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In a world where information is infinite and misinformation is rife, it’s vital to interpret texts with skill and a critical eye.
There’s more to studying English than being a skilled reader – it’s about being a skilled writer and thinker too. This is a global subject that influences writing and performance all over the world. At the same time, it pays attention to local communities and cultures. A degree in English is a great launchpad into many areas as you’ll be seen as a top communicator by potential employers.
From the very earliest Anglo-Saxon poems and ballads to the latest bestsellers, we’ve designed our English programmes to cover a whole range of literature. Our teaching team is made up of 40 academics who are either world experts or rising stars – you might have already come across them on the radio or TV.
Pictured above: 'Art Histories' module students at Tate Britain.
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The topics you’ll cover are varied and inclusive – you’ll unravel cultural history and the historical approach to literature, social justice, mixed media and more. Our modules span the whole history of writing in English too, and span a wide geography from the East End of London to India.
After you graduate, you could apply your skills in the world of publishing and journalism. Or perhaps you’d prefer to make a difference by working in education or the charity sector. What will we help you achieve?
You can complete your English degree in three or four years. If you choose to do a year abroad this will take place in Year 3 and Year 3 modules will instead be studied in Year 4.
You will take the following modules (all compulsory)
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
You will take one 30 credit module from each of the three period specific lists:
List One: Medieval and Early-Modern Studies
You also choose one or two modules from a range of special options that changes each year. Modules may include
This is a sample of modules from our full module directory.
You choose the rest of your final-year modules from a range of options that changes each year, taking one 30 credit module and one 15 credit module in each semester. Modules may include:
Apply for this degree with any of the following options. Take care to use the correct UCAS code - it may not be possible to change your selection later.
Go global and study abroad as part of your degree – apply for our English BA with a Year Abroad. Queen Mary has links with universities in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia (partnerships vary for each degree programme).
Find out more about study abroad opportunities at Queen Mary and what the progression requirements are.
A few modules may require you to buy tickets to shows or exhibitions (often at a discounted rate) as well as pay for travel within London.
I did Black Writing in Britain, which again was very eye-opening. I remember in second year, being conflicted with the reality that there’s a lot we should know about literature, about history, about heritage, that is just not taught until you get to university. How many people from my community went to university? A lot of my friends from school didn’t and my heart broke for them because our English classes would have meant so much more to them if these stories were included in the curriculum.
You'll receive approximately 10 hours of weekly contact time, in the form of lectures, smaller seminar groups and field trips. A few modules feature guest lectures – for example, professional writers or publishers – while others might take you out of the classroom and into the cultural heart of London.
For every hour spent in class, you'll complete a further four to six hours of independent study.
Assessment typically includes a combination of coursework including essays, projects, presentations, log books and portfolios.
The School offers excellent on-campus and London-based resources to support your studies, including:
English Literature Graduate Simran Singh on her degree & working at Sky.
Alternative offers may be made to applicants taking the Extended Project Qualification.
For further information please visit: qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry/epq
Our standard contextual offer: BBC including English Literature or English Language at A-Level.
Our enhanced contextual offer: BCC including English Literature or English Language at A-Level.
More information on our contextual offer criteria can be found on our contextualised admissions page.
Please note that General Studies and Critical Thinking are excluded from any A-Level offer and cannot be considered.
We accept a wide range of European and international qualifications in addition to A-levels, the International Baccalaureate and BTEC qualifications. Please visit International Admissions for full details.
If your qualifications are not accepted for direct entry onto this degree, consider applying for a foundation programme.
Find out more about our English language entry requirements, including the types of test we accept and the scores needed for entry to the programme.
You may also be able to meet the English language requirement for your programme by joining a summer pre-sessional programme before starting your degree.
See our general undergraduate entry requirements.
UK students accepted onto this course are eligible to apply for tuition fee and maintenance loans from Student Finance England or other government bodies.
Queen Mary offers a generous package of scholarships and bursaries, which currently benefits around 50 per cent of our undergraduates.
Scholarships are available for home, EU and international students. Specific funding is also available for students from the local area. International students may be eligible for a fee reduction. We offer means-tested funding, as well as subject-specific funding for many degrees.
Find out what scholarships and bursaries are available to you.
We offer specialist support on all financial and welfare issues through our Advice and Counselling Service, which you can access as soon as you have applied for a place at Queen Mary.
Take a look at our Student Advice Guides which cover ways to finance your degree, including:
Our English graduates go on to work in all sorts of sectors, including teaching, publishing, media and communications, and arts and heritage. Some of our most well-known alumni include authors Sarah Waters, JG Ballard and Conn Iggulden, and TV comedy writer James Lamont.
Recent graduates from the School of English and Drama have been hired by:
You’ll have access to bespoke careers support during every step of your English degree, and a practical third-year module will prepare you for the transition from university to working life by researching career, entrepreneurial and postgraduate study prospects.
The Department of English has strong links with the worlds of publishing, performance and poetry, and experts regularly deliver talks and lectures.
Our careers team can also offer:
Learn more about career support and development at Queen Mary.
English - BA (Hons)
English with Year Abroad - BA (Hons)
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The School of the Arts combines innovation, discovery and excellence in education and research in Drama, Film, Modern Languages, English & Comparative Literature, Creative Writing, Linguistics and Liberal Arts. We rank in the top 100 worldwide for Arts and Humanities (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024)
With our commitment to social justice, inclusivity and social mobility, our collaborations with external organisations, prominent writers and performers, and our facilities that support both academic and practice-based learning, an education in the School of the Arts equips our students with critical thinking and practical skills, unleashes their imagination and enables them to reach the levels of excellence needed in today’s industries.
We regularly host prominent writers and performers and collaborate with leading organisations such as the V&A, the Barbican, the Live Art Development Agency and Shakespeare’s Globe.
We are renowned for the depth and impact of research - which leads our teaching. We rank 1st for drama and in the top 10 for film in the UK for the quality of our research (REF2021). Our multilingual community brings together brilliant minds from across the world to share a wealth of expertise combining research excellence with an unrivalled commitment to social justice and social mobility.