English Literature with Foundation Year, BA (Hons), University of Portsmouth

the United Kingdom

Study options for this course

The award	How you will study	Study duration	Course start	Domestic course fees	International course fees
BA (Hons)	Full-time, Sandwich	4 - 5 years	September	-	-

About English Literature with Foundation Year, BA (Hons) - at University of Portsmouth

Overview

If you want a future with fewer limits, this is the degree for you. When you study English Literature at Portsmouth, you'll also explore history and politics, society and culture, human relationships and identities, and how we choose to live. And you’re doing it in a city steeped in lively literature, from Charles Dickens to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

You’ll explore complex, challenging issues – from masculinity to the Holocaust. You’ll learn the skills to critically analyse the purpose, truth and impact of any written text. You’ll also develop the skills to produce your own writing and presentations, so you can communicate original ideas in ways that engage and influence readers.

The combination of creative thinking and rigorous analysis you develop will make you a compelling candidate for all kinds of jobs – from marketing to museums, and journalism to publishing.

Course highlights

Discover our literary city with the constantly evolving Portsmouth Literary Map – your course begins with a tour of literary Portsea and the Dockyards area, introducing significant places in the lives of Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Simon Armitage, today's local writers, and plenty more
Enjoy the freedom to interpret assignments creatively, and develop employable skills in presentation and teamwork, on a course without exams
Learn directly from staff who produce world-leading research into areas as diverse as magical realism and representations of food
Build specialist knowledge by choosing the topics that match your interests – from global literature to dystopian and apocalyptic environments, from women’s writing to crime writing
Develop your own style and build up your writer’s portfolio by becoming a contributor to our Writing Literary Portsmouth blog
Learn what makes a winning book, from the Man-Booker to the Nobel Prize
Curate your own literary prize or produce a prize pitch, to experience what happens when writing meets the commercial marketplace
Build a professional network with high-profile figures including authors, agents, publishers, booksellers, prize judges and critics through our contacts and partnerships
Have the opportunity to do a work placement year after your second or third year on this Connected Degree - we're the only UK university to offer flexible sandwich placements for undergraduates
Choose to learn a foreign language for free as part of your degree, from a selection of Arabic, British Sign Language, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin or Spanish
Opt to do a foundation year with ICP to get uni-ready ahead of this course, then take up a guaranteed place on this full Bachelor's degree when you successfully finish your foundation year

Careers and opportunities

Why study English literature? There are many reasons, but one of the best things about an English literature degree is that it draws on many diverse skills and ways of thinking critically.

This makes English literature one of the most versatile subjects you can study, creating a wealth of career opportunities.

This English literature degree will set you up to pursue careers in fields where communication and critical thinking matter. We outline some of these below, but employers in many more industries recognise the value of the transferable skills you’ll gain by choosing to study English literature. Your CV will demonstrate:

sophisticated analytical skills, enabling you to assess texts on any topic
the ability to think critically and reach your own independent conclusions
a flair for presenting and discussing ideas with diverse audiences
the confidence to say exactly what you mean to say, in writing and in person
a creative mindset that helps you see things differently and solve problems
a well-developed sense of empathy and teamworking skills

Take a look at our blog to find out more about the jobs you can get with an English literature degree.

"The major problems of today are all based around the interpretation of texts – how do we identify ‘fake news’ and misinformation? How do people persuade others of a point of view? How have writers imagined the end of the world, and how do these narratives shape reactions to global dangers?

Being able to read between the lines has never been more important, and an English literature degree gives you the tools to do exactly that."

Dr Christopher Pittard, Senior Lecturer in English Literature

What areas can you work in with an English literature degree?

After the course, you could work in areas such as:

advertising
journalism
arts and media
public relations
copywriting
teaching
research

You could also study at postgraduate level.

Graduate destinations

Roles our previous English literature graduates have gone onto include:

copywriter
journalist and editor
marketing executive
teacher
paralegal
sales executive
museum curator

What jobs can you get with an English literature degree?

English literature graduates can be found in numerous sectors, filling a variety of roles - from journalist to teacher, marketing manager to legal advisor.

Ongoing career support – up to 5 years after you graduate

Get experience while you study, with support to find part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities, and work experience.

Towards the end of your degree and for up to five years after graduation, you’ll receive one-to-one support from our Careers and Employability Service to help you find your perfect role.

Placement year (optional)

After your second or third year of study, you can choose to do a paid work placement year in the UK or overseas. This lets you put your new skills to work while developing valuable links with employers.

It’s fantastic for your CV and will really help you stand out when applying for jobs after graduation.

We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your aspirations. Mentoring and support throughout your placement will help you to get the most from the experience.

Previous students have secured placement positions at organisations such as: