English Literature Courses Offered Free by Top Schools and Universities

About this article
Studying English literature gives you a taste of history, psychology, sociology, and develops writing, comprehension and critical thinking skills - all neatly bound in one package. Try these free online courses from top universities to study literature and learn to engage with literary texts.
View available schools

Free English Literature Courses

You can broaden your mind or prepare for your academic future with this list of free English literature courses.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

MIT's OCW has several interesting English courses. Literature and Ethical Values introduces readers to classical works, while Major English Novels spotlights the best of the best in English literature.

The Open University

The Open University's library of literature courses is quite expansive. To get your nose in a book, try Reading English Literature, while there is also an Start Writing Fiction course for students who have had enough of reading books and want to write them instead.

University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley)

UC Berkeley has posted audio lectures online from their popular Shakespeare course. Grab a copy of Shakespeare's works and read along, with plenty of background information and critical analysis.

Utah State University (USU)

USU's Introduction to Writing prepares students to create academic prose.

Free Online English Literature Courses at a Glance

Course & SchoolProgram LevelFormatAssignmentsQuizzes & ExamsDownloadable
Literary Studies: The Legacy of England course from MITUndergraduateExternal Reading ResourcesYesNoYes
Introduction to Literary Theory course from MITUndergraduateExternal Reading ResourcesYesNoYes
Literature and Ethical Values course from MITUndergraduateExternal Reading ResourcesYesNoYes
Major English Novels course from MITUndergraduateExternal Reading ResourcesYesNoYes
Major English Novels: Reading Romantic Fiction course from MITUndergraduateExternal Reading ResourcesYesNoYes
Writing About Literature course from MITUndergraduateExternal Reading ResourcesYesNoYes
Writing and Reading Short Stories course from MITUndergraduateText LessonsYesNoYes
Exploring the English Language course from Open UniversityIntermediateText Lessons/VideoYesNoYes
English Grammar in Context course from Open UniversityAdvancedText Lessons/VideoYesNoYes
Reading course from Open UniversityBeginnerText LessonsYesNoYes
Approaching Poetry course from Open UniversityIntermediateText LessonsYesNoYes
Approaching Prose Fiction course from Open UniversityIntermediateText LessonsYesNoYes
Approaching Plays course from Open UniversityIntermediateText LessonsYesNoYes
Writing What You Know course from Open UniversityBeginnerAudio/Text LessonsYesNoYes
Start Writing Fiction course from Open UniversityBeginnerAudio/Text LessonsYesNoYes
Shakespeare course from UC BerkeleyUndergraduateAudio LecturesNoNoYes
Introduction to Writing: Academic Prose course from USUUndergraduateExternal Reading ResourcesYesNoNo

Popular Schools

  • Online Programs Available
    1. Liberty University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • PHD: Communication
      • PHD: Communication
    Certificate
      • CTG: Communication
      • CTG: Communication
  • Online Programs Available
    2. Grand Canyon University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • M.A. in Communication with an Emphasis in Education
      • M.A. in Communication with an Emphasis in Education
    Bachelor's
      • Bachelor of Arts in Communications with an Emphasis in Interpersonal Communication and Human Relationships
      • BA in Digital Film - Screenwriting
  • Online Programs Available
    3. Penn Foster High School

    Program Options

    High School Diploma
      • HS Diploma
  • Campus and Online Programs
    4. Full Sail University

    Program Options

    Bachelor's
      • Communications Bachelors with Media Communications Concentration - Campus
      • Bachelor of Fine Arts - Creative Writing for Entertainment
  • Towson, MD

    Towson University

  • Stanford, CA

    Stanford University

  • Washington, DC

    Howard University

  • Cambridge, MA

    Harvard University

  • Philadelphia, PA

    University of Pennsylvania

Featured Schools

The schools and programs listed below are popular educational options, and tuition varies based on program and location

Liberty University

  • PHD: Communication
  • CTG: Communication

What is your highest level of education?

Grand Canyon University

  • M.A. in Communication with an Emphasis in Education
  • Bachelor of Arts in Communications with an Emphasis in Interpersonal Communication and Human Relationships
  • BA in Digital Film - Screenwriting

What is your highest level of education?

Penn Foster High School

  • HS Diploma

What is your highest level of education?

Full Sail University

  • Communications Bachelors with Media Communications Concentration - Campus
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts - Creative Writing for Entertainment

What is your highest level of education?