Diploma in English Literature
Course Overview
The Diploma in English Literature at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a nine-to-twelve-month UK qualification for students and adult learners who want serious literary study without yet committing to a full undergraduate degree. You will read across periods and genres — early modern through contemporary — learn the methods of close reading and literary history, and produce a portfolio of essays that demonstrate critical judgement and clear writing.
This Diploma takes literature seriously as an object of study rather than as a self-help tool. By the end of the Diploma in English Literature you can read a poem closely, place a novel in its literary and historical context, and write an essay that holds its argument together across several thousand words.
Key Features
- Period and genre coverage from the early modern period to the contemporary novel.
- Close-reading clinics on poetry, drama and prose with weekly tutor-led discussion.
- Literary criticism module — formalist, historicist, feminist, postcolonial and contemporary critical traditions.
- Essay portfolio — at least four critical essays and one extended reading journal across the course.
- London literary culture — author readings, bookshop events and archive visits for on-campus students.
- Three study modes — on-campus in central London, fully online with cohort seminars, or distance learning with deadlines.
What You Will Learn
The Diploma in English Literature is structured around the working practice of a serious reader and critic. You graduate able to read closely across genres, place a text in its historical and intellectual context, and write criticism that respects both the text and the reader.
- Close reading method — for poetry, drama and prose.
- Literary history — major movements from the early modern period to the present.
- Genre studies — novel, short story, lyric, dramatic monologue, drama.
- Critical traditions — formalism, historicism, feminism, postcolonialism, ecocriticism.
- Essay craft — argument, evidence, voice, scholarly apparatus.
- Editorial and review writing — reading for publication, the contemporary literary review.
- Comparative reading — situating one text against another, across period or tradition.
- Research skills — secondary literature, archive resources, MLA conventions.
Who This Diploma Is For
- Adult learners returning to literature with serious purpose, mid-career.
- Students planning to top up to a BA in English Literature or English Language.
- Working writers, editors and journalists wanting structured critical grounding.
- Career-changers entering teaching, publishing or editorial roles.
Career Pathways
The Diploma in English Literature is academic in orientation, but the credential and the writing portfolio support routes into editorial, teaching and publishing careers. Typical roles where it adds direct value include:
- Editorial Assistant (literary publisher, independent press)
- Bookseller (independent or chain bookshop — buyer-track roles)
- Literary Reviewer (magazine, longform online, podcast)
- English Tutor (private tutoring, FE college support)
- Cultural Programme Assistant (literature festival, cultural centre)
- Library Assistant (public, academic or specialist library)
The Diploma is the natural prerequisite for the Advanced Diploma in English Literature and the BA in English Literature for students who want to push further.
Entry Requirements
- Completion of secondary school (A-Levels, BTEC, or international equivalent).
- IELTS 5.5 overall (no band below 5.0) for non-native English speakers.
- Personal statement.
- Mature applicants (21+) may apply with two years of relevant work experience.
Why Study at LSJHML
The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.
London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.
Apply for the Diploma in English Literature
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