Three students sitting in a lecture hall.

English language and literature

Explore the diversity of English literature across the chronological span, making lively connections with all forms of culture. Or choose to investigate the human capacity for language with a rigorous grounding in all the key aspects of language analysis.

Why study with us

We value and celebrate curiosity, informed debate, critical analysis and creative thinking. We see our role as partnering and enabling you in your learning by delivering expert teaching in a friendly, supportive and personalised culture.

Excellent career prospects

92% of graduates were in employment and/or further study, due to start a new job or course, or doing other activities such as travelling, 15 months after the end of their course. (Graduate Outcomes survey 2020/21)

Quality research

Placed 4th in the UK for research impact and 5th for research power in English Language and Literature (REF 2021).

Award-winning staff

Our talented Creative Writing team regularly scoop national and international awards for their novels and poetry and collectively share experience in theatre, television and film.

Courses

Entry year

English Language (BA)

Full time, 3 years

Develop the essential linguistic tools of phonetics, grammar and discourse analysis, before expanding into specialist areas to suit your interests and career direction.

English Language and French (BA)

Full time, 4 years

Explore the English language and how it intersects with culture, society, politics and mind. This course offers a rigorous grounding in the key aspects of English language analysis and enables you to combine your studies with French. You will

English Language and German (BA)

Full time, 4 years

English Language and Italian (BA)

Full time, 4 years

English Language and Linguistics (BA)

Full time, 3 years

Combine the systematic study of the human capacity for language in all its expressions with an added focus on the English language plus a firm grounding in all key aspects of language analysis, including specialist options for careers within

English Language and Literature (BA)

Full time, 3 years

Pursue a love of the diversity of English literature across the full chronological span and gain firm grounding in the analysis of the English language, plus freedom of choice from year two including our specialist career-focussed language modules.

English Language and Philosophy (BA)

Full time, 3 years

Combine the systematic study of the human capacity for language and a firm grounding in all key aspects of language analysis, together with the ability to analyse major philosophical questions from history and to create the complex reasoning needed

English Language and Spanish (BA)

Full time, 4 years

English Literature (BA)

Full time, 3 years

Explore the glorious diversity of English literature across the chronological span, making connections across all forms of culture right from the Anglo-Saxon period to the 21st century - with complete freedom of module choice based on the

English Literature and Creative Writing (BA)

Full time, 3 years

Discover the diversity of literature in English across all periods, alongside training in creative writing in genres from contemporary and historical fiction to poetry, drama, film and music.

English Literature and History (BA)

Full time, 3 years

Combine your love of the past with your passion for literature on our rich and rewarding joint honours English Literature and History degree.

English Literature and Philosophy (BA)

Full time, 3 years

Discover the diversity of literature in English across all periods, together with the ability to analyse major philosophical questions from history and to create the complex reasoning needed to address the here and now, in our Joint Honours degree.

French and English Literature (BA)

Full time, 4 years

Explore the glorious diversity of English literature across the chronological span, making connections across all forms of culture, alongside developing high-level French language skills and gaining an in-depth intercultural understanding of French

German and English Literature (BA)

Full time, 4 years

Explore the glorious diversity of English literature across the chronological span, making connections across all forms of culture, alongside developing high-level German language skills and gaining an in-depth intercultural understanding of German

Italian and English Literature (BA)

Full time, 4 years

Explore the glorious diversity of English literature across the chronological span, making connections across all forms of culture, alongside developing high-level Italian language skills and gaining an in-depth intercultural understanding of

Journalism, Media and English Literature (BA)

Full time, 3 years

Explore the glorious diversity of English literature across the chronological span, making connections across all forms of culture and gain a broad understanding of journalism in our age of 24/7 news and social media, fully utilising our media

Music and English Literature (BA)

Full time, 3 years

Explore the glorious diversity of English literature across the chronological span, making connections across all forms of culture, alongside gaining a thorough, broad-based education in music.

Spanish and English Literature (BA)

Full time, 4 years

Explore the glorious diversity of English literature across the chronological span, making connections across all forms of culture, alongside developing high-level Spanish language skills and gaining an in-depth intercultural understanding of

Welsh and English Language (BA)

Full time, 3 years

The Joint Honours degree in English Language and Welsh provides you with the opportunity of specialising in two university honours subjects.

Welsh and English Literature (BA)

Full time, 3 years

The BA English Literature and Welsh is an opportunity to study two honours courses at University.

Our videos

Studying English Literature at Cardiff University

Our academics share insight into this fascinating subject, the welcoming community you’ll join, and the kinds of exciting opportunities and wider support you can expect.

Studying English Language at Cardiff University

Our academics share insight into this fascinating subject, the welcoming community you’ll join, and the kinds of exciting opportunities and wider support you can expect.

English literature at Cardiff University

Hear from academics and a student about what it is like to study English literature with us.

English language at Cardiff University

Hear from academics and a student about what it is like to study English language with us.

What our students say

Hear from Laura who studies English literature and creative writing with us.

Cardiff is a brilliant place to study and live. The list of modules to choose from is vast and the teaching is incredibly interesting and informative. Lecturers encourage you to think independently and research your own ideas while providing helpful encouragement and advice.

Zoe Bridger BA English Literature

Learn more about us

Supporting employability

Our focused career support ranges from placements to guest speakers, masterclasses and workshops to help you take your first steps to your chosen career.

Wide choice of joint honours options

Choose to combine two subjects with a joint honours programme, including options with philosophy and a wide range of modern languages.

Where you will study

Most lectures, tutorials and seminars take place in our home, the John Percival Building at the heart of the Cathays Park campus.

The incredible support offered throughout my degree stands out. Many of my lecturers really went the extra mile to provide me with feedback that would ensure I was performing well and achieving my potential in assignments. I came to Cardiff with the main goal of getting a good degree, yet I have finished with so much more! Cardiff University has presented so many incredible opportunities such as the Cardiff Award, Student Mentoring and being an Academic Student Representative.

Nancy Cameron BA English Language

Encouraging critical rigour, creativity and intellectual inquisitiveness

Our teaching is underpinned by world-leading and internationally excellent research. We bring together the highest levels of scholarship with a record of innovation and engagement that has helped define our fields and effect change in the world beyond academia.

Explore Cardiff University

Student support

Get free, impartial and confidential advice on disability and dyslexia, money, careers, counselling and more.

Guaranteed accommodation

If you arrive in September, you're guaranteed a single occupancy room, and you'll be allocated with other first-year students.

Student life

Learn more about our sport and recreation, free language programmes, living costs, learning support and the Students' Union.

Living costs

See how far your money goes by using our living costs calculator.

Next steps

View all English language and literature courses

Explore our courses.

Download our undergraduate brochure

Learn more about our courses, School and the wider University.

Contact us

Ask a question via our enquiry form, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

How to apply

Everything you need to know about our application process.

Other subjects you might be interested in

Philosophy

Considering the great philosophical puzzles past and present, we'll teach you to analyse and construct complex chains of reasoning to address complicated questions from history and the here and now.

Source: Contains HESA Data: Copyright Jisc 2023. Jisc cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data.