English

Our philosophy

The English BA is an exciting, diverse, and stimulating programme that invites you to think about the world differently. You will encounter a wide range of texts, and you will learn how to read critically and how to write creatively, academically, and professionally. You will also have the opportunity to develop these skills while engaging with a variety of genres and media, such as Gothic literature and film, Shakespearean drama, screen-writing, and Black and Asian Writing in English.

Our inclusive curriculum informs what you learn and how you learn it. Interactive lecture-workshops, small-group seminars, and individual supervisions are designed to support all your needs and abilities. There are a variety of assessments that will empower you to achieve your best work; these include traditional essays and dissertations, alongside blogs, critical definitions, and creative pieces.

Throughout your course, you'll enjoy many extra-curricular events and activities including those organised by the Race/Gender Matters research group, Kingston Language Scheme, and the Writers' Centre, Kingston.

Undergraduate courses

As well as being able to study English on its own, you can choose to combine it with other subjects. The English degree course focuses on writing in diverse forms and contexts, allowing you to study fiction and non-fiction produced over several centuries and in multiple countries. It also allows you to combine the pleasures of reading and analysing literature with the acquisition of valuable employability skills.

You will study fiction, drama and poetry, as well as considering what fiction is as a genre, you'll learn to interpret poetry from different historical periods and analyse a range of dramatic work. You will also examine literature within the social, cultural, critical and political contexts in which it was written, and explore contemporary developments in critical and theoretical approaches to text.

Creative Writing BA (Hons)

English BA (Hons)

Postgraduate courses

As a postgraduate student of English, you will:

create your own pathway by choosing from a range of module options.
be part of a vibrant postgraduate community, hear from guest lecturers through journalism, creative writing and publishing masterclasses and attend exciting events organised by Writers' Centre Kingston.
have the chance to focus on an area of particular interest through option modules and your dissertation.
capitalise on our London location with field trips to enhance and support your learning experience complementing several modules.
benefit from contributions to the Centre for Life Narratives, the Iris Murdoch Archive and Writers' Centre Kingston.

English Literature MA

Postgraduate research

We offer MA by Research, MPhil and PhD degrees in English Literature and/or Creative Writing.

As a research student at Kingston University, you will become part of a strong and ambitious postgraduate community. You will be fully supported by a rich programme of research training, including research workshops, seminars, guest lectures, symposia, and related activities organised through the research centres.

Find out more about research opportunities for English literature and creative writing