One of the great things about studying a degree in English Literature is that it’s available at many universities across the country, giving you plenty of options when deciding where to go. But with so much choice you may be finding it difficult to decide which university is right for you. Each English Literature course is different, so why should Chester be your university of choice?
Study what interests you
One of the great things about studying English Literature at Chester is that there are so many different modules to choose from. This means you can tailor your studies to suit your interests from as early as your first year. From Poetry to Fiction, Gothic to Satire, Renaissance to Film, modules cover an array of different literary and film genres, so you can pick something that you already enjoy, or try something new.
Bring learning to life
As you would expect, English Literature requires a lot of reading. But, there’s a lot more to studying English Literature at Chester than books. Throughout your studies you’ll have lots of opportunities to bring learning to life. As part of an organised trip, students recently visited the Bronte Parsonage Museum in West Yorkshire and found out more about the lives of the famous Bronte sisters. Closer to home, students were also encouraged to attend the Chester Literary Festival, where they listened to talks and put their questions to various writers and academics.
Get creative
Outside of your contact hours there are plenty of extra-curricular activities for you to get involved in, such as the popular Pandora’s (In)box; Chester’s creative-writing magazine where you can publish your own poems, flashes and short-stories, or even act as editor. Or, why not take part in our popular series of open-mic nights, perfect for getting immediate feedback from your peers.
If this isn’t enough, there’s always something a little different around the corner at Chester. Recently one of our students Bjorn Ephgrave took part in BBC Radio 4’s quiz programme The 3rd Degree, which was recorded on campus. Taking on English Literature lecturer Dr Eileen Pollard, Bjorn answered questions on Jane Austen, Bram Stoker, Hilary Mantel and Graham Greene. Since the show is not due to air until later in the year I’m afraid we can’t reveal the final score, so listen out for the programme in May to find out who won!
Stand out to employers
At Chester our course has been designed to help you not only achieve academically, but to also prepare you for life after graduation. Through our excellent Work Based Learning module in your second year, you’ll be able to apply the skills you’ve obtained on the course to real work situations. There’s also the option to take part in an in-house experiential project, or to take the first step towards teaching English as a foreign language. These practical work experience opportunities are great for helping you explore which career path could be right for you.
The personal touch
At Chester we realise the importance of having a personal university experience. To ensure you get the best out of your studies we have small group seminars in order to facilitate better discussions of set texts and to encourage involvement by the students themselves. As a Department we offer a very supportive environment, with encouraging and approachable lecturers and an admin team who are always willing to help.
If that isn’t enough, when you commence your studies at Chester you will be allocated a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT), who will then become your first point of call for any academic concerns you may have. Whilst you'll have scheduled sessions with your PAT throughout your time at the University, you're also encouraged to arrange your own regular appointments. By getting to know you on a personal level your PAT can offer you tailored support to help you reach your full academic potential.
Learn from experts in the field
At Chester you’ll have the opportunity to be taught by industry active staff, visiting lecturers and visiting writing fellows who have either conducted specialist research, published works, or both! Visiting writing fellow Dr Francesca Haig for example, who was a Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader at Chester for six years, recently published her paperback novel ‘The Fire Sermon,’ which has already been acquired by Stephen Spielberg’s DreamWorks and translation rights to the series have been sold in more than twenty-five countries.
If course lectures aren't enough, the Professor Glyn Turton Lecture series means you’ll also be able to attend high-profile public lectures on campus. Previous guest lectures have included talks from Professor Glyn Turton, Dr Juliet John, and Professor Martin Stannard. The Department of English is pleased to announce that the ninth talk in the series will be delivered by one of Britain’s most distinguished writers, Simon Armitage CBE; fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and Professor of Poetry at the University of Oxford.
Want to find out more?
For further information about studying English Literature at Chester, take a look at the course page on our website, or contact the English Departmental Administrators.
Contact us
E: englishadmin@chester.ac.uk T: 01244 513152.
If you have any questions about living and studying at the University of Chester please feel free to contact us, we’ll be more than happy to help.
E: enquiries@chester.ac.uk T: 01244 511000
Visit us
If you would like to find out more about this course and see what it is like to study and live at the University of Chester, take the opportunity to visit us. And if you have any questions about your visit, we’ll be happy to help.
T: 01244 512800 E: visitus@chester.ac.uk
