English
Top 15 in the UK for English
11th in the Complete University Guide 2025; 14th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
46th for English Language and Literature in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2024
88% of our English research is internationally excellent
Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, submitted to UoA27 English Language and Literature
Unique on site resources: Exeter’s Special Collections archive and The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum
Degrees in Exeter
Related courses
Our English department has an outstanding reputation and is recognised as one of the best in the country. We are a world leader for research, with strengths in diverse areas and periods of literature and culture, including particular expertise in American Literature and Culture, Film Studies, Critical Theory, World and Postcolonial Literatures, Medical Humanities, Victorian Studies, Renaissance Studies, Romanticism, Modernism and Creative Writing.
We have outstanding resources and support for projects in Digital Humanities and the study of writing from the South West of England.
With over 150 UK and international postgraduate students and over 70 academic staff, we offer an engaging environment. The quality of our teaching and supervision is excellent, with student satisfaction amongst the highest in the country.
Having studied BA English Literature at Exeter, I knew I had to stay for my MA. The lecturers are always passionate about what they are teaching, but most importantly to me, they are always genuinely keen to discuss my own work. I did my BA dissertation on post-feminism within Taylor Swift and Beyoncé’s music videos.
This year I’ve taken my work on music video even further and have also written on films ranging from Hitchcock to La La Land thanks to the flexible Film Pathway. In allowing me to pursue my interests, Exeter has helped me reach my full potential. I want to work in the music industry, and so it is really useful that my course has not only given me skills to take into working life, but has also provided me with the opportunity to craft essays which I can talk about in job interviews.
Ellie
Studying English Literary Studies (Film Studies Pathway)
