History and English Literature BA (Hons)
University of Reading
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( 4.2) 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

Main Site

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Study mode

Full Time

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Start date

OCT-25

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Duration

3 Years

Course info

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Qualification

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

Location

Main Site

Study mode

Full Time

Start date

OCT-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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Access to HE Diploma
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Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
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Extended Project
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International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
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Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
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Location

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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

Our joint honours BA History and English Literature course allows you to explore the richness of English literature alongside the rich history and variety of human experience. Discover a thousand years of history whilst experiencing all the specialist areas on offer at the University of Reading. The History Departments expertise covers a wide range of regions, from Europe and Africa to America, South Asia and the Middle East. Module choices cover diverse periods and topics, from the Crusades to ...Read more

Our joint honours BA History and English Literature course allows you to explore the richness of English literature alongside the rich history and variety of human experience. Discover a thousand years of history whilst experiencing all the specialist areas on offer at the University of Reading. The History Department's expertise covers a wide range of regions, from Europe and Africa to America, South Asia and the Middle East. Module choices cover diverse periods and topics, from the Crusades to Cold War Berlin and from Medieval Magic to the Rwanda Crisis. The University of Reading is ranked in the top 125 universities in the world for Arts and Humanities and those offering History, Philosophy and Theology. (Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2024.) In your English literature modules, you will read more of authors and genres that you may already know (from tragedy to Gothic, from Shakespeare and Dickens to Plath and Beckett). But you will also encounter aspects of literary studies that may be less familiar to you, from children’s literature to publishing studies and the history of the book. Our academics have published research on everything from medieval poetry to contemporary American fiction.For more information, please visit the programme page: https://www.reading.ac.uk/ready-to-study/study/subject-area/history-ug/ba-history-and-english-literature

Key stats

History
WUSCA ranking:
WUSCA student ranking
These are the 2024 rankings, based on ratings given by past and current students.
53/101
CUG Subject Ranking
CUG Subject Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
39th
CUG Ranking
CUG Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
35th
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 - 95 = 5% Drop-out rate Source: UNISTATS, 2019
5%
Employment rate
Employment rate
The percentage of students in full-time work 6 months after finishing their course.
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
90%
Average salary
Average salary
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
English Studies (Non-Specific) graduate salary at this uni
£18,000
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 - 95 = 5% Drop-out rate Source: UNISTATS, 2019
5%
Employment rate
Employment rate
The percentage of students in full-time work 6 months after finishing their course.
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
90%
Average salary
Average salary
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
History graduate salary at this uni
£18,000
UK History graduate salary
£19,000
What students say
S
Sophia
27 Feb 24

Best: Wide range of societies, lovely big green campus Worst: Price of sports society’s..Read more

S
Shanel
02 Feb 23

There is everything you..Read more

Modules

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

Entry requirements

Exam type

A level

A level:

BBB Grades / Points required

Scottish Higher:

ABBBB Grades / Points required

Access to HE Diploma:

D:18,M:27 Grades / Points required

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal:

M2,M2,M2 Grades / Points required

Extended Project:

B Grades / Points required

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme:

30 Grades / Points required

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

DDM Grades / Points required

Including grade B in History or a humanities-based essay subject.Humanities-based essay subjects include: Classical Civilisation, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Philosophy, Politics, Religious Studies.

Including grade B in History or a humanities-based essay subject.Humanities-based essay subjects include: Classical Civilisation, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Philosophy, Politics, Religious Studies.

Including at least 12 level 3 credits in History or a humanities-based essay subject.Humanities-based essay subjects include: Classical Civilisation, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Philosophy, Politics, Religious Studies.

Including grade M2 in History or a humanities-based essay subject.Humanities-based essay subjects include: Classical Civilisation, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Philosophy, Politics, Religious Studies.

In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification provides to students for University study, we now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer.  Eligible applicants would receive two offers,  our usual offer plus an alternative offer of a B in the EPQ and one grade lower in their A level subjects

Including higher level History or a humanities-based essay subject at grade 5.Humanities-based essay subjects include: Classical Civilisation, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Philosophy, Politics, Religious Studies.

including relevant history/humanities modules.

Popular A-level subjects

English Studies (Non-Specific)

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

English Literature
71%
History
35%
English Language
28%
Psychology
21%
Religious Studies & Theology
12%
HESA
History

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

Psychology
49%
History
46%
English Literature
32%
Biology
17%
Mathematics
13%
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.

£25,250 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 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.

£25,250 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 International

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

£25250 Per year

UCAS/IDP Connect

Latest reviews

Latest English Literature reviews

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27 Feb 24
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Best: Wide range of societies, lovely big green campus Worst: Price of sports society’s...
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02 Feb 23
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There is everything you...
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How English Literature students rated:

Student rating
( 4.1) 35 reviews
5 star
26%
4 stars
63%
3 stars
11%
2 stars
0%
1 star
0%

How all students rated:

Student rating
( 4.2) 1,795 reviews
5 star
35%
4 stars
55%
3 stars
9%
2 stars
1%
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0%
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Uni info

University of Reading
University of Reading , Reading

The University of Reading has a single aim: to make the world a better place for all....

Student rating
( 4.2) View reviews
CUG ranking
35th
University of Reading
Room 208 Pepper Lane Reading Wokingham RG6 6AH United Kingdom
Nearest train station: Basingstoke  0.3 miles away

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