Are you inspired by the drama of Caryl Churchill and Oscar Wilde, the novels of Jane Austen and Zadie Smith, the poetry of Sylvia Plath and Linton Kwesi Johnson? Do you have a passion for exploring literary works that challenge your views and prompt creativity? As an English Literature student at Keele, you will immerse yourself in literature from Shakespeare to the contemporary and examine literature in English from across the world, including Britain, North America and Africa, taking a truly global perspective.
Top 10
Student Experience(Times, 2020)
Work Placement
available as an optional module
for 2nd year Humanities students
Top 10
in England for Overall Student SatisfactionNational Student Survey, 2021 (broad-based public universities)
Student testimonials
Zahra - English Literature
"I really enjoy how versatile the module choices are for English Literature. There are plenty of options depending on your reading preferences and there is flexibility within modules, as various texts are explored."
Louisa Grocott, MA Creative Writing Graduate
"The course has supported the development of my writing style, creativity and probably developing my personal ‘voice’ and confidence, too."Read more
Kyle - English Literature
"When I moved in I felt a sense of belonging in the tightly knit community. The staff at Keele always go the extra mile for students and offer immense academic and mental support"
Chi-Lun - English Literature
"What I appreciated about the lecturers was their willingness to let me follow my own academic pursuits. All you need to bring is the passion - the drive for enlightenment - and the lecturers will match yours with their own."
Course content
Is your imagination captured by the literature of the Renaissance and the Victorians, or the opportunity to know more about postcolonialism or postmodernism? As an English Literature student at Keele, you'll be encouraged to delve deep into a range of literary works, which may include authors such as Emily Bronte, Aphra Behn, Tsitsi Dangarembga and J M Coetzee.
Our intellectually stimulating and engaging approach to exploring novels, poetry, drama, graphic novels and other types of literature produce intelligent, perceptive, socially aware and compassionate individuals who are able to make a real impact. English Literature at Keele is a vibrant community of staff and students who are passionate in their belief that literature and culture are vital to understand the world around us.
You'll tackle a range of issues and unprecedented challenges of our cultural moment, which could include decolonisation, sustainability and the environment, gender and sexuality, migration, political extremism, or the role of literature as an arbiter of truth in an era of information overload and fake news. We are committed to enabling you to tailor your degree. Alongside the compulsory English Literature modules, you are given the flexibility to choose optional modules which not only align with your literary interest, but also your career aspirations. We enable you to embed an interdisciplinary approach to your studies, by offering you the opportunity to explore modules outside of the English Literature curriculum, including those from areas such as Creative Writing, Film, History, Media, Education and Modern Languages.
Studying English Literature at Keele enables you to develop key skills in reading, writing and critical thinking. Taught by expert lecturers, you will explore and interpret literary texts that will challenge your views, advance your tastes, prompt your creativity, and give you the opportunity to become a versatile graduate. Through a range of activities and assessments, our diverse course will equip you with a wide array of attributes that employers are looking for, including problem solving, creativity, emotional intelligence, and digital literacy. You will pursue your passions, grow in confidence, and gain a unique set of transferable skills that will be invaluable for your future career in a variety of sectors.
Enhancing Your Employability
Opportunities to enhance your employability are at the heart of our English programmes - we want you to graduate not only as a confident literary critic, but also with a highly-desirable set of skills. Our second-year optional module "Work Placement in the Humanities" allows you to engage with potential future employers whilst being supported by academic and career advisors to design and complete a programme of work in partnership with the workplace. Previous work placements have included charities, museums, schools and archives. We also recognise that as your knowledge and appreciation develops, so will your career aspirations. Our Careers and Employability advisors run excellent workshops and offer tailored, individual guidance throughout the course.
Learn a Language and Study Abroad Opportunities
Studying English at Keele also gives you the chance to learn a language. Whether you are a complete beginner or already have a foundation of knowledge we offer a flexible and guided route to enhancing your skills. We currently offer British Sign Language, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish. Upon successful completion of a series of elective language modules, you will have the opportunity to gain an enhanced degree title. You may also look to study abroad at one of our partner institutions enabling you to broaden your knowledge while experiencing a new culture. Our Global Opportunities team will support you throughout the process, ensuring you are able to get the most out of your international experience. Recent English Literature students have studied in Canada, Australia and the USA. Keele University is partnered with many institutions across the world enabling you to further develop your appreciation and awareness of other cultures and societies.
It is also possible to undertake an International Year between Year 2 and Year 3. You will have the opportunity to spend the two semesters of the international year at one partner university or one semester at one university and the second semester at another. On successful completion of all modules across the year, you will graduate with a degree title ‘with International Year’.
Our Course Information Documents (CIDs) are designed to give you all of the details you need to make an informed decision about what and where to study.
Your typical week will involve attending lectures that develop your subject knowledge, participating in seminars that give you the chance to discuss in smaller groups exciting books and ideas, and following a guided course of reading. Your learning will be supported by additional activities including workshops, particularly for creative writers, individual tutor meetings, study skills sessions, film screenings in the Media building cinema, and online discussion threads. You’ll have the support of a personal tutor, one of our academic staff who helps to guide your learning.
We build your skills in researched essays, as well as other forms of critical and creative writing and practice. As well as essays, assessments include group and individual presentations, dissertations, book reviews and reflective diaries, creative portfolios, and digital outputs such as blog posts and podcasts. You’ll develop a range of diverse, essential skills to work independently and as part of a team and will widen your employment prospects.
Our Facilities
Our campus Library has an outstanding collection of books for English Literature students, it provides a quiet place to study, and is renowned for its special collections, including one of the oldest children’s books in the world! You will have access to the best and latest resources on the texts you study through our extensive electronic collections, which includes major databases that allow you to immerse yourself in the subject and acquire digital skills. The David Bruce Centre for American Studies is home to an undergraduate resource centre, and our Creative Writing Room is a dedicated space for students who have chosen to produce new literary works as well as analyse existing ones.
Entry requirements
Keele is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. On that basis we operate a range of 'alternative offer' schemes with clear eligibility criteria.
The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the likely offer or range of offers which would be made to candidates along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate’s application. Read more about our undergraduate entry requirements for United Kingdom and International students.
If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.
A Level requirements
A Level requirement BBC
GCSE requirements
English at C (or 4)
BTEC
BTEC requirements DMM
International Baccalaureate
29 points
Access to HE Diploma requirements
Access to Higher Education Diploma with 112 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 15 Level 3 credits at Distinction.
PREPARATION PROGRAMMES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
International students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this course have the opportunity to study an International Foundation Year programme.
These courses are designed to prepare international students to enter into Keele University undergraduate degrees.
Foundation year
You may choose to study this course via foundation year.
If you’re returning to education following a break, wish to study a new subject or don’t have the grades or sufficient equivalent experience for direct entry to this course, a foundation year may be a good option for you.
Following successful completion (including any additional progression requirements) of the foundation year you can progress on to this course.
The foundation year offers September starts across all subjects, and January starts across all science, humanities, social sciences and business routes.
If you do not meet the requirements for direct entry onto the BA (Hons) English Literature course, our Foundation Year can provide an alternative route into your degree.
Keele University is consistently ranked among the top universities for student satisfaction, and we have over 70 years’ experience of teaching a foundation year to students. On the Keele Foundation Year, you’ll study on campus, joining our community from the outset, and you will have access to a range of support.
Read on to find out about:
Foundation Year indicative modules for the September intake
Foundation Year entry requirements
How to apply
UCAS code for this course
The information within this page is for students wishing to start their studies in September. If you would like to start this course in January, please visit our January pages for further details.
Course Content
Our Foundation Year allows you to develop your critical thinking, academic reading, writing, and communication study skills along with subject-specific knowledge and skills which will be invaluable in your academic studies and beyond. Upon meeting the progression criteria and successfully completing our Foundation Year, you will automatically progress into your Keele undergraduate degree with the confidence that you have the skills, and knowledge needed to successfully complete your course.
This Foundation Year is a two-semester programme which provides a tailored pre-degree programme of study to better prepare you for the BA (Hons) English Literature degree. For example, the Foundations of Humanities 1 module introduces you to the broad range of source material across the Humanities disciplines - from media to history which enables us to analyse political, social or economic perspectives and attitudes to individuals, marginal groups and 'mainstream' society. Course content has been developed in collaboration with degree teaching teams, so that by the time you begin Year 1, you will be ready to excel at your studies, as the majority of our Foundation Year students do.
Find out more about the Keele Foundation Year, including information about teaching and assessment methods by visiting the Foundation Year homepage.
Course Structure
The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.
The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the likely offer or range of offers which would be made to candidates along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate’s application. Read more about our undergraduate entry requirements for United Kingdom, European Union and International students.
Between 40-48 UCAS points from at least 1 A level/level 3 qualification or equivalent, or
Relevant work experience
AND
GCSE English Language at grade 4 (C), or Level 2 Functional Skills or
IELTS 5.5 (with 5.5 in all subtests)
How to Apply
Students will need to apply for BA (Hons) English Literature with Foundation Year (UCAS code Q3VA) through UCAS at www.ucas.com
Direct Entry Students
If you already have your qualifications, are not expecting any further results and only wish to apply to Keele, please contact the Admissions Office directly.
We are interested in a broad range of qualities, not just your points on entry. We would like to learn more about you, your interests, experiences and motivation to study.
We would be delighted to talk to you about your work experience (paid or voluntary) and qualifications, and help you to explore your options for study with us.
Going to university can be a daunting as well as an exciting experience. It can be difficult to understand the true costs of being a student, as well as the financial support that is available to help you meet those costs.
We can help you to manage your funds, create a budget and ensure that you receive any funding for which you may be eligible. We also offer financial support such as the Keele University Hardship Fund and emergency loans.
96% of Keele graduates were in a job or further study within six months of graduating (HESA, 2017)
You’ll graduate with a wide range of skills – in research, oral and written communication, presentation – as well as excellent opportunities for the future. Some careers may require further study or training, but you might work as a teacher, journalist, editor, librarian, advertising copywriter, solicitor, arts administrator or writer. You could go into marketing, research, broadcasting, publishing, the compiling of dictionaries, or teaching English as a foreign language.
If you are thinking of travelling the world after graduation, teaching or working abroad, Keele’s Language Centre offers a variety of language courses. You may graduate with an enhanced degree with foreign language competency or an internationally recognised qualification in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). For further information, visit our Language Centre - keele.ac.uk/lc
Previous employers
Our graduates have gone on to work at:
Apple
Primary, Secondary and Higher Education
Barclays
NHS
Debenhams
Marks and Spencer
HSBC
Santander
Prospero Teaching
Local Government
Memiah
Vodafone
Jobs that a graduate of this course could go on to do:
Academic Librarian
Advertising Copywriter
Editorial Assistant
Journalist
Public Relations Officer
School Teacher
Regardless of which career you pursue after Keele, employers will want evidence of the range of skills and personal qualities you possess and which are required for the job. Your degree is clearly important in this respect but don’t forget the extra-curricular activities, positions of responsibility, jobs and voluntary work you may have been engaged in while studying at Keele. These activities allow you to demonstrate the skills and personal qualities required by employers and will be vital in your attempts to secure graduate employment.
