We admit 6 undergraduates a year to read English, plus regular singletons in History & English and Classics & English. We look for applicants showing signs of keen reflective reading and readiness to take on the large amounts of primary and secondary reading the Oxford syllabus requires. We are impressed by applicants who are alert to the ways that literary study engages not just with history and context but, above all, with the use of language. We are not averse to deferred-entry candidates.
English is taught within College by Dr Fergus McGhee and Dr Esther Osorio Whewell. Professor Helen Moore, a medieval and early modern specialist, is currently President of the college.
Fergus McGhee's tutorial teaching covers the romantic period to the present, as well as theoretical approaches to literature. Esther Osorio Whewell teaches the early modern and long-eighteenth century period papers and Shakespeare. The in-house tutors in the subject - as well as the other tutors called on to help in the teaching - try to encourage critical and creative individuality in undergraduates. One of the greatest advantages of reading English at Corpus is the size, quality and modernity of the College Library's holdings in this subject.
Teaching in English is supported by lecturer Dr Rose Sawyer, who teaches medieval and Old English papers.
For information about applying to read English, please refer to the English Faculty Website and the University Admissions Website.
Resources for English, Key Stage 5, applying to Oxford, and finding out more about Corpus can be found here.
The best preparation for the entrance process is to do as much reading as possible in literature of virtually any kind.