Studying Literature at York
York is one of the most ancient cities in Britain, and one of the most beautiful. It was already a centre of learning in the eighth century when the great latinist Alcuin, the head of the Minster school and library, was invited by the Emperor Charlemagne to teach in his palace school at Aachen, bringing English scholarship to an almost illiterate Europe. However, the city’s most famous work of literature was created by humble and unknown authors — the Corpus Christi cycle of Mystery Plays first performed by the craft guilds or 'mysteries’ in the fourteenth century and still acted in the city today.
York’s greatest medieval work of art, its gothic Minster, owes the preservation of its treasury of stained glass to the Civil War commander Sir Thomas Fairfax who won the city from the Royalists in 1644, ordering his troops to abstain from the destruction which too often accompanied Parliamentary victories. Fairfax’s integrity was justly celebrated by the poet Andrew Marvell in Upon Appleton House. Laurence Sterne’s comic masterpiece, Tristram Shandy, was first published in York and Defoe's hero Robinson Crusoe was born here as was the poet W. H. Auden. It is appropriate that York now has a University which is distinguished, among other things, for the study of literature of every kind, in English and in several major European languages, from Alcuin’s time to the present.
Prospects after your degree
A degree course in English offers the opportunity to acquire skills that are highly valued in the job market. During your time at university you will learn to analyse complex texts, research challenging topics and present your findings cogently and persuasively, both in discussion and on paper.
Over a third of our graduates go on either to higher degrees or to further training in such areas as teaching, journalism, librarianship, law and drama. Other career opportunities for English graduates include arts administration, publishing, management, public relations, accountancy and social work. York English graduates have also established flourishing careers in theatre, film or broadcasting. A few, and perhaps you will prove to be one of them, have become successful novelists, playwrights or poets.