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Programme Specification for the 2025/6 academic year

BA (Hons) English and History

1. Programme Details

2. Description of the Programme

In our Combined Honours programme, you will study two subjects that are especially complementary. The English part of the programme takes you on an exciting journey across a diverse range of Anglophone literatures. You will read works of literature spanning the Middle Ages to the twenty-first century in their historical context, learning how and why certain literary forms (for example, the novel) emerged when they did. Our modules cover a wide range of media, from plays, novels, poetry and short stories to more recent and emerging cultural forms such as comics/graphic novels, film, television and digital culture. You will study writers from Britain, Ireland, the United States, Africa, Asia and beyond. In addition to historicist approaches to the study of literature, our team's expertise spans a wide variety of methods and approaches, enabling you to take modules in Creative Writing (poetry, prose, screenplays), Creative Industries (Publishing, Museum Studies, Theatre and Film) and Critical Theory. With such extensive choice, our degree programmes provide a diverse and enriching experience.

As for the History component at the University of Exeter, it is designed to provide you with the tools you need to explore the fascinating realms of history that capture your interest. The curriculum lays a solid foundation of skills and knowledge in the first year, allowing you to progress into independent research in the second year. The journey culminates in the final year with the opportunity to delve deeply into a specific subject. With numerous module choices, you can explore diverse time periods, from the Roman Empire to the early twenty-first century, and geographical areas around the world. Topics range widely, covering areas such as migration and mobility, indigenous peoples in Latin America, the history of health and its politics, women in society, the Vikings, magic and witchcraft in early modern Europe, and histories of material things. The choices are extensive, offering you a truly immersive and personalized academic experience.

The Combined Honours programme further offers you the opportunity to study these two disciplines in the distinctive location of the Southwest of England. In their learning and teaching, English and History at Exeter drawn on the wider resources of the University, city and region such as: University of Exeter Special Collections (Bill Douglas Cinema Museum; archives of Southwest writers such as Daphne Du Maurier and William Golding); local institutions/organisations such as Exeter Cathedral Library, Exeter City of Literature, the Northcott Theatre, the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, the Penguin Archive (Bristol), Thomas Hardy sites in Dorset and many more.

3. Educational Aims of the Programme

The programme aims to develop your competence in the subject-specific and research skills required in English and History through extended engagement with primary sources and methodologies, relevant critical material and theoretical contexts.

Specifically, the programme aims to:

• engage you imaginatively and critically in the process of understanding and analysing complex and sophisticated literary and historical primary material.
• introduce you to a wide range of modules with broad historical and geographical coverage and content.
• provide you with a grounding in methodologies appropriate to each of (and in some cases common to) the two disciplines.
• provide you with the opportunity to develop your independent study skills through a piece of individual research in either English or History, furnishing you with an intellectually stimulating and satisfying experience of learning and studying.
• expose you to a variety of teaching and assessment methods in whole-cohort lectures, small-group teaching, workshops and other learning environments. You will complete a variety of assessments that test your achievement of the module and programme Intended Learning Outcomes.
• help you to acquire advanced competence in core academic, personal and key skills, providing a basis for career progression in the academic and professional worlds. These include high order conceptual literacy, critical thinking and communication skills that are greatly valued in graduate employment. 
• provide a basis for further study in English, History or related disciplines, and foundational knowledge and skills for teachers of English or History at all levels.

4. Programme Structure

The B.A. English and History is a 3-year, full-time programme of study at Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) level 6 (as confirmed against the FHEQ). This programme is divided into 3 stages. Each stage is normally equivalent to an academic year.

Interim / Exit  Awards

Exit awards of CertHE (120 credits) and DipHE (240 credits) are available to students who have completed the required number of credits but are unable for any reason to complete the 360 credits required for the Bachelor's degree.

5. Programme Modules

The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme.

https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/studyinformation/25-26-programmes/

Details of the modules currently offered may be obtained from the Faculty website:

https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/studyinformation/25-26-programmes/

You may take optional modules as long as any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, where the timetable allows and if you have not already taken the module in question or an equivalent module.

You may take elective modules up to 30 credits outside of the programme in any stage of the programme as long as any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, where the timetable allows and if you have not already taken the module in question or an equivalent module.

Stage 1

45 credits of compulsory History modules, 30 credits of compulsory English modules, 15 credits of optional History modules, 30 credits of optional English modules.

Compulsory Modules

Subject to choosing 120 credits for the stage overall, you must:

^a Take EAS1035 (30 credits) + select 30 credits from this list of optional English (EAS-coded) modules

^b Take HIH1137 + select one module from the group of Understanding History modules (HIH1421 or HIH1422)

^c Select 15 credits from this list of optional History (HIH-coded) modules. 

Optional Modules

Select 30 credits from this list of optional English modules

Select 15 credits from this list of optional History modules.

Stage 2

120 credits of optional modules

Optional Modules

Subject to selecting 120 credits overall in the stage, you must:

a  Select 60 credits from a single History Route A, B, C or D . You must take HIH2237 Doing History in the Digital Age if you intend to select HIH3005 History Dissertation or HIH3006 Research Dissertation in the final stage.

b select 30-60 credits from this list of optional English modules. English modules in stage 2 are divided into three groups: 

• Group 1, modules concerned with pre-1750 literature; 
• Group 2, modules concerned with post-1750 literature; 
• Group 3, modules not concerned with a particular historical period.

Combined Honours students may not take more than one module from each group.

History Route A

• 2 History Option modules. 
• English/Creative Writing/Collaborative Dissertation in final stage

History Route B

• HIH2002 Uses of the Past + 1 other History option. 
• English/Creative Writing/Collaborative Dissertation in final stage

History Route C

• HIH2237 Doing History in the Digital Age + 1 other History Option.
• History Dissertation in final stage

History Route D

• HIH2237 Doing History in the Digital Age + HIH2002 Uses of the Past. 
• History Dissertation in final stage

Stage 3

Stage 3: 30 credits of compulsory modules, 90 credits of optional modules (including 30-60 credits of English modules).

Subject to choosing 120 credits for the stage overall, you must:

^a select a Dissertation in either English or Creative Writing or History: EAS3003/EAS3122/EAS3510 or HIH3005 or HIH3006 History Research Project Dissertation (you cannot choose more than one module from this group). To select either History Dissertation (HIH3005 or HIH3006), you must have taken HIH2237 Doing History in a Digital Age at stage 2.

Compulsory Modules

Route A or B taken in Stage 2 - Select EAS3003 Dissertation OR EAS3122 Creative Writing Dissertation OR EAS3510 Dissertation by Collaborative Project.

Route C or D taken in Stage 2 – Select either HIH3005 General Third-Year Dissertation OR HIH3006 History Research Project Dissertation.

Optional Modules

History Route A or B taken in Stage 2 - Select one 30 Credit English/Creative Writing optional module. Select a History Special Subject for 60 credits.

History Route C or D taken in stage 2 - You must select 30 credits from History Concepts Modules, or 30 credits of optional modules from outside History via modularity.  Select 60 credits of English/Creative Writing optional modules.

If choosing optional modules outside your named subjects, you must make sure that your total for both History and English is 90 credits each over the second and final year. This is to ensure you meet the requirements needed for the degree title. 

6. Programme Outcomes Linked to Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods

Intended Learning Outcomes
A: Specialised Subject Skills and Knowledge

Intended Learning Outcomes
B: Academic Discipline Core Skills and Knowledge

Intended Learning Outcomes
C: Personal/Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge

7. Programme Regulations

Classification

Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook. Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.

8. College Support for Students and Students' Learning

Students enrolled on the B.A. English and History programme will benefit from:

-an Induction Week when you arrive, which provides important information on your programme, introduces you to key personnel and allows you to “sample” lectures and seminars.

-the assignment of an academic tutor in both English and History to advise on academic matters and provide signposting to other University services. Your “lead” academic tutor will be in the Department of English and Creative Writing as this is the lead discipline.

-access to a pastoral mentor in both English and History, whose role is to promote and maintain an inclusive, supportive and accessible academic community for all students in a given Department. Pastoral Mentors provide support to students through email, online and face to face meetings, ensuring that they are on track with their studies and equipped with the information and skills they need to be successful.

-regular one-to-one appointments in office hours with academic members of staff, including module tutors and academic tutors.

-access to learning technologies such as the Exeter Learning Environment (ELE) for all modules. Each site provides module-specific information such a weekly reading lists (linked to digital and/or paper copies of the material in the library) and assessment rubrics and deadlines.

9. University Support for Students and Students' Learning

Please refer to the University Academic Policy and Standards guidelines regarding support for students and students' learning.

10. Admissions Criteria

Undergraduate applicants must satisfy the Undergraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.

Postgraduate applicants must satisfy the Postgraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.

Specific requirements required to enrol on this programme are available at the respective Undergraduate or Postgraduate Study Site webpages.

11. Regulation of Assessment and Academic Standards

Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.

The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice. See the University's TQA Manual for details.

(Quality Review Framework.

14. Awarding Institution

University of Exeter

15. Lead College / Teaching Institution

Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS)

16. Partner College / Institution

Partner College(s)

Not applicable to this programme

Partner Institution

Not applicable to this programme.

17. Programme Accredited / Validated by

Not applicable to this programme.

18. Final Award

BA (Hons) English and History

19. UCAS Code

Not applicable to this programme.

20. NQF Level of Final Award

6 (Honours)

21. Credit

22. QAA Subject Benchmarking Group

Level 1

23. Dates