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English and History BA

3-4 years

History and English share a deep and powerful kinship. After all, we can only understand texts by studying the past – a past we can only access by reading and analysing texts. On this degree, you will explore how writers have been – and continue to be – shaped by the world and culture they inhabit, and what their work can in turn tell us about the past.
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English and History BA, 3-4 years

History and English share a deep and powerful kinship. After all, we can only understand texts by studying the past – a past we can only access by reading and analysing texts. On this degree, you will explore how writers have been – and continue to be – shaped by the world and culture they inhabit, and what their work can in turn tell us about the past.

Start date:

2025

Course information

Typical offer ABB

UK fee £9,535

UCAS code VQ13

International fee £19,700

Institute code L34

Taught by English

The Guardian

Top 10 in the UK for English (The Guardian University Guide 2025)

Times Higher Education

4th in the UK for English graduate prospects (The Times Good University Guide 2025)

National Student Survey logo

Ranked 13th in subjects aligned to History for ‘overall positivity’ in the NSS 2024 (according to Times Higher Education NSS 2023 methodology applied to the NSS 2024 data).

English at Leicester website
History at Leicester website

Course description

Course description

The disciplines of English and History are inseparable. Major historical events affect authors, works, literary and cultural movements, even language itself, in important and complex ways, from the Norman Conquest to the Reformation, and from the Civil War to the Cold War and beyond. The English and History BA brings together these two naturally complementary subjects by grouping modules in such a way that they support and enrich one another.

You will explore English Literature and History from every period, and encounter a broad range of approaches and methodologies. A variety of option modules will allow you to deepen your understanding of those subjects that you find most fascinating. Our graduates leave Leicester with an unrivalled breadth of knowledge and skills.

This course will help you to understand how writers have been influenced by their wider contexts, how they have represented the world around them, and how to read and interpret texts in light of their history.

You will have access to library collections that include material that dates back to the 12th century. Our 'special collections' of manuscripts and historical books offer a direct connection with the past.

In your first and second year you will divide your time equally between English and History modules. You third year offers you the chance to specialise more in the area that interests you the most. You will have the opportunity to study a vast range of English and History modules from the Middle Ages to the present day.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

  • A/AS-levels: ABB at A-level including English (Language, Literature or combined). We prefer A-level History, though this is not essential. Two AS-levels may be considered in place of one A-level. General Studies is accepted
  • EPQ with A-levels: BBB at A-level including English (Language, Literature or combined) + EPQ at grade B
  • International Baccalaureate: Pass Diploma with 30 points, including 6 in HL English A or B
  • Access to HE Diploma: Pass Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 45 credits at level 3, 30 of which must be at Distinction. To include 12 credits at Distinction in English Level 3 Modules
  • BTEC Nationals: Pass Diploma with D*DD. Plus grade B in A-level English (Language, Literature or combined)

Other official national and international qualifications considered from across the world. You can review some of the qualifications we accept on our countries page and English Language equivalencies.

If your qualification or country is not listed, please contact us for more information, including the name and result of the qualification you have studied.

Second Year Entry may be possible with suitable qualifications.

Contextual offers

The University of Leicester is committed to providing equitable opportunities for all applicants from all backgrounds. We make contextual offers to support students who may be impacted by the area they live in, their personal circumstances or who have completed one of our progression programmes. These offers are usually one or two grades lower than the standard entry requirements. To qualify for a contextual offer, you must apply for an eligible course and meet specific criteria – check if you’re eligible.

Selection Process

When considering your application, we will look for evidence that you will be able to fulfil the objectives of the course and achieve the standards required. We will take into account a range of factors including previous exam results.

Applicants are not normally interviewed: If you receive an offer you will be invited to visit the department.

English Language Requirements

IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability.

If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.

International Qualifications

Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.

Countries list

Fees and funding

Fees and funding

UK Students

Starting in 2025

The tuition fees that will be payable by you to the University for the 2025/26 academic year will be £9,535

  • £9,535 in your first year. Tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation, subject to government regulations. The inflation rate used will be the Retail Price Index excluding mortgage payments (RPIX)
  • Year Abroad: your fee will be £1,430 for that year

Find out more about scholarships and funding.

International Students

Starting in 2025

  • £19,700 per year
  • Year Abroad: £4,925, which is 25% of the full-time tuition fee

If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.

If you are an EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme, you may qualify for the UK fee (subject to criteria).

Find out more about scholarships and funding.

Careers and employability

Careers and employability

All students take part in the Talent Academy, which will introduce you to the resources provided by our Careers Development Service and provides opportunities to gain work experience with leading employers.

'History in the Classroom' is a Second Year module in which you can spend one afternoon a week under the direct supervision of a qualified classroom teacher in a local school where you will teach some History. If you are thinking of teaching as a profession, this is the module for you.

Graduate destinations

Our graduates have found work with companies such as:

  • Allegis Group
  • Aceville Publications
  • The Mills Archive Trust
  • PPL PRS Music Licensing
  • Dennis Publishing
  • Miyazaki City Board of Education

Rachel studied English with a year abroad and went on to become Head of English and Associate Assistant Principal at a secondary school in London.

Careers and Employability Service


Get career-ready at Leicester with guidance from our award-winning Careers and Employability Service. We're here to give you a lifetime offer of support, even after graduation. Our team of specialist careers advisers and mentors will help you every step of the way. From supporting you with CVs and interviews, to volunteering opportunities and placements, we're here to help you reach your professional goals.

Related courses

Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainable Development Goals

We are committed to providing skills and knowledge to help prepare you tackle global challenges. We have mapped our undergraduate degrees for learning which aligns to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

This degree includes learning which relates to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:

Find out more about the UN Sustainable Development Goals

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Course structure

Year 1

Year 1

In Year 1, your modules will equip you with the fundamental skills for investigating English and History.

Core modules

Option modules

Choose two option modules from:

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Year 2

Year 2

Year 2 allows you to explore an even greater range of literary and cultural movements alongside the historical currents and events that shaped them.

Core modules

Option modules

Choose one option module from:

Then choose four option modules from:

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Year Abroad (optional)

Year Abroad (optional)

We’ll make sure you have everything you need for your future career: not just by awarding you a high quality degree, but also by helping you to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to make your mark in the world as a Citizen of Change. One way you can do this is by opting to take a Year Abroad between Years 2 and 3 of your degree.

Studying abroad is not just for people who are interested in travelling and meeting new people. It is about acquiring life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. Whether you go on to a career in the private, public or third sector - or plough your own furrow as an entrepreneur – you will find the experience invaluable.

For more information, including a list of destinations, please visit our Study Abroad website.

Please note

  • A year spent abroad still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See the Fees and Funding tab of this page for details.
  • You may be eligible for a travel grant from Student Finance England.
  • Places are offered on a competitive basis, and eligibility is dependent on your academic performance in Years 1 and 2.
  • Language courses, at beginners or advanced level, are available through our Languages at Leicester scheme.

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Final Year (English dissertation)

Final Year (English dissertation)

Core module

Option modules

Choose two option modules from:

Then choose two option modules from:

Plus one option module from:

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Final Year (History dissertation)

Final Year (History dissertation)

Core module

Option modules

Choose three option modules from:

Plus two option modules from:

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Why Leicester?

Load the video related to: English at Leicester

English at Leicester

It wasn’t just the books that made the library special for Bobby – he loved the building too.

We offer excellent levels of support - our personal tutor and mentorship systems, and our teaching and assessment methods all ensure that you feel part of a vibrant academic community from the first, and fully confident as a researcher and writer throughout your time with us.

Our degrees are designed with choice in mind: our generous range of options at every level of study allows you to organise your studies around existing interests, or to explore and encounter new ones.

Employability is at the heart of our degree: as well as polishing your skills in analysis, research and presentation, we have bespoke vocational modules that will let you gain valuable insight into a range of future careers, from teaching to publishing, and from journalism to the creative arts.

We have well-respected research centres covering Medieval History, Urban History, Local History and Genocide and Holocaust Studies.

Reading list

See the types of texts you might read, over the summer, to get a feel for the course and arrive prepared and ready to go.

View reading lists for:

Teaching and learning

Teaching

For each module you will typically have one or two lectures and a seminar each week, along with a number of additional events such as workshops on research and study skills, learning groups, and introduced film screenings. A typical week will involve a minimum of nine hours scheduled contact time. Lectures are designed to introduce you to important debates and contexts for understanding an author’s work. Weekly seminars, in which a tutor leads a small group of students in discussion, will allow you to explore a text or topic in depth. When you study the ‘Renaissance Drama’ module in your first year, you will take part in a workshop with local theatre companies.

For your third-year dissertation you receive one-to-one tuition across the term from a tutor with an interest in your chosen subject.

Assessment

You will be assessed through a combination of essays, group work, oral presentations, and other forms of coursework. These assessments are designed to help you build confidence in a range of skills and to provide prospective employers with evidence that you can work effectively both as an independent researcher and as a team member.

You will have regular meetings with your Personal Tutor to discuss progress in your studies. Your Personal Tutor will also provide a sympathetic ear for all matters of personal concern, whether they be academic, financial, housing, career or social issues.

Independent learning

When not attending lectures, seminars or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. To help with your independent learning, you can access the Library and our social study spaces in halls of residence.

Academic support

Our Centre for Academic Achievement provides help in the following areas:

  • study and exam skills
  • academic writing
  • presentations
  • dissertations
  • numerical data skills
  • referencing sources

Our AccessAbility Centre offers support and practical help for students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties, including physical, mental health or mobility difficulties, deafness, or visual impairment.

Teaching staff

You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. PhD research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader. Our teaching is informed by the research we do. You can learn more about our staff by visiting our staff profiles.

Apply now

Course Qualification Duration UCAS Code Availability
Course English and History Qualification BA Duration 3 years full-time UCAS Code VQ13 Availability How to apply
Course English and History with Year Abroad Qualification BA Duration 4 years full-time UCAS Code VQ13 Availability How to apply

Data about this course

student looking for books in the library

There is such a broad range of literature and language, from Old English right through to contemporary writing.

Jennifer

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