English

English

Introduction

English Studies at Aberdeen gives you all the advantages of an outstanding teaching, research and creative hub where you will be taught by internationally renowned academics, writers and poets. You will be inspired in the wonderful environment of a historic university with an award-winning library, outstanding literary treasures, and a vigorous calendar of literary events.

Our Degrees

We offer a range of English degrees which you can read more about below.

View available degree programmes

Pathway Programmes

The University of Aberdeen International Study Centre offers preparation programmes for progression to undergraduate degree study at the university.

Discover the International Study Centre

Aberdeen is a leading centre for the study of literature, language and creative writing, and assessed as second in the UK for the quality of its research output and third in Scotland for creative writing.

You will study poetry, drama and prose through considering the dynamic relationship between author, reader and literary text, study every period from Chaucer, Shakespeare and Milton to contemporary English, Scottish, Irish, European and American writing, and examine the cultural and critical impact of powerful and controversial modern works.

You will gain inspiration and guidance from enthusiastic teachers and researchers who have published internationally recognised literary criticism and award-winning creative works. You will benefit from the presence of several world-class Research Centres located in the School of Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture, including the Centre for the Novel, The Grierson Centre and the WORD Centre for Creative Writing.

Our flexible, modular curriculum gives you the core writing, research, computational and presentation skills vital to many careers. You will also be encouraged to pursue your particular interests while ranging widely across the many exciting areas of English studies, with career options as diverse as publishing, teaching, research, journalism, business, or speech therapy.

And you will thrive in our friendly and vibrant international community, on our beautiful medieval campus with great facilities for learning, sports and leisure, and many opportunities to develop extra skills and interests and to broaden your horizons through study abroad.

Why Study English at Aberdeen?

  • An international profile through major literary projects such as the Cambridge Edition of the Works of Jane Austen and the Edinburgh Edition of the Waverley Novels of Sir Walter Scott.
  • The WORD Centre for Creative Writing, promoting creative projects in fiction, non-fiction and collaborative mixed-media in all the languages of northeast Scotland (from Doric to Polish).
  • The spectacular, award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library, home to literary treasures collected over 500 years, charting the power of the written word from ancient papyri and medieval manuscripts to contemporary e-books and other media.
  • Historic collections including rare printed books, the 12th century Aberdeen Bestiary, MacBean Stuart and Jacobite Collection, the novels of Sir Walter Scott, and an exceptional collection of Charles Dickens' first editions.
  • A packed campus programme of student and public events, exhibitions, seminars, invited speakers and the annual May Festival which welcomes internationally acclaimed authors to campus every spring to discuss literature, including European writers.
  • Research centres include the nationally recognised Centre for the Novel, the Centre for Modern Thought, and the Research Institute of Irish and Scottish Studies.
  • 2nd in Scotland for Creative Writing by The Complete University Guide 2024.
  • 8th in the UK for English by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.
  • 1st in Scotland for Overall Student Satisfaction in English Studies by The National Student Survey 2023.

Get in Touch

Contact Details

Address
Student Recruitment & Admissions
University of Aberdeen
University Office
Regent Walk
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX