| UCAS code | Q300 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 years |
| Entry year | 2025 |
| Campus | Streatham Campus |
| Discipline | English |
| Contact | Web: Enquire online |
| Typical offer | A-Level: AAB |
|---|---|
|
A-Level: BBB |
| UCAS code | Q313 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 years |
| Entry year | 2025 |
| Campus | Streatham Campus |
| Discipline | English |
| Contact | Web: Enquire online |
| Typical offer | A-Level: AAB |
|---|---|
|
A-Level: BBB |
| UCAS code | Q315 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 years |
| Entry year | 2025 |
| Campus | Streatham Campus |
| Discipline | English |
| Contact | Web: Enquire online |
| Typical offer | A-Level: AAB |
|---|---|
|
A-Level: BBB |
| UCAS code | Q316 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 years |
| Entry year | 2025 |
| Campus | Streatham Campus |
| Discipline | English |
| Contact | Web: Enquire online |
| Typical offer | A-Level: AAB |
|---|---|
|
A-Level: BBB |
Overview
- You’ll develop your expertise in subjects ranging from medieval to contemporary literatures.
- We offer diverse optional modules so you can build a programme reflective of your literary interests.
- Our English department includes world-class experts in the subfields of film studies and creative writing.
- Excellent facilities on campus include 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.
- Participate in events involving internationally acclaimed authors, actors and filmmakers.
Top 15 in the UK for English
11th in the Complete University Guide 2025; 14th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
Top 50 in the world for English Language and Literature
QS World University Subject Rankings 2024
Unique on-site resources: Exeter’s Special Collections archive and the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum
Top 10 in the Russell Group for student satisfaction in all 7 themes
National Student Survey 2024: English
Top 15 in the UK for English
11th in the Complete University Guide 2025; 14th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
Top 50 in the world for English Language and Literature
QS World University Subject Rankings 2024
Unique on-site resources: Exeter’s Special Collections archive and the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum
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)
Entry requirements (typical offer)
| Qualification | Typical offer | Required subjects |
|---|---|---|
| A-Level | AAB | B in English Literature, English Language, or English Literature & Language |
| IB | 34/665 | HL5 in English Literature, English Language, or English Literature & Language |
| BTEC | DDD | Applicants studying a BTEC Extended Diploma are also required to achieve an A-Level grade B in English Literature, English Language, or English Literature & Language |
| 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 acceptable English Literature or English Language subject area. |
| T-Level | Distinction | Applicants studying a T-Level will also require GCE A-Level English Literature, English Language, or English Literature & Language grade B |
| 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 B2. 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
Course content
You will explore 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.
At Streatham, our team’s vast expertise offers plenty of choice so you can develop an understanding of many different genres and forms of writing. As well as covering the full breadth of the English literary landscape from the Middle Ages to the 21st century, our degree programmes give you the opportunity to learn about the history of cinema, study creative writing (poetry, prose and screenplays), and you’ll also encounter global literatures and digital media.
Indeed, the range of media we cover on our modules is vast: as well as plays, novels, poetry, and short stories, we engage with film, television, video games, graphic novels and the creative industries.
90 credits of compulsory modules, 30 credits of optional modules
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EAS1032 | Approaches to Criticism | 30 |
| EAS1035 | Beginnings: English Literature before 1800 | 30 |
| EAS1038 | The Poem | 15 |
| EAS1040 | Academic English | 15 |
Optional modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EAS SH Stage 1 Option Modules 2024-5 | ||
| EAS1035 | Beginnings: English Literature before 1800 | 30 |
| EAS1037 | The Novel | 15 |
| EAS1041 | Rethinking Shakespeare | 15 |
| EAS1042 | Write after Reading | 30 |
| EAS1044 | Imagine This: Prompts for Creative Writing | 15 |
| EAS1016 | Digital Cultures: Narrative, Creativity, Industry | 15 |
120 credits of optional modules.
Optional modules
a - You must choose at least one module from this group : you may select 30-60 credits of optional modules from this group.
b - You must choose at least one module from this group : you may select 30-60 credits of optional modules from this group.
c - You may select 0-60 credits of optional modules from this group (although you are not required to choose any from this group).
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| English Stage 2 Pre-1750 Option Modules 2024-5 [see note a above] | ||
| EAS2026 | Desire and Power: English Literature 1570-1640 | 30 |
| EAS2036 | Theatrical Cultures in Early Modern England | 30 |
| EAS2071 | Chaucer and His Contemporaries | 30 |
| EAS2080 | Renaissance and Revolution | 30 |
| EAS2102 | Satire and the City: English Literature 1660-1750 | 30 |
| English Stage 2 Post-1750 Option Modules 2024-5 [see note b above] | ||
| EAF2510 | Adaptation: Text, Image, Culture | 30 |
| EAS2029 | Revolutions and Evolutions 19C Writings | 30 |
| EAS2103 | Modernism and Modernity: Literature 1900-1960 | 30 |
| EAS2104 | Crossing the Water: Transatlantic Literary Relations | 30 |
| EAS2106 | Romanticism | 30 |
| EAS2116 | Empire of Liberty: American Literature of the Long Nineteenth Century | 30 |
| English Stage 2 Neutral Option Modules 2024-5 [see note c above] | ||
| AHV2018 | Comics Studies: Histories, Methodologies, Genres | 30 |
| EAS2031 | Creative Writing: Building a Story | 30 |
| EAS2032 | Creative Writing: Making a Poem | 30 |
| EAS2089 | Creative Industries: Their Past, Our Future | 30 |
| EAS2090 | Humanities after the Human: Further Adventures in Critical Theory | 30 |
| EAS2113 | Culture, Crisis and Ecology in a Postcolonial World | 30 |
| HUM2000 | Humanities in the Workplace | 30 |
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.
60 credits of compulsory modules, 60 credits of optional modules
Compulsory modules
d - You must select EAS3003: Dissertation, EAS3122: Creative writing Dissertation or EAS3510 Dissertation by Collaborative Project (you cannot choose more than one module from this group).
e - You must select either EAS3195: Acts of Writing: From Decolonisation to Globalisation, EAS3179: Life and Death in Early Modern Literature or EAS3234: Citizens of the World
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EAS3003 | Dissertation [see note d above] | 30 |
| EAS3122 | Creative Writing Dissertation [see note d above] | 30 |
| EAS3510 | Dissertation by Collaborative Project [see note d above] | 30 |
| EAS3195 | Acts of Writing: From Decolonisation to Globalisation [see note e above] | 30 |
| EAS3179 | Life and Death in Early Modern Literature [see note e above] | 30 |
| EAS3234 | Citizens of the World [see note e above] | 30 |
Optional modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| English Final Stage Option Modules 2024-5 | ||
| EAS3128 | Writing the Short Film | 30 |
| EAS3131 | Advanced Critical Theory | 30 |
| EAS3181 | Visual and Literary Cultures of Realism | 30 |
| EAS3182 | Encountering the Other in Medieval Literature | 30 |
| EAS3191 | Writing for Children and Young Adults | 30 |
| EAS3198 | The Death of the Novel | 30 |
| EAS3219 | Virginia Woolf: Fiction, Feeling, Form | 30 |
| EAS3225 | 'Reader, I Married Him': The Evolution of Romance Fiction from 1740 to the Present | 30 |
| EAS3237 | The Rise of Science | 30 |
| EAS3245 | The 21st Century Museum | 30 |
| EAS3252 | Poison, Filth, Trash: Modernism, Censorship and Resistance | 30 |
| EAS3311 | Piracy in Early Modern Literature, 1570-1730 | 30 |
| EAS3408 | Poetry and Politics | 30 |
| EAS3414 | Jane Austen: In and Out of Context | 30 |
| EAS3415 | The Development of British Childrens Literature | 30 |
| EAS3416 | Feeling Bodies: Emotions in Early Modern Literature and Culture, 1500-1700 | 30 |
| EAS3417 | Sex, Scandal and Sensation in Victorian Literature | 30 |
| EAS3420 | Staging Space: Dramatic Geography and Audience Experience | 30 |
| EAS3421 | Picturing the Global City: Literature and Visual Culture in the 21st Century | 30 |
| EAS3502 | Shakespeare and Crisis | 30 |
| EAS3503 | Migration, Literature and Culture | 30 |
| EAS3501 | Fiction Matters | 30 |
| EAS3100 | Hardy and Women Who Did: the Coming of Modernity | 30 |
| EAS3500 | American Counterculture in Literature | 30 |
| EAS3504 | Surrealism and its Legacies | 30 |
| EAS3228 | Romance from Chaucer to Shakespeare | 30 |
| EAS3509 | From Pen to Printed Page: Exeter's Literary Archives | 30 |
| EAS3511 | 'Mad': cultures, histories, phantasies, imaginaries of mental distress | 30 |
| EAS3312 | Adventures in Technique (Poetry) | 30 |
| EAS3196 | Charles Dickens: Novelist, Journalist and Reformer | 30 |
Course variants
UCAS code: Q313
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.
UCAS code: Q315
Our four-year ‘with Employment Experience’ degree, offers you the possibility of spending your third year carrying out a graduate-level work placement or placements within the UK 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 you choose to work within 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.
Find out more
Visit our website to learn more about employment experience opportunities.
UCAS code: Q316
Our four-year ‘with Employment Experience Abroad’ degree, offers you the possibility of spending your third year abroad, carrying out a graduate-level work placement or placements as part of your degree.
Why choose to include Employment Experience Abroad?
Spending up to a year living and working 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. By carrying out a graduate-level work placement or placements abroad you can demonstrate to employers your adaptability, cultural awareness, independence and resourcefulness and, depending on where you stay, may also have gained a working knowledge of another language.
Where will I do my work placement?
The sector and country you choose to work within 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 fee?
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
Visit our website to learn more about employment experience opportunities.
Fees
Tuition fees for 2025 entry
UK students: £9,535 per year
International students: £24,700 per year
Scholarships
The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students, such as our Global Excellence Scholarships*. Financial support is also 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 apply. See online for details.
Learning and teaching
How will I learn?
The nature of learning at university involves considerable self-guided study and research. You will be taught through a combination of lectures and discussion-based seminars. We also support the development of team-based learning by organising students into study groups, and we make full use of both traditional learning resources and our virtual learning environment. Lecturers and tutors are all available to provide further support in one-to-one consultations.
Most of your work will be done in group and self-directed study: reading or viewing module material, writing essays or preparing for your seminars. Active participation in seminars develops important transferable skills such as good verbal and visual communication and effective interaction with other people. You will also develop a range of professional abilities, such as time management and team working, plus valuable critical, analytical and communication skills.
We are actively engaged in introducing new methods of learning and teaching, including the increasing use of interactive computer-based approaches to learning. Through our virtual learning environment, you can access detailed information about modules, and interact through activities such as discussion forums. You will also have access to online subscription databases and websites, such as Early English Books Online (EEBO), Eighteenth Century Collections Online (ECCO), MLA FirstSearch and JSTOR.
How will I be assessed?
You will be assessed in a variety of ways but primarily through exams and coursework. Coursework includes essays, a dissertation and presentation work. The ratio of formal exam to coursework is on average 40:60. Your first year doesn’t count towards your final degree classification, but you do have to pass it in order to progress.
Other/Extra-curricular opportunities
We provide an exciting range of special lectures and seminars by visiting academics and renowned writers, actors and film directors. In addition to your academic work, the student-run English Society organises book and poetry readings, film screenings and social events, providing an opportunity to meet students who share a love of literature, culture and the arts. Students from the English department are always active on the University student newspapers, radio and TV station and in the University’s drama groups.
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.
Proficiency in a second subject
If you complete 60 credits of modules in one of the subjects below, you may have the words 'with proficiency in [e.g. Social Data Science]' added to your degree title when you graduate.
- A Foreign Language
- Data Science
- Entrepreneurship
- Innovation
- Law (Penryn Campus only)
- Leadership
- Management
- Social Data Science
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
Your future
Employer-valued skills this course develops
An English degree puts you in a great position to succeed in a range of careers. Oral and written communication is at the heart of our programme and you will learn to present your ideas in a variety of formats. You will also develop strong research and analytical skills and the ability to problem solve and make informed decisions. Through a balance of independent study and teamwork you will learn to manage your time and workload effectively.
Professional experience
With practical modules on offer and opportunity to undertake professional placements, a degree in English will give you plenty of opportunity to develop your professional portfolio which will give you the skills and experience needed to be successful in your chosen career.
Career paths
Our students have progressed to a broad range of work sectors including education, arts management, publishing, journalism, marketing, finance and events management, working for companies such as:
Recent Graduates are now working as*:
- Actor
- Assistant Brand Manager
- Assistant Director
- Copywriter
- Data Analyst
- Journalist
- Policy Adviser
- Product Manager
- Radio Producer
- Youth Worker
Recent Graduates are now working for*:
- European Parliament
- Rolls Royce
- Oxford University Press
- Warp Films
- Oxfam
- Estee Lauder
Other recent graduates have progressed to postgraduate courses in:
- MA Cultural Heritage Management
- MA English Literary Studies
- PGCE English primary
- MA Magazine Journalism
- Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling Skills
* Please note that, due to data protection, the job titles and organisations are listed independently and do not necessarily correspond.
Top 10 in the Russell Group for student satisfaction in all 7 themes
National Student Survey 2024: English
