University of Exeter United Kingdom

BA English

Integrated Masters with deeper specialization and research focus
Taught in English
Duration 3 Years
Mode On Campus
Level Undergraduate
Degree Bachelors Degree
Closing soon September 2026

Course Overview

The BA English at the University of Exeter invites you to explore the vast and intricate world of literature, from its earliest forms to contemporary expressions. This undergraduate degree is ideal for those fascinated by how texts shape culture, identity, and understanding across different historical periods and global contexts. You will engage with critical approaches to literature, delve into the foundations of English, and develop a nuanced appreciation for narrative, poetry, and dramatic forms. If you are driven by a passion for reading, analysis, and the power of language, this programme offers a rich academic journey.

You will study this BA English full-time on campus over three years, beginning with compulsory modules in criticism and literary history, alongside academic English skills. As you progress, you will have the flexibility to tailor your studies through a wide array of optional modules, exploring areas such as creative writing, digital cultures, or specific literary periods like Modernism or Renaissance drama. Your final year culminates in a significant dissertation, allowing you to pursue an in-depth research project on a topic of your choice. You will graduate with advanced analytical and communication skills, prepared for diverse careers in publishing, education, journalism, and the creative industries.

Course Curriculum & Details

Detailed information for serious evaluators

Program Overview

This BA English program offers a comprehensive exploration of literary studies, beginning with foundational approaches to criticism and historical periods. Students will delve into diverse genres and eras, from medieval literature and Shakespeare to modernism and contemporary global texts. The curriculum emphasizes critical analysis, theoretical frameworks, and culminates in a significant dissertation project, allowing for in-depth research or creative writing.

1 Year 1

Approaches to criticism Compulsory
Beginnings: English literature before 1800 Compulsory
The poem Compulsory
Academic English Compulsory

2 Year 2

Desire and power: English literature 1570-1640
Theatrical cultures in early modern England
Chaucer and his contemporaries
Renaissance and revolution
Satire and the city: English literature 1660-1750
Adaptation: Text, image, culture
Revolutions and evolutions 19C writings
Modernism and modernity: Literature 1900-1960
Crossing the water: Transatlantic literary relations
Romanticism
Empire of liberty: American literature of the long nineteenth century
Comics studies: Histories, methodologies, genres
Creative writing: Building a story
Creative writing: Making a poem
Creative industries: Their past, our future
Humanities after the human: Further adventures in critical theory
Culture, crisis and ecology in a postcolonial world
Humanities in the workplace

3 Final year

Dissertation [see note d above] Compulsory
Creative writing dissertation [see note d above] Compulsory
Dissertation by collaborative project [see note d above] Compulsory
Acts of writing: From decolonisation to globalisation [see note e above] Compulsory
Life and death in early modern literature [see note e above] Compulsory
Citizens of the world [see note e above] Compulsory
Writing the short film
Advanced critical theory
Visual and literary cultures of realism
Encountering the other in medieval literature
Writing for children and young adults
The death of the novel
Virginia Woolf: Fiction, feeling, form
'Reader, I married him': The evolution of romance fiction from 1740 to the present
The rise of science
The 21st century museum
Poison, filth, trash: Modernism, censorship and resistance
Piracy in early modern literature, 1570-1730
Poetry and politics
Jane Austen: In and out of context
The development of British childrens literature
Feeling bodies: Emotions in early modern literature and culture, 1500-1700
Sex, scandal and sensation in Victorian literature
Staging space: Dramatic geography and audience experience
Picturing the global city: Literature and visual culture in the 21st century
Shakespeare and crisis
Migration, literature and culture
Fiction matters
Hardy and women who did: The coming of modernity
American counterculture in literature
Surrealism and its legacies
Romance from Chaucer to Shakespeare
From pen to printed page: Exeter's literary archives
'Mad': Cultures, histories, phantasies, imaginaries of mental distress
Adventures in technique (Poetry)
Charles Dickens: Novelist, journalist and reformer

Cost & Affordability

A clear picture of what this course will cost you

Program Costs

First Year Fee Tuition fee
USD 33,724.00
Second Year Fee Tuition fee
USD 33,724.00
Third Year Fee Tuition fee
USD 33,724.00
Total Program Cost Estimated total tuition
USD 101,174.00

Currency note: Program costs shown in USD based on the available tuition breakdown.

Living Costs

Food & Groceries USD 2,417.00 - USD 4,028.00
Transport USD 645.00 - USD 1,289.00
Utilities & Bills USD 1,128.00 - USD 1,934.00
Estimated Total USD 4,190.00 - USD 7,251.00

Living cost estimates are based on Streatham Campus.

Outcomes & Employability

What happens after you graduate

92%
Graduate Employment Rate Within 6 to 12 months of graduation

Common Graduate Roles

Animation & Visual EffectsCurriculum & Instructional DesignDigital Media & Online PublishingEvent Promotion & ManagementFilm & Television ProductionJournalism & ReportingMuseums & Cultural HeritagePublic Broadcasting & DocumentarySpecial & Inclusive EducationTheme Parks & Leisure

Top Employers Hiring for this course

BBC Studios

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

National Trust

University of Southampton

Why Study BA English at University of Exeter

What makes this program stand out

September 2026 Closing soon

Next intake is in September 2026

Life at University of Exeter in United Kingdom

What daily life looks like for international students

Language

English

Primary language everywhere

Climate

Mild & Rainy

10-20°C average, pack layers

Safety (Numbeo Safety Index)

Very Safe

Exeter is one of UK's safest cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about BA English at University of Exeter

Can I work while studying?

For degree courses, international students can work up to 20 hours per week during term time, and full-time during breaks. There's no need for a separate work permit.

What English language score do I need for this course?

English test requirements vary by exam: Duolingo requires an overall score of 120, IELTS needs at least 6.5 overall, and TOEFL mandates a minimum of 90. Make sure your scores meet these benchmarks to apply successfully.

What jobs can I get after studying this course?

Graduates may pursue careers in publishing, education, journalism, or the creative industries.

What will I actually study in this course?

This program explores literature from its earliest forms to contemporary expressions and includes critical approaches to literary history. Students develop a nuanced appreciation for narrative, poetry, and drama while fostering advanced analytical and communication skills.

When can I start — what are the intake months?

The BA English program at the University of Exeter has its intake in September each year. Ensure you apply ahead of time to secure your place in this enriching academic journey.
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