BA English Literature
About this course
The BA (Hons) in English Literature is a three-year full-time undergraduate degree tracing writing in English from the medieval period to the present. Core topics include research methods. In the final year, students carry out a compulsory Dissertation of guided research on a topic, author or genre of their own devising. Students may apply to take a placement year or spend a year abroad, which extends the course to four years. The first year builds foundations in literary reading through Approaches to Literary Studies, Introduction to Poetry, Introduction to Drama and Epic and the Literature of Legend, the last of which examines the earliest English writing, including Beowulf. The second year's compulsory modules are Shakespeare, covering works from across the career in different genres, and Theory and Practice of Literary Criticism, which considers what critics assume when they read and how judgement is shaped. Optional modules in this year extend the range with Chaucer, Reading Paradise Lost, Postcolonial and World Literatures and Literature and the Internet. The final year's compulsory Dissertation is guided research on a topic, author or genre chosen by the student, with options including Post-War Fiction and Poetry, History and Memory in African Women's Writing, Mind and Narrative and Creative Writing Poetry / Prose Fiction. Further options span medieval and Old Norse texts, Restoration and Romantic writing, American fiction and contemporary autofiction.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: A*AA including an A in English Literature or combined English Literature and Language. IB: 37 with 766 in higher level subjects, including English Literature or English Literature/Language.
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Real offers for this course
Applicants have posted 2 UCAS decisions for BA English Literature (Q300) at Durham University for 2027 entry so far. The published offer is A*AA at A level.
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 36%: 445 offers from 1,225 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 48 final-year students who answered
- Teaching on my course: 95%
- Learning opportunities: 82%
- Assessment and feedback: 85%
- Academic support: 92%
- Organisation and management: 72%
- Learning resources: 95%
- Student voice: 76%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 170 students who started
- Continued on course: 95%
- Left higher education: 4%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 1%
What graduates do next
Based on about 100 graduates who answered
- Working: 59%
- Working and studying: 11%
- Further study: 16%
- Unemployed: 4%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 28%
- Teaching Professionals: 14%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Media Professionals: 9%
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 7%
- Find their work meaningful: 88%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 82%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 55%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 165 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 9%
- North West: 6%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 7%
- East Midlands: 4%
- West Midlands: 2%
- East of England: 3%
- London: 48%
- South East: 14%
- South West: 4%
- Wales: 1%
- Scotland: 1%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 240 students who started
- A levels: 99%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Approaches to Literary Studies
- Introduction to Drama
- Introduction to the Novel
- Introduction to Poetry
- Romance and the Literature of Chivalry
- Epic and the Literature of Legend
- Shakespeare
- Theory and Practice of Literary Criticism
- Example optional modules
- Dissertation
- Example optional modules
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA English Literature at Durham University earn?
The median salary is £30,000 after 15 months, £27,000 after 3 years, £34,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £30,000 and £48,500. The £34,500 median after five years is £6,500 more than the UK median for Literature in English.
What do graduates of BA English Literature at Durham University do next?
85% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA English Literature at Durham University?
95% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA English Literature at Durham University?
The typical offer is A*AA at A level. The average entrant had 178 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA English Literature at Durham University?
36% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 445 offers from 1,225 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA English Literature at Durham University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA English Literature at Durham University?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 4% left higher education.