BA English Literature (Including Foundation Year)

Course Overview This four-year BA English Literature program, which includes an integrated foundation year, revolutionizes the way you think about literature by exploring how it both shapes and is shaped by the world. You will develop critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills through a truly global and politically engaged curriculum that spans from ancient foundational texts to the most challenging contemporary works. As an Essex student from day one, you will be supported by experts to pursue your unique interests and become part of a vibrant, international academic community. Key Program Highlights An integrated foundation year (Year Zero) provides essential academic skills and subject knowledge to prepare you for undergraduate success. Explore a vast range of global literature from ancient epics like Gilgamesh to contemporary genres like science fiction and postcolonial writing. Engage with radical and interdisciplinary approaches, studying diverse media from books and film to podcasts and travel writing. Choose from specialized optional modules covering periods from the Renaissance to the 21st century and regions from the Caribbean to Transatlantic. Develop critical thinking by examining literature's role in pivotal historical, political, and social issues like race, slavery, and human rights.