Career opportunities
Our graduates find work as:
- Editors, copywriters, creative writers, and journalists
- Teachers, librarians, and educational administrators
- Analysts, diplomats, politicians, and policymakers
Write your story
Study English at Otago and develop your powers of analysis, creativity and imagination.
How you will learn
English at Otago teaches the arts of reading and writing in an integrated way, by studying and discussing literary texts, and by practising the techniques of writing. Our courses involve a combination of small-scale, discussion-based classes (tutorials) and larger-class teaching (lectures), which generally involve a variety of staff.
In upper-level courses, class sizes are usually smaller and opportunities for discussion greater. At second and especially third year, there is generally a greater emphasis placed on independent and exploratory learning and research.
Recommended high school subjects for undergraduate study
No specific subjects required; students from all academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Choose a study option
Whether you're embarking on your academic journey with our comprehensive undergraduate programmes or aiming to reach new heights through our advanced postgraduate offerings, Otago is here to support your aspirations.
Undergraduate qualifications
For new and current students studying towards a Bachelor's or other first degree. Explore undergraduate qualifications at Otago, designed to build a strong foundation in your chosen field, preparing you for a successful career or further study.
Note: this subject can also be studied as a minor.
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
A three-year degree offering flexibility to explore a major in Arts along with other subjects
Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom)
Combine two majors, one in Arts and one in Commerce, into a four-year degree and expand your future career prospects
Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc)
Combine two majors, one in Arts and one in Science, into a four-year degree and expand your future career prospects
Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr)
A three-year degree that equips you to change the world as you create new products, services and ideas
Ready to apply?
Take the first step towards your future in this subject.
Further study opportunities
Whether you are looking to bridge your undergraduate studies to advanced knowledge or aiming to specialise in a specific field, Otago offers a range of graduate and postgraduate options to suit your aspirations.
Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad)
The Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad), requiring study of at least seven papers (at least four of which are at 300-level o...
Postgraduate study in English
Explore postgraduate study in English at Otago. Gain advanced knowledge, skills, and research opportunities in a support...
My degree taught me how to read between the lines and think critically while providing me with necessary writing skills. Words aren’t just a medium for storytelling and connection – they’re also a way to hold power to account and a crucial part of our democracy. The world quite literally needs writers.
Naomii Seah
Bachelor of Arts (Major: English)
Related subject areas
Explore all subject areasLanguage and global cultures
Explore cultures, languages, and global issues to discover your place in an inclusive, sustainable world
Media, literature, communication and performing arts
Explore performing arts, creative writing, or media studies to express yourself and understand their impact on our lives
Readers are better thinkers
We welcome and support diverse learners from all backgrounds and invite you to experience research-led teaching by leaders in their fields. Our graduates are known for their critical thinking skills, and employers value their abilities to analyse and interpret texts of all descriptions.
Want to be a writer? It all begins with reading. The study of literature promotes empathy and emotional intelligence—the values that make us human. Immerse yourself in literary texts from classic works to the popular. Understand how great writing works by learning to read it closely and attentively.
Programme details
Compare programmes for this subject.
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | ENGL 131 Controversial Classics, or ENGL 132 World Literature, Global Challenges | 18 |
|
One further paper from: ENGL 120 Creative Writing: How to Captivate and Persuade ENGL 121 English Literature: The Remix ENGL 127 Essentials of Writing ENGL 128 Essentials of Communication ENGL 131 Controversial Classics LING 111 Language and its Structure | 18 | |
| 200-level | Three 200-level ENGL papers | 54 |
| One of DHUM 201 Digital Humanities: Method and Critique or EURO 202 The Culture of the European City may be substituted for one 200-level ENGL paper | ||
| 300-level | Four 300-level ENGL papers | 72 |
| EURO 302 The Culture of the European City may be substituted for one 300-level ENGL paper | ||
| Plus | 198 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above. | 198 |
| Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts | ||
| Total | 360 |
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | LING 111 A World of Languages | 18 |
| One 100-level ENGL paper (excluding ENGL 126 English for University Purposes) | 18 | |
| 200-level | LING 217 What's Behind Language: Sound and Structure | 18 |
| Two 200-level ENGL papers | 36 | |
| One further 200-level LING paper (excluding LING 231 TESOL: Guide to Language Teaching) | 18 | |
| DHUM 201 Digital Humanities: Method and Critique may be substituted for one 200-level paper | ||
| 300-level | Two 300-level ENGL papers | 36 |
| Two 300-level LING papers | 36 | |
| Plus | 180 further points; must include 36 points at 200-level or above. | 180 |
| Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts | ||
| Total | 360 |
A minor subject can be included in many of our undergraduate degrees. To earn a minor, you typically must complete a minimum of 90 points in that subject, with at least 18 points at the 300-level.
Your minor can be a subject more commonly taken for a different degree. For example, a BCom majoring in Marketing can include Japanese as a minor subject. To include this subject as a minor in your application, first find a major subject through our Subject Search or Study Match.
You can check what’s required to receive the minor accreditation in the programme details below.
Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | Two of: | 36 |
| 200-level | Two papers from 200-level ENGL papers Note: EURO 202 or EURO 302 may be substituted for one 100- or 200-level ENGL paper | 36 |
| 300-level | One 300-level ENGL paper | 18 |
| Total | 90 |
Papers
View a list of all related papers below.
ENGL papers
| Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL120 | 2026, 2027 | Creative Writing: How to Captivate and Persuade | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| ENGL121 | 2026 | English Literature: The Remix | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| ENGL127 | 2026, 2027 | Essentials of Writing | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| ENGL128 | 2026, 2027 | Essentials of Communication | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| ENGL131 | 2026, 2027 | Controversial Classics | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| ENGL132 | 2027 | World Literature, Global Challenges | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| ENGL218 | 2026, 2027 | Shakespeare: Stage, Page and Screen | 18 points | Semester 1, Not offered in 2027 |
| ENGL219 | 2026, 2027 | Poetry and Music | 18 points | Semester 2, Not offered in 2027 |
| ENGL220 | 2026, 2027 | Creative Writing: Reading for Writers | 18 points | Semester 2, Semester 1 |
| ENGL222 | 2026, 2027 | Literature and Activism: The Art of Protest | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| ENGL223 | 2026, 2027 | Fantasy and the Imagination | 18 points | Summer School, Not offered in 2027 |
| ENGL228 | 2026, 2027 | Writing for the Professions | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| ENGL230 | 2026, 2027 | Creative Writing for Games and Interactive Media | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| ENGL233 | 2026, 2027 | Literary Theory: From Marxism to Ecocriticism | 18 points | Semester 1, Not offered in 2027 |
| ENGL241 | 2026, 2027 | Irish-Scots Gothic and the Gothic as Genre | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, Semester 1 |
| ENGL242 | 2026, 2027 | New Zealand Literature: Connecting Worlds | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| ENGL251 | 2026, 2027 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| ENGL254 | 2026, 2027 | Magic and Treachery in Medieval Literature | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, Semester 2 |
| ENGL277 | 2026, 2027 | Public Prose: Feature Writing, Creative Nonfiction | 18 points | Semester 1, Not offered in 2027 |
| ENGL311 | 2026, 2027 | Renaissance Literature | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| ENGL312 | 2026, 2027 | Literature in the Age of Invention | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| ENGL313 | 2026, 2027 | Victorian Literature | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, Semester 2 |
| ENGL317 | 2026, 2027 | Modernist Fiction | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| ENGL319 | 2026, 2027 | Poetic Revolt from Soho to Social Media | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, Semester 1 |
| ENGL320 | 2026, 2027 | Creative Writing: Crafting Voices | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2 |
| ENGL323 | 2026, 2027 | Fantasy and the Imagination (Advanced) | 18 points | Summer School, Not offered in 2027 |
| ENGL335 | 2026, 2027 | Romantics, Revolutionaries, and the Imagination | 18 points | Semester 2, Not offered in 2027 |
| ENGL339 | 2026, 2027 | Māori and Pacific Literature | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, Semester 1 |
| ENGL340 | 2026, 2027 | Modernism: Joyce | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| ENGL341 | 2026, 2027 | Irish-Scots Gothic and the Gothic as Genre | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, Semester 1 |
| ENGL342 | 2026, 2027 | Digital Literature: Technologies of Storytelling | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, Semester 2 |
| ENGL350 | 2026, 2027 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| ENGL353 | 2026, 2027 | Reading Minds: Literature and Psychology | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| ENGL354 | 2026, 2027 | Monsters and Monstrosity in Medieval Literature | 18 points | Semester 1, Not offered in 2027 |
| ENGL377 | 2026, 2027 | Public Prose: Feature Writing, Creative Nonfiction | 18 points | Semester 1, Not offered in 2027 |
| ENGL391 | 2026, 2027 | Poetry and Music | 18 points | Semester 2, Not offered in 2027 |
| ENGL404 | 2026, 2027 | A Topic in English Language | 30 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| ENGL454 | 2026, 2027 | Medieval Misogyny: Subverting the Antifeminist Tradition | 30 points | Not offered in 2026, Semester 1 |
| ENGL465 | 2026, 2027 | A Topic in New Zealand Literature | 30 points | Semester 1, Not offered in 2027 |
| ENGL467 | 2026, 2027 | Special Topic | 30 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| ENGL469 | 2026, 2027 | Writing Revolutions: How Modernism Changed the World | 30 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| ENGL470 | 2026, 2027 | Storyworlds and Cognition | 30 points | Semester 2, Not offered in 2027 |
| ENGL471 | 2026, 2027 | A Topic in Romanticism | 30 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| ENGL473 | 2026, 2027 | A Topic in 19th Century Literature | 30 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| ENGL474 | 2026, 2027 | Special Topic | 30 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| ENGL475 | 2026, 2027 | Reading and Writing Crime Fiction | 30 points | Semester 1, Semester 2 |
| ENGL476 | 2026, 2027 | A Topic in English Literature 1660-1800 | 30 points | Not offered in 2026, Semester 1 |
| ENGL477 | 2026, 2027 | A Topic in American Literature | 30 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| ENGL478 | 2026, 2027 | A Topic in Postcolonial Literatures | 30 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| ENGL480 | 2026, 2027 | Research Essay | 30 points | Full Year, 1st Non standard period (1 July 2026 - 1 June 2027), 1st Non standard period (12 July 2027 - 9 June 2028) |
| ENGL490 | 2026, 2027 | Dissertation | 60 points | Full Year, 1st Non standard period (13 July 2026 - 11 June 2027), 1st Non standard period (12 July 2027 - 9 June 2028) |
| ENGL590 | 2026, 2027 | Research Dissertation | 60 points | 1st Non standard period (27 February 2026 - 19 February 2027), 2nd Non standard period (17 July 2026 - 9 July 2027), 1st Non standard period (5 March 2027 - 25 February 2028), 2nd Non standard period (16 July 2027 - 7 July 2028) |
More information
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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2026 Calendar and supplementary material.
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