Undergraduate awards: Certificate in English Literature: Texts and Contexts

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 approaches to understanding poetry and fiction, employing both close reading and contextualisation as methods of interpretation
• pursue an introduction to American literature for a taste of some of its most beloved and exciting novels, plays, poems, as well as memoirs and essays, from the nineteenth century to the present
• encounter Shakespeare’s drama seen in the context of his own time, and that of ours in the 21st century. We will explore a range of Shakespeare’s works covering history, comedy, tragedy and romance, and examine the major themes that emerge from these genres. 

Course Breakdown

This course will run from 22 October 2025 to 10 June 2026.

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 2025-26 Course Guide. 

Michaelmas term: Close reading and Context

(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 25 October, 08 November, 22 November and 06 December 2025. Open sessions will be on Wednesdays between 7.00pm and 8.00pm on 22 October (Introduction), 12 November and 10 December 2025)

• Introduction and Welcome: Wednesday 22 October 2025, 7pm to 8pm
• Course (unit 1) start date: Saturday 25 October 2025
• Unit 1 end date: Wednesday 7 January 2026

Lent term: American Literature: Movements and Motif

(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 10 January, 24 January, 07 February and 21 February 2026. Open sessions will be on Wednesdays between 7.00pm and 8.00pm on 28 January and 25 February 2026)

• Unit 2 start date: Saturday 10 January 2026
• Unit 2 end date: Wednesday 25 March 2026

Easter term: Shakespeare in his Time and Ours

(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 28 March (GMT), 11 April, 25 April and 09 May 2026 (BST). Open sessions will be on Wednesdays between 7.00pm and 8.00pm on 15 April and 13 May 2026).  Please note BST (British Summer Time) starts Sunday 29th March 2026.

• Unit 3 start date: Saturday 28 March 2026
• Unit 3 end date: Wednesday 10 June 2026

After the course

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

Entry Requirements

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. 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 £3,300. 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.

Help with fees

The University has many sources of financial help that you can explore. Please visit our pages on bursaries and sources of funding and Disabled Student’s Allowances (DSAs) for more information. 

First Time in Higher Education – Arts and Humanities

The Institute of Continuing Education’s First Time in Higher Education bursary is intended to enable prospective Arts and Humanities students, who do not currently hold a recognised higher education level qualification (FHEQ level 4 or higher) and for whom finance may be a barrier to part-time study, to enrol on ICE’s relevant part-time award-bearing undergraduate Arts and Humanities certificates, the majority of which will be delivered remotely in the academic year 2025-26. 

Bursaries are available each providing a subsidy of 50% tuition fee reduction. 

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 your course through the online application portal.

Step two: Please see the online bursary application form for further details on eligibility requirements and the personal statement which will be needed to support your application.

The deadline for applications for this bursary is 31 March 2025.

For information on any other bursaries for this course, please see https://www.ice.cam.ac.uk/bursaries

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.

Disability Support

The University’s Accessibility & Disability Resource Centre Non-Matriculated Service (ADRC NMS) provides advice, guidance, and resources to ICE award-bearing undergraduate and postgraduate students who have a diagnosed disability or medical condition, including mental health conditions. The support provided can include:

• appointments with a Senior disability adviser or Neurodiversity disability adviser ​
• reviewing/assessing medical or diagnostic evidence​
• production of a Student Support Document (SSD)
• signposting to sources of disability-related funds (Disabled Students’ Allowances [DSA], as well as other internal funds for home and international students)​
• coordination of human support, such as specialist mentoring or specialist study skills​
• neurodiversity screening service (Autism, Specific Learning Difficulties, ADHD)​
• signposting to disability library services 
• signposting to assistive technology and software support

If you would like to access support then please indicate this on your course application form and then complete the ADRC NMS online Student Information Form so they can work with you to fully support your studies. Please upload medical evidence (written in English) when prompted to within the Student Information Form. 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.

Wellbeing Support

It is important that all our learners feel safe in their learning environment and student wellbeing is a key priority at ICE. We have a dedicated Student Support team who can offer a variety of support mechanisms to those who are experiencing challenges maintaining positive mental wellbeing. The ICE Student Support Team are here to support you throughout the duration of your studies at ICE and can:​

• meet with you via teams/zoom (camera can be off) to discuss any concerns surrounding your wellbeing, mental health, academic pressures, or welfare​
• advise you on options and signpost you to appropriate sources of guidance which range from self-guided resources to wellbeing conversations
• direct you to specialist support and help concerning welfare, wellbeing, safeguarding and prevent​
• in specific circumstances (where there is a clear need unmet elsewhere) provide access to counselling ​
• provide access to study skills resources

If you have any questions concerning welfare support, then please contact the ICE Student Support team via studentsupport@ice.cam.ac.uk