English at Cardiff...

Hey! How is it? Would just like some opinions of students already doing it there. Cheers! :smile:

Reply 1

Personally, I love it. I'm a second year at the moment (and really should be revising for exams rather than on here!).

You don't get to choose which modules you study in first year - although you do get to pick a couple of additional subjects to study - but there's a wide range of modules in second and third year, which was really what attracted me to the course in the first place. Personally, I'm not keen on Victorian literature or 18thC lit, so I haven't studied any! Instead, I've picked medieval and Rennaissance modules, which are a bit more my thing.

There's a lot of freedom about what you can study on the course after first year, and there's some great lecturers, too.

Reply 2

Elusive Moose

English here is amazing- everyone I know who's taking it as their main degree subject absolutely loves it! The first year modules may be compulsory, but they're pretty interesting, and give you a good grounding for the next few years, ie how to write essays at university level, looking at texts in a different way, etc. The range of modules for second and third year is pretty impressive too- I'm finding it hard to narrow down my list to just 120 credits. Also, all of the lecturers I've had so far have been really good, especially compared to some of the ones I've had for my subsiduary modules!

Anyway, if you want a more detailed idea about the course then feel free to ask.

Reply 3

Elusive Moose

Well I don't know anyone who doesn't like it. I can't say it's hugely challenging in first year, but then what you make of the set essay questions, and they encourage you to look for things that other people won't necessarily. Basically in first year the course is what you make of it, but the lecturers are all really good, and they're interesting modules (although I'm not sure what 'Reading Novels/Writing Essays, or whatever the new version of it is will be like, as it will be someone different taking it, the old lecturer having retired this year :frown:

). You also get the bonus of being able to take two other subjects that you're interested in, although this is one reason that the English course isn't quite so in-depth as it probably could have been. However, those modules can include 'Medieval and Renaissance Literature', which is apparently interesting, but quite difficult, so if you're looking for a bit of a challenge then that's what you want! Plus there are a fair few Medieval/Renaissance modules for second/third year, so it should set you in good stead for that.

The range of modules for second and third year is huge, also, and the major advantage of Cardiff is that you get to completely tailor the course to the areas of English that you're interested in, and can completely cut out the periods you don't really like if you want, or you can take a range from all of the eras.

Basically, the department's very good and all the lecturers and tutors I've come accross have been really friendly. No it may not have the reputation of UCL, nor is Cardiff really like London, but you'll soon learn to love the city and the course. I know I couldn't imagine being anywhere else :smile:

Reply 4

~Sam~

I'd just like to warn any future English students NOT to take Romantic Poetry in the spring semester of year too. Just don't do it! This essay is never going to be finished by tomorrow :frown:

But yeah, Cardiff's great :biggrin: