English and History

The Joint Honours English and History degree offers you the chance to explore two fascinating and interrelated subjects. This course allows you to study both English literature and history, and the intersections between them, developing the intellectual tools to approach these subjects from a variety of perspectives.

The English part of the degree covers a wide range of genres and periods of literature, from Shakespeare to contemporary fiction, and explores key themes and ideas that have shaped the development and understanding of literature. You will engage with both literary theory and the practice of literary analysis, learning to interpret texts in their historical context and reflecting on how literature reflects and shapes society. You will also have the opportunity to produce creative responses to texts.

The History part of this degree explores the history of Europe, the US, and beyond, ranging from Ancient Rome to the modern period. It will allow you to explore a range of thematic approaches to history, including political history, social history, and cultural history, encouraging you to consider the richness and diversity of human experience across time.

You will learn textual and source analysis, an understanding of narrative and critical thinking skills. These skills will be tested through a range of assessments, from essays to archive and library projects, to creative responses.

Both subjects work together to improve your communication skills, with a focus on how to present complex ideas clearly and persuasively. These skills are valuable not only in an academic context, but for a range of careers after graduation. By the end of the course, you will be able to critically assess historical and literary materials, providing evidence-based interpretations of the past and engaging with cultural, literary and historical debates in a meaningful way.

This Humanities joint honours degree provides an opportunity to build a coherent and engaging academic experience, offering flexibility to create combinations of modules that best suit your interests. By studying English and History, you’ll gain a deep understanding of the historical periods that have shaped our world and develop the analytical and creative skills necessary for interpreting both literature and history.