic novels – as well as being a good place to inspire creativity and hang out. As with most of the top universities for English Literature, their course has lots of optional modules such as world literature, postcolonialism, media, and so on for you to direct your career path.
But honestly, the best way to get a feel for the university is going to an open day, so you should always go to a few before making any decisions! So these are the best universities for English literature, but what are the best universities overall? If you want to know how they scored, read our article on the UK universities with the best reputation!
Last Updated on September 10, 2024
Published on May 28, 2024
