(Full time) 2023 start
English and Philosophy BA
Overview
Engage with some of the world’s greatest writers and thinkers with this wide-ranging degree, which will allow you to explore the rich heritage of literature in English while considering important questions about how we see and understand the world.
Core modules will enable you to explore poetry, prose and drama in English across historical periods while introducing you to central issues in philosophy and how to construct arguments. You’ll also build on this knowledge by choosing from an impressive range of optional modules, allowing you to pursue the topics that interest you.
From metaphysics to children’s literature, feminist philosophy to American fiction and aesthetics to the language of the media, this degree offers a great opportunity to understand the development of human thought as well as an important form of cultural expression – and how the two can inform each other.
Facilities
Leeds has great facilities for students of philosophy and English. The world-class Brotherton Library holds a wide variety of manuscript, archive and early printed material in its Special Collections which will be valuable assets for your independent research. Our other library resources are also excellent, and the University Library offers a comprehensive training programme to help you make the most of them.
Take a look around our libraries:
Course content
A joint honours degree allows you to study the same core topics as students on each single honours course, but you'll take fewer optional and discovery modules so you can fit in both subjects.
In the Philosophy half of your programme, you'll spend your first year studying core modules which will introduce you to key aspects of philosophy, from the nature of knowledge, the self, and ethics, to logical reasoning.
Over the next two years, you'll be able to focus on various areas of philosophy by choosing modules on topics such as the mind, knowledge, language, logic, ethics, political philosophy, feminist philosophy, continental philosophy, or aesthetics.
In English, core modules will help you explore rich and diverse literary texts across different genres (poetry, prose and drama), historical periods, places and cultures. We will consider how and why these texts are produced, read, and understood, the societal contexts that shape them, their creativity and power.
What can the study of literature and other kinds of writing tell us about ourselves, our world, and why does it matter?
Core and optional English modules are currently in the process of revision, but the list below of current modules demonstrates those that are currently being studied by our students and will give you a flavour of what will be available on this course.
Throughout your studies, you'll be developing critical, independent research, interpretation, and analysis skills. You'll also have the chance to showcase all of these when you undertake your final year research project, allowing you to specialise and conduct research on a topic of your choice. You can choose to pursue a project in either English or Philosophy.
Course structure
The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.
Modules
Year 1
Compulsory modules
- Foundations of English Studies 20 credits
- How to Think Clearly and Argue Well 20 credits
Optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)
- Modern Fictions in English: Conflict, Liminality, Translation 20 credits
- Poetry: Reading and Interpretation 20 credits
- Drama: Reading and Interpretation 20 credits
- Race, Writing and Decolonization 20 credits
- Magic, Science and Religion 10 credits
- History of Psychology 10 credits
- Introduction to the History of Science 10 credits
- Darwin, Germs and the Bomb 10 credits
- The Mind 10 credits
- Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion 10 credits
- The Good, the Bad, the Right, the Wrong 20 credits
- Knowledge, Self and Reality 20 credits
- How Science Works 10 credits
- Great Philosophical Thinkers 20 credits
Year 2
Optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)
- Students Into Schools (Arts Humanities and Culture) 20 credits
- Power of Language 20 credits
- Language in Society 20 credits
- Medieval Literature 20 credits
- Eighteenth Century Literature 20 credits
- Literature of the Romantic Period 20 credits
- Renaissance Literature 20 credits
- Textual Healing: An Introduction to Scholarly Editing and Publishing 20 credits
- Contemporary British Theatre 1989-99: The New Generation 20 credits
- Writing Nature: Creative and Critical Practices 20 credits
- Imaginary Friends: the consolations and consequences of story 20 credits
- Medieval Poetry: Translation and Creative Rewriting 20 credits
- History of Modern Philosophy: Locke and Berkeley 20 credits
- Ethics of Life and Death 10 credits
- Political Philosophy 20 credits
- Moral Philosophy 20 credits
- Introduction to Epistemology 20 credits
- Philosophy of Religion 20 credits
- Introduction to Metaphysics 20 credits
- Philosophical Issues in Biology 20 credits
- How Biology Works 10 credits
- Philosophy Students into Schools 20 credits
- Thinking About Race 10 credits
- A Key Thinker in Philosophy of Religion: In Dialogue 20 credits
- Augustine of Hippo: A Key Thinker in Philosophy and Theology 20 credits
Discovery modules
- Developing Your Professional Identity: Preparing for a Career in Within The Arts, Heritage and Creative Industries 20 credits
Year 3
Optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)
- Power of Language 20 credits
- Language in Society 20 credits
- Medieval Literature 20 credits
- Eighteenth Century Literature 20 credits
- Literature of the Romantic Period 20 credits
- Renaissance Literature 20 credits
- Modern Literature 20 credits
- Postcolonial Literature 20 credits
- Contemporary Literature 20 credits
- Shakespeare 20 credits
- Final Year Project 40 credits
- Forming Victorian Fiction 20 credits
- Sex and Suffering in the Eighteenth-Century Novel 20 credits
- Disposable Lives? 20 credits
- Queens, Vikings, poets and dragons: Old English and early medieval Britain 20 credits
- Contemporary Postcolonial Texts 20 credits
- American Danger 20 credits
- Refugee Narratives 20 credits
- Prose Fiction Stylistics and the Mind 20 credits
- The Poetry of Wordsworth 20 credits
- Forensic Approaches to Language 20 credits
- Writing America 20 credits
- Folklore and Mythology 20 credits
- Transformations 20 credits
- American Words, American Worlds, 1900-Present 20 credits
- Victoria's Secrets: Secrecy in Nineteenth-Century Literature and Culture 20 credits
- `Global English?: Colonialism, Postcolonialism, and Decolonisation 20 credits
- Romantic Lyric Poetry 20 credits
- Keywords: The Words We Use and The Ways We Use Them 20 credits
- Writing and Gender in Seventeenth-Century England 20 credits
- Tragedy: Classical to Neo-Classical 20 credits
- Imagining Posthuman Futures 20 credits
- Medical Humanities: Representing Illness, Disability, and Care 20 credits
- Women Writing the 1960s 20 credits
- Home Bodies: Domestic Animals in Contemporary Literature 20 credits
- Modernist Sexualities 20 credits
- Postcolonial London 20 credits
- Philosophy of Mind 20 credits
- Feminist Philosophy 20 credits
- War, Terror and Justice 20 credits
- Philosophical Issues in Technology 20 credits
- Philosophy of the Social Sciences 20 credits
- Integrated Research Project in Philosophy, Religion or History of Science 40 credits
- Existentialism and Phenomenology 20 credits
- Religion, Belief and Ethics 20 credits
- Religion and Mental Health 20 credits
Discovery modules
Throughout your degree you will benefit from a range of opportunities to expand your intellectual horizons outside or within your subject area.
This course gives you the opportunity to choose from a range of discovery modules. They’re a great way to tailor your study around your interests or career aspirations and help you stand out from the crowd when you graduate. Find out more about discovery modules on our Broadening webpages.
Learning and teaching
The Schools of English and Philosophy, Religion and History of Science are home to tutors who are at the forefront of research in their fields.
To enable you to benefit from their knowledge and experience, we use a range of teaching methods. Normally these will include lectures, seminars, and tutorials, but workshops may occasionally be used as well. However, independent study is central to this degree, since it allows you to develop your skills in research and analysis as well as giving you space to form your own ideas.
On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.
Assessment
We also use different types of assessment, usually a mixture of exams and essays. However, some modules may also assess you on oral presentations and group work. You will typically have the opportunity to gain 'feed-forward' on ungraded formative work midway through our modules that serves as a stepping stone towards your final graded assessment for the module.
There will also be support on hand; for example, our Library Skills Team provides exam skills training and module-specific sessions on essay writing. Plus, your teaching staff will be available throughout term time to talk to you one-on-one about how to get the most out of your assessments. New students will have a suite of study skills modules to help transition to university-level teaching and assessment.
Assessment is not just a way of testing you but a pivotal way to consolidate your learning on the degree.
We always design assessments to reflect the most valuable skills our subject can teach you: how to construct a well-developed argument, for instance, or explain complicated ideas clearly, or critically evaluate a passage of text while at the same time interpreting it in a way that allows you to get the most out of it. Not only will these skills enable you to perform well in your degree, but they will also help you excel in your future lives and careers.
Entry requirements, fees and applying
Entry requirements
A-level: AAB including A in English (Language, Literature or Language and Literature)
Other course specific tests:Where an applicant is taking the EPQ in a relevant subject this might be considered alongside other Level 3 qualifications and may attract an alternative offer in addition to the standard offer. If you are taking A Levels, this would be ABB at A Level including A in English (Language, Literature, or Language and Literature) and grade A in the EPQ.
We welcome applications from mature students with Access qualifications, and from students with a wide range of qualifications.
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Access to HE Diploma
Pass diploma with 60 credits overall, including at least 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher. The Access course must follow a Humanities pathway and include English modules. An interview and a piece of written work may be required.
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BTEC
We will consider the level 3 QCF BTEC at Subsidiary Diploma level and above in combination with other qualifications. Please contact the Admissions Office for more information.
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Cambridge Pre-U
D3, M1, M2 including D3 in English
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International Baccalaureate
35 points overall with 16 at Higher Level including 6 in English at Higher Level
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Irish Leaving Certificate (higher Level)
H2, H2, H2, H2, H3, H3 including H2 in English
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Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers
AB in Advanced Highers (including A in English) and AABBB in Highers, or A in English Advanced Highers and AABBB in Highers
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Welsh Baccalaureate
The Welsh Baccalaureate is not typically included in the academic conditions of an offer made to you for this course. If you choose to undertake the Welsh Baccalaureate we would strongly encourage you to draw upon these experiences within your personal statement, as your qualification will then be taken into account both when your application is initially considered by the selection panel and again when reviewed by the admissions tutor at the time your A-level results are passed to us.
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Other Qualifications
European Baccalaureate: 80% with 8.5 in English.
Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications or contact the School’s Undergraduate Admissions Team.
Alternative entry
We’re committed to identifying the best possible applicants, regardless of personal circumstances or background.
Access to Leeds is an alternative admissions scheme which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted.
Find out more about Access to Leeds and alternative admissions.
Typical Access to Leeds offer: BBB including English (Language, Literature or Language and Literature) at A Level and pass Access to Leeds
EPQ and Access to Leeds offer: BBC at A Level including B in English (Language, Literature or Language and Literature) and A in a relevant EPQ and pass Access to Leeds
International
We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. For more information contact the School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science Undergraduate Admissions team.
International Foundation Year
International students who do not meet the academic requirements for undergraduate study may be able to study the University of Leeds International Foundation Year. This gives you the opportunity to study on campus, be taught by University of Leeds academics and progress onto a wide range of Leeds undergraduate courses. Find out more about International Foundation Year programmes.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.
Improve your English
If you're an international student and you don't meet the English language requirements for this programme, you may be able to study our undergraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.
How to apply
Apply to this course through UCAS. The institution code for the University of Leeds is L23. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website.
Read our guidance about applying.
International students apply through UCAS in the same way as UK students. Our network of international representatives can help you with your application. If you’re unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.
Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.
Admissions policy
University of Leeds Taught Admissions Policy 2023
Fees
UK: £9,250
International: £22,250 (per year)
Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2022/23
For UK full-time undergraduate students starting in 2022/23 the fee will be £9,250. The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation and as permitted by law. Fees for UK undergraduate students are decided by the government and may vary if policy changes.
Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2023/24
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students for 2023/24 have been agreed by the UK Government and will remain at the current fee level of £9,250. The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation and as permitted by law. Fees for UK undergraduate students are decided by the government and may vary if policy changes.
Tuition fees for international undergraduate students starting in 2023/24
Tuition fees for international students for 2023/24 should be available on individual course pages from September 2022.
Tuition fees for a study abroad or work placement year
If you take a study abroad or work placement year, you’ll pay a reduced tuition fee during this period. For more information, see Study abroad and work placement tuition fees and loans.
Read more about paying fees and charges.
There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs.
Financial support
If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.
Career opportunities
A degree in English and Philosophy will equip you with a wide range of transferable skills which are looked for by employers across many sectors and industries.
You’ll have strong research skills and be able to analyse complex information from multiple sources. You’ll also be able to construct effective arguments and present and defend your views clearly, either verbally or in writing. In addition, you’ll be confident working independently or in a team, and you’ll have good organisational skills from juggling two different subjects.
Graduates have progressed into a wide range of careers as a result, including publishing, law, journalism, education, advertising and marketing, the civil service and business and finance. You could also go onto postgraduate study.
Careers support
We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.
Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.
The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.
Study abroad and work placements
Study abroad
All University of Leeds students can apply to spend a year studying abroad. It’s a great way to gain an insight into another culture, as well as gaining valuable experience that will look great on your CV.
The School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science also has exclusive exchange links with universities in Denmark, France and Spain – language classes are available before you go to prepare you for the experience.
Read more about Study abroad in Philosophy, Religion and History of Science
Work placements
Practical work experience can help you decide on your career and improve your employability. On this course you have the option to apply to take a placement year module with organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors in the UK, or overseas.
Find out more about work experience on the Careers website.