Course Overview

Studying History alongside English Literature at Lancaster gives you the opportunity to deepen your understanding of both subjects in an outstanding academic environment. Our diverse research interests allow us to offer you an unusually wide selection of historical topics and approaches to the study of History and Literature.

You'll enjoy frequent opportunities for stimulating discussion with your tutors and fellow students as well as plenty of scope to specialise in areas of Literature and History that particularly interest you.

Your degree begins with courses including From the Medieval to the Modern: History and Historians, and English Literature. In your second year, you'll study subjects such as The Theory and Practice of Criticism while your final-year modules include Contemporary Fiction and Critical Theory, and Utopia Colonialism and the New World. You'll also have the chance to study your chosen area of interest in greater depth by writing a Dissertation.

For a list of compulsory modules, please see the tab above.

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Career opportunities

Your degree will help you develop confident analytical and research skills; the ability to form sound judgements based on statistical research, and the capacity to analyse issues, people and events. Such transferable skills will stand you in good stead for your chosen career. 

Many of our graduates go on to careers traditionally associated with English and creative writing, such as publishing and the media, teaching and librarianship. Others find roles in business, administration and professional services, where their skills of self-expression and critical understanding of complex information are equally valued.

A number of our English Literature and History graduates regularly go on to take higher degrees, at Lancaster or another institution.