English Literature A Level

A minimum of five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English Language and English Literature.

Please note:  You can study both English A level Literature and A level English Language because the courses are sufficiently distinct that there is no overlap or repetition of content. However, you cannot study A Level English Combined and A Level English Literature, or A Level English Combined and A Level English Language.

This course involves studying arguably the world's greatest literary heritage. You will study plays, poems and novels, and will explore a range of genres and time periods, from Shakespeare's work in the 1500s-1600s to the present day. In this way, you'll gain an insight into both the history of writing in English and its continued vibrancy. If you enjoy reading literary texts, this course offers a great opportunity for you to broaden your horizons.

You will be immersed in the 17th-century world of Jacobean intrigue, obsessive desires and murder. But be warned, there is also the chance of being shipwrecked upon a remote island with a vengeful magician and three boisterous drunks for company.

So that's Webster and Shakespeare. And if that's not enough excitement for you, we can assure you that some time will be spent visiting fictional destinations such as the Garden of Eden (in John Milton's Paradise Lost) and menacing dystopian worlds envisaged by writers such as George Orwell, Margaret Atwood and Cormac McCarthy.

Students study courses at university such as History or Ancient History, Classics (Latin and Greek), English, Law, Theatre Studies, Social Sciences and Archaeology. Careers can include legal and public services, teaching, the Civil Service, journalism and the media more generally, politics, museum and historical archives. More generally, the skills of analysis, interpretation and essay writing which this courses nurture are valued by employers.

The student magazine produced by students is part of the enrichment opportunities led by the English Department. Trips include theatre trips to London, Manchester and Stratford-upon-Avon and international trips include a visit to battlefields in France, university taster days, residentials and creative writing workshops. These are all optional but highly recommended. Aspiring Oxford and Cambridge applicants will benefit from our extensive range of activities to support you in making a competitive application including: small group subject tuition, Oxford and Cambridge conferences, visits and contacts with our link staff, access to summer schools, application support and essay competitions, supra-curricular activities and access to free university-level Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC).

You can apply online via the APPLY button and then add an additional two or three subjects to make up your academic programme. You can also apply for a second, alternative vocational programme of study via a separate application. If after reading this factsheet, you are still undecided about the course most suitable for you, please drop into one of our open evenings, ring our Admissions Department on 01743 653111, or email admissions@scg.ac.uk