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Studies & Degrees in English Language and Literature (in Universities)

English language and literature is the university study of the English language and of the texts written in it. The language side covers how English works and how it is used: grammar, phonetics, the history of the language, dialects and discourse. The literature side covers poetry, fiction and drama from the Middle Ages to the present, from Britain, Ireland, North America and the rest of the English-speaking world, together with the critical methods used to interpret them.

Students read a great deal, discuss texts in seminars and write essays. The core skills are close reading, building an argument from evidence, research and clear writing. Programmes differ in emphasis: some join language and literature, some are mainly literary, and many add creative writing, linguistics, film or cultural studies.

Qualifications and levels

  • United Kingdom. The usual qualification is a three-year BA Hons. At Lancaster University, the BA Hons English Language and Literature lasts three years full time and ends with a substantial, self-directed project in the final year.
  • United States. English is a major within a four-year bachelor's degree. At Stanford University all English majors take a set of core classes of 36 to 40 units (poetry and poetics, narrative and narrative theory, a writing-intensive seminar, a three-course literary history sequence, a class on literature before 1800 and a capstone course) and then choose an emphasis such as Literature or Creative Writing.
  • Spain. The degree is normally called Grado en Estudios Ingleses and is taken by students whose first language is not English, so it includes language training. Official bachelor's degrees have 240 ECTS credits. At the Universidad de Cádiz the Grado en Estudios Ingleses lasts four years, is taught in Spanish and English, and aims for students to finish with English skills at CEFR level C1. Its plan includes instrumental English, English phonetics and phonology, English and North American literary studies and a second modern language.
  • Master's degree and doctorate. Graduates specialise in literature, linguistics, translation, creative writing or language teaching. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits.

Admission and language requirements

Entry requirements are set by each university. Lancaster University asks for A levels at AAB for this degree. Applicants whose first language is not English need proof of their level: Lancaster requires an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component. For a UK Student visa, study at degree level or above requires English equivalent to CEFR level B2. London Metropolitan University notes that students who need a visa may also have to provide a Secure English Language Test such as Academic IELTS or TOEFL iBT.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 421 active schools for English language and literature at universities. The United States has 200, the United Kingdom 40, Spain 30, Canada 14, Ireland six, and France and China five each. Examples from the list are The Ohio State University, the University of Michigan, Stanford University, The University of Texas at Austin and San Diego State University in the United States; London Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom; the Universidad de Cádiz and Saint Louis University, Madrid in Spain; and the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) in Australia.

In English-speaking countries the whole degree is taught in English and designed for fluent speakers. In other countries, such as Spain, France, Germany or China, it is a foreign-language degree that also trains the language itself, and some subjects are taught in the local language.

Careers

Graduates work in teaching, publishing, journalism, communications, translation, cultural management and public administration, and many continue to postgraduate study. School teaching usually needs a further qualification: in the United States, all states require public high school teachers to hold at least a bachelor's degree and a state-issued certification or licence.

For writing and editing jobs, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics says that a bachelor's degree in English or a related field, such as communications or journalism, is typically needed. It projects little or no change in the employment of writers and authors from 2025 to 2035, with about 11,900 openings a year, and a decline of 1 percent for editors, with about 7,900 openings a year. It also expects the growing use of artificial intelligence for writing to dampen demand for writers.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be a native speaker to study English language and literature?

No. Universities in English-speaking countries ask non-native speakers for a test score, for example IELTS 6.5 at Lancaster University. Degrees such as the Spanish Grado en Estudios Ingleses are designed for learners and build the language up to an advanced level.

How long does the degree take?

Three years full time for a BA at Lancaster University in England, four years for a bachelor's degree in the United States, and four years (240 ECTS credits) for a grado in Spain.

What is the difference between English language and English literature?

English language is the study of how English is structured and used, and draws on linguistics. English literature is the study of literary texts and their contexts. Joint degrees cover both.

Can I become a teacher with this degree?

Usually yes, after an additional teaching qualification or licence, which depends on the country. In the United States, public school teachers need a state-issued certification or licence.