English Literature Joint Honours

The Bachelor of Arts in English Literature Joint Honours at the University of Birmingham offers a comprehensive and flexible study experience, allowing students to explore the rich and diverse world of English literary traditions alongside a partner subject. Designed to develop critical thinking, analytical skills, and a deep appreciation for literature across different periods and genres, this programme provides an immersive academic journey rooted in a vibrant intellectual community. Students will engage with a wide range of texts, from medieval poetry and renaissance drama to contemporary fiction, gaining insight into the historical, cultural, and social contexts that have shaped English literature over centuries. The joint honours structure encourages interdisciplinary learning, enabling students to tailor their degree according to their interests and career aspirations by combining English Literature with a second discipline such as History, Politics, or a modern foreign language. The programme benefits from the university’s distinguished faculty, who are actively involved in research and scholarship, ensuring students receive a high-quality education that combines traditional literary analysis with innovative approaches. Throughout the course, students will develop essential skills including close reading, effective communication, essay writing, and independent research, preparing them for a wide range of career paths in education, publishing, media, arts management, and beyond. The University of Birmingham’s state-of-the-art facilities and extensive library resources create an ideal environment for academic growth. Additionally, the programme offers opportunities for study abroad, work placements, and extracurricular activities that enhance employability. Graduates of this programme will leave with a profound understanding of English literature’s historical depth and cultural significance, along with the ability to analyse complex texts critically and communicate ideas effectively. Whether you are passionate about literary history, creative writing, or critical theory, this degree provides a solid foundation for future success and personal development.

Detailed Course Facts

• English

Course Content

Teaching and learning

We believe that we are partners in learning with our students, and our programme is designed to ensure that you are a fully supported and an active learner. Your programme combines independent study with class work in seminar groups and lectures, as well as individual supervisions in connection with your dissertation. We provide a variety of assessment methods, including exams and written work produced throughout the year.

Career opportunities

In English you have an unparalleled opportunity, not only to engage with the materials of a broad and diverse cultural, textual and linguistic discipline, but also to develop skills in intellectual analysis, critical thinking and articulate expression skills that last a lifetime and qualify you for many possible careers. You are also encouraged to acquire practical skills, of equally wide usefulness and application, in oral presentation, professional documentation, group work, and the uses of information technology.
English graduates go on to work in commerce, the public services, journalism and other media, teaching at every level, publishing, advertising, the law, and a wide range of other professions.

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6 CAE score : 80(Grade A) TOEFL iBT® test : 93

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

Number of A levels required: 3

Typical offer: AAA-ABB

Required subjects and grades: A level English Literature or English Language and Literature

International Baccalaureate Diploma: 34-38 points including English at HL with a minimum of 6 points

Additional information:

Typical offer grades are for guidance only, and will depend on the subjects you are combining. Please read the entries for both subjects. Where there is a disparity between the typical offer for Subject A and the typical offer for Subject B, the higher offer should be taken as the usual offer for the combination of the two.
Other qualifications are considered |

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of Birmingham.

The English Literature Joint Honours program at the University of Birmingham offers students the opportunity to study English Literature alongside a second subject, allowing for a flexible and comprehensive academic experience. This programme provides a broad curriculum that covers a wide range of literary periods, genres, and critical approaches, enabling students to develop critical thinking, analytical skills, and a deep appreciation for literary arts. The course typically includes modules on Shakespeare, Romanticism, Victorian literature, Modern and Contemporary texts, as well as specialized options such as postcolonial studies, gender studies, and digital humanities, depending on the selected second subject.

Students engage with primary texts through close reading and contextual analysis, supported by seminars, lectures, and independent research. The programme emphasizes both historical understanding and theoretical frameworks, equipping graduates with skills applicable in careers such as education, publishing, journalism, media, public relations, and further academic study. The course encourages active participation, original thinking, and the development of a personal critical voice. Assessment methods generally include essays, presentations, and examinations, with opportunities for creative projects and collaborative work.

The University of Birmingham provides excellent academic support and resources, including access to extensive libraries, digital archives, and specialist literature collections. Students benefit from experienced academic staff known for their research and teaching excellence. The programme fosters a vibrant student community, with numerous events, literary festivals, and reading groups that enrich the student experience. Overall, the English Literature Joint Honours degree at Birmingham is designed to cultivate well-rounded, critically engaged, and creatively inspired graduates ready for diverse professional pathways or postgraduate study.