Please take a moment to review the information on this page before beginning your studies with us. This will help you make a successful start to your university journey.
If you have any questions, please email us
Undergraduates - make the best start to your studies
It's common to worry about managing your university studies. Many new students feel this way. These activities are designed to ease your transition into university.
Pre-arrival Reading suggestions
Once you get here you’ll have access to multiple on-campus libraries to read and study in (as well as access to thousands of e-books). Until then, we’ve put together the below list of suggested books to look at for the compulsory modules before you arrive.
Please note that this is for guidance only - it is not compulsory to buy any of these books. Check out your local library to see if they have any of them in stock.
Beginnings of English
- John Burrow and Thorlac Turville-Petre, ed., A Book of Middle English (Oxford: Blackwell, 2005). ISBN 978-1405117098. (Note that this is avaialble as an ebook through the university library).
- Kevin Crossley-Holland, The Anglo-Saxon World (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009). ISBN 978-0199538713.
- James Simpson and Alfred David, ed. The norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume A: The Middle Ages (London: Norton, 2018). ISBN 978-0393603026.
Drama, Theatre, Performance
- Carlson, M, Theatre: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2014) and Lennard, J & Luckhurst, M, The Drama Handbook: A Guide to Reading Plays (Oxford University Press, 2003) provide excellent introductions to the study of theatre and drama and will be useful reading before you arrive.
- Balme, C, The Cambridge Introduction to Theatre Studies (Cambridge University Press, 2008) is a key textbook that we refer to throughout the first year. It will be available via the online library.
All the play texts studied on the module will be available online via the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ library resources.
Studying Language
The core text book will be
- Mullany, L. and Stockwell, P. (2025) Studying the English Language: A Resource Book for Students (3rd edn). London: Routledge
Studying Literature
Some texts we will be covering that you could usefully get ahead with before you arrive.
- John Milton, Paradise Lost. (Recommended editions are: Stephen Orgel and Jonathan Goldberg, eds. (Oxford: Oxford World's Classics, 2008); or, John Leonard, ed. (London: Penguin, 2003))
Other texts on the module will be shorter and some will be provided for you. You might also like to acquire your own copy of Andrew Bennett and Nicholas Royle, An Introduction to Literature, Criticism and Theory (5th edition) in order to read it in advance, through you will have access to it as an ebook via the library once you arrive.
Peer mentors are second- or third-year students that can help you settle into university life. All students will be sent an email in late summer to sign up for the . View the
Course Community page for more information.
Learning Development workshops
When your Welcome Week induction timetable is published you will see a Transition to Higher Education workshop designed to help you develop university-level study skills. Throughout the year, we will also share additional Learning Development workshops via our weekly bulletins to support your ongoing skills development.
Postgraduates - make the best start to your studies
Feeling nervous about higher level study is common. You can ease into postgraduate study with the activities below.
Academic Language and Communication Skills
The Faculty of Arts works closely with the Academic Language and Communication Skills (ALACS) team to support our postgraduate students. We encourage you to explore their range of courses and services, which are designed to enhance your academic skills and help you succeed in postgraduate study. We highly recommend the ALACS team for students who may require English-language support.
Transition to Postgraduate Study
When your Welcome Week induction timetable is published, you will see the Transition to Postgraduate Study session. In this session we will look at the structure of the university, timings of the university year, how to engage with academic events in your area and feel empowered as a postgraduate student. Even if you have studied with us before, this session is an essential step in equipping you with the skills needed to succeed as a postgraduate student.
Find out below how you can stay informed about what’s happening on your course during Welcome Week and once your studies begin.
Welcome Week Induction Timetable
We’ve put together a Welcome Week Induction Timetable for you. It will be available at the end of August. The activities on your Induction Timetable will include meeting key academic staff from your course and other students. It’s important that you attend these events, even if you have studied with us before.
Bulletins and email
Important course-based information will always be emailed to your university email address. We will also email you regular bulletins. These will be sent on Tuesdays by your local Education and Student Experience Team and will contain valuable information about opportunities while you study with us.
Moodle Community Hubs
Moodle is our virtual learning environment for teaching and learning resources. You will be automatically enrolled on your Moodle Community Hub page the day after you complete your registration. This page has information and resources tailored specifically to your school. We recommend you look at your Moodle Community Hub as soon as possible after you've registered. Joint honours students will be enrolled on both Community Hubs relevant to their degree.
Help and support
There are a wide range of people and services to support your academic studies and wellbeing.
Welcome Week Helpdesk
On Wednesday 23 September, the Education and Student Experience Team will have a Welcome Helpdesk at the Student Opportunities Showcase, in the Old Blackwells Bookshop, Portland Building B floor from 11am – 2pm. We can help with any queries around your department induction schedule, contacting your personal tutor, peer mentoring, and the student rep system. Outside of these times, please go to The School of English Office, A107 Trent, where someone will be happy to help you between 10am-4pm.
Personal tutors
All taught students are assigned a personal tutor who is an academic member of staff in your department. Your personal tutor is your first point of contact for academic, pastoral, or general queries. Your personal tutor will be there to support you, take an interest in your progress, and offer guidance on your personal development. They can also refer or direct you to other forms of help and support at the university.
A short guide to tutoring will be available on your Moodle Community Hub.
Specific student groups
Support and resources for mature students, disabled students and students of black heritage can be found on the Information for Specific Student Groups page.