English Literature and History BA (Hons)
Durham University
Student rating
This is the overall rating calculated by averaging all live reviews for this uni on Whatuni.
( 4.1) View reviews

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Different course options
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Qualification

Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

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Location

Durham City

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Study mode

Full Time

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Start date

SEP-25

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Duration

3 Years

Course info

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Qualification

Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

Location

Durham City

Study mode

Full Time

Start date

SEP-25

Duration

3 Years

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Subjects

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History
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English
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Exam type

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A level
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Scottish Higher
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Scottish Advanced Higher
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Access to HE Diploma
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Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
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International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
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Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
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OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma
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Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
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T Level
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England
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Scotland
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Wales
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Northern Ireland
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Channel Islands
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EU
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Course info

The Joint Honours in BA English Literature 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 you the opportunity to acquire a range of both literary-critical and historical knowledge.The English part of your degree not only provides a thorough grounding in the ‘great tradition’ of English literature – from Chaucer and Shakespeare through to plays, poems and novels ...Read more

The Joint Honours in BA English Literature 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 you the opportunity to acquire a range of both literary-critical and historical knowledge.The English part of your degree not only provides a thorough grounding in the ‘great tradition’ of English literature – from Chaucer and Shakespeare through to plays, poems and novels written in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries – and in literary theory, but it also offers a wide range of imaginative and carefully designed modules.The history element offers you one of the most varied, exciting and wide-ranging courses in the country. You will explore the full range of history from the end of the Roman Empire to the present day. You can also apply to add a placement year or a year abroad to your degree, this would increase the course from three years to four.In the first year of your degree, you'll get an introduction into the disciplines of literature and advanced historical study. In the second year, you are required to engage with a range of periods and styles of literary and historical study. The third year will include a dissertation as well as optional modules for both subjects.

Key stats

History
CUG Subject Ranking
CUG Subject Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
4th
CUG Ranking
CUG Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
7th
English Studies (Non-Specific)
Drop-out rate
Drop-out rate
The percentage of students who didn't finish the course.
Calculated by 100% - (% of students continuing course + % of students completed course)
100 - 100 = 0% Drop-out rate Source: UNISTATS, 2019
0%
Employment rate
Employment rate
The percentage of students in full-time work 6 months after finishing their course.
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
95%
Average salary
Average salary
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
English Studies (Non-Specific) graduate salary at this uni
£20,000
UK English Studies (Non-Specific) graduate salary
£19,000
History
Drop-out rate
Drop-out rate
The percentage of students who didn't finish the course.
Calculated by 100% - (% of students continuing course + % of students completed course)
100 - 100 = 0% Drop-out rate Source: UNISTATS, 2019
0%
Employment rate
Employment rate
The percentage of students in full-time work 6 months after finishing their course.
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
89%
Average salary
Average salary
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
History graduate salary at this uni
£24,000
UK History graduate salary
£22,000
What students say
L
luhu
01 Apr 22

n/a..Read more

E
Edesia
24 Feb 22

with it being separated into colleges you can be in a place which fits your personality more, I attend the college of Hild Bede while I have friends in other colleges- and it..Read more

Modules

Modules (Year 1)
Modules (Year 2)
Modules (Year 3)
IDP Connect

Entry requirements

Exam type

A level

A level:

A*AA Grades / Points required

Scottish Higher:

AAAAA Grades / Points required

Scottish Advanced Higher:

AAA Grades / Points required

Access to HE Diploma:

D:30,M:15 Grades / Points required

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal:

D2,D3,D3 Grades / Points required

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme:

38 Grades / Points required

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017):

H1,H2,H2,H2,H2 Grades / Points required

OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma:

D*DD Grades / Points required

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016):

D*DD Grades / Points required

T Level:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Specific subjects/grades required for entry:including History and English Literature (or the combined English Literature and Language).Specific subjects excluded for entry:General Studies and Critical Thinking.

We will normally make offers based on Advanced Highers. If an applicant has not been able to take 3 Advanced Highers, offers may be made with a combination of Advanced Highers and Highers, or on a number of Highers.

Specific subjects/grades required for entry:English at grade A.History at grade A.

We require 60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at level 3 (or equivalent). Applicants may be required to meet additional subject-specific requirements for particular courses at Durham.

To include English Literature and History

To include 6, 6, 6 from Higher Level subjects including History and English Literature or English Literature/Language.

To include History and English

Additionally an A Level in English Literature (or English Language & Literature) plus an A Level in History.

Additionally an A Level in English Literature (or English Language & Literature) at grade A, plus an A Level in History at grade A or higher.

At Durham we welcome applications from students of outstanding achievement and potential from all educational backgrounds. We will consider applicants studying T level qualifications for entry to many of our courses. Where a course requires subject specific knowledge and this is not covered within the T level being studied, you may need to supplement your T level studies with a suitable qualification to meet this requirement, for example at A level. Where this is needed this will be clearly stated in our entry requirements.

Popular A-level subjects

English Studies (Non-Specific)

Top 5 A-levels taken by students who study this subject at uni.

English Literature
93%
History
62%
Mathematics
18%
Religious Studies & Theology
14%
English Language
13%
HESA
History

Top 5 A-levels taken by students who study this subject at uni.

History
44%
Mathematics
40%
English Literature
34%
Psychology
26%
Biology
21%
HESA

Tuition fees

Students living in

England

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from England

This is the fee you pay if you live within England. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within England. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Scotland

This is the fee you pay if you live within Scotland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Scotland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Wales

This is the fee you pay if you live within Wales. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Wales. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Northern Ireland

This is the fee you pay if you live within Northern Ireland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Northern Ireland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Channel Islands

This is the fee you pay if you live within Channel Islands. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Channel Islands. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£27,500 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from EU

This is the fee you pay if you live within the European Union. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within the European Union. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£27,500 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from International

This is the fee you pay if you are an International student. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£27500 Per year

UCAS/IDP Connect

Latest reviews

Latest English Literature reviews

English Literature
English Literature
History
E
Edesia
24 Feb 22
English Literature BA (Hons)
with it being separated into colleges you can be in a place which fits your personality more, I attend the college of Hild Bede while I have friends in other colleges- and it...
Read more
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How English Literature students rated:

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( 4.0) 17 reviews
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( 4.1) 570 reviews
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Uni info

Durham University
Palatine Centre Durham DH1 3HP United Kingdom
Nearest train station: Durham  0.3 miles away
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