English University of Otago

Overview

The English programme at the University of Otago provides a transformative academic experience that explores the profound impact of literature on society. Students engage with a vast range of texts to develop sophisticated skills in analysis, imagination, and professional communication.

Why English at the University of Otago?

Studying at this institution allows students to immerse themselves in research-led teaching delivered by global leaders in their fields. The department fosters a supportive environment where diverse learners explore how great writing functions through close and attentive reading practices.

The curriculum is uniquely designed to suit all tastes, covering everything from literary controversies to environmental literature. Students benefit from a mix of large-scale lectures and small, discussion-based tutorials that encourage independent and exploratory research as they progress.

Facilities and teaching methods at the university emphasise the integrated arts of reading and writing. By examining the relationship between literature and psychology or activism, students learn to use words as a medium for storytelling and a tool for social connection.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

• International fee: NZD 53970 per year
• National fee: NZD 9427 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

Modules may include:

• English Literature: The Remix
• Controversial Classics
• Creative Writing: How to Captivate and Persuade
• Essentials of Writing
• Essentials of Communication
• Language and its Structure

Upper-level study options include:

• Shakespeare: Stage, Page and Screen
• Poetry and Music
• Creative Writing: Reading for Writers
• Literature and Activism: The Art of Protest
• Fantasy and the Imagination
• Writing for the Professions
• Poetic Revolt from Soho to Social Media
• Creative Writing: Crafting Voices
• Romantics, Revolutionaries, and the Imagination
• Māori and Pacific Literature
• Modernism: Joyce
• Digital Literature: Technologies of Storytelling
• Reading Minds: Literature and Psychology
• Monsters and Monstrosity in Medieval Literature
• Storyworlds and Cognition
• Reading and Writing Crime Fiction

Careers with English

Graduates from this programme are highly valued by employers for their ability to interpret complex texts and think critically. Many alumni pursue successful careers as editors, copywriters, creative writers, and journalists within the media and publishing industries.

The degree also prepares students for roles in the public sector and education, including positions as teachers, librarians, and educational administrators. Furthermore, the analytical skills gained support careers as diplomats, politicians, analysts, and policymakers.