English at Leicester
Why study English at Leicester?
- Student satisfaction: Our students feel well-supported in their studies. As one recent student commented: 'The lecturers and seminar tutors always go above and beyond to help in whatever way possible to improve the learning environment and give whatever information they can.... The tutors truly make the course worthwhile.' (NSS 2019).
- Breadth of coverage: Our degree offers you the opportunity to organise your study around your own interests, strengths and curiosity. Optionality and flexibility are built into its structure, meaning that you can focus your attention as broadly or narrowly as you choose. The wide range of expertise across our department puts the whole range of English literature at your disposal, from its earliest periods through to the globalised literature of the present day: you can either survey its entire chronology, or specialise in areas you find particularly fascinating, or develop skills with our bespoke vocational modules.
- Personal teaching: Students are taught each week in seminar groups of about fifteen - an ideal size for detailed discussion of the issues raised in lectures and for the close reading of set texts.
- Research-led teaching: Our lecturers publish on their specialist subjects meaning that your teaching will be informed by the latest groundbreaking research.
- Careers and employability: We rank very highly for graduate prospects among other UK universities which teach English. Throughout our degrees, we provide careers sessions especially targeted to the needs of English students. Our graduates have an excellent record of securing jobs in diverse, competitive fields - indeed, 97% of students are in work or further education six months after graduation (Which? University/DLHE and HECSU: English Studies (non-specific)).
- Study abroad opportunities: You can spend a year abroad at a prestigious university in countries such as France, Italy, the United States, and Germany. Subsidised language tuition is provided in preparation for your year abroad.
- Extra-curricular activities: The Annual Creative Writing Lecture brings major authors to campus to talk about their work. English students are active in student theatre, radio and print journalism. The English Society, run by students, organises events such as creative writing classes, theatre trips and the grand end of year ball.