English / Philosophy (BA) - Undergraduate, University of York

UCAS code

QV35

Institution code

Y50

Length

3 years full-time

Typical offer

AAB (full entry requirements)

Start date

September 2018 (term dates)

Department

Department of English and Related Literature, Department of Philosophy

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UK/EU fees

Fees for 2018/19 to be confirmed. See fees and funding.

International fees

£16,620 per year (2018/19)

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Combining English and Philosophy offers you one of the most wide-ranging and stimulating degrees.

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.

The Department of English and Related Literature is ranked second overall in the UK for research performance and 96% of research activity in the Department of Philosophy is judged as internationally recognised (REF 2014).

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World-class departments

Both departments are part of our Faculty of Arts and Humanities, which is ranked 31st in the 2016-17 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

Interdisciplinary teaching

You'll benefit from our interdisciplinary research and teaching with critical thinking and transferable skills.

“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

Course content

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.

All combined course students take 120 credits each year, adding up to 360 credits across the course of your degree. In first and second year, you will split your studies equally between the English and Philosophy components of your degree. In your third year, it’s possible to vary the balance and devote more time to either subject, depending on your intellectual interests.

Study abroad

We are proud of our international outlook. If you’re also interested in studying abroad, there are a number of Study Abroad options for English and Philosophy students at York, in Europe, North America, and further afield.

Study Abroad with York

Year 1

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 doing literary and philosophical research, and advice on how to combine the two disciplines.

As an English/Philosophy student, you will take the following three modules in English, which are worth 20 credits each. These modules are designed to lay the foundation of literary study for your whole degree.

Approaches to Literature I: Writing Modernity (Autumn) and Approaches to Literature II: Other Worlds (Spring) - Get a feel for the shape of literary history by studying works from the medieval, early modern, eighteenth-century and Romantic, and modern periods.
Key Concepts: An Introduction to Genre, Theory, and Writing - A year-long foundation module that provides you with important critical and methodological contexts for the study of literature, as well as an introduction to rhetoric and writing.

In addition, you will be introduced to strategies for developing essay-writing skills, engaging with criticism and critical theory, and revising work to improve its fluency and persuasiveness, as part of the English Department’s innovative Writing at York provision.

You will also take a further 60 credits in Philosophy:

Beginning Philosophy (10 credits) – Introduces a wide range of philosophical topics and the skills required to study at university level.
Early Modern Philosophy (10 credits) – Guides you through work by philosophers of the 17th and 18th centuries, addressing issues that are still actively debated.
Reason and Argument B (10 credits) – Introduces you to the language of logic and how it can be used to clarify philosophical problems.
Ethics (20 credits) – Explores the three main branches of moral philosophy: the nature of morality, ethical systems, and specific moral dilemmas.
Introduction to Ancient Philosophy B (10 credits) – The philosophy of Ancient Greece.

Academic integrity module

In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.

Year 2

In the second year of your degree, you’ll choose from a range of intermediate modules across the English and Philosophy departments, taking 60 credits in each subject.

You will choose from the same English options as our single subject students. These include our World Literature offerings, our Topic Modules, and Critical Practice, as well as our Intermediate Option Modules:

The Shock of the New: Medieval Literature
The Renaissance
Inventing Britain, 1700-1830
Victorians: British Literature, 1837-1901
Age of Extremes: Twentieth-Century British and Irish Literature
American Literature: From the First World War to the End of Empire.

In Philosophy, you will choose from a range of Key Ideas modules, looking in more depth at topics in Theoretical Philosophy (eg Logic, Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy of Science); Value (eg History of Ethics, Philosophy of Art, Religious Ethics); and the History of Philosophy (eg Aristotle, Kant, Nietzsche). Modules may change from year to year, but all will help you to develop the knowledge, understanding, and skills that you’ll use in more specialised investigations in your third year.

Year 3

In the third year of your degree, you will choose from our Advanced Option Modules in English and a wide range of specialised Philosophy modules based on our latest research, enabling you to tailor your degree to your particular interests.

In addition, you will take Philosophy and Literature, a module designed specifically for this degree pathway and taught by a member of staff from each department. One of the distinctive features of the English/Philosophy degree at York, this advanced module is the cornerstone of your combined course programme; it will provide you with a range of critical and analytical skills, and will highlight the possibilities offered by studying two disciplines.

In your third year, you may weight your degree towards one subject or the other (up to a 70/50 credit split, including the required bridge module, which counts for 10 credits on each side of the degree).

Please note, modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.

Learning by design

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.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

Read philosophical and literary texts with close critical attention, clearly explaining and interpreting them and their relations to the issues, traditions and periods in which they participate, and synthesizing information from secondary sources.
Develop and articulate arguments for alternative solutions to key philosophical problems in an open-minded and imaginative way, by presenting the best case that can be made for each proposal and advancing a reasoned judgement about the best solution.
Analyse the power of language, rhetoric and narrative and the influence they have upon cultural, political, and ethical issues, using this awareness better to understand the world and influence others.
Exercise and continually develop their independent thought and critical judgement by interrogating their own underlying assumptions and identifying strengths and weaknesses, refining their critical engagement with arguments and texts in the light of self-reflection, peer review, and advice and feedback from others.
Engage analytically with contemporary social, political and ethical problems and issues of value, and display a critical awareness of cultural diversity informed by knowledge of the literatures of different varieties of English or other European languages, so developing the ability to operate in complex global and multicultural contexts.
Engage productively in critical discussion and debate, and therefore work effectively in collaboration with others, by cultivating advanced oral communication skills.
Influence people by writing clearly, accurately and persuasively, articulating ideas and presenting systematic, logical arguments to support measured judgements, and doing so in lucid and accessible terms, to a deadline and to a professional standard.
Move confidently between the methods and practices of the disciplines of English and Philosophy, rigorously applying the skills appropriate to a given context whilst maintaining a creative, intellectually independent alertness to the relevance of alternative ways of thinking and the insight they can afford.

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees for 2018/19

UK/EU	International
£9,250 (2017/18) Fees for 2018/19 are subject to increase in line with government policy. Updated fees information will be published as soon as possible after the government announcement.	£16,620

Additional costs

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).

UK/EU or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK, EU or international student.

Fees for subsequent years

UK/EU: further increases within the government fee cap will apply in subsequent academic years. We will notify you of any increase as soon as we can.
International: fees for international students are subject to annual increases. Increases are currently capped at 2% per annum.

More information

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.

Funding

We offer a number of scholarships to help cover tuition fees and living costs.

Home/EU students

International students

The Department of English and Related Literature offers an Annual Overseas Bursary of £1,000.

Living costs

You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers accommodation costs and estimated social costs.

Teaching and assessment

You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. 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.

Teaching format

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.

You can typically expect six to eight contact hours a week – and sometimes more. There are also numerous opportunities for informal contact.
Our cutting-edge research informs all our teaching activities.
Our friendly, approachable, and accessible staff are world-leading experts in their fields. They are each available to meet individually with you during weekly open office hours – two in English and at least one in Philosophy.
We organise many guest lectures and readings by well-known writers and philosophers.
The English Department’s unique writing provision, designed and taught by specialist tutors, forms a practical spine for the degree, preparing you to communicate clearly and confidently on a rich variety of topics and to any audience.

Teaching location

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.

Course location

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.

Assessment and feedback

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.

[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

Careers and skills

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.

Our English alumni
What Philosophy students say

Career opportunities

Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations
Arts Administration
Civil and Diplomatic Services
Film, Radio, Social Media, Television, and Theatre
Journalism and Broadcasting
Law
Librarianship
Member of Parliament
Postgraduate study
Publishing
Teaching

Transferable skills

Ability to analyse and compare complex texts
Communication and teamwork skills
Capacity to write clearly and fluently for a variety of audiences
Critical and analytical thinking
Data interpretation
Experience of researching and debating challenging topics
Independent study skills
Logic and rhetoric
Proficiency in presenting findings cogently and persuasively using information technology

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
Solicitor, Dickinson Dees LLP

Entry requirements

Qualification	Grade
A levels	AAB, including an A in English at minimum (English Language and Literature is also acceptable). We don’t accept General Studies or Critical Thinking.
Access to Higher Education Diploma	30 credits from units awarded Distinction. 9 credits from units awarded Merit or higher.
Cambridge Pre-U	D3, D3, M2, including D3 in English.
European Baccalaureate	80 overall, with 85 in English.
International Baccalaureate	35 points, with 6 in Higher level English.
Irish leaving Certificate	H1 (English) H2, H2, H2, H2, H3
Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers	AAAAB at Higher level. AA at Advanced Higher level, including an A in English.

English language

Our English language requirements for international applicants can be found on our Entry Requirements page.

Applying

To apply to York, you will need to complete an online application via UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).

How to apply

We look for intellectual and literary curiosity, open-mindedness, and analytical ability.

Normally, only mature candidates and those with special circumstances and/or qualifications will have an interview. Interviews will usually be a half-hour conversation about your interests. We’ll also ask you to bring along some of your recent essays.