BA (Hons) in English Literature with Study Abroad, Lancaster University

Lancaster,

48 Months

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About this course

Lancaster University offers a comprehensive English Literature degree with a rich engagement across genres and periods, from medieval times to contemporary literature. Students are encouraged to develop their critical voice through discussions, debates, and involvement with literary journals such as Cake, Lux, Flash, and Errant. The course fosters active reading, exploring how literature interacts with various worlds like politics, ecology, and philosophy, and promotes experimental and creative criticism. Situated close to the Lake District, the program leverages its historic literary connections and provides opportunities for literary events, online activities, and study trips, including a popular visit to New York. The curriculum balances close textual study and broader thematic explorations, offering flexibility with modules in creative writing, media, and world literature, alongside opportunities for a year abroad or industry placements.

Why this course is highly recommended

Lancaster’s reputation is reflected in its rankings for Creative Writing and English, ranking 6th, 7th, and 7th in recent guides. The course promotes active engagement with literature, encourages development of critical and creative skills, and offers unique opportunities such as involvement in literary journals and access to literary events at historic venues like Lancaster’s medieval Castle and Wordsworth Museum. Its proximity to the Lake District provides inspiring landscapes linked to Romanticism. Additionally, the possibility of a year abroad and industry placements help students develop a global outlook and employability skills, making it a well-rounded choice for aspiring writers and literary scholars.

Specialisation

Students in this program explore an extensive range of literary genres and periods, from the medieval to the modern, including areas like Romanticism, Victorian literature, modernist and postmodernist texts, and world literatures. There are options to focus on themes such as Gothic, film, media, digital adaptation, and cultural intersections like race, gender, and colonialism. Specific modules cover topics like Gothic entanglements, Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Gothic in Victorian literature, and contemporary world literature, allowing students to tailor their studies towards particular interests within the broad field of English Literature.

Course fees

Application fees

1st year tuition fees

26.07L

Living cost

Degree requirements

Applicants typically need AAB at A-levels, with no specific GCSE requirements, though overall GCSE profile is considered. Other accepted qualifications include the Access to HE Diploma with 36 Level 3 credits at Distinction and 9 at Merit, IB with 35 points, and BTEC with DDD grades. For English language proficiency, an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component is required. The course is full-time and lasts four years, including options for study abroad or industry placement years.

English language test

IELTS

6.5

TOEFL

PTE

DUOLINGO

Career prospects

Graduates from this course develop vital skills like research, persuasion, presentation, and critical thinking, which are highly valued across sectors such as media, marketing, law, education, and business. Previous students have gone on to careers in teaching, publishing, copywriting, journalism, and authorship. The program also prepares students for postgraduate study or careers in areas like psychotherapy, consultancy, and data analysis, owing to the transferable skills gained through literary analysis, creative work, and engagement with cultural sectors.

FAQs

What are the entry requirements for this course?

Typically, students need an A-level offer of AAB, with other qualifications like IB (35 points) and BTEC (DDD) also accepted. English language proficiency requires an IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with at least 5.5 in each component.

Is there an opportunity for studying abroad?

Yes, students can spend their third year studying at one of Lancaster's international partner universities in destinations like Australia, the USA, Canada, Europe, or Asia, helping develop a global outlook and personal skills.