About this program
English Literature
English literature at Cardiff has long enjoyed an international reputation for its teaching and research, and Cardiff is a splendid city in which to spend your undergraduate years. Our commitment is to make those years intellectually stimulating and academically rewarding. We pride ourselves on nurturing a friendly, personalised and supportive environment for our students.
Our curriculum offers access to the whole span of English literature, from the Anglo-Saxon period to the 21st century. You will not be restricted to the printed word & we are intrigued by the connections between literature and film, art, music, history, language and popular culture, and our teaching reflects these interests. You will be encouraged to stretch yourself intellectually and imaginatively by exploring literature both as practitioners and critics.
There are no compulsory modules after year one. We give you choice, but we also give you the skills and knowledge to make informed decisions from a diverse range of options.
You will be taught by leading researchers in English literature in modules that reflect the cutting edge of the discipline. The focus throughout the degree is on becoming a careful, attentive, and informed reader and writer, sensitive to the nuances of language and style, and able to articulate responses to texts in writing which is precise, stylish, and effective.
Admission requirements
Typical A level offer
ABB,including an A in English Literature or English Literature and Language or Creative Writing
Extended/International Project Qualification: Applicants with grade A in the EPQ/IPQ will typically receive an offer one grade lower than the standard A level offer. Please note that any subject specific requirements must still be met.
English language requirements
GCSE
Grade C or grade 4 in GCSE English Language.
IELTS (academic)
At least 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each subskill.
TOEFL iBT
At least 90 overall with minimum scores of 17 for writing, 17 for listening, 18 for reading and 20 for speaking.
PTE Academic
At least 62 overall with a minimum of 59 in all communicative skills.
Trinity ISE II/III
- II: at least two Distinctions and two Merits.
- III: at least a Pass in all components. For more information about admission requirements, please visit the university website.
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Program content
The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2022/23 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2022.
Year one
- Critical Reading and Critical Writing
- Ways of Reading
Year two
In year two there are no compulsory modules. You may select from a range of modules based on period, genre or theme in which you will be reading a variety of texts in their historical and cultural contexts.
Part-time students normally take two years to complete this stage of the programme, following 60 credits per year. Please contact the School directly (encap@cardiff.ac.uk) in order to discuss the options available.
Year three
By year three you will have gained experience of a variety of literary periods, topics, genres and approaches, developing your critical faculties and your skills in analysing texts and contexts. You will therefore be in an excellent position to choose between a range of more specialised modules that engage with current issues in research and scholarship in relation to authors and texts both well-known and possibly less well-known to you.
Part-time students normally take two years to complete this stage of the programme, following 60 credits per year. Please contact the School directly (encap@cardiff.ac.uk) in order to discuss the options available.
Scholarships & funding
For more information about scholarships, please visit the university website.
Tuition
For more information about tuition fee, please visit the university website.
Qualification
What skills will I practise and develop?
Knowledge Understanding:
- Awareness of different literary periods, movements and genres and of the variety of English literature.
- Understanding of the importance of historical and cultural contexts.
- Ability to sustain a critical argument that is responsive to the workings of language and literary styles.
- Awareness of the bibliographic conventions of the discipline and their role in communicating information.
- Knowledge of the critical issues and/or debates surrounding, or raised by, texts.
- Understanding of the shaping effects of historical and cultural circumstances on the production and meaning of texts.
- Knowledge of appropriate critical vocabulary and terminology.
Intellectual Skills:
- Ability to handle complex ideas with clarity.
- Ability to analyse and interpret material drawn from a diversity of literary periods.
- Ability to apply high level critical skills of close analysis to literary texts.
- Ability to select and organise material purposefully and cogently.
Professional Practical Skills:
- Advanced communication skills (written and oral).
- Ability to give an efficient critical evaluation of documents in various styles.
- Ability to access, use and evaluate electronic data.
- Ability to interact effectively with others, in team or group work situations.
Transferable/Key Skills:
- Ability to select and organise material purposefully and cogently.
- Ability to plan, organize, and deliver work to a deadline.
Career paths
Careers and placements
Career prospects
We provide our students with a highly satisfying academic experience that assists their development as critically-minded, culturally-aware citizens whose high analytic skills, powers of expression and progressive self-reliance make them extremely attractive to employers.
English literature graduates have excellent analytic and communication skills that fit them for a full range of professions and further training. Their cultural expertise and intellectual abilities are valued in the public and private sector, and in contexts as varied as the classroom, the law courts or the media.
In 2013/14, 91% of the School;s graduates who were available for work reported they were in employment and/or further study within six months of graduating.
Graduate careers
- Army Officer
- Crime Intelligence Analyst
- Teacher
- Writer
Placements
We have an established portfolio of internships with Wales-based literary/cultural magazines for which students can apply. We offer an employability module which is available as an optional module in the second year of the programme.
Students may also apply through the University;s Global Centre for exchanges with the range of University partners.
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About this institute
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is among the top 25 universities in the UK and is ranked 154th in the world. Founded in 1883, Cardiff University combines a prestigious heritage with impressive modern facilities, on one of the most beautiful campuses in the UK....
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Cardiff University
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