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Department of English and Related Literature

Discover a world of literature at York.

A student working on a laptop with a book.

Study with us

On an English degree at York, you'll discover a world of literature.

Our degree programmes offer you flexibility and choice. We provide extensive coverage from ancient classics to contemporary film and literature, with creative writing options and the chance to study literature produced in other languages.

Discover our courses

Find scholarships and funding

Research

A student reading an old text in the Borthwick Archives

Our research ranges across periods and around the globe.

We nurture an environment for collaboration, critical and creative thinking, interdisciplinary work and thought-provoking discussion.

Explore our research

Texts and narrative shape and change the world. Our commitment to understanding how literature reflects and makes the past, present and future is embedded within curiosity-driven modules and flexible degrees that are delivered by expert teachers, researchers and writers.

Professor Jennie Batchelor, Head of Department

for English (Complete University Guide 2026).
We're a top ten research department according to the Times Higher Education Rankings of the latest REF results (2021).
We are very proud to hold a Silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our commitment to promoting equality.
for English Language & Literature (QS World Rankings by Subject 2026).

News

News

5 May 2026

Join us on 19th May for ‘A Celebration of Poetry and her sister Arts’, an event to celebrate the work of Professor Anthony V. Capildeo, Writer in Residence.

News

30 April 2026

Discoveries is the writer development programme of the Women's Prize, and is awarded annually from an entrant pool of thousands.

News

10 April 2026

The Department of English and Related Literature invites you to join us in a Celebration of the past, present and future of Creative Writing at York.

News

26 March 2026

York placed 9th in the UK and 28th in the world for the study of English Language & Literature in the latest release of the QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2026.

Events

Tuesday 19 May 2026 1pm

We are delighted to announce ‘A Celebration of Poetry and her sister Arts’, an event to celebrate the work of Prof. Anthony V. Capildeo, Writer in Residence in the Department of English and Related Literature.

Wednesday 20 May 2026 3pm

The third in a series of three seminars in 2025/26 by Visiting Professor Adam Phillips, Writer and Psychoanalyst.

Wednesday 20 May 2026 5pm

At this event Adam Phillips will talk with Hugh Haughton about his recent book, 'The Life You Want'.

Thursday 4 June 2026 7.15pm

The Annual Distinguished Patrides Lecture with speaker Professor Emma Smith (Oxford).

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