BA (Hons) English Bachelor's degree at Goldsmiths, University of London
BA (Hons) English at GUL covers core theory, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project, and professional skills.
About this course
BA (Hons) English is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at GUL, based in Goldsmiths College. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for English & Literature, see the sections below.
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 5 modules
- Explorations in LiteratureCompulsory30 credits
Module details
This module will introduce you to a wide range of works from the literary canon, from ancient Greek texts in translation to the contemporary, covering the major genres, and embodying significant interventions or influences in literary history. You'll focus on reading primary texts voraciously and discovering - or rediscovering - diverse writers and cultures so that you can make informed choices from more specialized modules later in your degree. Not being limited to a period, genre or single app
- Approaches to TextCompulsory30 credits
Module details
This module will introduce you to essential concepts in modern literary study, enabling you to become a more observant, perceptive, and analytical reader. You'll explore the history and nature of literary studies and contemporary critical debates. You'll learn a vocabulary in which to discuss literary language, ideas of literary convention and genre, poetic rhythm and form, and the nature of narrative voice and narrative structures.
- GenreCompulsory30 credits
Module details
This course introduces you to the pleasures and possibilities of a wide range of literary genres, including the novel, short story, poetry, life writing, creative non-fiction, speculative fiction, the graphic novel, drama, screenwriting, film, performance, and more. You'll explore works that exemplify the defining features of particular genres, as well as texts that disrupt or challenge those conventions. Through close reading and a focus on technical craft, you will learn to question how langua
- Contemporary Creative IndustriesCompulsory15 credits
Module details
In this module you will develop your practical understanding of, and critical perspective on, the ways in which creative work is commercially produced, disseminated and 'consumed'. You will gain an overview of the contemporary creative industries' foundational concepts, occupational roles, stakeholders,organizations, business practices and personalities. As well as studying dominant modes of industrial production and consumption, you will consider practices through which creators and their suppo
- Critical WritingCompulsory15 credits
Module details
The module aims to explore the topic of critical writing generally and in discipline-specific contexts so you can continually develop your skills by applying them to your ongoing critical and creative work. You will learn critical writing as a skill that helps you to develop your research and creative practice alongside the completion of academic work. You will learn to critical analyse and evaluate existing texts and your own work through a diversity of critical perspectives.
Year 2 7 modules
- Reading the PastCompulsory30 credits
Module details
Spanning the medieval to early modern periods, Reading the Past begins with an overview which forges links between diverse literary traditions. As the module progresses, you can choose to focus on the Medieval or the Early Modern period. The content encompasses drama, epic, devotional literature, women's writing, satire and the sonnet. Writers covered include Margery Kemp, Christopher Marlowe, Malory, Shakespeare, Amelia Lanyer, Jonson, the Gawain poet, Sterne and Bede.
- Revolutions in Writing and SocietyCompulsory30 credits
- Special Topics in EnglishCompulsory30 credits
Module details
Within this module, you will choose and study from a selection of specialist topics in literary studies. Indicative topics include American Gothic; Aesthetics; Homer and Contemporary Literature; Shakespeare(s): Then and Now; Language and Society; and Post-1945 Poetry.
- The Goldsmiths ProjectCompulsory15 credits
- Work Placement (English)Optional15 credits
Module details
Students who select this module are required to source a placement and undertake 10 days of unpaid work at a host institution. You will have the opportunity to relate your degree subject to real-life situations, develop a range of transferable skills and gain sector-specific experience, thereby enhancing your employment prospects. Guidance and support in sourcing the placement is provided by the Careers Service. The work is normally carried out over 1 day per week, but it can be more pending the
- The Goldsmiths ElectiveOptional15 credits
Module details
Our academic Schools are developing exciting elective ideas to allow you to broaden your education, either to develop vocationally orientated experiences or to learn more about contemporary society, culture and politics. You'll be able to choose safe in the knowledge that these modules have been designed for non-subject specialists and to bring students from different disciplines together. For example, you may want to take introductions to areas such as Law, Education, the digital industries, th
- Weird FictionsOptional15 credits
Year 3 1 modules
- Challenging World Literature: Diversity and DifferenceCompulsory30 credits
Module details
This is a module about literature that exists outside the European canon. You will study books and films from a diverse range of cultures and c
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.
Who it's for
This course suits students seeking a part-time pathway through English and Literature study. It combines theoretical foundations with practical application and independent research, allowing you to develop both analytical and professional capabilities alongside other commitments.
Careers & job market
Across English and Literature courses nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after completing their degree. Of those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles or pursuing further study. National graduate earnings data shows starting salaries of £23,000–£30,000 at 15 months; after three years, £19,975–£28,200; and after five years, £24,650–£34,800. Check the university's funding pages for information on bursaries and scholarships.
University & format
This BA (Hons) is delivered part-time at Goldsmiths College, a public university in the University of London. Instruction is in English. Goldsmiths is a recognised UK degree-awarding body; your degree is nationally recognised. The university holds a Bronze award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
Work placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
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.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code Q300). 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 Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. 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.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at GUL →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What English & Literature graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
- 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
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.
Job market & outlook
How English & Literature graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How 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.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Goldsmiths College
Language and area studies across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Goldsmiths College
754 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is English & Literature right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to GUL from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £22,000 / 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 GUL’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 GUL and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at GUL
English & Literature at other universities
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates earn?
What will it cost me?
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