Hi everyone, my name is Nadia, and I am in my second year at the University of York, studying English and Related Literature. I love my degree as not only do I get to study a variety of interesting texts, but I also get to immerse myself in the beautiful and historic city of York.
So, I thought I would take you through a week in my life and give you a little more insight into what it’s like to study English at the University of York.
Monday
You will be pleased to know that my Mondays at University are not nearly as painful as when I was at school.
Although you may have the odd 9am, it’s not as bad as the 7am school starts!
- A typical Monday morning for me begins with a big cup of coffee from the University Library Café’s Costa, and locating some books for my course in the library.
- After my coffee, I headed to my lectures, which were both in the Spring Lane Building on Campus West.
- I then went back to the library to finish my reading.
One of the reasons I love my degree is that it offers an extensive range of texts, including many I have never even heard of before!
Being in my second year, the texts I have read this term are all related to the modules I picked, so there are opportunities to study areas that grab your interest.
Tuesday
- Tuesdays are usually very busy for me, starting with a one-hour workshop at 10am – which I am extremely thankful for, as last year it was at 9am.
- After my workshop, I headed to the Costa in James’ Dining Hall and sat with a few friends.
- We then all headed to our lecture.
- Straight after my lecture, I then rushed off to my seminar.
Seminars are a great way of teaching, as they allow you to discuss the text you are studying for the week, in great depth.
My seminars usually have around 11 to 15 people, which means you get to voice your opinions a lot more effectively and can work in small groups with your class, rather than having to fight to express your ideas.
- Once my seminar was done, I then headed home to rest and watch some Netflix, and wind down from my busy day! It’s important to take breaks as well as work hard!
Wednesday
As you might have guessed, as a Literature student, I have a lot of reading to do, which means I spend a lot of time working independently, but I also have time to do extracurricular activities.
- As I am Deputy News Editor for the York society ‘Nouse’, I took some time to draft my articles for our termly print edition.
Another great thing about being a student at York is the vast number of societies you can join. Whether you are a huge fan of Taylor Swift, a Harry Potter lover, an avid sports fan, a baking enthusiast, or if you carry a passion for writing (like me), there is almost definitely a society for you!
Joining a society is also a fantastic way to make friends and meet new people with similar interests to you. You also get to go to some awesome social events, including fancy dinners, so they’re a great excuse to dress up!
- My Wednesday finished with me heading into town with a friend.
- We grabbed a coffee and went to the York Platinum and Light event at the Minster, which was fantastic!
There is always something fun going on in York!
Thursday
- I began by doing some uni work in town. York has some great coffee shops, including a lovely Starbucks with a great view of the walls, near the train station.
- I then went to my afternoon seminar for my Victorian Literature module.
Friday
- On Friday, I decided to study in the library at King’s Manor, which is in town.
- This library really reminds me of Hogwarts; it is such a historical building.
- After visiting the library, I went into a couple of shops in town, as being at university is all about balance!
Enjoying the city
Another thing I love about the city is the beautiful, historical buildings which surround York.
Also, please visit the Minster at some point – I promise you will be impressed!
Reading recommendations and module choices
One of the reasons I love my degree is that it offers an extensive range of texts, including many I have never even heard of before! These vary from short stories, novels, poems and all sorts of critical essays.
Being in my second year, I could choose which modulus I took. So, the texts I have read this term are all part of those choices. I chose Victorians and The Renaissance as they really grabbed my interest.
Some of my favourite texts so far have been ‘Jane Eyre’ and ‘Paradise Lost.’ During my first year, I also loved getting to study Shakespeare! We studied ‘The Tempest’ and ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’
There is also a chance to write about film during your degree, which shows just how interdisciplinary the course is. I recently wrote about The Devil Wears Prada for the compulsory critical practice module for second years.
If you think you might be interested in any of these, you can explore the English Literature modules and reading lists.
So, that concludes my week. I hope you have gained a better insight into what a typical week is like studying English Literature at York. If you do choose to study here, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
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