English Literature and History

English literature and history are disciplines that illuminate one another in ways that make studying them together more rewarding than either alone. Literature provides the texture of lived experience, the imaginative and emotional record of how people have understood and responded to the worlds they inhabit. History provides the broader narrative of events, structures, and changes that give literary works their contexts and without which they can seem to float free of the material conditions that produced them.

Together, they give you a deeper understanding of people, the world around us, and how we arrived where we are.

At York St John University, this three-year, full-time degree includes a foundation year for students who benefit from additional academic preparation before the main programme. A sandwich year provides the opportunity for substantial professional experience in a relevant field, and work placements are embedded in the course to develop your professional skills alongside your academic learning. A year abroad is also available, giving you the opportunity to study literature and history in a different cultural and academic context.

A typical entry tariff of 104 points reflects the programme's accessible standard for students who bring genuine enthusiasm for reading, research, and writing.

Graduates of English literature and history degrees work across publishing, journalism, education, heritage and archives, cultural organisations, the civil service, communications, law, and a wide range of other fields where reading carefully, thinking historically, and writing persuasively are valued. Postgraduate study in English, history, creative writing, or a related area is a common further step for those seeking to specialise or develop academic careers.