English Literature and Film University of Reading

Overview

Key features

• Throughout this English Literature and Film BA course from the University of Reading you will be studying in two departments (English Literature; and Film, Theatre & Television) who collaborate with each other extensively. 
• Both have been leaders in their fields for a long time. English Literature was one of the first university departments in the UK to study American and Canadian authors like Margaret Atwood, and we continue this tradition with a curriculum that includes the best of contemporary writing from Britain, America and the Caribbean. The Department of Film, Theatre & Television pioneered the study of film in UK higher education, and we continue to lead in the range and breadth of the modules we offer.
• You will learn about film from its beginnings in the late 19th century to the present day, and you will be able to learn more about everything from contemporary Hollywood to avant-garde cinema, together with new forms of digital entertainment and video art. 
• Our teaching is a dynamic mix of theory and practice, and optional modules that include group-based practical projects are available for those who enjoy practice-based study. We have a huge advantage in our £11.4-million building (opened in 2011) that features three theatre spaces, a digital cinema, a dedicated recording studio and a mixing suite. 
• You will have access to a studio with a flexible lighting system, multi-camera facilities, a talk-back system and Chroma key, and a studio gallery linked to the theatres for live filming and mixing work. We provide industry-standard software and support from dedicated technicians, and all spaces are equipped with state-of-the-art multimedia equipment and lighting.
• Your English Literature modules will enable you to examine in greater detail authors and genres that you already know (from tragedy to Gothic, from Shakespeare and Dickens to Plath and Beckett). But we will also introduce you to aspects of literary studies that you may not know so well, from children’s literature to publishing studies and the history of the book. 
• Our academics have published research on everything from medieval poetry to contemporary Caribbean and American fiction, and they will help you to develop your own literary interests. Everyone in our departments, from new lecturers to professors, teaches at every level of the degree, so you are learning from experts as soon as you begin your first year.
• We place a strong emphasis on small-group learning within a friendly and supportive environment, because we believe that the study of literature and cinema is a discursive process where we learn by sharing ideas. We provide detailed and thorough feedback on your written work within 15 working days: this is crucial to your development as a writer, whether you intend a career in creative or professional writing.

Career opportunities:

• You will enter the job market with highly-developed research and communication skills; you will know how to access reliable information on any topic and how to present your findings in clear and persuasive language. Practical work and group projects give you experience of project management and collaborative working. 
• These are all valuable skills in today’s economy, where information and communication skills are vital. You will have the critical and cultural awareness necessary for working in the public sector and the media. Our graduates go into many walks of life: some work in the performing arts, journalism, the media or teaching. Some decide to continue their studies at postgraduate level. 
• Others have successful careers in fields as diverse as law, business administration, web-design and advertising. Past graduates have gone on to work for employers such the BBC, The Telegraph, Oxford University Press, Waterstones, Cisco Systems and the Royal Mint, as well as local authorities and schools.