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English Literature and History

  • Bachelor of Arts (with Honours)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-Time
  • 28 September 2027
  • Undergraduate
Main Site
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Course options

2026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

Explore diverse narratives and literary genres alongside society, culture and history.

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

Why study this course?

  • Develop your love of literature - our academic staff will support you to share in their passion for literary writing of all kinds, from Shakespearean drama to Romantic poetry to postcolonial fiction.

  • Go beyond the printed book - explore the study of art, comics, film, marketing, music, social media, textual production, theatre, TV and video games.

  • Apply history to today’s society - our modules explore how the past informs the present and provides a global historical understanding from the Middle Ages to this century, all through a modern lens.

  • Live and study in a city that values history and literature as much as you do – from the Cadbury Research Library, consisting of over 200,000 rare books dating from 1471, to the Library of Birmingham, Europe’s largest regional library, there are plenty of resources at your fingertips.

Top 15 for English in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2025

Top 30 for English Language and Literature in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2025

Top 5 for History in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2025

Modules

Course Modules

First-year modules cover a broad base of the subject and are designed to introduce you to ways of studying at university. By the final year the modules you take will become more specialised and reflect the research expertise of the academic staff. More detailed module information can be found on the course page.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) • Full-Time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 28 September 2027

Apply by
13 January 2027

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
QV3C
Institution code:
B32
Campus name:
Main Site
Points of Entry:
Year 1

University of Birmingham has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
13 January 2027

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
QV3C
Institution code:
B32
Campus name:
Main Site

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

A level
AAB

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.

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSE History grade 7 if not taking A Level History

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Offer: 32

6,6,5 in Higher Level subjects, to include an Arts, Humanities or Social Science subject at HL5.

If an applicant is not taking either Literature or Language and Literature at higher level, then we require at least a grade 7 in GCSE English Literature.

If an applicant is not taking History at higher level, then we require at least a grade 7 in GCSE History.

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

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

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)

Accepted in place of a non-required A level with the equivalent grade.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

Accepted in place of A levels with the following grade equivalencies: D2 = A*; D3 = A; M2 = B. Combinations of A levels and Principle subjects are accepted. NB required subjects must be offered (see A level Section)

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

The most common grades on entry for this course are above our standard offer. This does not mean that you need to achieve higher grades than our offer to be admitted.
We make alternative offers through our contextual admissions schemes which are typically 1 or 2 grades lower. You can find information on these schemes using the link below.
You can check your eligibility to receive an offer for this course using our Offer Calculator using the same link.

Learn more on the University of Birmingham website

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands & Republic of Ireland£10050*

* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

The University will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year. For the 2027 year of entry, we expect that the tuition fee for your first year of study will be £10,050. If Parliament agrees on an increase in tuition fees, the University will increase fees for each year of study normally in line with these changes and will communicate any change in the fees to you without delay.

For details of the annual tuition fee for International Students please see the course web page listed in the 'course details' section above.
If you are made an offer to study by the University, the yearly tuition fee will be stated in your offer letter.

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