Why I chose to study English Literature at the University of Huddersfield

Liv Norris

English Literature BA(Hons)

Hi! I’m Liv, a third-year English Literature student at the University of Huddersfield. I commute to university from Guiseley, Leeds. Find out why I chose to study at the University of Huddersfield.

Making a university choice

Deciding on which course to study at university can create feelings of uncertainty, unfamiliarity, and anxiety - this is exactly how I felt.

I spent months researching and answering questionnaires, searching for guidance on my future. I had to decide what I wanted to do with my life.

Choosing a course

In a panic, I quickly chose the course Criminology, believing it was something I would potentially enjoy. Truthfully, I did find it to be an interesting subject and believed it would provide exciting opportunities. However, something did not feel right. I didn’t feel passionate about Criminology. Consequently, I felt lost and believed I would miss out on the experience of university because I still had no course that I was truly set and determined on studying.

I knew I had to think about who I truly was and what it was that I enjoyed. English Literature was something I had always excelled in and was an avid reader. It was almost a ‘eureka’ moment. How did I never consider English Literature? I had loved it for years.

Once I had determined that English Literature was the course I wanted to study, I knew I had to start finding the suitable university. I visited multiple universities, but only one had ever felt comfortable and this was the University of Huddersfield. On its Open Day, I loved the campus and its size, and I didn’t feel worried about getting lost or feeling too far from the town. Instead, the campus was bustling with community spirit, and it was immediately welcoming.

I met the English Literature course tutors, and they were passionate about not only the subject, but also ensuring they provided an outstanding quality of teaching. I left the Open Day feeling relieved; I had spent months with a constant sense of ambiguity surrounding my future, but, I left the campus with a new feeling of determination and excitement.

University of Huddersfield campus- Richard Steinitz, Schwann and Harold Wilson building all pictured together

What has impressed me since starting at Huddersfield

Since studying English Literature at the University of Huddersfield, I have been impressed with many features of the course. From the beginning of my degree, the concept that one day we will enter the working world has always been acknowledged.

My lecturers have created helpful and informative assignments to prepare us for our careers, such as through a project I completed covering copywriting to presentations outlining our personal prospects. I have felt this to be extremely beneficial. I began my journey at university without knowing how my future may be. Yet the course has equipped me with relevant skills to understand and determine the direction I would like my degree to lead me. Additionally, I have been immensely impressed with the support received from tutors. From contact meetings for dissertation queries, to supportive emails from personal tutors, you never feel alone or isolated within the course. As a naturally anxious person, it has always felt reassuring to have tutors who you feel comfortable emailing with questions about assignments or general worries.

Food and shopping

Huddersfield may seem to be a small town and may be perceived as lacking an exciting nightlife, and as a commuter, I was concerned I may miss out on the important social element of university. However, in my second year, and through the power of social media, I met fellow commuters and planned to attend the Students’ Union ‘bar crawl’.

Through this, not only did I meet lovely people, but I experienced the incredible nightlife of the town. The bars and pubs create a fun and entertaining experience for students, from pub quizzes to themed nights.

Huddersfield also includes the opportunity for leisurely activities such as shopping, walking in Greenhead or Beaumont Parks, or enjoying food and drinks on the rooftop terrace of Revolution.

I am an unapologetic shopaholic, and the town has a range of shops that feed my shopping obsession! I have also found peace and tranquillity in the beautiful coffee shops scattered around the town which have become a perfect place to unwind from the long days of studying.

Overall, Huddersfield is a town full of ‘hidden gems’ and you have plenty of time to visit each one.

I have never regretted my choice of the University of Huddersfield and the course of English Literature.

I have loved studying here so much, that I have decided I would like to continue my study through a Master’s degree. I look back on the confused and anxious sixth former that I was, constantly searching for my true passion. Today, I am determined to create a future for myself that includes not only my love for English Literature but also, the skills that the course has equipped me with.