English Literature and History

The BA in English Literature and History at Durham University offers students a unique opportunity to explore two rich and interconnected disciplines, providing a comprehensive understanding of literary masterpieces and historical developments across periods and regions. This interdisciplinary programme is designed for students with a passion for reading, critical analysis, and historical inquiry, aiming to develop their skills in research, interpretation, and effective communication. Over the course of the degree, students will engage with a wide variety of texts—from early medieval literature to contemporary works—while examining the social, cultural, political, and intellectual contexts that shaped them. Similarly, the History component fosters a deep understanding of key historical events, movements, and figures, spanning from ancient civilizations to modern times. The curriculum emphasizes comparative analysis, encouraging students to draw connections between literary themes and historical phenomena. Students will benefit from expert teaching staff, access to extensive libraries and archives, and opportunities for both independent research and collaborative projects. The programme incorporates lectures, seminars, workshops, and group discussions to foster an engaging learning environment. There are choices across modules that allow students to tailor their studies according to their interests—whether focusing more on literary theory, thematic studies, specific historical periods, or geographical regions. The programme also encourages developing transferable skills such as critical thinking, essay writing, presentation, and data analysis, which are highly valued within and beyond academia. Graduates of this programme have a wide range of career options, including roles in education, publishing, media, cultural heritage, research, and beyond. The programme aims to prepare students not only for further postgraduate study but also for a successful career in diverse fields that value analytical and communicative excellence. With a strong emphasis on both historical context and literary analysis, this degree provides a well-rounded, intellectually stimulating experience that enriches students' understanding of the diverse cultural landscapes that have shaped the modern world.

Content

Joint Honours in English and History is a cross-disciplinary course, which develops and assesses skills that are common to both disciplines alongside others that are specific to each. The course offers the opportunity to acquire a range of both literary-critical and historical knowledge, develops the ability to deploy and contextualise a number of subject-specific skills in each discipline, and locates these skills and forms of knowledge in relation to one another.

Year 1

In the first year, you will take three modules in English literature and three modules in History.

Optional modules in English:

• Introduction to Drama
• Introduction to the Novel
• Introduction to Poetry
• Romance and the Literature of Chivalry
• Myth and Epic of the North
• English: Language, Use, Theory
• Classical and Biblical Backgrounds to English Literature.

Optional modules in History (examples include):

• Tensions of Empire: British Imperialism 1763-1963
• Reformation Europe, 1500-1650
• New Heaven, New Earth: Latin Christendom and the World, 1000-1300
• The Birth of Western Society, 300-1050 AD
• The Making of Modern Africa: change and adaptation in sub-Saharan Africa, 1880-2000.

Year 2

In English, you have a wide choice from among lecture and seminar modules, but must take either Theory and Practice of Literary Criticism or Shakespeare. In History, you are offered modules that provide time-depth and focus on a closely defined period, and modules that are broader and more wide ranging, typically offering a widely delimited chronological and geographical approach.

Compulsory modules in English:

EITHER / OR

• Theory and Practice of Literary Criticism
• Shakespeare

(although both may be selected).

Optional lecture modules in English (taught by weekly lectures and four one-hour tutorials):

• Medieval Literature
• Old English
• Old Norse
• Old French
• Renaissance Literature
• Victorian Literature
• Literature of the Modern Period
• American Poetry.

Optional seminar modules in English (taught by fortnightly two-hour seminars):

• Modern Poetry
• Germanic Myth and Legend
• The Australian Legend
• Toni Morrison: Texts and Contexts
• John Milton
• Evelyn Waugh (a maximum of one may be selected).

Optional modules in History (examples include):

• Hard Times: British Society c. 1800-1901
• Modern China’s Transformations
• The American Half-century: the United States since 1945
• The King’s Two Bodies: Rulership in Late Medieval Europe
• The Ottoman World, 1400-1700.

Year 3

In English, the combination of a range of optional lecture modules and Special Topics is designed to broaden and deepen your knowledge base and analytical skills. In History, the syllabus encourages the detailed study and analysis of historical events, trends and problems by means of a Special Subject (requiring close study of a highly specialised topic using primary source materials) and a Dissertation. The third year also includes the possibility of choosing ‘reflective’ modules which oblige students to study a particular historical problem that will lead them to reflect upon the problematical nature of the historical enterprise, on its technique, historiography and subjectivity.

Compulsory modules:

One from:

• Dissertation in English
• Dissertation in History (40 credits).

Optional lecture modules in English (taught by weekly lectures and four one-hour tutorials):

• Old English
• Old Norse
• Old French
• Restoration and 18th Century Literature
• Literature of the Romantic Period
• Post-War Fiction and Poetry
• American Poetry.

Optional Special Topics in English (taught by fortnightly two-hour seminars):

• Literature, Cinema and Neuroscience
• Shakespeare on Film
• Shakespeare’s Problem Plays
• US Cold War Literature and Culture
• Writing Prose Fiction
• Fictions of Terrorism
• W. B. Yeats
• Elizabeth Bishop and Twentieth-Century Verse
• A Society of Equals? Literature, Culture and Equality
• Creative Writing Poetry
• Contemporary Mountain Writing.

Optional modules in History (examples include):

• A World Turned Upside Down: Radicalism in the English Revolution
• The Disappearance of Claudine Rouge: Murder, Mystery and Microhistory in Early Modern France
• Light Beyond the Limes: the Christianisation of Pagan Europe, 300-1000
• From War to Cold War: US Foreign Policy, c. 1944-1948.

Study Abroad

The Department participates in the University- wide overseas exchanges with:

• Boston College (USA),
• the University of British Columbia (Canada),
• the University of Hong Kong (China) 
• the National University of Singapore (Singapore).

Students can apply to spend the second year of their degree overseas. If you study on the four-year Joint Honours Modern European Languages and History degree, you will spend your third year abroad at a European university or a work placement as part of the University’s ERASMUS exchanges.

English Studies

The Department is part of the ERASMUS programme which encourages students to study for part of their course in a university of another EU country. Currently, we are exchanging students with the University of Reykjavik (Iceland), Charles University (Prague, Czech Republic) and Heidelberg University (Germany) in their second year of study.

The University of Reykjavik has special strengths in Old Norse and houses the world’s most important collection of Old Norse manuscripts. Charles University is one of the oldest universities in Central Europe and Heidelberg is the oldest university in Germany. Both have exceptionally beautiful settings in cities renowned for their artistic and cultural heritage. Teaching is in English at all three universities.

Subject requirements, level and grade

In addition to satisfying the University’s general entry requirements, please note:

• We welcome applications from those with other qualifications equivalent to our standard entry requirements and from mature students with non-standard qualifications or from those who may have had a break in their study.
• We require Grade A in History and English Literature (or the combined English Literature and Language A Level) for English Literature and History (QV21)
• We require a Grade A* in any subject
• We do not include General Studies or Critical Thinking as part of our offer
• We welcome enquiries regarding applications for deferred entry which may be considered in special circumstances. Please contact our Admissions Secretary.

Preferred Tests:

a. IELTS: 6.5 (no component under 6.0)

b. TOEFL iBT (internet based test): 92 (no component under 23)

c. Cambridge Proficiency (CPE): Grade C

d. Cambridge Advanced (CAE): Grade A

e. Cambridge IGCSE First Language English at Grade C or above [not normally acceptable for students who require a Tier 4 student visa]

f. Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language at Grade B or above [not normally acceptable for students who require a Tier 4 student visa]

g. GCSE English Language at grade C or above

h. Pearson Test of English (overall score 62 (with no score less than 56 in each component))

Alternative accepted tests when those listed in a.-h. above are unavailable to the applicant (if the applicant requires a Tier 4 visa to study, advice on the suitability of these alternatives must be sought from the Student Recruitment and Admissions Office):

i. Certificate of Attainment (Edexcel)

j. GCE A-levels (AQA, CIE, Edexcel, CCEA, OCR, WJEC) at grade C or above in an essay based, humanities or social science subject from the following list: History, Philosophy, Government and Politics, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Religious Studies, Economics, Business Studies, Law and Sociology. Modern or Classical Languages are not acceptable in meeting this requirement.

k. International Baccalaureate with a minimum of grade 5 in Standard Level English or a minimum of grade 5 if taken at Higher Level.

l. NEAB (JMB) Test in English (Overseas)

m. Singapore Integrated Programme (SIPCAL) at grade C or above in an essay based, humanities or social science subject from the following list: History, Philosophy, Government and Politics, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Religious Studies, Economics, Business Studies, Law and Sociology. Modern or Classical Languages are not acceptable in meeting this requirement.

n. Singapore Polytechnic Diploma and Advanced Diplomas at GPA 3.0 or above

o. WAEC and NECO Grade B3 or above from Nigeria and Ghana

The financing options for the Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and History at Durham University are designed to support students throughout their academic journey, ensuring that financial considerations do not hinder access to quality education. Tuition fees for UK and EU students are set annually by the university and are subject to change, with current figures available on the official Durham University website. For international students, the tuition fees are higher, reflecting the international fee structure. In addition to tuition, students should budget for living expenses, including accommodation, food, transportation, books, and personal costs, which vary depending on the student's lifestyle and choice of accommodation.

Durham University offers a comprehensive range of scholarships and bursaries to assist students financially. These include need-based bursaries that provide support based on household income, merit-based scholarships awarded for academic excellence, and subject-specific bursaries to encourage students to pursue studies in particular disciplines like English Literature and History. Applicants are encouraged to check the university’s scholarship portal for details on eligibility criteria, application procedures, and deadlines.

For UK students, various government-funded financing options are available, such as Student Loans for tuition fees and maintenance loans to cover living costs. These loans are repayable after graduation and are based on income levels. International students may explore external funding sources, including government sponsorships, scholarships from their home countries, and private organizations.

Durham University also participates in the UK’s postgraduate loan schemes, should students consider further study, which can help offset tuition and living expenses. Additionally, the university has partnerships with various organizations that offer work placements, part-time jobs, and internship opportunities allowing students to earn income and gain valuable experience.

International students are advised to seek financial planning advice before moving to the UK, considering additional costs such as visas, health insurance, and travel. The university’s financial aid office provides resources and guidance to help students understand their options and complete the necessary applications.

Overall, the program’s financing structure aims to be inclusive and supportive, facilitating access to students from diverse financial backgrounds and ensuring that all eligible students can pursue their academic goals without undue financial hardship.

The Durham University offers a combined honours degree programme in English Literature and History. This interdisciplinary course is designed for students who have a keen interest in exploring the development of English literature alongside an in-depth study of historical contexts. The curriculum provides a comprehensive overview of major literary works from different periods, alongside a detailed analysis of historical events, social changes, and cultural movements that have shaped England and the wider world. Students will engage with classic and contemporary texts, developing critical thinking, analytical skills, and a nuanced understanding of the interplay between literature and history. The programme is structured to enable students to take modules from both disciplines, allowing for a tailored academic experience that aligns with their interests and career aspirations. In addition to lectures and seminars, students have opportunities for independent research, participation in discussions, and collaborative projects. The course also emphasizes developing strong writing skills, analytical capabilities, and a global perspective. Students can expect to benefit from the university’s renowned faculty, extensive library resources, and lively academic community. The programme typically lasts three years for full-time students and includes assessments such as essays, presentations, and exams. Graduates of the programme often pursue careers in education, publishing, media, cultural institutions, or further academic study. The university’s location in Durham provides an inspiring setting with a rich history and vibrant community, complementing the academic experience. Overall, the English Literature and History programme at Durham University offers a rigorous, engaging, and multidimensional education that prepares students for diverse professional pathways and lifelong learning.