Every day is a new intellectual adventure
Year of entry: 2023/24
QV35
Y50
3 years full-time
AAB (full entry requirements)
September 2023 (semester dates)
Combining English and Philosophy offers you one of the most wide-ranging and stimulating degrees.
Applications for this course are closed to UK (home) applicants for 2023/24. Applications for 2024/25 will open in September.
Encompassing almost every aspect of human thought and culture, this course will expose you to an array of ideas and ways of thinking about the world. Staff in both departments at York are world-renowned for their research, which covers every period, every major literary and philosophical genre, and all areas of the world.
You can discover more about the Department of English and Related Literature’s exciting degree programmes by watching our video.
Every day is a new intellectual adventure – find out what it’s like to study Philosophy at York.
Choosing to study a joint degree in English/Philosophy was the best choice I could have made. I get the very best of both worlds, with an amazing range of both literary and philosophical texts and topics in my first year alone. I particularly love the ability to transfer skills and insights between subjects. Studying English and Philosophy together is daring, rewarding and life-changing.Tim, BA English/Philosophy
for English in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023.
for 'academic support' and 'learning opportunities' in English studies
of universities included in the National Student Survey 2022.
Our English/Philosophy degree has a distinctly international perspective. You’ll cover an exciting range of literary and philosophical topics, from the classical era to the modern world.
There are opportunities to study 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 Philosophy. Our modules will give you the skills you need to start undertaking literary and philosophical 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.
In Philosophy, your core modules will give you foundational knowledge and skills in both practical philosophy and theoretical philosophy and a taste of the variety of philosophical approaches pertaining to different traditions.
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 choose from a range of intermediate modules across the English and Philosophy departments. Students who are planning to do an English dissertation in third year will also take Research Now, which prepares you for advanced research.
You will choose from the same breathtaking range of English options as our single subject students. These include Writing Now and our Intermediate Option 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'll also be able to choose subjects included in our World Literature modules. Options may include:
You will choose from the same wide range of Philosophy options as our Philosophy single subject students in the areas of Theoretical Philosophy, Practical Philosophy, and History of Philosophy, including:
In the third year of the degree, you’ll choose from options in English and Philosophy, including the year-long English Dissertation (for which Research Now in Year 2 is required) or the Philosophy Short Dissertation.
You will also study five or six option modules (depending on whether you choose to take the year-long dissertation). In previous years, options have covered topics such as:
In English, you will choose from the department’s Advanced Option Modules. These reflect the wide-ranging and cutting-edge research expertise of the Department, and our options cover literature from the classical period to the twenty-first century, as well as film and creative writing. Students can typically choose from around 30 options. Recent offerings have included:
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.
| 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.
You'll need copies of the texts set for each module. Where possible, the Department 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).
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 English, 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.
Teaching in Philosophy takes much the same form. The department prides itself on having smaller seminar groups than some other universities, and staff strongly encourage one-to-one conversations in open office hours.
York’s English and Philosophy degree is renowned for its flexible and innovative approach.
In your first year, you can expect:
| Lectures | 6 hours per week |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 4 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 Philosophy on Campus West.
Most teaching will be nearby in Derwent College, the Spring Lane Teaching Building and other Campus West locations.
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. We offer high levels of feedback and ample opportunities for you to meet with staff to discuss your written work.
Your work in Philosophy is assessed by a more or less equal mix of essays and exams – the exact blend of assessment depends on the modules you choose. In the first year, some work is assessed by online tests and poster presentation.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written exams | 50% | 35% | 0% |
| Coursework | 50% | 65% | 100% |
The figures above are based on data from 2016/17.
[The] English and Philosophy course is very well structured, allowing for the enhancement of creative and original thought within both subjects through its interdisciplinary approach. Few universities permit the academic freedom of writing on Gustave Flaubert’s works in light of Jean-Paul Sartre’s account of the imagination!Alex BA English/Philosophy
Studying English and Philosophy 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 range of careers, from law and teaching to national and local government and the creative industries.
The English part of my degree helped me develop the skill of being able to absorb and analyse large amounts of information at short notice which is a daily demand in the world of law.Penny Darragh, BA English/Philosophy
Solicitor, Dickinson Dees LLP
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| A levels | AAB including an A in English Literature (English Language and Literature is also acceptable) |
| Access to Higher Education Diploma | 36 credits at Distinction, including at least 9 credits in Literature-related units, and 9 credits at Merit or higher |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DDD with an additional A Level or equivalent qualification in English Literature at grade A |
| Cambridge Pre-U | D3, D3, M2 including D3 in English Literature |
| European Baccalaureate | 80% overall, with 85% in English Literature. |
| International Baccalaureate | 35 points including 6 in English Literature at Higher Level. |
| T levels | We are currently not accepting T Levels for this course unless an additional A Level (or equivalent qualification) in English Literature has been taken. |
| Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers | Scottish Highers - BBBB Advanced Highers - B in English Literature 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. |
| MOOCs | If you successfully complete our online course 'Logic: The Language of Truth', you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about MOOCs. |
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 Philosophy
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