Undergraduate Courses

From Anglo-Saxon epics to Renaissance drama to contemporary novels from the Anglophone world – English is a rich and varied degree. 

You can study English Literature as part of the following courses:

• English Literature
  
• English Literature and History
• English Literature and Philosophy
• Combined Honours in Social Sciences
• Liberal Arts
• English with Foundation

Whichever route you take, our aim is to stimulate a living interest in literature and to equip you with a basis of knowledge and methods of study that will help you to choose and formulate your own positions. 

The ability to argue incisively, think creatively, and work independently are valuable across a wide range of careers, and our students demonstrate excellent employability. In the Times Good University Guide 2026 we rank 5th for graduate prospects out of 92 English departments.

Creative Writing 

While we do not offer full courses in Creative Writing at undergraduate level, students may still have opportunities to explore this area of English, inspired by our award-winning staff whose published work covers poetry, fiction, life-writing, and creative non-fiction.  

We have historically offered optional modules such as 'Writing Horrors' (Level 2) or 'Writing Prose and Poetry' (Level 3). Aspiring writers can also practice their work through student-led groups such as Durham University Poetry Society, or publish in student-edited journals such as To the Lighthouse. 

After undergraduate study, our Creative Writing MA at Durham is an academically rigorous programme that gives students structured support through writing workshops and one-to-one tutorials in order to develop practical knowledge of writing poetry and prose fiction. Students also study a broad range of literature from the 20th and 21st centuries, and produce new work in response.  

We also offer a Creative Writing PhD or MLitt, in which you will produce a complete and coherent creative writing project in your chosen form, plus a literary-critical dissertation of a high academic standard. 

Several of our students have gone on to achieve success and recognition with their published creative work.