BA English and Philosophy
About this course
BA in English and Philosophy, a joint honours degree spanning the English and Philosophy subject areas. Core topics include Research Methods. Compulsory modules introduce poetry, prose, and drama alongside central philosophical issues and argument construction. The first year covers core foundations through Reading Between the Lines, Race, Writing and Decolonisation, and How to Do Philosophy, with optional choices covering poetry, the mind, and the history of western philosophy. The second year focuses on philosophical method and literature across environments and embodiment through modules such as Philosophical Method, Writing Environments: Literature, Nature, Culture, and Body Language: Literature and Embodiment, alongside optional topics in Renaissance literature, political philosophy, and epistemology. The final year offers optional modules spanning subjects like Shakespeare, African literature, aesthetics, and ancient philosophy, alongside options to complete a Final Year Project in English or a Final Year Project in Philosophy.
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: AAB EPQ: Where an applicant is taking the EPQ in a relevant subject this might be considered alongside other Level 3 qualifications and may attract an alternative offer in addition to the standard offer. If you are taking A Levels, this would be ABB at A Level including A in English (Language, Literature, or Language and Literature) and grade A in the EPQ. BTEC: We will consider the level 3 QCF BTEC at Subsidiary Diploma level and above in combination with other qualifications. Please contact the Admissions Office for more information. IB: 35 points overall with 16 at Higher Level including 6 in English at Higher Level
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What students say
Based on about 8 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 85%
- Learning opportunities: 80%
- Assessment and feedback: 90%
- Academic support: 100%
- Organisation and management: 85%
- Learning resources: 90%
- Student voice: 93%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 10 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 90%
- Left higher education: 10%
What graduates do next
Based on about 48 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 61%
- Working and studying: 14%
- Further study: 9%
- Unemployed: 8%
Most common jobs
- Teaching Professionals: 20%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 15%
- Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation: 10%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Managers, directors and senior officials: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 70%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 50%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 35%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 170 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 2%
- North West: 13%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 19%
- East Midlands: 4%
- West Midlands: 6%
- East of England: 6%
- London: 36%
- South East: 8%
- South West: 3%
- Scotland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Bronze for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Reading Between the Lines
- Race, Writing and Decolonisation
- How to Do Philosophy
- Poetry: Reading and Interpretation
- The Mind
- Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion
- The Good, the Bad, the Right, the Wrong
- Knowledge, Self and Reality
- Introduction to the History of Western Philosophy
- Modern Fictions in English
- Drama: Text & Performance
- Philosophy Meets the World
- Thinking About Race
- Philosophical Method
- Writing Environments: Literature, Nature, Culture
- Body Language: Literature and Embodiment
- Renaissance Literature
- Medieval & Tudor Literature
- The World Before Us: Literature 1660-1830
- Postcolonial literature
- Other Voices: Rethinking 19th Century Literature
- Modern Literature
- Contemporary Literature
- American Literature
- Past Thinkers: History of Modern Philosophy
- How To Live Together: Topics in Political Philosophy
- Do The Right Thing: Topics in Moral Philosophy
- How Do You Know? Topics in Epistemology
- Reality Check: Topics in Metaphysics
- God, Thought and the World: Topics in Philosophy of Religion
- Final Year Project in English – Provides a unique chance to explore in detail the interests that you've developed during your undergraduate career. You might choose to conduct research on an author, period or genre that you encountered earlier in your degree, or to work on a subject that you have not previously studied.
- Final Year Project in Philosophy – You can either conduct independent research on a topic you've previously studied or select one of the final year modules to serve as the basis of and scaffolding for your independent research, allowing you to explore a topic you haven’t previously studied.
- Shakespeare
- African Literature
- Sex and Suffering in the Eighteenth-Century Novel
- Apocalypse and After
- War, Terror and Justice
- Aesthetics
- Ancient Philosophy
- Feminist Philosophy
- Bioethics
- Philosophy of Language
- Modern Sexualities
- Continental Philosophy
- Philosophy of Sex and Relationships
- Bowie, Reading, Writing
- Prose Fiction Stylistics and the Mind
- Global English: Colonialism, Postcolonialism, and Decolonialism
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA English and Philosophy at University of Leeds earn?
The median salary is £26,000 after 15 months, £26,500 after 3 years, £33,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £27,500 and £42,000. The £33,000 median after five years is £4,000 more than the UK median for English studies.
What do graduates of BA English and Philosophy at University of Leeds do next?
84% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA English and Philosophy at University of Leeds?
85% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA English and Philosophy at University of Leeds?
The typical offer is AAB at A level, or 35 points in the IB. The average entrant had 153 UCAS points.
Does BA English and Philosophy at University of Leeds include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA English and Philosophy at University of Leeds?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 10% left higher education.