COURSE CURRICULUM

The BA English Literature degree at Aberystwyth University offers a comprehensive exploration of literary texts and cultures from the early medieval period to the present day. In the first year, students engage with core modules such as Ancestral Voices and Critical Practice, while choosing from a wide range of options including American literature, poetry, climate-focused interdisciplinary approaches, speculative fiction, and literature from diverse perspectives such as queer writing. Year two builds on this foundation with core study in Literary Theory, allowing students to engage with critical debates and dialogues, while optional modules cover topics such as literature in the nineteenth century, contemporary writing, literary geographies, and TESOL approaches, giving students the flexibility to tailor their studies to individual interests. In the final year, students undertake an Independent Research Project and Reading Theory / Reading Text, developing advanced research skills and critical analysis. Optional modules allow further specialization, with offerings including contemporary fiction, post-colonial African literature, Chaucer studies, literary explorations of animals, horror, crime fiction, and music writing, among others. Across the degree, students cultivate strong analytical, interpretative, and written communication skills, develop a nuanced understanding of literature’s historical, cultural, and thematic contexts, and graduate with the knowledge and experience to pursue careers in education, publishing, creative industries, or postgraduate study.