COURSE CURRICULUM

The English Literature BA at Cardiff provides a comprehensive and flexible program designed to develop students’ understanding of literature across different periods, genres, and cultures. In the first year, students take four core modules that introduce key skills in reading, writing, research, and employability, alongside two optional modules that allow early engagement with specific interests, including creative writing or historical literary studies. In the second year, students have the freedom to choose modules from two curated baskets, one focusing on literary periods from the medieval era to the present, and the other on thematic, formal, and genre-based approaches, covering areas such as literature and the environment, film, visual culture, race, colonialism, feminisms, and the gothic. This structure encourages students to build a coherent understanding of literature while exploring interdisciplinary connections. In the final year, students take a core module that involves a detailed, semester-long examination of a single text, often culminating in a public-facing piece of work. The remaining credits are filled with optional modules that allow students to tailor their studies to individual interests, including the opportunity to undertake a supervised dissertation. Throughout the degree, emphasis is placed on developing critical thinking, analytical skills, and effective communication, equipping graduates to engage with literature thoughtfully and to pursue careers or further study in diverse fields.