BA English and History
| UCAS code | QV01 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 years |
| Entry year | 2026 |
| Campus | Streatham Campus |
| Typical offer | A-Level: AAB |
|---|---|
|
A-Level: BBB |
| UCAS code | QV02 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 years |
| Entry year | 2026 |
| Campus | Streatham Campus |
| Typical offer | A-Level: AAB |
|---|---|
|
A-Level: BBB |
| UCAS code | QV03 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 years |
| Entry year | 2026 |
| Campus | Streatham Campus |
| Typical offer | A-Level: AAB |
|---|---|
|
A-Level: BBB |
Why study BA English and History at Exeter?
- Immerse yourself in literature spanning from the Middle Ages to the 21st Century, whilst exploring the historical context in which texts were written
- Delve into fascinating history from the Roman Empire to indigenous people in Latin America, or the Vikings, magic, and witchcraft in early modern Europe
- Take advantage of our excellent facilities, such as our Special Collections relating to world-renowned writers, the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum, which is a unique film and popular culture resource, and our Digital Humanities Lab. Exeter has also recently been awarded UNESCO City of Literature status
- Customise your degree to your interests and career ambitions with an array of exciting modules spanning the breadth of History and English
- Boost your employability with sought-after, advanced skills in communication, critical thinking, developing ideas and arguments, and interpreting information.
Top 10 in the UK for English
7th in the Complete University Guide 2026
Top 50 in the world for English Language and Literature
QS World University Subject Rankings 2025
Unique on-site resources: Exeter’s Special Collections archive and The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum
Top 100 in world subject rankings for History
QS World University Subject Rankings 2025
History has always been my favourite subject. The wide range of module choices has allowed me to study a range of very interesting time periods and topics, and I have been given the opportunity to learn a new language which I am thoroughly enjoying.
I would recommend Exeter to anyone who would like to be taken out of their comfort zone. I have learnt a lot about myself by attending this institution.
I have thoroughly enjoyed diving deeper into medieval periods that I was unable to cover at school. Unlike some other history courses, Exeter’s course is not Eurocentric, and there are many modules covering different areas of world history. For example, I am currently studying a module on Islamic history.
Hanife
BA History (Exeter)
Entry requirements (typical offer)
| Qualification | Typical offer | Required subjects |
|---|---|---|
| A-Level | AAB | B in an accepted Humanities or Social Science subject* (see below) |
| IB | 34/665 | HL5 in an accepted Humanities or Social Science subject* (see below) |
| BTEC | DDD | Applicants studying a BTEC Extended Diploma will also require GCE A-Level grade B in an accepted Humanities or Social Science subject* (see below) |
| GCSE | C or 4 | English Language |
| Access to HE | 30 L3 Credits at Distinction Grade and 15 L3 credits at Merit Grade. | To include at least 12 L3 credits at Merit Grade in an accepted Humanities or Social Science subject* (see below) |
| T-Level | Distinction | Applicants studying a T-Level will also require GCE A-Level grade B in an accepted Humanities or Social Science subject* (see below) |
| Contextual Offer | A-Level: BBB |
Specific subject requirements must still be achieved where stated above. Find out more about contextual offers. |
| Other accepted qualifications | ||
| English language requirements |
International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B1. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country. |
|
NB General Studies is not included in any offer.
Grades advertised on each programme webpage are the typical level at which our offers are made and provide information on any specific subjects an applicant will need to have studied in order to be considered for a place on the programme. However, if we receive a large number of applications for the programme we may not be able to make an offer to all those who are predicted to achieve/have achieved grades which are in line with our typical offer. For more information on how applications are assessed and when decisions are released, please see: After you apply
*Accepted Humanities and Social Science subjects:
- Anthropology
- Classics and Ancient History
- Drama
- English
- Geography
- Government and Politics
- History
- Law
- Media Studies
- Modern Languages
- Philosophy
- Politics
- Psychology
- Religious Studies
- Sociology
Course content
You will explore the work of some of the giants of English literature and go on an exciting journey across a diverse range of Anglophone literatures. You will read works of literature spanning the Middle Ages to the 21st century in their historical context, learning how and why certain literary forms emerged when they did. We will introduce you to traditional and emerging cultural forms from novels to digital culture and expose you to writers from across the globe.
Our history expertise covers 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. In your final year you will have the opportunity to delve into a topic that interests you for your History Research Project.
You will have the flexibility to choose History and English modules that complement each other, enabling you to fully immerse yourself in the real world behind the story.
You may notice changes to some of our modules over the coming months. This is because we are making space for the following:
- Minors: Future Skills Pathways - Alongside your main degree you may be eligible (depending on your course) to choose modules from another subject to broaden your skills and interests.
- Skills to Thrive built into every degree - Essential skills for your future, including communication, problem-solving, teamwork and digital confidence.
- Increased innovation and wellbeing - More room for creative learning, real-world projects and a healthier study rhythm.
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
Students must take 45 credits of compulsory History modules, 30 credits of compulsory English modules, 15 credits of optional History modules, and 30 credits of optional English modules at Stage 1.
Compulsory Modules
Subject to choosing 120 credits for the stage overall, you must:
Take EAS1035 (30 credits) and HIH1137 from the Compulsory Group
From English Optional - select 30 credits from this list of optional English modules
From Compulsory Choice you must take HIH1421 OR HIH1422 (30 credits) + HIH1137 Becoming a Historian: Core (15 credits)
Select 15 credits from this list of optional History (HIH-coded) modules.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory 1 | ||
| Beginnings: English Literature before 1800 | 30 | |
| Becoming a Historian: Core | 15 | |
| Compulsory Choice | ||
| Understanding Medieval and Early Modern History | 30 | |
| Understanding Modern History | 30 | |
Optional modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Combined Honours Optional 1 | ||
| Digital Cultures: Narrative, Creativity, Industry | 15 | |
| The Novel | 15 | |
| The Poem | 15 | |
| Academic English | 15 | |
| Rethinking Shakespeare | 15 | |
| Imagine This: Prompts for Creative Writing | 15 | |
| Optional 1 | ||
| Climate Emergency! An Introduction to Environmental Arts and Humanities | 15 | |
| Sources and Skills: Modern | 15 | |
| Sources and Skills: Early Modern | 15 | |
| Sources and Skills: Medieval | 15 | |
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
Subject to selecting 120 credits overall in the stage, you must:
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 in the final stage.
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
Optional modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 Optional Modules | ||
| Desire and Power: English Literature 1570-1640 | 30 | |
| Theatrical Cultures in Early Modern England | 30 | |
| Chaucer and His Contemporaries | 30 | |
| Renaissance and Revolution | 30 | |
| Satire and the City: English Literature 1660-1750 | 30 | |
| Group 2 Optional Modules | ||
| Revolutions and Evolutions 19C Writings | 30 | |
| Modernism and Modernity: Literature 1900-1960 | 30 | |
| Romanticism | 30 | |
| Empire of Liberty: American Literature of the Long Nineteenth Century | 30 | |
| Group 3 Optional Modules | ||
| Adaptations: Text, Image, Culture | 15 | |
| Creative Writing: Building a Story | 30 | |
| Creative Writing: Making a Poem | 30 | |
| British Cultures: The Exeter Seminar | 15 | |
| Comics Studies: Histories, Methodologies, Genres | 15 | |
| Creative Industries: Their Past, Our Future | 30 | |
| Humanities after the Human: Further Adventures in Critical Theory | 30 | |
| Culture, Crisis and Ecology in a Postcolonial World | 30 | |
| History (Combined Honours) Optional Route A | ||
| Adventures in Environmental Arts and Humanities | 30 | |
| Forgetting Fascism, Remembering Communism: Memory in Modern Europe | 30 | |
| Deviants and Dissenters in Early Modern England | 30 | |
| Rebellion! Uprisings in England and France, 1173-1569 | 30 | |
| From Gallows to ASBOs: Crime, Punishment, and Society in Britain and Ireland | 30 | |
| Strategy and Success in the Second World War | 30 | |
| Vikings and Other Invaders: Europe under Siege in in the Tenth Century | 30 | |
| Beyond Bridgerton: A Peoples' History of Britain, 1688-1834 | 30 | |
| Atlantic History, 1500-1850: Communities, Identity and Empire | 30 | |
| Creating an American Empire: From Westward Expansion to Colonial Empire | 30 | |
| Hunger Games: Poverty, Famine, and Environment | 30 | |
| Russia’s Empires: Societies, Peoples and Cultures | 30 | |
| Beyond the Tudors: Europe’s Worldview Transformed c.1500-1600 | 30 | |
| History (Combined Honours) Optional Route B | ||
| Adventures in Environmental Arts and Humanities | 30 | |
| Uses of the Past | 30 | |
| Forgetting Fascism, Remembering Communism: Memory in Modern Europe | 30 | |
| From Gallows to ASBOs: Crime, Punishment, and Society in Britain and Ireland | 30 | |
| Vikings and Other Invaders: Europe under Siege in in the Tenth Century | 30 | |
| Beyond Bridgerton: A Peoples' History of Britain, 1688-1834 | 30 | |
| Hunger Games: Poverty, Famine, and Environment | 30 | |
| Beyond the Tudors: Europe’s Worldview Transformed c.1500-1600 | 30 | |
| History (Combined Honours) Optional Route C | ||
| Deviants and Dissenters in Early Modern England | 30 | |
| Doing History in the Digital Age | 30 | |
| Rebellion! Uprisings in England and France, 1173-1569 | 30 | |
| Strategy and Success in the Second World War | 30 | |
| Atlantic History, 1500-1850: Communities, Identity and Empire | 30 | |
| Creating an American Empire: From Westward Expansion to Colonial Empire | 30 | |
| Russia’s Empires: Societies, Peoples and Cultures | 30 | |
| History (Combined Honours) Optional Route D | ||
| Uses of the Past | 30 | |
| Doing History in the Digital Age | 30 | |
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
Typically, any placement year will take place in Year 3. If you are not taking a placement year please see the Final Year modules for year 3.
With Study Abroad
Student must take 120 credits of compulsory placement module.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory 1 | ||
| Study Abroad | 120 | |
With Employment Experience
Student must take 120 credits of compulsory placement module.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory 2 | ||
| Employment Experience | 120 | |
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
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.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Choice | ||
| Dissertation | 30 | |
| Creative Writing Dissertation | 30 | |
| Dissertation by Collaborative Project | 30 | |
| General Third-Year Dissertation | 30 | |
Optional modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Optional 1 | ||
| Queering British Screens | 15 | |
| Hardy and Women Who Did: the Coming of Modernity | 30 | |
| Writing the Short Film | 30 | |
| Heroes and Exiles: English Poetry of the Age of Beowulf | 30 | |
| James Joyce's Ulysses | 30 | |
| Life and Death in Early Modern Literature | 30 | |
| Visual and Literary Cultures of Realism | 30 | |
| Encountering the Other in Medieval Literature | 30 | |
| Writing for Children and Young Adults | 30 | |
| Resource Fictions: Oil, Water and Conflict in the World-System | 30 | |
| Acts of Writing: From Decolonisation to Globalisation | 30 | |
| The Death of the Novel | 30 | |
| Virginia Woolf: Fiction, Feeling, Form | 30 | |
| "Reader, I Married Him": The Evolution of Romance Fiction from 1740 to the Present | 30 | |
| Romance from Chaucer to Shakespeare | 30 | |
| Citizens of the World | 30 | |
| The Rise of Science | 30 | |
| Harlem and After: African American Literature 1925-present | 30 | |
| Food, Environment and Literature in Early Modern England | 30 | |
| The Poetry of Place | 30 | |
| Piracy in Early Modern Literature, 1570-1730 | 30 | |
| Poetry and Politics | 30 | |
| Ghosts, Witches and Demons: the Renaissance Supernatural | 30 | |
| Jane Austen: In and Out of Context | 30 | |
| The Development of British Children's Literature | 30 | |
| Art, Industry and the Modern, 1840-1900 | 15 | |
| American Counterculture in Literature | 30 | |
| Fiction Matters | 30 | |
| Migration, Literature and Culture | 30 | |
| Surrealism and its Legacies | 30 | |
| "Mad": Cultures, Histories, Phantasies, Imaginaries of Mental Distress | 30 | |
| Concepts Optional Modules | ||
| Truth | 30 | |
| Disease | 30 | |
| War | 30 | |
| Violence | 30 | |
| Revolution | 30 | |
| Sexualities | 30 | |
| Optional | ||
| The Legend of King Arthur | 30 | |
| Special Subject Optional Modules | ||
| The Yes, Minister Files: Perspectives on British Government since 1914 | 60 | |
| The Russian Revolution | 60 | |
| Magic in the Middle Ages | 60 | |
| Governing the World: A History of Internationalism from WW1 to the Present | 60 | |
| Health and its Politics in the 20th Century | 60 | |
| From the Grand Tour to Gladiator: Modern Encounters with the Ancient World | 60 | |
| The Body in Early Modern England | 60 | |
| Britons Abroad: The Experience of Travel, c. 1650-1900 | 60 | |
| The Celtic Frontier | 60 | |
| Borders and Mobilities in Postcolonial South Asia | 60 | |
Course variants
BA English and History with Study Abroad
UCAS code: QV02
Our four-year ‘with Study Abroad’ degree offers you the possibility of spending your third year abroad, studying with one of our many partner universities.
Why study abroad?
Living and studying in a different country is an exciting experience that broadens your academic and cultural horizons, as well as giving you the opportunity to widen your circle of friends. Students who have studied abroad demonstrate initiative, independence, motivation and, depending on where they stay, may also have gained a working knowledge of another language – all key qualities that employers are looking for in today’s competitive employment environment.
Where can I study abroad?
We have partnership arrangements with many prestigious institutions across the globe. Exactly where you can apply to study will depend on the subjects you are studying at Exeter. For a full list please visit the Study Abroad website.
Does it count towards my degree?
Credit for academic work during your year abroad is arranged by agreement between the University of Exeter and the host institution. These marks are then translated back into your degree at Exeter. If you are studying abroad for a semester or full year, your time abroad will count toward your final degree. Please refer to your Study Abroad co-ordinator for further details.
How does it affect my tuition fee and funding?
For the year that you spend studying abroad you will pay a significantly reduced tuition fee to Exeter, but nothing to your host university – for more information visit our fees pages. If you were previously eligible, you will continue to receive a maintenance loan whilst on your Study Abroad year.
BA English and History with Employment Experience
UCAS code: QV03
Our four-year ‘with Employment Experience’ degree offers you the option of spending your third year carrying out a graduate-level work placement or placements, within the UK or abroad, as part of your degree.
Why choose to include Employment Experience?
Undertaking graduate-level work during your degree unlocks a world of experience that allows you to develop essential employability and interpersonal skills that relate to your degree and future career.
A work placement will dramatically boost your confidence, enhance your CV and develop graduate-level skills and competencies that employers are looking for.
Where will I do my work placement?
The sector and country you choose to work in is very much your choice, as you will be responsible for finding and organising your placement.
We will provide plenty of guidance and support during your first and second years which will prepare you to research and apply for placements. Ultimately, the university will give final approval to your placement to make sure you have a valuable experience.
How does it affect my tuition fees and funding?
For your ‘Year In Industry’ you will pay a significantly reduced tuition fee to Exeter – for more information visit our fees pages. If you were previously eligible, you will continue to receive a maintenance loan whilst on your year of work placement/s.
Is the placement paid?
You will be paid in accordance with the rules of the country you work in and there may be visa restrictions or requirements which you need to consider when applying.
Find out more
Fees
Tuition fees for 2026 entry
UK students: £9,790 per year
International students: £24,950 per year
Scholarships
The University of Exeter offers a wide range of scholarships to support your education, with £7 million available for international students applying to study with us in the 2026/27 academic year, including our prestigious Exeter Excellence Scholarships*. We also provide scholarships for sport, music and other achievements, alongside regional and partner awards such as Chevening, The Beacon Trust and the British Council. Financial support is available for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, lower income households and other under-represented groups to help them access, succeed and progress through higher education.
* Terms and conditions, including deadlines, apply. See our website for details.
Learning and teaching
How will I learn?
As well as lectures, seminars and tutorials led by internationally respected academics at the forefront of research, you'll engage in group tasks and independent study: reading or viewing module material, writing essays or preparing for seminars and presentations.
We encourage presentation work and written coursework, because it involves you actively in the teaching and learning process and develops important transferable skills such as good verbal and visual communication, as well as effective interaction with other people. You will also develop a range of professional skills, such as time management and team working, plus valuable critical and analytical skills.
Modules
Our history modules encourage you to think about long-term developments and processes of historical change, and to make comparisons between countries and cultures. We emphasise historical questions that require you to identify patterns across time or between countries, and to isolate common or competing trends, instead of concentrating on short-term or single explanations.
Likewise our English modules enable you to deeply investigate the work of some of the giants of English literature, as well as discovering more unusual works from the past and engaging literary and cultural works from the contemporary moment.
Teaching hours
You’ll have on average 1-3 teaching hours per module per week, and will need to allow for up to nine additional hours of private study. You should expect your total workload to average about 40 hours per week during term time.
As well as attending lectures and writing essays and assignments, you’ll be expected to make presentations in seminars or tutorials. We encourage your presentation work, because it involves you actively in the teaching and learning process and develops important life skills, such as good verbal and visual communication and effective interaction with other people.
Personal tutor
You'll have a personal tutor as well as tutors in individual subjects and they will work with you to monitor your progress, as well as offering pastoral support and other help. You will have a chance to make your mark on the programmes through regular student evaluations and participation in the Student-Staff Liaison Committees and relevant subject societies on both campuses.
How will I be assessed?
All our degrees have assessments and examinations each year. Although formal examinations are important tests of skill, up to 50% of your marks will come from other forms of assessment, including coursework essays, projects, dissertations and measures of your skill in presentation and oral work. The exact balance will depend on the modules you choose, and you’ll be informed of the methods of assessment before making your choices.
Progression
You must pass your first-year assessment in order to progress to the second year, but the results do not count towards your degree classification. For three-year courses, the assessments in the second and third years contribute to your final degree classification. For four-year courses, the assessments in the second, third and fourth years all contribute to your final degree classification.
Optional modules outside of this course
Each year, if you have optional modules available, you can take up to 30 credits in a subject outside of your course. This can increase your employability and widen your intellectual horizons.
Minors: Future Skills Pathways
You can study a Future Skills Pathway alongside your main degree by choosing up to 30 credits of modules from a different subject area in your second and final years.
Facilities
Students in the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum
We are exceptionally lucky to have some fantastic facilities and resources on the Streatham Campus.
Special Collections
We have Special Collections relating to writers such as Agatha Christie, Daphne du Maurier, and William Golding, and we integrate these into our teaching so students can share the excitement we have when discovering new insights from manuscripts, letters, and business papers.
The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum
Our unique film and popular culture resource, contains items going back hundreds of years. We regularly take students into its archives and think about the study of literature in relation to visual texts.
Digital Humanities Lab
Digital Humanities is increasingly important in all areas of humanities research, including history, archaeology, literatures and languages. This research space enables the examination, preservation and analysis of historical, literary and visual material. Facilities in the lab include:
- a flagship seminar room equipped with a 4.2-metre video wall, encouraging interactive engagement in a shared display space
- two state-of-the-art photography labs, including provision for the 2D digitisation of heritage material and primary sources
- an audio-visual lab with a recording studio and sound editing suite
- a MakerSpace equipped with 3D scanning and printing equipment
Whilst my studies here at the University of Exeter have been incredible (I cannot speak highly enough of my English course), my time at Exeter has been defined by what I do away from the books.
I have taken managerial roles within societies, broadening my circle of peers and allowing me to develop my leadership skills. Not only have I been involved in voluntary positions, the University’s broad internship programme has allowed me to take paid work in the Digital Humanities Labs, assisting academics on world leading research and pioneering and fostering new relationships between the University and the rest of the world.
This internship has let me interact with texts like the first edition of William Golding’s ‘Lord of the Flies’ (with the rarely seen first chapter) and even taken me to Canada, all of which is incredible experience, and will stand me in good stead for further study. I chose the study abroad option at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, as I believe that having international experience is key to success as work between countries continues to become more globally significant and the world is becoming smaller through communication and travel,’
Connor
BA English with Study Abroad (Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia)
Your future
Employer-valued skills this course develops
A degree in English and History equips you with a range of complementary skills that will put you in a great position to succeed in a range of careers. Alongside in-depth subject knowledge of both English and History, you will develop highly transferable skills in:
- researching;
- analysing and assessing primary and secondary sources;
- written and verbal communication;
- managing and interpreting information;
- developing ideas and arguments;
- teamwork;
- problem solving;
- and the ability to make informed decisions.
Through a balance of independent study and teamwork you will learn to manage your time and workload effectively.
Employer visits
We have a dedicated Careers Service, ensuring you have access to careers advisors, mentors and the tools you need to succeed in finding employment in your chosen field on graduation. We offer the Exeter Award and the Exeter Leaders Award which include employability-related workshops, skills events, volunteering and employment which will contribute to your career decision-making skills and success in the employment market.
Our graduates compete very successfully in the employment market, with many employers targeting the University when recruiting new graduates. For further information please visit our Careers Service pages.
Career paths
You will be equipped with skills that are attractive to employers and relevant for a wide range of careers, including graduate-level roles in the heritage and arts sectors as well as other fields of work, including education, retail management, recruitment, charities, finance and accounting, and journalism.
Example careers include:
- Account Manager
- Archivist and/or Librarian
- Business Analyst
- Civil Servant
- Digital Marketing and Events Executive
- Event Project Manager
- Global Market
- Researcher
- Historian/teacher of History and/or English
- Parliamentary Researcher
- TV Researcher
