American Studies (4 Years)
- BA (Hons)
- 4 Years
- Full-time
- 22/09/2025
- Undergraduate
- Main Site
Course summary
Our four-year single honours American Studies degree will give you a grounding in the history, culture and literature of the US, from colonisation through to contemporary times.
The course includes a full year in North America as a part of your degree programme.
At Manchester, we train our students to be attentive to the counter-currents of US history and literature, and our course places a particular emphasis on the themes of race, capitalism, sexuality, the cultures of labour, political protest and the environment.
You will master the approaches and tools found in several academic disciplines, including cultural theory, history, visual studies, literature and politics.
You will learn how to analyse and interpret a wide range of texts and materials, including historical documents, films, manuscript collections, literary works, visual and marketing campaigns, and musical works.
Years 1 and 2 will give you a wide knowledge of US politics and history, and American literature and film, and will familiarise you with concepts such as:
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mass incarceration;
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inequality;
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racial stratification;
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poverty;
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the logics of policing;
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the changing nature of work and leisure;
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radical organising;
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military power;
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cultural imperialism;
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climate change;
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urban politics;
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conspiracy theories;
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gender and sexuality;
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literature and film analysis.
Upon returning to Manchester from your year abroad, you will be able to choose from an extensive range of advanced modules, while also completing a substantial piece of independent research.
How to apply
Apply by
29 January
Application codes
- Course code:
- T702
- Institution code:
- M20
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus Code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
UCAS Tariff
Not acceptedA level
AABPearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DDDAccess to HE Diploma
D: 39 credits M: 6 creditsScottish Higher
AS
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DDPearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DPearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
DScottish Advanced Higher
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
35 pointsWelsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)
Extended Project
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
D3, D3, M2GCSE/National 4/National 5
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma
Not acceptedOCR Cambridge Technical Diploma
DDOCR Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma
DDOCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate
DThe University recognises a number of foundation programmes as suitable for entry to this undergraduate programme:
Applicants completing the INTO Manchester in partnership with The University of Manchester international foundation programme are required to achieve AAB in academic subjects and grade A in the EAP with writing, speaking, listening and reading grade B.
Applicants completing the NCUK International Foundation year are required to achieve AAB in academic subjects and grade A in the EAP with writing, speaking, listening and reading grade B.
Please read this in conjunction with our A-level requirements, noting any pre-requisite subjects.
Additional entry requirements
- Interview
- We only interview students studying alternative qualifications to the A level syllabus, for example students studying Access courses and students that may have been out of education for some time.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 7 | 7.0 overall with no less than 6.5 in any one component. |
Acceptable English Language Qualifications https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/international/admissions/language-requirements/
Contextual admissions
We operate contextual admissions meaning many applicants receive an offer and are admitted at least one grade below standard entry requirements. Entry requirements for applicants meeting contextual admissions criteria are listed next to the standard entry requirements on course profiles.
Contextual admissions means we consider your application in context helping us to ensure everyone has a fair chance of getting into Manchester. The data we use is automatically provided on your UCAS form.
Historical entry grades data BETA
This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.
Not enough data available
We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| EU | £26500 | Year 1 |
| International | £26500 | Year 1 |
| England | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Related courses
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