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History and English Literature

Course details
  • BA (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 10/2025
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Main Site

Course summary

Our joint honours BA History and English Literature course allows you to explore the richness of English literature alongside the rich history and variety of human experience.

Discover a thousand years of history whilst experiencing all the specialist areas on offer at the University of Reading. The History Department's expertise covers a wide range of regions, from Europe and Africa to America, South Asia and the Middle East. Module choices cover diverse periods and topics, from the Crusades to Cold War Berlin and from Medieval Magic to the Rwanda Crisis. The University of Reading is ranked in the top 125 universities in the world for Arts and Humanities and those offering History, Philosophy and Theology. (Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2024.)

In your English literature modules, you will read more of authors and genres that you may already know (from tragedy to Gothic, from Shakespeare and Dickens to Plath and Beckett). But you will also encounter aspects of literary studies that may be less familiar to you, from children’s literature to publishing studies and the history of the book. Our academics have published research on everything from medieval poetry to contemporary American fiction.

For more information, please visit the programme page: https://www.reading.ac.uk/ready-to-study/study/subject-area/history-ug/ba-history-and-english-literature

Modules

The following modules have been approved in principle for delivery in 2025/26. Please note that as part of our current curriculum improvement process, all modules require final University approval and may be subject to change.

Core modules for this course: Perspectives in History; Making History and You: Practices and Responsibilities; Theory and Practice of Writing; Poetry in English; Dissertation in History or the Dissertation in English Literature

The University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them. Further information about the content of final approved modules will be available in the summer of 2024. We suggest that you regularly revisit our course page during this time to ensure you have the most up-to-date information regarding the modules offered on this programme.

Check our website for more details about the course structure.

How to apply

Apply by
29 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
QV31
Institution code:
R12
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

A level - BBB

Including grade B in History or a humanities-based essay subject. Humanities-based essay subjects include: Classical Civilisation, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Philosophy, Politics, Religious Studies.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDM

including relevant history/humanities modules.

Access to HE Diploma - D: 18 credits M: 27 credits

Including at least 12 level 3 credits in History or a humanities-based essay subject. Humanities-based essay subjects include: Classical Civilisation, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Philosophy, Politics, Religious Studies.

Scottish Higher - ABBBB

Including grade B in History or a humanities-based essay subject. Humanities-based essay subjects include: Classical Civilisation, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Philosophy, Politics, Religious Studies.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 30 points

Including higher level History or a humanities-based essay subject at grade 5. Humanities-based essay subjects include: Classical Civilisation, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Philosophy, Politics, Religious Studies.

Extended Project - B

In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification provides to students for University study, we now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer.  Eligible applicants would receive two offers,  our usual offer plus an alternative offer of a B in the EPQ and one grade lower in their A level subjects

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal - M2, M2, M2

Including grade M2 in History or a humanities-based essay subject. Humanities-based essay subjects include: Classical Civilisation, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Philosophy, Politics, Religious Studies.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSE Maths C (or 4), English Language or English Literature C (or 4).

Contextual offers for this programme are typically two grades beneath our standard entry requirement, e.g. BCC including grade B in History or a humanities-based essay subject.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)7We require a minimum score of 7.0 overall with at least 6.0 in each element of the test (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing).
TOEFL (iBT)100We require a minimum score of 100 overall with no less than 20 in Listening, Writing and Reading and 21 in Speaking.
Cambridge English AdvancedAWe require a grade A or a score of 185 overall with no element less than 169.
Cambridge English ProficiencyCWe require a grade C or a score of 185 overall with no element less than 169.
PTE Academic76We require a minimum score of 76 overall with at least 64 in each element of the test (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing).
Institution's Own TestTest of English for Educational Purposes (TEEP). We require a minimum score of 7.0 overall with at least 6.0 in each element of the test (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing).
Trinity ISEPassOnly ISE III and ISE IV are acceptable and we require a Pass in each element.

Full list of acceptable English Language Tests http://www.reading.ac.uk/ad-EnglishTests.aspx

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

We issue offers to best fit the different circumstances and experiences of our applicants. We take a tailored and holistic approach, considering extenuating circumstances on a case-by-case basis. We recognise that some students are more likely than others to face barriers to fulfilling their academic potential at school, through no fault of their own. More information on our supportive offer making approaches can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/ready-to-study/study/what-offer-will-i-get

Learn more on the University of Reading website

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

LocationFeeYear
Republic of Ireland£9535Year 1
EU£25250Year 1
International£25250Year 1
England£9535Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535Year 1
Scotland£9535Year 1
Wales£9535Year 1
Channel Islands£9535Year 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.

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