BA English
About this course
BA in English, an English literature degree examining literary texts across diverse historical periods. Teaching incorporates one-to-one tutorials. The first year covers core foundations through Narrative Texts/Intellectual and Cultural Sources, Introduction to Medieval Literature (Old and Middle English), and Criticism and Theory. The second year introduces further study such as Chaucer and his Literary Background, alongside optional modules covering areas like American Literature to 1900, Modern English Language, and The Romantic Period. The final year includes compulsory modules Shakespeare, Research Essay, and Course Assessment, together with optional study spanning Colonial and Postcolonial Literatures, Literary Linguistics, and The Victorian Period.
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: AAA (English Literature (or combined Literature and Language) required.) IB: 38 points (A total of 18 points in three higher level subjects including English A1 Literature/Language and Literature at grade 6, with no higher level score below 5.)
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Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 34%: 213 offers from 624 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 68 final-year students who answered
- Teaching on my course: 99%
- Learning opportunities: 93%
- Assessment and feedback: 81%
- Academic support: 98%
- Organisation and management: 84%
- Learning resources: 96%
- Student voice: 75%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 100 students who started
- Continued on course: 98%
- Left higher education: 2%
What graduates do next
Based on about 107 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 60%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 12%
- Unemployed: 8%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 19%
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals: 11%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Managers, directors and senior officials: 8%
- Teaching Professionals: 8%
- Find their work meaningful: 84%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 72%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 43%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 330 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 3%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 3%
- East Midlands: 2%
- West Midlands: 2%
- East of England: 7%
- London: 67%
- South East: 8%
- South West: 5%
- Wales: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 120 students who started
- A levels: 82%
- Baccalaureate: 14%
- A degree: 1%
- Other qualifications: 2%
- No formal qualifications: 1%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Narrative Texts/Intellectual and Cultural Sources
- Introduction to Medieval Literature (Old and Middle English)
- Criticism and Theory
- Chaucer and his Literary Background
- Renaissance II (1625-1700)
- The Romantic Period
- American Literature to 1900
- Old English Literature II
- History of the English Language
- Modern English Language
- Homosexuality and Queerness in Literary History
- Middle English Literature II
- The Modern Period II
- Renaissance II (1625-1700) (year 2 option choice for module registration)
- Shakespeare
- Research Essay
- Course Assessment
- Classical Poetry and its Reception in English Literature
- Renaissance I (1520-1625)
- Critical Commentary and Analysis
- The Victorian Period
- Old English Literature I
- Middle English Literature I
- The Modern Period I
- Literary Linguistics
- Eighteenth-Century Literature
- Colonial and Postcolonial Literatures
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA English at University College London earn?
The median salary is £30,000 after 15 months, £29,500 after 3 years, £38,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £30,000 and £53,000. The £38,500 median after five years is £10,500 more than the UK median for Literature in English.
What do graduates of BA English at University College London do next?
82% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA English at University College London?
99% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA English at University College London?
The typical offer is AAA at A level, or 38 points in the IB. The average entrant had 178 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA English at University College London?
34% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 213 offers from 624 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
How many students continue on BA English at University College London?
98% of students continued into their second year, and 2% left higher education.