Why English?
My path to choosing to study English Literature was, like most of my favourite stories, non-linear. Starting secondary school, my favourite subject happened to be music; by GCSE’s I was convinced I’d study French at university; at the beginning of Sixth Form I was considering going to art college; however, by the time the UCAS deadline began looming over me, it was English Literature that I’d settled on.
My childhood and adolescence were characterised by an appreciation and participation in the arts in their many forms, and I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have a book on my bedside table. Despite this, the choice of English Literature seemed to sneak up on me. It seemed finally determined when, out of my A level subjects (History, French and Literature), it appeared to be the subject that came the most naturally to me. It also seemed quite the novelty to be able to earn a degree off simply reading lots of books and writing about them (pun intended).
Why Durham?
When it came to picking which University I wanted to study at, the choice was rather superficial, my top choices being determined by how ‘aesthetically pleasing’ the University city itself was – naturally Durham came out on top. On top of this, the collegiate system at Durham particularly stood out to me, being one of the few on offer in the UK and having since experienced and lived in the college community, I can confirm without a doubt that it was the best choice for me! Altogether, the combination of those historic cobbled streets, the homely feel of the city and the support and friends you gain from your college has made Durham the perfect city to study literature in.
What makes Durham even better is that the English Literature course itself is of such a high standard. While it was the aesthetics that drew me to the city, it was the high course rankings that drew me to the University itself. The broad overview of teaching and modules offered in first year introduced me to countless works I’d never encountered before and further inspired me to take a slightly more medievalist route with my studies in second and now my third and final year. Overall, the course, professors and teaching styles have led me to a love of literature and the study of it to an even greater degree.
What is unique about my degree?
As you might expect, the study of literature at university differs greatly from that in school and college. The volume and variety of literature you will be required to study increases tenfold, yet alongside this, so does your time for independent study, leading to many days sat in the corner of the library with a hefty stack of books to keep you company. A Literature degree can be far from solitary, though, which – if you’re more extroverted like me – is a great relief. Your degree is what you make of it, and with literary events held in the North East throughout the year (including the Durham Book Festival every October), and the Durham English Literature Society (the second biggest society in the University), there are many external literary events to attend and literature lovers to meet.
Conclusions…
Overall, I couldn’t think of a better university or city to be studying literature in, and as my final year approaches, I anticipate my graduation with a sense of bittersweetness, yet an excitement for what may come next!
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