English and History with Year Abroad

English and history are disciplines that illuminate each other from different angles. The literary works that English studies are concerned with are themselves historical documents, shaped by the conditions of their production and in turn shaping the cultural worlds they enter. History, meanwhile, depends on the close and critical reading of texts, requiring the attention to language, voice, and meaning that literary education develops.

Together, the two disciplines offer a richly interconnected way of engaging with how the past has been recorded, imagined, and understood.

At the University of Southampton, this four-year full-time programme combines historical and literary study with a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to experience a different academic and cultural environment while deepening your engagement with both disciplines. You will develop the analytical and interpretive skills that each subject demands, learning to move between close reading of individual texts and the broader historical patterns within which they sit. The year abroad adds a significant dimension, not only broadening your intellectual perspective but also equipping you with the adaptability and cross-cultural awareness that many employers value.

The combination of history and English at Southampton draws on the research strengths of both departments. With a typical entry tariff of 136 UCAS points, the programme is accessible to students with strong academic backgrounds.

Graduates from English and history programmes with a year abroad are well placed across a wide range of careers. Publishing, journalism, teaching, heritage and archives, arts administration, the civil service, broadcasting, marketing, and research organisations are all common destinations. The year abroad makes graduates additionally attractive in roles that involve international work or cross-cultural communication.

Postgraduate study in English literature, history, cultural studies, or education provides a natural continuation for those who wish to specialise.