What will I learn?

At Nottingham, we go beyond a love of books. Whether you’re charmed by Chaucer, ardent about Austen, or you love the idea of a linguistics laboratory , our wide range of optional modules means you’ll have chance to explore English in ways you’ve never encountered before. Consider canon and convention intersectionality variation, change and adaptation, and the impact of texts in society. Specialise in authors or genres, or the applications of texts in various settings. You’ll build from a starting point in applied linguistics, drama, and literature from medieval times to the present day, exploring what it is to be human through the historical, cultural and social contexts of a text. There are options to develop your creative writing in either fiction or poetry, learning from expert staff who are published poets and authors themselves.You will also develop in-demand transferable skills in teamwork, presentation, and reflection - qualities highly valued by employers.Think you know ‘English’? Think again.You will tailor your degree to suit your interests through our wide range of optional modules, in everything from Vikings to creative writing, Shakespeare to contemporary fiction, and a whole range of approaches to language. Discover new passions as you explore the many disciplines of ‘English’ at Nottingham. You will also sharpen your critical thinking skills as you evaluate evidence, encounter a variety of approaches and methodologies, and undergo independent research.Our students are storytellers, writers, performers, poets, critics, analysts, archivists and presenters.This is English at Nottingham.**Engaged Arts**All students within the Faculty of Arts can select ‘Engaged Arts’ modules where you’ll approach real world challenges across contemporary themes such as sustainability or equity and justice. These modules have been newly designed to help you gain the skills and analytical abilities that employers are looking for.**Why choose this course?**- Top 20 for English in the UK (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 and Complete University Guide 2024)- Top 10 for Creative Writing in the UK (Daily Mail University Guide 2025)- Get involved - put your skills into practice with Impact Magazine, University Radio Nottingham and more- The chance to get involved with the Letters Page project to gain publishing industry skills- For literature lovers - Unleash your creativity in a UNESCO City of Literature, with opportunities both on campus and in the city- Give something back - Volunteer and share your skills, from delivering Viking workshops , from delivering Viking workshops for local primary schools, to reading to residents in care homes- Explore English across the full breadth of the discipline - medieval to modern literature, drama, and linguistics - with foundational core modules in first year, tailoring your own programme of study across a wide range of optional modules in second and third year- Work with our dedicated Faculty of Arts Placements Team to assist with your employability skills development via a range of placements, internships and volunteering opportunities.Reflecting on my time as an English student, a large part of my enjoyment has come from exposure to an array of diverse literature. From Old English elegies, to gothic comics, to creative writing, I’ve certainly not been short on options.Mia Gazza, BA English - read more from MiaYou can also access this course through a Foundation Year. This may be suitable if you have faced educational barriers and do not expect to meet the entry requirements for direct entry to a degree course. Please see the UCAS page for the relevant Foundation Year course for further information.