BA (Hons) English Literature and History

Studying History alongside English Literature at Lancaster gives you the opportunity to deepen your understanding of both subjects in an outstanding academic environment. Our diverse research interests allow us to offer you a particularly wide selection of historical topics and approaches to the study of History and Literature.

You’ll enjoy frequent opportunities for stimulating discussion with your tutors and fellow students as well as plenty of scope to specialise in areas of Literature and History that particularly interest you.

Your degree begins with courses including From Medieval to Modern: History and Historians, and English Literature. In your second year, you’ll study subjects such as The Theory and Practice of Criticism while your final-year modules may include Shakespeare, Victorian Gothic or Contemporary Literature You’ll also have the chance to undertake in-depth study of topics of your own choosing, either by doing a dissertation in place of an exam, or by undertaking a History ‘special subject’ course.

Careers

Previous graduates of this Department have gone on to successful postgraduate study and careers in professional fields such as publishing, journalism, writing, television and the media, teaching, and librarianship, with some taking up employment overseas.

Your degree will help you develop confident analytical and research skills; the ability to form sound judgements based on statistical research, and the capacity to analyse issues, people and events.

While many of our graduates go on to careers traditionally associated with English and History, others find roles in business, administration and professional services, where their skills of self-expression and critical understanding of complex information are equally valued.

A number of our English Literature and History graduates regularly go on to take higher degrees, at Lancaster or another institution.