English Literature

A Level

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About the course…

Do you have a passion for reading and exploring plays, poems and novels? Do you enjoy reading widely and analysing and interrogating texts to find meaning? If so, English Literature is an ideal subject for you!

Books, poems and plays are at the heart of this course, offering a wonderful opportunity to delve into classics such as Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre and Shakespeare’s King Lear, as well as strikingly modern drama and poetry, such as Lucy Prebble’s Enron and Carol Ann Duffy’s Mean Time. 

You will also have the opportunity to pursue your own literary passion by choosing your own texts to study for coursework, preparing you for study at university.

Why study with us…

  • You will have the exciting opportunity to take part in reporting and representing the First Light Festival, where you will work alongside industry professionals in marketing, journalism and PR.
  • You will meet visiting academics from prestigious universities and organisations such as the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and the National Centre for Writing and visit theatres to see the texts you are studying on stage. Previous visits have included a day in Cambridge.
  • You will develop a creative writing portfolio to help with your university progression. This course facilitates an optional certificate in Creative Writing.

Where English Literature can take you…

English Literature is the perfect A Level to study if you want to pursue a degree in English literature, either as a single subject, or combined with creative writing, linguistics or journalism. Want to stay local? At the University of Suffolk at East Coast College, we offer a degree in Literary Studies with Creative Writing, allowing you to gain a degree on your doorstep.

Careers as diverse as public relations, teaching, social work, fundraising, film and television all welcome an academic qualification in English Literature.

Entry requirements…

  • Must meet overall entry criteria for A Level study
  • Grade 5s in GCSE English Literature and GCSE English Language
  • All course texts are available from the English Department or LRC on long term loan – you may wish to buy your own copies

Course Alumni

Noah Berrey

Studied: English Literature, Maths and Psychology

Next Steps: Studying English Language and Literature at the University of Oxford

Lowestoft Sixth Form really encouraged me to study independently but reminded me that you should not be embarrassed to ask for help.