University of Bristol United Kingdom

BA English and History

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

Embark on the BA English and History at the University of Bristol, a joint honours degree designed for students fascinated by the intricate interplay between literature and historical events. This course is ideal if you seek to understand how societal forces shape creative expression and how texts, in turn, influence cultural and political landscapes. You will explore diverse historical periods and literary movements, developing a nuanced perspective on the human experience across centuries. This program offers a robust academic grounding for those passionate about critical analysis and interdisciplinary inquiry.

You will study this undergraduate degree full-time on campus over three years, engaging with mandatory units that highlight the links between English and History, alongside a wide array of optional units. These choices allow you to tailor your studies, perhaps focusing on areas like the American Century, Medieval World history, or specific literary periods such as Literature 1740-1900. In your final year, you will undertake a significant dissertation, integrating your skills from both disciplines. You will graduate with a versatile skill set, prepared for careers in research, education, publishing, heritage, and beyond.

Course Curriculum & Details

Detailed information for serious evaluators

Program Overview

This BA program offers a comprehensive exploration of both English and History, examining literature and historical events across various periods and global contexts. Students will engage with diverse literary traditions, from medieval texts to contemporary works, while also delving into historical themes such as revolutions, global empires, and social movements. The curriculum encourages critical analysis of primary sources and scholarly debates, fostering a deep understanding of the interconnectedness between culture, society, and the past.

1 Year 1 (2025/26 entry cohort)

Approaching the Past Mandatory
Modern Revolutions Optional
The American Century Optional
War and Society Optional
The Early Modern World: The British Isles Optional
The Early Modern World: Europe and the Wider World Optional
Critical Issues Mandatory
Approaches to Poetry Mandatory
Slavery Optional
'Fight the Power': Democracy and Protest Optional
Gender in the Modern World Optional
The Medieval World: The British Isles Optional
The Medieval World: Europe and the Wider World Optional
Literature 1550-1740 Mandatory

2 Year 2 (2025/26 entry cohort)

Literature 1740-1900 Optional
Africa in Global Perspective Optional
Asia in Global Perspective Optional
The Americas in Global Context Optional
Rethinking History Optional
American Literature: 1945 to Present Optional
Creative Writing, Prose Fiction: Representing the World Optional
Revenge Tragedy Optional
The Fairy Tale in English Optional
Literature and Trauma: 1900 to the present Optional
Paradise Lost: Inception and Reception Optional
Border-Worlds Optional
The Art of Grief Optional
Utopian Literature Optional
Shakespeare Optional
Early Modern Women Writers Optional
Fear and Loathing Optional
Outlaws Optional
The Tudor World Optional
Crusading Cultures Optional
Literature 1900-present Optional
The Politics of the Past Optional
The Public Role of the Historian Optional
Arthurian Literature Optional
Chaucer and Chaucerians Optional
Old English Language and Literature Optional
Health and Medicine in African History: Actors, Institutions, Ideas Optional
Under the Covers: Sex and Modern British Print Culture Optional
Speaking with Authority: Women and Power in the Middle Ages (Level I Special Field) Optional
Rebels, Runaways, and Revolts: Agency, Resistance, and Slavery in the United States Optional
The Age of Revolutions 1776-1848 in Global Perspective Optional
Travel and Trade in the Global Middle Ages Optional
Black British Literature Optional
Creative Writing: Poetry Optional
Dangerous Books Optional

3 Year 3 (2025/26 entry cohort)

Victorian Fiction: Art and Ideas in the Marketplace Optional
Novel Territories: Eighteenth-century Prose Fiction Optional
Bristol and Slavery (Level H Special Subject) Optional
Kingship and Crisis during the Wars of the Roses. (Level H Special Subject) Optional
Red Power and Beyond: American Indian activism since 1944 Optional
Once Upon a Crime: Law and Popular Cultures in the Age of Empire Optional
Race and Resistance in South Africa (Level H Special Subject) Optional
Aftermath: The Wake of War, 1945-1949 Optional
Rage against the Machine: Technology and Anti-Technology in Modern Britain Optional
The Age of the Human Optional
American Revolutions Optional
Literatures of Decolonisation Optional
Britain's Long Nineteenth Century, 1789-1914 Optional
Memory Optional
Picturing the Twentieth Century Optional
Race Optional
Sexualities Optional
Capitalism Optional
Celebrity Culture: Icons, Industry and Aesthetics Optional
Literature - Enslavement - Liberation Optional
Horrible Histories And All That Optional
Global Empires Optional
Millennial Britain Optional
English and History Dissertation Optional
Practice-Based Dissertation (History) Optional
Literature and Medicine Optional
Modernist Writers Optional
Victorian Poetry: Belief, Doubt, and Dissent Optional
Writing the Anthropocene 1945-Present Optional
Writing for Art Optional
Victorian Materialities Optional
Medievalism in the Modern Age Optional
Caribbean Literature Optional
Modernism and the Movies Optional
Writing the Self: Literature and Autobiography Optional

Cost & Affordability

A clear picture of what this course will cost you

Program Costs

First Year Fee Tuition fee
USD 37,036.00
Second Year Fee Tuition fee
USD 37,036.00
Third Year Fee Tuition fee
USD 37,036.00
Total Program Cost Estimated total tuition
USD 111,109.00

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

Living Costs

Accommodation
USD 1,285.00 - USD 2,164.00
Food & Groceries USD 1,048.00 - USD 1,402.00
Transport USD 355.00 - USD 693.00
Utilities & Bills USD 10,471.00 - USD 13,967.00
Estimated Total USD 11,874.00 - USD 16,062.00

Living cost estimates are based on Clifton campus.

Outcomes & Employability

What happens after you graduate

95%
Graduate Employment Rate Within 6 to 12 months of graduation

Common Graduate Roles

Advertising TechnologyBlockchain & Emerging TechnologiesBorder Control & Immigration EnforcementClient Services & Account ManagementFinancial Technology (Fintech)Hardware & Semiconductor EngineeringPolice & Public SafetyProduct Management & UXSpecial & Inclusive EducationStreaming & Digital Content

Top Employers Hiring for this course

Deloitte

EY

Epigram

European commission

National Trust

United Nations

University of Exeter

University of Oxford

Why Study BA English and History at University of Bristol

What makes this program stand out

September 2026 Closing soon

Next intake is in September 2026

Life at University of Bristol 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 and History at University of Bristol

Can I work while studying?

International students in degree courses can work up to 20 hours per week during term time, with full-time work allowed during breaks. No separate work permit is needed, but part-time students cannot work.

What English language score do I need for this course?

For English language proficiency, acceptable tests include TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE with specific score requirements. Ensure you meet the minimum scores to qualify for admission.

What jobs can I get after studying this course?

Potential job titles include Historian, Literary Critic, English Teacher, Researcher, and Archivist.

What will I actually study in this course?

This course explores the relationship between literature and history, focusing on how historical forces shape literary texts and vice versa. You'll gain skills in research and analysis through mandatory and optional units across both subjects.

When can I start — what are the intake months?

The intake month for the BA English and History course is September. Ensure you prepare your application and required documents well in advance.
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