Combine the expertise of two of the UK’s finest departments
Year of entry: 2023/24
QV31
Y50
3 years full-time
AAA (full entry requirements)
September 2023 (semester dates)
Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023
Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023
in the QS World Rankings by Subject, 2023
A combined English and History course offers one of the most wide-ranging and adventurous of university degrees, tackling key aspects of human culture.
Applications for this course are closed to UK (home) applicants for 2023/24. Applications for 2024/25 will open in September.
Our pioneering curriculum offers an international outlook. Our modules span the globe, encompassing over two millennia of history and literature.
You can discover more about the Department of English and Related Literature’s exciting degree programmes by watching our video.
Incredible chronological breadth and thematic scope – find out what it’s like to study History at York.
You'll benefit from our interdisciplinary research and teaching with critical thinking and transferable skills.
according to the latest National Student Survey (2022).
It is fantastic to be a part of two amazing departments and explore both subjects in exciting ways. I have been completely supported by both departments and the chance to write an interdisciplinary dissertation with two supervisors is a real highlight of my joint studies.Alex, BA English/History
Our combined English and History degree fosters a sense of interdisciplinarity: building on the subject specific skills developed in Year 1, you’ll begin to think about the relationship between the two disciplines in the Year 2 module Texts and Histories. This innovative module invites you to bring together your understanding of historical phenomena, narrative structures, and the particularities of close textual analysis in a module co-taught by a member of staff in each department.
In Year 3, you will undertake a bridge dissertation that combines your two subjects together. Alongside this independent research project, you’ll also choose from the full range of Advanced Option Modules offered by English and Special Subjects offered by History.
There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:
There are opportunities to spend time in industry as part of this course.
In the first year of your degree, we’ll introduce you to the undergraduate study of English and History. Our modules will give you the skills you need to start undertaking literary and historical research, and advice on how to combine the two disciplines.
Your core modules in English are designed to lay the foundation of literary study for your whole degree.
Get a feel for the shape of literary history by studying works from the medieval, early modern, eighteenth-century and Romantic, and modern periods. and develop the necessary skills for the study of literature at university level.
Your core modules in History will cover topics such as:
You will also choose one of the following:
In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.
This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.
This module will:
In the second year of your degree, you’ll take our exciting bridge module Texts and Histories designed specifically for English/History students and taught by a member of staff from each department. This module is the cornerstone of your combined course programme; it will provide you with a range of critical and analytical skills that are applicable across periods, and that will highlight the possibilities offered by studying two disciplines.
You will also take the English module Writing Now which explores the possibilities of literary criticism in different forms, drawing upon a wide range of examples from a span of historical periods and global contexts.
You will choose from the same breathtaking range of English options as our single subject students. These include our Intermediate Option Modules and our World Literature Modules, which allow you to deepen your understanding of the relationship between literary works and the cultural, historical, and political contexts in which they were produced. You will also choose from an exciting range of History Explorations modules.
You will study five option modules. Examples may include:
You'll choose from a range History Explorations. Examples may include:
In your third year you will concentrate on your bridge dissertation as well as choosing modules in both English and History.
In the third year of your degree, you will undertake an 8,000 word bridge dissertation, one of the distinctive features of the English/History degree at York. The bridge dissertation allows you to undertake a research project that brings the study of English and History together. This year-long advanced module offers you the chance to use all the research and writing skills you will have developed at York. There is also the option to undertake a bridge dissertation with a creative element.
Option modules
You'll study four option modules, including Advanced Option Modules in English, and a range of Special Subjects in History.
Our Advanced Option Modules reflect our wide-ranging and cutting-edge research expertise. Our options cover literature from the classical period to the twenty-first century, as well as film and creative writing. Examples may include:
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.
Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
Get a taste of university-level study on one of York's free short courses.
| UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £21,950 |
The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.
In English, you'll need copies of the texts set for each module. Where possible, the Department of English and Related Literature works to arrange digital copies via the University Library. Where this is not practical, you'll be instructed in advance of the start of each term about the texts and editions you'll need to purchase (whether new or second-hand). In History, you will have to pay for the cost of printing some assignments for submission as assessed work in Years 2 and 3.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2023/24 throughout the year.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
In both English and History, you’ll learn through a programme of seminars, lectures, workshops, and one-to-one consultations. We emphasize small-group teaching, which means you’ll mainly be taught in seminars.
York’s English and History degree is renowned for its flexible and innovative approach.
In your first year, you can expect:
| Lectures | 4 hours per week |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 2-3 hours per week |
| Workshops | 0-4 hours per week |
| Film Screening | 0-2 hours per week |
These figures are representative of a typical week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities.
Outside your timetabled hours, you'll study independently. This may include preparation for classes, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.
In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during term time. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.
You will be based in the Department of English and Related Literature and the Department of History, which are on Campus West.
Your contact hours will be divided between Derwent College, Vanbrugh College, the Spring Lane Building, and other locations nearby on Campus West.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
The Department of English and Related Literature employs a variety of assessment methods, including group presentations and closed exams, but with a strong emphasis on essay writing. Your main mode of assessment will be essays, which will range from short exploratory exercises to more detailed discussions on a topic of your choice, to the 8,000 word bridge dissertation in your final year.
The Department of History also uses a variety of assessment methods. These include assessed essays from 2,000-4,000 words, closed exams, and open exams. You will complete a 3,000-word group project in your second year and an 8,000 word bridge dissertation in your third year.
Both departments offer high levels of feedback and ample opportunities for you to meet with staff to discuss your written work.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written exams | 38% | 17% | 17% |
| Coursework | 62% | 75% | 83% |
| Practical exams | 0% | 8% | 0% |
The figures above are based on data from 2016/17.
When looking at different universities, York offered me the best flexibility to study English and History together. I love the way the different modules intertwine.Emily, BA English/History
Studying English and History at York will provide you with numerous career possibilities. You’ll learn presentation, language, and critical thinking skills during your combined degree, and gain expertise in complex analysis and research. These skills suit a wide range of careers, from law and teaching to national and local government and the creative industries.
While at York I learned to read fast while absorbing key details and to express myself clearly. I learned to listen and to be generous when sharing ideas. I gained confidence and developed a more independent way of thinking.Sarah Ward-Lilley, BA English
Head of International Bureaux, BBC News
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| A levels | AAA, including English Literature and History (English Language and Literature is also acceptable) |
| Access to Higher Education Diploma | 39 credits at Distinction, including at least 6 credits in Literature-related units and 6 credits in History-related units, and 6 credits at Merit or higher |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DDD with additional A Levels or equivalent qualifications in English Literature and History at grade A. |
| Cambridge Pre-U | D3, D3, D3 including English Literature and History |
| European Baccalaureate | 85% overall, with 85% in English Literature and 85% in History. |
| International Baccalaureate | 36 points including 6 in English Literature and History at Higher Level |
| T levels | We are currently not accepting T Levels for this course unless additional A Levels (or equivalent qualifications) in English Literature and History have been taken. |
| Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers | Scottish Highers - AB Advanced Highers - AB in English Literature and History We may also be able to consider three Advanced Highers or a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers, where an applicant does not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone. Please contact us to discuss your qualifications. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.
| Criteria | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Widening participation | If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to three A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Black Access Programme, Next Step York, Realising Opportunities, YESS, YorWay to York. More about widening participation. |
| Contextual offers | If you have experience of local authority care or live in an area with low progression to university, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about contextual offers. |
| EPQ | If you achieve A or higher at EPQ, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component |
| C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency | 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in each component |
| GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) | Grade C / Grade 4 |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert International ESOL | B2 Communicator with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
| PTE Academic/PTE Academic Online | 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all components |
For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
Get in touch if you have any questions
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Department of English and Related Literature, Department of History
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