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English

  • 1 Study option
  • Undergraduate
30 Campuses
More about University of Cambridge

Course options

2027-2028
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Course summary

English at Cambridge gives you a solid foundation in history of English literature, from the medieval period right up to the present day.

Get an introduction to different types of writing, prose, fiction, drama and poetry, as well as the chance to specialise and develop your own interests.

From its ground-breaking beginnings, the English course has had an ethos of innovation and progress. This continues to shape our teaching and research.

If you have a passion for literature and the intellectual curiosity to ask probing questions, then this course is for you.

You’ll get a strong grounding in literary works written in English. This means you can study American and post-colonial literature alongside British literature.

You’ll also have the chance to specialise, develop your interests, and explore:

  • other art forms, including music and film, in relation to literature

  • literature’s connections to intellectual traditions including philosophy, art history and politics

By studying this course you'll join some of the most famous writers who studied here in the past. They include:

  • Edmund Spenser

  • John Milton

  • William Wordsworth

  • Samuel Taylor Coleridge

  • EM Forster

  • Sylvia Plath

  • Ted Hughes

  • Kamau Brathwaite

  • AS Byatt

  • Zadie Smith

  • Helen Oyeyemi

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Clare
  • Open application
  • Trinity
  • Wolfson
  • Peterhouse
  • King's
  • Churchill
  • St Catharine's
  • Murray Edwards
  • Fitzwilliam
  • Trinity Hall
  • Homerton
  • Corpus Christi
  • Selwyn
  • Girton
  • Christ's
  • St John's
  • Hughes Hall
  • Gonville & Caius
  • Robinson
  • Lucy Cavendish
  • Queens'
  • Emmanuel
  • Pembroke
  • Newnham
  • Sidney Sussex
  • Jesus
  • Magdalene
  • Downing
  • St Edmund's

Study options

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

Start dates

Application codes

Institution code:
C05

University of Cambridge 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

Application codes

Institution code:
C05

This course may be available at alternative locations, please check if other course options are available.

Course options

Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

A level
A*AA

This is the minimum A level offer for this course. The entry requirements at each of our Colleges may vary.

It's important that you check the entry requirements for your shortlisted College(s) before you make an application. Visit our course page for entry requirements information: https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/english-ba-hons

Some Colleges may set additional conditions for most or all offers. For example, some Colleges may expect you to have studied a particular subject, they might ask that you achieve an A* in a specific subject, or some may set a higher overall offer.

To apply to some courses, you may need to study specific subjects. Check the course page for subject requirements (https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/english-ba-hons).

If you haven't chosen your A level (or equivalent) subjects, visit our website for guidance: https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/before/choosing-high-school-subjects.

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
41-42

41 to 42 points, with 776 at Higher Level is the minimum IB offer level. The entry requirements at each of our Colleges may vary. Some Colleges usually make offers above the minimum.

It's important that you check the entry requirements for your shortlisted College(s) before you make an application. Visit our course page for entry requirements information: https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/english-ba-hons

Some Colleges may set additional conditions for most or all offers. For example, some Colleges may expect you to have studied a particular subject, they might ask that you achieve 7 in a specific subject, or some may set a higher overall offer.

To apply to some courses, you may need to study specific subjects. Check the course page for subject requirements (https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/english-ba-hons).

If you haven't chosen your A level (or equivalent) subjects, visit our website for guidance: https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/before/choosing-high-school-subjects.

When you apply to Cambridge, you can apply directly to one of our Colleges or make an open application. Please be aware that the entry requirements for this course may vary across our Colleges. Some Colleges may set additional conditions for most or all offers. This could include making a higher offer, asking for specific subjects or specifying an A* in a particular subject.

You should check our website for more information about how to choose a College. It's very important to check the entry requirements at your chosen College before making an application. You can find a list of Colleges that usually make offers at the minimum offer level, as well as Colleges that have additional conditions, on our course pages (linked below).

We also accept a range of other qualifications at a level equivalent to A levels and IB Higher Levels. This includes Scottish Advanced Highers, Welsh qualifications, the Irish Leaving Certificate, and a range of international qualifications. Visit our website for more details about your qualifications: www.cam.ac.uk/entrancerequirements. https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/english-ba-hons

Additional entry requirements

Other
My Cambridge Application This is an additional form that you need to complete if you're applying to study an undergraduate degree at Cambridge. Once you submit your UCAS application, you'll get an email from us within 48 hours with instructions and a link to your My Cambridge Application. For more information about completing My Cambridge Application, including the deadline for submission, visit our website (https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/how/cambridge-application).
Interview
Institutions Own Test (IOT)
There may be an admission assessment for this course. You will not need to register in advance. Details about the assessment will be confirmed in May 2026. Please check the website for further details (http://www.cam.ac.uk/assessment).

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.

We adopt a balanced and holistic approach to admissions. We assess all applicants individually, meaning we can adjust our offers to take account of individual circumstances. You can find out more about the minimum offer level for each course on the course pages. Many offers will be made at this level, but sometimes we make an offer that is more challenging to achieve. This is to better ensure that you will be able to cope with the academic level of the course and really thrive at Cambridge.

Learn more on the University of Cambridge 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.

This course may have Historical entry grades data available, please select a course option to view.

Course options

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

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

For information on tuition fees for Home, EU, and international students, please refer to:
www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/fees-and-finance/tuition-fees

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