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Edinburgh Napier University · Undergraduate
BA (Hons) Acting & English Bachelor's degree at Edinburgh Napier University
BA (Hons) Acting & English at ENU. BA (Hons) Acting & English is a 4-year full-time degree awarded by Edinburgh Napier University, a public university founded in 1965.
BA (Hons)
Award
4
Years
Full-time
Study mode
100%
in work/study (15m)
About this course
Develop your acting skills & explore English literature in our exclusive combined actor-training and English degree in the UK. Leave with a career action plan. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Acting & English is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at ENU, based in Merchiston Campus, Colinton Road. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Performing arts graduates from this provider, 100% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 65% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £23,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for English & Literature, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
9.1
/ 10
Exceptional
3 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Exceptional94
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Graduate outcomes
In work or further study 15 months after graduating
Exceptional100
Limited evidence Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 100% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Excellent80
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 80% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 7 modules
- Critical Contexts: Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory
- Reading Texts: Analysing Film, Literature and Culture
- Acting Fundamentals I
- Acting Fundamentals II (Naturalism)
- Interpreting Text
- 19th Century Literature and Culture
- Literature & AdaptationOptional
Year 2 6 modules
- Modern Drama: Shakespeare and the Renaissance
- Fundamentals of Directing
- The Modern Novel
- Intermediate Acting (20th Century Drama)
- Shakespeare Workshop
- Performance
Year 3 7 modules
- C21 Literature: Writing the Unfolding Present
- Advanced Acting (Style)
- Directing II
- Leadership in the Creative Industries
- Women's Writing & Film-makingOptional
- Unacknowledged Legislators: Poets in History and SocietyOptional
- Science fiction: text and filmOptional
Year 4 8 modules
- Dissertation
- Performance Workshop II
- Festival Production
- Postcolonial Fiction and FilmOptional
- Modern Scottish Fiction; Lateness and the ModernOptional
- The Gothic TraditionOptional
- Performance Skills for Professional PracticeOptional
- Memoir, Documentary and the Essay FilmOptional
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This combined degree develops your acting skills whilst exploring English literature in depth. You'll begin with close reading and critical writing across poetry, prose and drama, alongside foundational theory; you'll usually move from introductory literary history through to modern and contemporary texts, often including global anglophone writing. As you progress, you'll typically encounter specialist options such as Shakespeare & early modern, creative writing, contemporary fiction, critical theory, world literature, and publishing pathways. In later years, a course like this normally moves towards advanced seminars and an extended independent literary research project. The acting component provides practical training alongside this literary study, culminating in a career action plan to support your next steps.
Who it's for
This course suits students interested in theatre, performance, and literature who want to develop both creative and analytical skills. Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent qualifications; recent accepted students typically had UCAS tariffs between 192 and 207 points. You'll join a university of around 17,000 students.
Careers & job market
Across English and Literature courses nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Of those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles or undertaking further study. National graduate earnings data shows starting salaries (at 15 months) typically range from £23,000 to £30,000, rising to £24,650–£34,800 after five years. These are sector-wide figures from Graduate Outcomes and LEO data, not university-specific guarantees. Retention is strong: 90% of students continue past their first year.
University & format
This BA (Hons) in Acting & English is a 4-year full-time degree taught in English at Edinburgh Napier University, a public university founded in 1965. The course is based at Merchiston Campus, Colinton Road. Edinburgh Napier is a recognised UK degree-awarding body; its degrees are nationally recognised. The university has 17,000 students in total.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively. Overall student satisfaction: 100%.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Application timelineWhat happens next
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Entry & how to get in
Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent80% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 192 - 207 pointsThe most common UCAS tariff band among accepted students. This is what entrants had, not a stated requirement.
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check ENU's official course page for the current offer.
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 80% |
| another higher-education qualification | 20% |
| a Baccalaureate | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Competitive entry
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Your UCAS points0
▾
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Add your grades to see where you land
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
Apply by13 January 2027, 18:00 UK timefor this course
Typical gradesA*A*A*+A-level equivalent admitted students held
UCAS codeQW34quote this on your application
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code QW34). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask ENU whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
International£18,220 / yr
Provider fee page. Set under Scotland's student-finance system; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at ENU →If you normally live in Scotland
For eligible Scottish-domiciled students at an eligible Scottish provider, SAAS can pay tuition directly. Living-cost support can combine bursary and loan and depends on household income and student circumstances. Students from elsewhere use their home funding body.
Check the current amounts with SAAS →Paying for it
- SAAS tuition payment: paid directly to the university for eligible Scottish-domiciled students, applied for through SAAS.
- Living-cost support: a mix of bursary and loan from SAAS, depending on household income.
- Repayment: only above the Scottish repayment threshold, and written off at the end of the plan term.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
Scotland runs its own system through SAAS; check saas.gov.uk for current rates.
Funding matched to this course
All ENU funding →Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.
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Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check
Careers & earnings
What English & Literature graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £23,000 | £17,000 – £26,000 | 15 |
| 3 years after | £19,000 | £15,000 – £26,000 | 80 |
| 5 years after | £24,500 | £20,500 – £30,500 | 75 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
100%
in work or further study 15 months on
65%
in highly skilled work or study
80%
continue past their first year
55%
find their work meaningful
55%
say work fits their future plans
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in english & literature · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs English & Literature nationally
Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£23,000
£23,000 – £30,000After 3 years LEO
£19,000
£19,975 – £28,200After 5 years LEO
£24,500
£24,650 – £34,800national rangethis course’s medianaxis £17,500 – £36,000
National figures for English & Literature graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
100 of 100
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
95% working5% working and studying0% in further study65% in highly skilled work or study
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with English & Literature courses at the same study level.
This course £24,500Peer median £29,000Middle 50% £25,500–£31,500
12th percentile
Compared with 1,436 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Artistic, literary and media occupationsSOC 2020 341 · 50% of published destinations · ASHE median £33,824
- Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 25; response rate: 55%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How English & Literature graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
85%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across English & Literature courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes55%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled90%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuationHow AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where English & Literature graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Publishers
- Media & broadcasters
- Marketing & PR agencies
- Charities & public sector
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit English & Literature graduates.
English GraduateRibbons and Reeves LimitedEnglish, Maths & Digital Skills ManagerHIT TrainingEnglish Certification Examiner (Written & Oral) – Paid TrainingPearsonEnglish Supply Teachers - Oldham and RochdaleTradewind RecruitmentLive from the StudySmarter job board · as of 2026-08-01.See all matching jobs
Is this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
💷
Student finance
Fees for this course are set under Scotland's own student-finance system, not the England cap; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. Tuition for eligible Scottish-domiciled students is paid by SAAS directly to the university, applied for through SAAS and not Student Finance England. Living-cost support is a mix of bursary and loan, and you repay only above the Scottish threshold.
📈
Where graduates go
100% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £23,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
🎯
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
⭐
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 9.1 out of 10: NSS 93.6% · in work or study 100% · continued 80%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Edinburgh Napier University
All students13,805
International27.5%
Aged 25+29.4%
Language and area studies across the UK
Students75,355
Aged 25+23.7%
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Is English & Literature right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to ENU from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £18,220 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check ENU’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with ENU and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at ENU
English & Literature at other universities
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
Entry is competitive. Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was 192 - 207 UCAS points. Use the calculator on this page to see where your predicted grades would put you; many universities also make lower contextual offers.
What are the entry requirements?
Set by ENU. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
What do graduates go on to do?
For Performing arts graduates from this provider, 100% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 65% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £23,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
What will it cost me?
Fees for this course are set under Scotland's own student-finance system, not the England cap; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. Tuition for eligible Scottish-domiciled students is paid by SAAS directly to the university, applied for through SAAS and not Student Finance England. Living-cost support is a mix of bursary and loan, and you repay only above the Scottish threshold. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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