BA (Hons) English Literature and Philosophy

Your degree is taught jointly by Lancaster’s Philosophy Department and our English Literature and Creative Writing Department.

You’ll learn how philosophical perspectives can be applied fruitfully to literature and your literary studies will elucidate the narrative structures and cultural functions of Philosophy. You’ll take various approaches to English and other literatures by diverse authors and will look at both the history of and contemporary debates in Philosophy.

You’ll start your degree with courses including English Literature and Introduction to Philosophy. As you progress, the scheme allows you to specialise according to your own interests and strengths, with a selection of second and third-year English Literature modules and options such as The Theory and Practice of Criticism; Literature and Film; Shakespeare; History of Philosophy; Philosophy of the Mind; and Philosophy of Science.

Careers

A Philosophy degree from Lancaster gives you the opportunity to learn how to analyse problems from a multi-dimensional perspective, encouraging you to approach issues creatively and with an enquiring mind. Your study of Philosophy and Literature will also cultivate a wide range of interpersonal and communication skills that are highly valued by employers. All this will stand you in good stead for careers involving analysis, assessment and the weighing-up of arguments.

Many of our graduates go on to careers traditionally associated with English and creative writing, such as publishing and the media, teaching and librarianship. 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 Philosophy graduates go on to take higher degrees, at Lancaster or another institution.