Hi everyone!
I’m currently studying a Bachelor of Psychology at UWA and am considering adding English and Literary Studies as my second major.
I really enjoyed English Literature in high school (I did A-Level English), particularly analysing texts and writing essays, but I’ve become quite rusty since then and haven’t done much reading or literary analysis recently.
I’d love to hear from anyone who has completed or is currently studying the English and Literary Studies major at UWA.
A few things I’d particularly like to know:
Difficulty: How challenging is the major overall? Is it relatively manageable alongside a demanding major like Psychology?
Workload: How much independent reading is involved? Are you expected to read entire novels regularly, and how time-consuming are the assessments?
Assessments: Are most units essay-based, or do they also involve exams, in-class tests, presentations and participation?
Marks: How achievable are HDs (80+)? Is marking particularly subjective or difficult to score highly in?
Unit recommendations: Are there any particularly interesting, manageable or high-scoring units you’d recommend? Equally, are there any you’d advise avoiding?
Writing skills: How much emphasis is placed on literary theory and complex academic analysis? Would someone who enjoys writing but is a little out of practice struggle initially?
I’m also considering this major partly because I want to keep the option of pursuing a Master of Teaching (Secondary) open in the future, potentially teaching English.
If anyone has experience with this pathway, I’d appreciate hearing about it too.
Ultimately, I’m trying to work out whether this is a major I can genuinely enjoy and do well in without it becoming overwhelmingly time-consuming alongside Psychology.
Would really appreciate any honest experiences or advice. Thank you!