English Literature and History BA

Hone your critical thinking and analytical skills as you study the modules that interest you most.

Approach your degree from another perspective with our BA Liberal Arts programme. This may offer you an alternative way to study modules in your preferred subject areas.

Our academics and researchers

Our English academics and researchers explore texts and ideas that span seven centuries and thousands of literary works, from medieval poems to twenty-first century digital media. In the History department, our academics and researchers cover a wide range of British, European and world history from the early medieval period to the present. Their contributions and insights often feature in news articles, television programmes, and books.

• Professor Louise Curran featured in the BBC documentary Jane Austen: Rise of a Genius. She teaches on a variety of English undergraduate modules, including third-year options on Jane Austen covering her teenage writings, major novels, letters, and the afterlife of her fiction in TV and film.
• Dr David Gange takes a very hands-on approach to history: sometimes sailing small boats out at sea for his research on culture and heritage of shorelines, other times appearing alongside musicians such as Tony Iommi or interviewing bands from around the world for his work on the history of metal music and activism. He teaches on a variety of modules across the history programme, including “The Making of the Contemporary World” and “Innovations in History.”
• Dr Toria Johnson has led a heritage project for the renowned Birnam Oak, aiming to protect the ancient tree and help tourism in the area made famous by Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
• Professor Mo Moulton writes a range of topics, including the Irish in Britain, queer history, and the co-operative movement. Mo Moulton’s publications include The Mutual Admiration Society, the winner of an Agatha Award and an Anthony Award. Their expertise is shared in final-year undergraduate module ‘Gross Indecency to Gay Marriage: Gender and Sexual Minorities 1885 to the present.’

Our students

Our students embrace opportunities across the university: from volunteering with museums, to joining societies and getting involved in festivals and events.

• Explore some of Birmingham's museums with Liv.
• Sophie goes behind the scenes of Birmingham Literature Festival.
• Visit the library, volunteer with a funeral museum, and research urban history in second year student Millie’s vlog.
• Zoe shares her favourite extracurriculars including Dance Club Latino, film screenings, and poetry nights.

Life in a creative and historical city

From Medieval origins to industrial revolutions, Birmingham is the city to explore countless eras of history and is now a cultural and creative hub. Our industrial roots paved the way for a rich offering of museums, shops, restaurants and venues. Discover our city for yourself!

• Take a tour of Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter with English and Creative Writing student Zoe.
• Explore Birmingham's creative quarter: Digbeth with Liv and Grace.
• Searching for cute brunch spots and high street shopping? Check out Harborne with Liv.

English literature and history in the city:

• Birmingham Literature Festival: Taking place every Autumn, the Birmingham Literature Festival is a leading festival in the Midlands. It brings together the very best writers, speakers, thinkers, activists and artists from the UK and across the world.
• Travel through time, without ever leaving Birmingham. Tour restored Tudor buildings, study the battle scars of the English Civil War, and even get a taste of life in the Black Country of days gone by.
• Sarehole Mill: JRR Tolkien grew up across the road from this watermill, and is said to have drawn on its rural surroundings to inspire Middle-earth.

Department facilities and activities

Combine the very best of two distinct departments. Our History department allows you to tailor your degree to your interests with a range of modules covering the medieval, early modern and modern periods across the world. The English Literature department covers a huge selection of literary specialisms with Shakespearean connections and access to a wealth of archives and texts.

• Explore on-campus museums and galleries including the Lapworth Museum of Geology, Winterbourne House and Garden, and the Barber Institute of Fine Arts – all free to students.
• Our Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon hosts world-renowned academics and a biennial international conference, and is part of global network of Shakespearean organisations in Japan, China, Europe and North America.
• Access our exceptional resources, including the Cadbury Research Library, consisting of over 200,000 rare books dating from 1471, as well as the Library of Birmingham, Europe’s largest regional library.
• Culture Forward  connects our students and researchers to over 125 creative and cultural organisations. This network offers exciting collaborative opportunities for students, ranging from workshops and talks to exhibitions and performances, and from research projects to student work experience programmes.

• Lectures: These give you an insightful, expert introduction to key topics; they also provide guidance to support your reading and assessments.
• Seminars: These are small group discussions where you share and test ideas with your academic tutor and your peers. Seminars help you understand topics better and build confidence in sharing your thoughts.

Support during your studies

At Birmingham, you’ll have plenty of support to help you adjust to university life:

• Personal Academic Tutors: You'll have a tutor assigned to you who will guide and support you throughout your studies.
• Wellbeing Officers: The Wellbeing team help with extensions, disabilities, extenuating circumstances, or any personal challenges. They’ll also connect you with further support on campus or elsewhere.
• Academic Writing Advisory Service: Tutorials, workshops and support in  structuring an argument and developing your own academic voice.
• Student Experience Team: They offer research opportunities, and cultural, intellectual and social activities to enhance your university experience.

Contact hours

Your degree is designed to help you achieve 120 credits per year, which equals about 40 hours of learning each week. This includes lectures, seminars, workshops, independent study, revision, and assessments.

Assessment methods

You’ll be assessed in different ways to suit each module. At the start of a module, you’ll be told how and when you’ll be assessed. Methods will vary but may include coursework (e.g., essays), group or individual presentations and projects, exams, reports or computer-based assignments.

Feedback: You will receive timely feedback on each assessment, so you can learn from it and improve your performance in future assessments.

The optional module information listed for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available, we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.

Professional Skills module

Intercalated opportunities

In the College of Arts and Law, we're committed to helping you become career-ready. With our intercalated options, we offer undergraduate students the opportunity to take an additional year and dive into industry, language and more.

To secure a place at Birmingham, you'll need to meet our general entry requirements as well as those specific to your course.

Number of A levels required: 3

A levels

• We prefer applications from students with at least one A level in an Arts, Humanities or Social Science subject.
• If an applicant is not taking either A Level English Literature or A level English Language and Literature, then we require at least a grade 7 in GCSE English Literature.
• If an applicant is not taking either A level History or Medieval History or Ancient History or Early Modern History, then we require at least a grade 7 in GCSE History.

BTEC qualifications

• BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM, plus AB at A level in the subject/s mentioned above.
• BTEC Diploma: DD, plus AB at A level in the subject/s mentioned above.
• BTEC Subsidiary Diploma: D, plus AB at A level in the subject/s mentioned above.

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

Applicants who take the EPQ and meet our offer criteria will be made the typical offer for their programme of choice, plus an alternative offer which will be one grade lower plus a grade B in the EPQ. This offer would apply if you make Birmingham your firm choice.

Core Maths qualification

Applicants who take the Core Maths qualification and meet our offer criteria will be made the typical offer for their programme of choice, plus an alternative offer which will be one grade lower plus a grade B in Core Maths. If you are also taking A-level Maths, you will not be eligible for an alternative offer through studying Core Maths. This offer would apply if you make Birmingham your firm choice.

Music performance

Applicants who have achieved (or who will achieve) any level 3 graded examination in music performance at grade 8 or above (e.g. ABRSM, Rockschool, Trinity College London) and outline that on their UCAS application will be made the typical offer for their programme of choice, plus an alternative offer which will be one grade lower plus the Music qualification. This alternative offer would apply if you make Birmingham your firm choice.

High-level sports

Applicants who play sport at county level or above will be made the typical offer for their programme of choice, plus an alternative offer which will be one grade lower. This alternative offer would apply if you make Birmingham your firm choice. If you have already received a one grade reduction through one of our performance athlete schemes (e.g. our Elite Dual Career Athlete Pathway programme), then you will not receive an additional reduction - we will apply a maximum one grade reduction on an offer.

English language requirements

If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification or a Presessional English course.

• TOEFL iBT tests taken before January 2026: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 22 in Speaking and 21 in Writing.
• TOEFL iBT tests taken from January 2026: 4.5 Overall with no less than 4.5 in two skills and 4 in two skills
• IELTS: 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in any band.
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): PTE 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills.
• Cambridge English(exams taken from 2015): Cambridge English: Advanced Minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
• Language Cert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 ‘Communicator’ with no less than 33 in each skill
• Trinity ISE II: Not applicable
• Trinity ISE III: Pass in each Skill

Presessional English courses

If you have a conditional offer for Birmingham where English is a requirement, you can take a Presessional English course as an alternative to retaking IELTS or a similar qualification. We offer on-campus courses all year round starting from September, including additional online courses in the summer term. Teaching takes place in small classes with no more than 18 students to maximise class participation.

Undergraduate loans

To help with the cost of studies, undergraduate students from the UK can apply for student finance through the Student Loans Company. The support available is made up of a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan which helps to cover living costs.

Scholarships, grants and bursaries

At Birmingham, we believe that financial worries should not be a barrier to accessing higher education. That’s why we offer a range of additional financial support for students through scholarships, bursaries and other awards.

View further information on how to apply for undergraduate courses, including advice for UK and overseas applicants.

Key skills:

• Strong communication skills
• A deep understanding of the past
• Leadership and teamwork
• Critical thinking
• Oral presentation skills

Our English Literature students have gone on to secure roles such as 'Founder', 'Marketing Executive', and 'Project Manager', working for organisations such as:

• Penguin Random House
• BBC
• Amazon
• NHS

Our History students have gone on to secure roles such as Archaeologist, Chief Executive Officer, Educational Consultant, Founder, and History Teacher working for organisations such as:

• English Heritage
• National Trust
• National Portrait Gallery
• Historic England
• Ministry of Justice
• BBC

The University has commissioned Cturtle as our data partner for tracking our alumni destinations. The data above is a subset from 43,666 alumni who completed their course up to 31 July 2024.

Careers Network

Our aim is to make sure that success in your studies leads you on to a fulfilling career. Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offer support to help you identify your options, develop your skills and gain access to opportunities that propel you towards your career goal.

Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community, and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.

Flexible programmes to suit you

Not sure what you want to study?

Explore your options for combining subjects and shape your degree around your interests, whilst developing key skills for the world of work. 

Intercalated years

Our intercalated opportunities offer the chance to take a year out from your existing course to study within another field. This takes place usually between year 2 and year 3 of your programme.