BA English and History

About this course

English literature and history have long been recognised as complementary disciplines: literature is a form of historical evidence, and history provides the context without which literature cannot be fully understood. Literary study develops skills of close reading, interpretive argument and the critical analysis of texts as cultural and aesthetic objects. Historical study develops the ability to evaluate evidence, construct causal accounts of the past, and understand the social, political and economic forces that shape human experience over time. Together, they give you a rich and versatile set of analytical and communicative tools. At Leeds Beckett University, this part-time programme allows you to develop your knowledge of both subjects while managing other commitments. The part-time mode is well suited to students who are working, caring for others, or who prefer a slower, more reflective pace of study. You will engage with literature across periods and genres, developing your close reading and critical writing skills, and with historical scholarship across a range of periods and themes, learning to construct evidence-based arguments about the past and to engage seriously with competing interpretations. A year abroad is available, giving you the opportunity to study in another academic environment and to bring an international perspective to both disciplines. The programme rewards intellectual curiosity and the willingness to engage seriously with demanding texts and arguments. Writing clearly, reading critically and researching effectively are the core skills developed throughout. Graduates from English literature and history programmes move into education, publishing, journalism, archiving, heritage, the civil service, law, the cultural sector, business and a wide range of other careers that value analytical thinking and strong communication. Postgraduate study in literature, history, creative writing, or related fields is a well-supported pathway for those who want to continue.

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