English Literature/Music

English literature and music are disciplines that together explore two of the most powerful forms of human expression, both with deep historical traditions, sophisticated theoretical frameworks, and immediate contemporary relevance. Literature in English encompasses an enormous range of texts, from medieval poetry and Renaissance drama through the novel and modernism to contemporary writing across multiple forms. Music as an academic subject addresses the history, theory, analysis, and cultural significance of music across periods and traditions, as well as the creative and performance dimensions of musical practice.

At Glasgow, this four-year programme develops both subjects to honours level, drawing on the university's particular strengths in American, Irish, and postcolonial literatures, critical theory, and creative writing, alongside a broad and research-active music department. You will study literature across the full range from early modern to postmodern, engaging with critical theory and the relationship between literature and other arts. In music, you will develop analytical skills, engage with music history, and explore the connections between music and the broader cultural landscape.

The relationship between literature and music, the shared structures of narrative and form, the ways they borrow from and inform each other, is a rich area of inquiry that sitting within both disciplines opens naturally. A year abroad is built in.

Graduates from this combination go on to work in journalism, publishing, arts administration, broadcasting, music management, education, cultural policy, and a range of roles in the creative industries. The analytical and communicative skills both subjects develop are valued broadly. Many continue to postgraduate study in literature, music, or cultural studies, and some build academic or professional careers that draw on both disciplines.