COURSE CURRICULUM

In your first year, you’ll integrate both English literature and history from the start. You’ll explore the global history of the English language, examining its origins in multilingual medieval society and its ongoing evolution, shaped by colonialism and resistance. You’ll have the opportunity to explore a wide range of topics, from medieval and early modern history to modern themes, and even specialized subjects such as witchcraft. You can also choose to take a module from another humanities field, like languages or American studies. The first-year modules will lay the foundation for understanding how literature and history can illuminate one another. In the compulsory modules like Reading Literature in History, Slow Reading, and Writing Across Borders, you’ll deepen your understanding of historical texts, literary forms, and the global spread of English, focusing on its many variants and their social and cultural implications.In your second year, you'll deepen your engagement with both subjects by selecting from a wide range of modules in literature and history. You may choose to study different historical periods and literary works from medieval to modern times. There’s also the opportunity to explore creative writing or writing for professional industries like journalism and publishing. This year offers you the flexibility to connect the two disciplines, such as studying Victorian literature alongside the social upheavals of the same period. The History's Stories module, for example, focuses on using historical research and writing creatively, encouraging skills in research, presentation, and employability.In your third year, you’ll have the opportunity to gain practical experience through a placement year. This hands-on module gives you invaluable work experience in a field related to English literature or history, helping you develop key employability skills. You’ll be supported in securing and succeeding in a placement, which may be in sectors such as heritage, business, the public sector, or creative industries.In the final year, you'll focus on your personal academic interests. With a range of specialist modules available, you can explore topics as diverse as medieval monsters, feminist writing, or contemporary detective fiction. You’ll also have the option of writing a dissertation in either literature or history, allowing you to conduct in-depth research on a topic of your choice. Your final year offers flexibility, allowing you to tailor the balance between literature and history modules according to your own evolving interests.