It’s the national Shakespeare Week in the UK this week. The annual celebration provides people of all ages with pathways to get to know William Shakespeare, his life, and his works. In honour of the Shakespeare Week, we’ve compiled a list of universities from around the world that offer great programmes in English language and literature.
The beauty of literature and the vastness of the English language have always inspired students to pursue their degrees in this field. Bachelor of Arts in English or Bachelor of Literature programmes are becoming increasingly popular as they offer students the opportunity to study a wide range of subjects. These programmes allow students to develop critical thinking, communication, and writing skills as they study some of the world’s most famous literary works.
While the first step of every student’s journey is finding the perfect place to stay, finding a suitable school is the next best thing to do. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the top universities for English Language and Literature degrees.
Harvard University
Harvard University is undoubtedly one of the most prestigious universities in the world, and its English Language and Literature programme is top-rated. The university offers a Bachelor of Arts in English, which covers a wide range of topics, including Literature, Creative Writing, and Literary Theory. The programme also emphasises critical thinking, analytical writing, and close reading skills, which are valuable in many different fields. Harvard’s graduate programme in English is also highly regarded and offers students the opportunity to specialise in their area of interest.
Stanford University
The English Department was one of Stanford’s first departments and the foundation of humanities. The first English faculty comprised an eclectic mix of literary scholars, authors, and comparativists. By pursuing daring research and imparting knowledge about the canons of British, American, and global literary history, the faculty today is still a reflection of the ingenuity of the Bay Area.
The Literary Lab, the Center for the Study of the Novel, and the renowned creative writing programme are all located in Stanford’s English Department, which is consistently rated as one of the best departments in the nation. Both intellectual pioneers in literary studies and celebrated authors across genres make up their esteemed faculty, which is recognised globally.
University of Cambridge
Cambridge University is one of the top universities in the UK and is known for its excellent English Language and Literature programme. There is a well-known reputation for teaching and student excellence at Cambridge on a global scale. Many professors there have received honours for their work, and the faculty’s training and research are frequently cited as among the best in the world.
The university library is one of just three copyright libraries in England. It has outstanding archives of printed books and manuscripts from previous eras and can be trusted to hold the vast majority of printed materials from the 20th century on most topics.
Oxford University
The University of Oxford is yet another top university in the UK. You can study English writing from its roots in Anglo-Saxon England to the present day by taking one of England’s most comprehensive English Language and Literature courses at Oxford.
From studying Literature at Oxford, you will acquire sophisticated reading abilities as well as the capacity to situate literary texts within larger intellectual and historical contexts. It also calls on you to think about the analytical and judging methods you use, to study literary form and technique, to assess various theories and methods of literary criticism, and to research the evolution of the English language.
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley English Department offers a broad-based Ph.D. programme that explores English Literature from all historical eras and critical and cultural theory. The curriculum seeks to give students a thorough understanding of English Literature and the highly developed scholarship and critical abilities they will need to produce high-quality and original work in their specialised fields. The English Department does not offer a degree in Creative Writing or a Master’s Degree programme though.
Columbia University
Columbia University is known for its excellent English Language and Literature programme. Their English and Creative Writing Department offers cross-disciplinary literature, oral communication, and writing options that are process-oriented and technologically supported. It is designed to help students develop their voices while gearing them up to be more thoughtful, conscientious citizens.
University of Chicago
Highly recognised for its excellent English Language and Literature programme, the University of Chicago offers a Bachelor of Arts in English. The programme here covers a wide range of topics, such as literary theory, cultural studies, and creative writing. University of Chicago’s English department is committed to questioning and reformulating the basic principles of literary study and is ranked first among English departments in the US.
Thanks to a thriving new major in creative writing, students get the chance to hone their skills in poetry, fiction, drama, digital media, and nonfiction, as well as take part in a continuous programme of workshops with visiting authors.
New York University
New York University is well-known for the excellent delivery of its English Language and Literature programme. The university offers a Bachelor of Arts in English, which covers a wide range of topics, including literature, creative writing, and literary theory. The programme also pays attention to critical thinking, analytical Writing, and close reading skills.
NYU has a high standing in English and literature and offers students the opportunity to specialise in their areas of interest. Additionally, NYU is well-known for its creative writing programme.
University of Toronto
The English Department at UoT has traditionally been a robust, award-winning teaching department dedicated to the mutually beneficial link between teaching, research, and the more significant societal issues. The academic programmes of the department are organised historically, and this method has easily accommodated adjustments that reflect the growth of English studies as a field and the shifting goals of the university.
The curriculum now includes brand-new subjects like English-language and world literature, children’s literature, indigenous literature, and digital texts. The texts chosen and the manner in which they are taught are routinely reviewed and modified, even in courses with the most classic names, like Shakespeare or the Victorian novel.
Final thoughts
These universities are some of the best in the world for English language and literature studies, with strong Bachelor of Arts in English programmes and highly regarded graduate programmes. They offer students the opportunity to study a range of literature from different periods and genres, as well as develop critical thinking, analytical writing, and close reading skills that are valuable in many different fields.
Whether you are interested in pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in English, a Master’s degree in English, or a Ph.D. in English, these universities offer excellent opportunities to study and grow in English language and literature.
