English Literature and Film

Being at Reading places you in one of the fastest-growing screen industry hubs in the UK, with a vibrant theatre and performance scene. You will be close to Shinfield Studios, where recent productions like Netflix’s ‘Bridgerton’ and Disney’s ‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ and ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ were filmed. These studios, located on our land, are part of the Screen Berkshire partnership, giving you the opportunity to attend film production bootcamps, workshops, technical training on Arri Alexa cameras, and real-life shoot simulations. Other partnerships include hands-on experiences with Albert Education, Arri Certified Film School, FEST, Rabble Theatre, Reading Rep Theatre, Climate Change Theatre Action, and South St Theatre. The Department of English Literature was one of the first university departments in the UK to study American and Canadian authors like Margaret Atwood, and we continue this tradition with a curriculum that includes the best of contemporary writing in English from around the globe. 100% of our research is of international standing (REF 2021, combining 4*, 3* and 2* submissions – English Language and Literature).