Introduction
Overview
Texts are all around us – from books and magazines to TV, email and the internet. The ability to analyse them and their often subtle meanings is a skill that can open doors in a wide range of professional fields.
English Studies at the University of Stirling offers you the perfect chance to dedicate yourself to reading and enjoying a range of great novels, plays and poems from across the world. Your own creative writing can form part of this degree, too – as we believe it aids your understanding of literary style and technique and develops your imagination. It’s just one of the factors that makes our BA a little different from other English courses.
You’ll study literary works from the medieval period to the present day, as well as learn about linguistics, creative writing and the history of the English language. Along the way, you’ll benefit from top-rated teaching, visits from outside experts and the annual staging of the Booker Prize Initiative on campus – giving you the opportunity to meet world-renowned contemporary authors and discuss their work.
You also have the freedom to take English Studies with one of 12 other courses and earn a combined honours degree tailored to your unique ambitions.
Top reasons to study with us
#1 2nd in Scotland for Literature in English (The National Student Survey 2019)
#2 Learn from visiting experts and authors, and attend the Booker Prize Initiative on campus
#3 Top 5 in Scotland and Top 20 in UK for English and Creative Writing (The Guardian University Guide 2021)
Course details
In Semesters 1-2, you'll take compulsory modules: Introduction to English Studies 1: Genres; and Introduction to English Studies 2: Theories and Approaches; plus four additional modules from other disciplines, which could include Linguistics.
In Semester 3 you will study Literary Revolutions, and in Semester 4, you’ll study a choice of core modules including: Writing and History; Writing and Theory; and Writing and Language. In Semester 5, students choose from several period-based modules, such as: Modernism and Modernity; British Romanticism; Renaissance Literature; and Victorian Literature and Culture.
Semesters 6 and 7 cover a range of optional modules which may include: Modern Gothic; Early Scottish Literature; American Literature; Shakespeare’s Theatre; Tragedy; Jane Austen; and Creative Writing.
The final semester will be spent writing your dissertation, supervised by your tutor.
Teaching
You’ll be taught through a mixture of lectures, seminars and tutorial groups. Visiting creative writers, scholars and critics are involved in a lively programme of extra-curricular lectures and readings. We also host a Royal Literary Fund Fellow, who is on site specifically to give students extra one-to-one support as they develop their essay writing skills.
Assessment
Assessment takes the form of essays or other assignments written during each semester, with credit sometimes given for oral presentations.
We don’t use exams on our English Studies course, as we feel written coursework creates a more productive and personal dialogue between you and your tutor, and is an effective method for fuelling both understanding and expression.
Study abroad
As a University of Stirling student, you’ll have the opportunity to broaden your horizons and study abroad through our well-established connections with several international universities.
Find out more about studying abroad
Contact
Dr Angus Vine, Course Director
+44 (0)1786 466206 angus.vine@stir.ac.uk
Fees - 2021/22
Overseas students (non-EU): £ £15,100
Scottish students: £ 1,820
Students from the rest of the UK: £9,250
EU Students: £15,100*
*For EU students starting studies in academic year 2021/22, we will award an automatic scholarship of up to £30k over the duration of your course. This is subject to eligibility criteria
