Education and humanities
English literature
BA
Overview
English literature is the study of texts, language in use, and the arguments critics make about them. It is a reading and writing degree, not a novel-writing course, though creative options exist on some programmes. It can lead towards teaching, publishing, journalism and further study, none of which is reserved for English graduates. Students who enjoy it like reading slowly and building an argument from a passage.
You want literature as an academic subject.
Creative writing centres on producing work. Journalism centres on reporting. English language is a different emphasis.
People who like close reading and essays.
What you will study
Universities do not teach the same modules. The lists below are a general shape, not a syllabus.
Year 1
- Critical reading
- A range of periods or genres
- Writing arguments
Later years
- Optional authors or themes
- Dissertation on many courses
Skills
Useful before you start
- Reading
- Essay writing
Developed during the degree
- Close analysis
- Argument
- Independent reading
Teaching and assessment
Teaching often includes Lectures, Seminars.
Assessment often includes Essays, Exams, Dissertation.
Typical weekly commitment
Estimate. Reading time is the bulk of the week.
Entry requirements
Indicative patterns from published UK admissions information. Not an offer. Actual requirements vary by course, university and year. Pearson Edexcel International A Level and Cambridge International A Level are not treated as the same qualification as GCE A level.
Indicative requirements by qualification
The A-level band is the catalogue reference. IB and American lines come from the named university guides under the table. They are not a conversion every university uses, and they are not an offer.
| Qualification | Indicative requirements |
|---|---|
| A Levels | BBC–ABB. English literature is widely preferred. Some courses require it. Check. |
| IB Diploma | UCL publishes 34 points for ABB. The other end of this band is not in that table. A required A-level subject must be Higher Level in UCL's rule. Each Higher Level subject in that table is at least 5. UCL equates A* to 7, A to 6 and B to 5. This is one university's table. |
| American curriculum | That Manchester guide gives AP 5, 4, 4 for ABB. The other end of this band is not in the guide. Bristol publishes a GPA of 3.2, or 3.4 for competitive courses, and does not use one AP pattern for every degree. |
- University College London: Undergraduate entry requirements. Retrieved 2026-10-14. Not a universal rule.
- University of Manchester, School of Social Sciences: Americas country guide. Retrieved 2026-10-14. Not a universal rule.
- University of Manchester, Civil Engineering: USA country entry requirements. Retrieved 2026-10-14. Not a universal rule.
- University of Bristol: USA international qualifications. Retrieved 2026-10-14. Not a universal rule.
A-level subjects
English literature is widely preferred. Some courses require it. Check.
Often recommended: English Literature.
Useful preparation: History, English Language.
GCSE and IGCSE
English at GCSE or IGCSE is commonly expected. Other subject grades vary. No single national threshold is stored.
Indicative only.
Other ways in
- Secondary English teaching needs qualified teacher status after or within a teaching course.
Admissions tests and extra requirements
No admissions test is stored as usual for this course. A university can still set one for a particular year.
Course costs
For many standard full-time courses in England, the home-fee maximum in 2026 to 2027 is Up to £9,790. This is the maximum standard full-time fee published for approved English providers with a TEF award and an access and participation plan. It is not the fee a named university charges, and it does not decide whether you pay home or international fees.
Clinical, laboratory and studio courses are not given a different home-fee figure here, because the regulated maximum is not the same thing as an international or clinical fee.
International tuition is set by each university and is not stored here. Clinical courses are often much higher than classroom-based courses. A school in Qatar does not decide home-fee status.
Source: Changes to tuition fees: 2026 to 2027 academic year. Retrieved 2026-10-14. Living costs, field trips and professional fees are not included.
Where you could study
UK degrees in this subject are numerous. This page does not list every university, because a list without a checked entry requirement would look more certain than it is.
No individual UK course page is stored yet for this subject. Use the university site.
No overseas course has been checked for this subject yet.
Where could this degree take you?
Secondary school teacher
Common route
A common subject degree for English teaching. QTS is additional.
Writer
Alternative route
Useful for some writers. A literature degree is not a requirement to write.
Newspaper or magazine journalist
Alternative route
A possible background. Reporting training is separate.
Librarian
Alternative route
Any degree can precede a postgraduate library qualification. This is one option, not a library degree.
Explore your pathway
A course sits between school subjects and a career. It does not guarantee either admission or a job.