York was my first choice when applying to uni. I knew I wanted to study English and Politics, of which there were a very limited number of courses available. York looked the best to me by far. After studying for two years, I can confidently say this was the right decision. Here is an overview of my favourite things about studying in the English department at York.
Range of texts
The huge range of texts on the course has massively impressed me so far. We study across different forms including novels, plays, poetry collections, short stories, and even film screenings. It isn’t all Shakespeare (unless, of course, you’re studying Shakespeare in Depth). There’s also a huge range of modules on offer. My first year provided a great basis for studying English, whilst second year allowed me to choose more in-depth modules. Choosing from the huge range of niche modules for third year has been a big challenge, but one that I am grateful for. There is also a huge diversity of authors, which allows us to explore different perspectives often overlooked.
Societies
Outside the department, I have found societies that have complimented my studies well. Namely, the Literature Society. It’s been a fantastic way to discuss non-academic books and has been a welcome break from the classics. Instead of high discussions of meanings and metaphors, we can discuss our favourite books in a much more chilled environment. And although not University-ran, the York Tab has been a great way to get some writing practice and student journalism experience.
Course events
The department also offers some great extra events that work great alongside studies. The Writers at York programme runs each semester, featuring different writers. Interesting lectures and talks are held, as well as events such as workshops and readings. I have found these events to be a fantastic way to gain new perspectives and take part in events I otherwise would not have found. It’s also wonderful to hear from experienced professional writers.
Studying a combined course
As a combined student, I have a unique experience of getting involved in two departments. I take both Politics and English modules. Although these subjects are not hugely related at first glance, I have found that they complement each other well. Thinkers and theories, such as feminism, and eco-criticism being present across both courses. In third year, we are going on to study a combined bridge module, to bring these two subjects together, and we have been planning our combined dissertations. I also don’t feel that I am missing out on either course, it truly feels like the best of both worlds. If you are considering applying for a combined course with English, I recommend it.
Staff and structure
The structure of the English course works well and has been easy to fit into my schedule. We have ample time to read our weekly texts, and the lectures and seminars are genuinely interesting. Lecturers are passionate about their topics, in my experience different lectures with different areas of expertise take on a week or two each, so we are in good hands. The seminars are not like STEM subjects, where there may just be one correct answer and students endlessly work through problems. Instead, discussions each week are rich, sharing ideas and gaining new perspectives. Our tutors guide these discussions well and are always open for office hours, which I have found really useful. The staff certainly help to make the experience of studying English at York a great subject to study.
Leave a Reply