BA (Hons) English Literature and Politics in Reading United Kingdom | University of Reading

Our combined BA in English Literature and Politics offers an exploration of political strategy and rhetorical influence, delivering comprehensive insight into societal structures.

This program provides deep engagement with political theory fundamentals and analytical approaches to studying consensus and conflict, both domestically and internationally. Students can select from diverse core and elective modules addressing current topics like welfare state politics, European unification, and political philosophy. Some courses feature interactive simulations of UN proceedings and Middle Eastern diplomacy, offering firsthand experience of governance systems. Additional extracurricular opportunities include participating in the weekly political radio program hosted by our Department of Politics and International Relations, while developing practical skills in broadcasting and audio production.

The English literature component examines parallel themes through a cultural lens, with specialists in modern American and British writing, including works exploring marginalized voices and global equity narratives. The curriculum covers both canonical authors and literary forms (from classical tragedies to Gothic fiction, spanning Shakespeare to modernists like Plath and Beckett), while also introducing less conventional areas like children's literature, publishing studies, and bibliographic history. Our department's inclusive teaching approach ensures all faculty members, from junior staff to senior professors, contribute across all academic levels, allowing students to benefit from collective expertise and participate in ongoing scholarly dialogues that extend beyond traditional coursework.