English

English at Aberdeen is a dynamic subject embracing both literature and language. Our flexible, modular degree programmes allow you to develop your own interests and enthusiasms while acquiring advanced critical and communicative skills that will prepare you for a wide range of careers.

Why Aberdeen?

• Attractive courses covering all periods of English literature plus Scottish, Irish and American literature, and creative writing with our prize-winning Writer-in-Residence, Alan Spence
• Friendly and committed teaching staff at the forefront of research in their field
• Excellent library resources built up over 500 years, combined with state-of-the-art IT facilities
• A range of teaching methods, from lectures and seminars to small-group tutorials and individual supervision

Programmes

You may also be interested in

Film and Visual Culture, Gaelic Studies, History, Language & Linguistics, Languages and Literature of Scotland, Literature in a World Context, Scottish Studies

Study Abroad

The Department encourages students to study abroad and attempts to be as flexible as possible in facilitating their arrangements. At present student exchanges are available with the universities of Bonn, Karlsruhe, Regensburg, Freiburg, Naples, Vienna, Trieste, Liege, Oslo, Dublin and Venice. It is also possible to study on an international exchange.

Study abroad information

The opportunity to take Enhanced Study options as part of your degree and participate in co-curricular activities. See www.abdn.ac.uk/thedifference for more information.

First and Second Year

The first year will introduce you to the critical study of literature in two consecutive courses.  In Reading Writing you will study both poetry and prose through a consideration of the author, the reader and the literary text. You will follow this with Controversial Classics, a course focused upon the study of modern literary classics that have provoked strong cultural reactions. The second year will build on these foundations, offering courses such as Encounters with Shakespeare and  The Tragedy of Knowledge.

Third and Fourth Year (Honours)

At Honours level there are over 60 courses on offer, ranging from medieval and Renaissance literature to Romanticism, Victorianism and Modernism, contemporary Scottish and Irish writing, American literature and aspects of European literature in translation.

Third year courses are broad-based, covering periods or themes, and are taught through lectures and seminars. Fourth year courses promote deeper understanding and more focussed discussion, and are taught in seminar groups of up to 15 students. The Honours programme concludes with a supervised dissertation on a topic of your choice.

Teaching and Assessment

For each course, you will typically be studying one literary text per week. You will be encouraged to read relevant critical and contextual material on the texts you are studying, and also be introduced to some important theoretical approaches to literature. From first through to third year you will follow a programme of lectures supported with a weekly small group tutorial or seminar. You will produce essays and other forms of coursework that will count towards your assessment, and in most courses you will also have an end-of-course examination. In tutorials and seminars you will participate in group projects and have the opportunity to give individual presentations on some courses; these will also be assessed along with your performance in class.

Overall you follow a structured programme in first and second year, with a wide range of choice available to you when you reach Honours level, enabling you to choose the areas you wish to study.

Careers

Graduates in English have received a thorough grounding in the sorts of writing, research, computational and presentation skills that are vital to many careers. Students graduating with a degree in English can feel part of a thriving field that can lead them into careers as diverse as publishing, teaching, research, journalism, banking, arts and research funding, speech therapy and television and radio broadcasting.

Finding your direction

There are many opportunities at the University of Aberdeen to develop your knowledge, gain experience and build a competitive set of skills to enhance your employability. This is essential for your future career success.  The Careers Service can help you to plan your career and support your choices throughout your time with us – from first to final year – and beyond.

• More information on employability at the University of Aberdeen.
• More information on the Careers Service.
• More information on careers prospects and employability with a degree in English.

   

Entrance Requirements

SQA Highers - BBBB
A Levels - BBB
IB - 30 points, 15 points at HL
ILC - BBBB

For further details of entrance requirements click here

Please click on the links below to find out more information on funding in your area.

• Scotland and EU (Excluding England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
• Rest of UK (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
• International
• Scholarships

Related Links

• Scholarships
• Entrance Scholarships
• Funding Database
• England Wales and Northern Ireland Finance Guide