#Get2Uni: English at Exeter
At its core, English degree is focused on studying English literature. But as time has evolved, so has the expanse of what the degree encompasses. Of course, you learn about classics and the history of literature. But the department at Exeter offers so much more, from comics to graphic novels and digital approaches.
As an English student at Exeter, you will have exposure to different strands of thought. You will get an insight into historical and cultural contexts, and political perspectives, and the ability to analyze them critically.
The BA in English lasts for three years, requiring you to take modules worth 120 credits each year. You could also choose to extend it to four years, with the additional year being either a study abroad year or an employment experience (in the UK or abroad).
The first year primarily has compulsory modules to help you equip with the critical reading and writing skills that you will need throughout your degree, enabling you to lay a strong foundation.
The next two years are much more flexible. You can narrow your degree down to areas that caught your interest, or you can continue to explore diverse ideas. Depending on your modules, the structure of your degree would vary quite a lot. Some modules may expect you to take exams and submit essays and coursework, while others might rely more on presentations and group projects.
You also have the option of taking a module worth thirty credits outside your degree in any of the three years to discover other fields that ignite passion in you. Or you can formally structure your degree to suit your interests, such as choosing to study English with another subject from the humanities departments. Apart from that, the wide variety of extra-curricular activities such as societies and clubs are a relatively informal way of keeping in touch with what fascinates you.
In your third year, you are supposed to submit a dissertation worth thirty credits. Essentially, you are producing a project under the supervision of someone from the department, guiding independent research.
From law to teaching, from media to publishing, there is a lot an English graduate could find a career in. Those pursuing an English degree are excellent communicators. They possess the skill to interpret and analyze large quantities of text quickly and accurately. Negotiating such complex information and having the ability to convey that is something that could be utilized not only in most careers but also in tackling the real world.
Exeter also offers extensive opportunities for bursaries and funding for prospective students, and you can have a look at that here.
You can find out more about the English department at Exeter here.
