English Literature and History

A degree that combines English Literature and History offers the chance to explore two stimulating and diverse subjects, which give fascinating insights into one another, by allowing you to consider culture and society from different perspectives.

In History, you will develop a comprehensive understanding of the medieval, early modern and near contemporary past, before specialising in the area of your choice. Whatever your interests, whether cultural, economic, military, political, religious or social history, there is someone in the Department teaching your kind of history.

By studying History as a Joint Honours degree with English Literature, you will be given a strong foundation in all major periods and genres and will be able to specialise in areas ranging from medieval poetry to twenty-first-century digital literary culture. You will also have the opportunity to take our specialist second-year undergraduate Shakespeare module and the possibility of participating in our residential trip in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Unlock the potential to tailor your learning experience at an elite Russell Group institution through optional modules in Creative Writing, Film Studies, and English Language, as well as opportunities to explore diverse topics across departments such as Art History, African History, and Anthropology, all while honing your critical thinking and analytical skills.

Why study this course?

*Develop your love of literature * – our staff will support you to you to share in their passion for literary writing of all kinds, from Shakespearean drama to Romantic poetry to postcolonial fiction.

Get a head-start in the graduate market – an English Literature and History degree will equip you with skills that employers value. There’s a chance to learn a new language for free, take our Professional Skills module and take advantage of the paid internships offered exclusively to University of Birmingham students. 92% of our History graduates are in work or further study (Discover Uni stats 2022).

A city that values literature as much as you do – explore our exceptional resources, including our Cadbury Research Library, consisting of over 200,000 rare books dating from 1471, as well as the Library of Birmingham, Europe’s largest regional library. Get involved with the History Society or the numerous on-campus writers' groups, including our very own newspaper, radio and TV stations.

Apply history to today’s society - our modules explore how the past informs the present and provides a global historical understanding from the Middle Ages to this century, all through a modern lens.

Do more than read books – Take advantage of the wide-ranging expertise within our academic community and delve into the study of social media, marketing, textual production, video games, comics, film and TV, music and art.

12th for English in the Complete University Guide 2024

Top 30 for English Language and Literature in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2024

13th for History in the Complete University Guide 2025