BA (Hons) in English Literature, Lancaster University

Lancaster,

36 Months

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About this course

Lancaster's English Literature BA Hons offers a comprehensive engagement with literature from the medieval period to the present day. Students explore diverse genres and voices, including forgotten and overlooked ones, in a rich program that emphasizes active reading and critical debate. The course encourages development of professional skills such as research, persuasion, and presentation. Students will also have opportunities to participate in literary journals, attend literary events, and study near the historic Lake District, home to many writers. The program combines close textual analysis with an appreciation of literature’s role in exploring politics, ecology, philosophy, and more, often through experimental or creative criticism. In addition, students can opt to take modules in other subjects, participate in trips, and engage with a wide literary and cultural landscape. The department has established partnerships, such as with the Wordsworth Trust, and offers study abroad options.

Why this course is highly recommended

Lancaster's English Literature course is highly rated for its combination of academic excellence and active engagement. It ranks 6th for Creative Writing and 7th for English and Creative Writing in the 2025 guides. Students benefit from small-group seminars, one-to-one tutoring, and common participation in literary events at notable venues like Lancaster’s medieval Castle. The course emphasizes developing critical voices and professional skills, suited to careers in teaching, publishing, media, and beyond. Its local environment offers inspiration from the Lake District, adding a unique dimension to literary studies. Additionally, the department’s extensive use of digital and experimental criticism prepares students to think creatively and critically about literature.

Specialisation

The course offers a broad engagement with literature across genres, periods, and themes, with particular strengths in Romanticism due to its proximity to the Lake District. Students can study various forms, including myth, sermons, slave narratives, modernist epigrams, and graphic novels. Optional modules allow focus on areas like creative writing, place and space, world literature, criticism, film, media, and Gothic studies, providing opportunities for specialised exploration within the overall program.

Course fees

Application fees

1st year tuition fees

26.07L

Living cost

Degree requirements

Applicants are typically expected to have AAB in A levels or equivalent, including specific subject preferences. Other qualifications include 36 Level 3 credits at Distinction from the Access to HE Diploma, IB scores of 35 points overall with 16 from the best three HL subjects, and a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component. The course has flexible entry criteria for Highers and other qualifications, with no specific GCSE requirements, although overall GCSE profiles are considered.

English language test

IELTS

6.5

TOEFL

PTE

DUOLINGO

Career prospects

Graduates from Lancaster's English Literature program develop vital professional skills such as critical and creative thinking, research, and presentation. They find career opportunities in sectors like teaching, publishing, copywriting, advertising, journalism, and arts administration. Some move into postgraduate study or roles in law, social work, business, and media. The program also prepares students for careers outside traditional paths, including psychotherapy, data analysis, and consultancy, thanks to transferable skills gained during their studies.

FAQs

What are the entry requirements for this course?

Typically, AAB in A levels (including specific subjects), or equivalent qualifications like IB 35 points with 16 from the best three HLs, are required. Other qualifications such as BTEC, Scottish Highers, and T levels are also accepted, with specific grade requirements.

Are there study abroad options?

Yes, students can opt for a study abroad year in their degree, allowing them to study in different countries as part of their program.