BA English Literature
Swansea, United Kingdom
BA
DURATION
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
English Literature is one of the most diverse and challenging disciplines we offer.
You will have the chance to explore over a thousand years of literature, from Beowulf to the present day. Our course covers national and global literature stretching from Renaissance literature, Gothic and genre fiction and 19th century literature through to modernity and contemporary fiction. Other exciting topics include gender and culture and creative and professional writing.
You will have the chance to spend a semester studying in the USA, Canada, China, Hong Kong or Singapore, further improving your career prospects.
Why English Literature at Swansea?
Based on our stunning Singleton Park campus, in parkland overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower Peninsula;
Our academic staff are internationally recognised for their research. You will learn from experienced, established writers whose work has been widely published, broadcast and performed.
You will also have the option of a semester in the USA, Canada, China, Hong Kong or Singapore.
Your English Literature Experience
You can choose from a fascinating range of English Literature and creative writing topics to tailor your degree to your interests.
We offer varied and flexible course content, so you can shape your course to your own interests, whether in Gothic and genre fiction, gender and culture, Renaissance literature, national and global literatures, modernity and contemporary writing, 19th century literature, or creative and professional writing.
Wales has a rich lyric tradition and Swansea is the birthplace of Dylan Thomas. You can be involved with projects with the Dylan Thomas Centre and the National Theatre Wales.
You will also have a personal tutor for any pastoral and academic support you may need, and the lively English Student Society at Swansea organises a range of literary, social and cultural events.
International Excellence Scholarships are available to both Undergraduate and Postgraduate students. Other scholarships are available, please see our website for more information including eligibility criteria and closing dates.
You will typically study: Monsters, Theories, Transformations, English Essentials, Approaches to Gender in English Literature, Debating Texts: Theory in Literature, Revolution of the Word: Modernism, Exploring the Bloody Chamber: Medieval to Postmodern, Dissertation - English Literature, Welsh Gothic / Gothic Wales, Poetry in the Twentieth Century, Written in Blood: Reading the Vampire, Graphic Novel, African American Literature 1910-1940: The Harlem Renaissance, Reading/Writing Trauma
Year 1 (Level 4)
Compulsory Modules
- Monsters, Theories, Transformations
- The Stage Play World
- English Essentials
Optional Modules
- Studying the English Language
- Introduction to American Literature and Culture
- Approaches to Gender in English Literature
- Literature and Society in Medieval Europe.
- Creative Writing: Fiction Genres
- Creative Writing: Styles of Fiction
- Grammar and Meaning
- The sound system of English
- Applied Linguistics: Uncovering Language Myths and Linguistic Truths
- Of Gods and Heroes - Greek Mythology
- Ovid's Metamorphoses. The Transformations of Mythology
- Medieval Europe: an introduction
- Europe of Extremes: 1789 - 1989
- Modern British History
- Modern European Film: Themes and Perspectives
Year 2 (Level 5)
Optional Modules
- Debating Texts: Theory in Literature
- Exploring the Bloody Chamber: Medieval to Postmodern
- Revolution of the Word: Modernism
- Contentious Shakespeare
- Fragments of Union: The Cultural Making and Breaking of Britain
- Medieval Encounters
- Conflict and the Gothic in the long nineteenth century
- Literature and War in the 20th Century
- Tools for English Language Teaching
- Sociolinguistics
- Discourse Analysis
- Child Language and Literacy
- Race and Ethnicity: American Perspectives
- American Word/American Image
- Ghettos, Streets, Suburbs: Cultural Representations of the American City, 1890 - present
- Introduction to Writing Poetry
- Introduction to Writing Fiction
- Introduction to Writing Drama
- Studying Dialect
Year 3 (Level 6)
Optional Modules
- Second Language Acquisition
- Issues in current ELT
- Language in the Media
- Computer-Assisted Language Learning
- Language Policy and Planning
- Contemporary American Fiction
- African American Literature 1910-1940: The Harlem Renaissance
- William Blake: Poetry and Designs
- Postmodernist and Post-war Fiction
- Dissertation - English Literature
- Welsh Gothic / Gothic Wales
- Poetry in the Twentieth Century
- Crime Fiction since 1920
- Other Tongues: Multilingualism in English Language Literature
- Professional Development: Preparing for Work
- Written in Blood: Reading the Vampire
- Madness, Malady and Melancholia: Literature and Medicine from Genesis to Genomes
- The Swansea University International Dylan Thomas Prize Module
- Speculative Fictions
- Graphic Novel
- Beyond Shakespeare
- Chaucer
- Theorising Texts: Shakespeare, Bronte, James
- Prehistory, History and Language
- Reading/Writing Trauma
- From Page to Screen: Adapting the European Classics
- Media, Gender and Sexuality
- Further Fiction Writing
- Creative Writing Personal Project
- Writing for Radio and Screen
- Further Creative Non-Fiction
- Further Poetry Writing
English at Swansea is ranked:
- 11th in UK for Research Impact (REF2021)
- Top 20 in the UK for Teaching Satisfaction (Guardian University Guide 2025)
- Top 101-150 in the World (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025)
English Literature Employment Opportunities
Graduating with an internationally recognised degree in English will put you in a great position to succeed in a wide range of careers. You will develop excellent oral and writing skills, strong research and analytical skills, learn to present your ideas in a range of formats, solve problems, make informed decisions and manage your time and workload effectively. All this expertise will ensure you can compete successfully in the job market.
Our graduates enter careers in a wide range of sectors, including:
- Education
- Marketing
- Social Media
- Project Administration