BA English Literature
About this course
BA (Hons) in English Literature BA (Hons), an English Literature degree centred on the study of literary texts, cultural history, and narrative forms. Core topics include Research Methods, Communication & Writing, Design & Creative Practice. Students undertake an extended independent dissertation project in the final year. The first year covers foundational study through compulsory modules such as Introduction to Literary Studies 1, Writing, Research and Literature, Forms of Narrative, Introduction to Literary Studies 2, Theorising Literature: Power and Identity, and Canonicity. The second year introduces employability perspectives alongside a wide selection of optional modules covering areas such as literary theory, historical genres, adaptations, and creative writing paths like Writing Fiction, Writing Reality: Creative Non-Fiction, Writing Poetry, and Scriptwriting. In the final year, students complete the English Literature Research Project and can choose from various optional modules spanning Victorian literature, twentieth-century cultural change, modern drama, and contemporary writing. Optional choices also include staff research projects through Research Now I and Research Now II.
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
Minimum entry requirements: 104 UCAS Tariff points; and 3 GCSEs at grade C/4 (or equivalent) including English Language.
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What students say
Based on about 33 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 97%
- Learning opportunities: 97%
- Assessment and feedback: 95%
- Academic support: 94%
- Organisation and management: 99%
- Learning resources: 94%
- Student voice: 89%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 65 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 85%
- Left higher education: 7%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 8%
What graduates do next
Based on about 8 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 55%
- Working and studying: 30%
- Further study: 5%
Most common jobs
- Administrative occupations: 20%
- Elementary occupations: 15%
- Teaching Professionals: 10%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 10%
- Sales occupations: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 70%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 35%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 40%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 190 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 13%
- North West: 9%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 60%
- East Midlands: 5%
- West Midlands: 2%
- East of England: 3%
- London: 3%
- South East: 4%
- South West: 1%
- Scotland: 1%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 85 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 93%
- Baccalaureate: 2%
- Access course: 3%
- Other HE qualification: 2%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Gold for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Introduction to Literary Studies 1
- Writing, Research and Literature
- Forms of Narrative
- Introduction to Literary Studies 2
- Theorising Literature: Power and Identity
- Canonicity
- Literature at Work
- Literary Theory
- Dawn of Print
- Adaptations
- Science Fiction for Survival
- Mapping America
- Conflicting Words
- The Romantic Imagination: Affect, Excess and Revolution
- Sick Stories: Narratives of Illness, Disease, and Infection
- Shakespeare: Perspectives
- Culture, Controversy and Media
- Writing Fiction
- Writing Reality: Creative Non-Fiction
- Writing Poetry
- Scriptwriting
- Movies at the Margins
- English Literature Research Project
- Hunger, Rebellion, and Rage: The Victorians
- Experiments and Upheavals: Twentieth-Century Cultural Change
- Literary Legacies
- The Making of Modern Drama
- Research Now I
- American Radicals: Outside the Canon
- Writing the Caribbean
- What Now? What Next? Twenty-First Century Literature
- Gender and Sexualities
- Contemporary Writing 1: Innovation and Experimentation
- Writing Genres
- Research Now II
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA English Literature at York St John University earn?
The median salary is £23,000 after 15 months, £19,500 after 3 years, £24,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £20,000 and £29,000. The £24,500 median after five years is £3,500 less than the UK median for Literature in English.
What do graduates of BA English Literature at York St John University do next?
90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2022-23).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA English Literature at York St John University?
97% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2024-25.
What grades do I need for BA English Literature at York St John University?
The average entrant had 106 UCAS points.
Does BA English Literature at York St John University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA English Literature at York St John University?
85% of students continued into their second year, and 7% left higher education.