Undergraduate Certificate in English Literature: Approaches to Literary Study

Through reading a wide range of literature, you will learn about writers and their works in relation to their period and to other writers. This course will involve plenty of lively discussion and teaching exercises designed to introduce critical vocabulary.

As part of our learning community, you will:

• explore approaches to understanding poetry, drama and fiction, using both close reading and contextualisation as methods of interpretation
• consider how the relation between literary form, context and meaning shapes our understanding and evaluation of texts from different periods
• explore the history and theory of tragedy in drama and other literary forms
• study the works of Samuel Beckett and other ground-breaking modern dramatists in depth
• encounter works by Austen, Eliot and Dickens as you examine the development of the 19th century novel and explore how its moral and philosophical discussion, gripping plotlines and expansive canvases depict complex social worlds.

Course breakdown

This course will run from 23 October 2024 to 13 June 2025.

After an introduction and welcome session, each term’s teaching will take place in 4 live teaching sessions on Saturdays from 1pm to 3pm and 4pm to 6pm, and 2 open sessions on Wednesday evenings, between 7pm and 8pm, plus pre-recorded lectures (all times GMT/BST). Please refer to the individual dates for each term in the 2024-25 Course Guide. 

Michaelmas term: Reading and Interpretation

(Introduction and 6 live teaching/open sessions plus pre-recorded lectures. Live teaching sessions will be on Saturdays between 13.00-15.00 and 16.00-18.00 pm GMT on 26 October,  9 November, 23 November and 7 December 2024. Open sessions will be on Wednesdays between 7.00pm and 8.00pm on 23 October (Introduction) 13 November and 11 December 2024)

• Introduction and Welcome: Wednesday 23 October 2024, 7pm to 8pm
• Course (unit 1) start date: Saturday 26 October 2024 
• Unit 1 end date: Wednesday Wednesday 8 January 2025

Lent term: Samuel Beckett and Modern Theatre

(6 live teaching/open sessions plus pre-recorded lectures. Live teaching sessions will be on Saturdays between 13.00-15.00 and 16.00-18.00 pm GMT on 11 January, 25 January, 08 February and 22 February 2025. Open sessions will be on Wednesdays between 7.00pm and 8.00pm on 29 January and 26 February 2025)

• Unit 2 start date: Saturday 11 January 2025
• Unit 2 end date: Wednesday 26 March 2025

Easter term: The Nineteenth Century Novel

(6 live teaching/open sessions plus pre-recorded lectures. Live teaching sessions will be on Saturdays between 13.00-15.00 and 16.00-18.00 pm either GMT or BST on 29 March (GMT), 12 April, 26 April and 10 May 2025 (BST). Open sessions will be on Wednesdays between 7.00pm and 8.00pm on 16 April and 14 May 2025).  Please note BST (British Summer Time) starts Sunday 30th March 2025.

• Unit 3 start date: Saturday 29 March 2025
• Unit 3 end date: Friday 13 June 2025

After the course

You may wish to take our other Undergraduate Certificate in English Literature: Texts and Contexts.  Students who have successfully completed both Certificate courses can apply to be awarded the Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education in English Literature, worth 120 credits at level 4.  You may also be interested in progressing to our Undergraduate Diploma in English Literature: Literature and Criticism.

There are no formal academic entry requirements for this course, which is open to all students with an interest in the subject area.

Teaching is at first-year undergraduate level.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you need to be able to prove you meet the University of Cambridge English language requirements on application. Please refer to our English language requirements for Undergraduate Certificates, Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas pages for further information.

IT requirements

The course content will be delivered, and the learning outcomes met, through video-based teaching platforms and a dedicated course Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). 

You will therefore need to have access to: 

• the internet via a computer, laptop, tablet or other smart device
• speakers or headphones in order to hear any pre-recorded material 
• a webcam and microphone for any interactive sessions which may be available

ID Requirements

As part of your application you are required to provide a copy of your ID. At the beginning of the course, you will be required to attend a live zoom session, so that we can verify your identity. Please note we will not be able to issue the award if an identity check has not been completed.

The fee for this course is £3,000. You can either pay:

• in full when you enrol,
  or
• in 3 equal instalments: the first when you enrol, the second by 1 January, and the third and final instalment by 1 April. The exact dates will be confirmed in your booking details.

Important: your place on the course is not secured until we receive your first payment along with any required documents, such as proof of English language proficiency.

If you are offered a place, you will receive instructions as to how to register and pay. 

Churton Collins Memorial Bursary Scheme

The Churton Collins Memorial bursary is intended to enable prospective English Literature students, who do not currently hold a recognised higher education level qualification (FHEQ level 4 or higher), to enrol on ICE’s part-time award-bearing undergraduate English Literature certificate or diploma. Two bursaries are available, each providing a subsidy of £1000 tuition fee reduction.

The terms and conditions for the bursary can be found here and there is no financial barrier criteria for this bursary.

How to apply for a bursary

Step one: Apply for a place on the course. Applicants can only apply for a bursary after making an application for the course through the online application portal.

Step two: Complete the online bursary application form. You will be required to provide a personal statement (up to 200 words), outlining your motivations for applying for the bursary and how it will enable you to study at ICE if successful.

The deadline for applications for this bursary has been extended until 11 June 2024.

The University has many sources of financial help that you can explore. For information on any other bursaries for this course, please see  https://www.ice.cam.ac.uk/bursaries and sources of funding and Disabled Student’s Allowances (DSAs) for more information. 

Refunds

This course will require a minimum number of students to run. In the rare event that the course is cancelled by us, due to minimum numbers not being met, or for any other reason, you will receive a full refund of any fees paid.

If you would like to cancel your place on the course, please refer to our Cancellations and Refunds policy, which we encourage you to read in full before applying.

We welcome learners of all backgrounds and abilities at the Institute of Continuing Education (ICE), and for this reason we have robust learning support in place for any student who needs it.

The Accessibility & Disability Resource Centre (ADRC) provides advice, guidance, and resources to disabled students on ICE award-bearing undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

If you have a disability or medical condition including a mental health condition, then please indicate this on your application form so we can work with you on supporting your studies. If you would like to access support from the ADRC please complete their online Student Information Form as soon as possible. If you are able to, please upload your evidence (written in English) within the Student Information Form where prompted. The following links to guidance on medical evidence or diagnostic evidence will help to answer any questions you may have. 

 If you have any questions concerning disability support then please contact the ADRC NMS team via adrc.nms@admin.cam.ac.uk or view their website via https://www.disability.admin.cam.ac.uk/non-matriculated-students

You can also disclose a disability at any time during your course by contacting either the ADRC NMS team, or ICE’s Student Support team via da@ice.cam.ac.uk

Student wellbeing is a key priority at ICE, and we have a dedicated Student Support team who can provide wellbeing support and guidance. Please contact the team via studentwelfare@ice.cam.ac.uk