BA (Hons) Modern Languages and English Bachelor's degree at Royal Holloway, University of London
BA (Hons) Modern Languages and English at RHUL combines language study with English literature and cultural analysis. You'll engage with core theory, research methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project and professional skills development.
About this course
Gain fluency in a modern language alongside rigorous critical study of English literature and language. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Modern Languages and English is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at RHUL, based in Egham Campus. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For English studies graduates from this provider, 85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 55% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £28,000. (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.
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)
Limited evidence Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 85% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 88% (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 20 modules
- Critical Analysis for LinguistsCore
Module details
Introduces you to the practice of critical analysis, with an emphasis on developing your skills of critical interpretation and analysis. Taught through a combination of lecture-style overviews of specific technical issues, and close engagement with short extracts from a range of examples taken from literature, film and visual arts.
- French Ab Initio Written IOptional
Module details
Aims to develop reading and writing skills in French. Uses a blended approach based on a beginners' coursebook with additional material on Moodle and weekly hand-outs based on authentic material. Themes include every-day life in France, an introduction to French-speaking society and culture, regions and traditions.
Assessment: Assessed in French
- French Ab Initio Oral IOptional
Module details
Aims to develop speaking and listening skills in French. Uses a blended approach based on a beginners' coursebook with additional material on Moodle and weekly hand-outs based on authentic material.
Assessment: Assessed in French
- French Advanced Written IOptional
Module details
Aims to expand students' ability to express themselves in accurate written French. Major grammatical issues will be taught and/or revised, and students will work on a wide range of authentic material in French to expand their vocabulary and range of expressions.
Assessment: Taught and assessed in French
- French Advanced Oral IOptional
Module details
Aims to expand students' ability to express themselves in accurate spoken French. Students will work on a wide range of authentic material in French to expand their vocabulary and range of expressions and to introduce them to contemporary issues and culture.
Assessment: Taught and assessed in French
- German Ab Initio Written IOptional
Module details
Aims to develop reading and writing skills in German. Uses a blended approach based on a beginners' coursebook with additional material on Moodle and weekly hand-outs based on authentic material. Themes include every-day life in Germany, an introduction to German-speaking society and culture, regions and traditions.
Assessment: Assessed in German
- German Ab Initio Oral IOptional
Module details
Aims to develop speaking and listening skills in German. Uses a blended approach based on a beginners' coursebook with additional material on Moodle and weekly hand-outs based on authentic material. Themes include every-day life in German-speaking countries, an introduction to German-speaking society and culture, regions and traditions.
Assessment: Assessed in German
- German Advanced Written IOptional
Module details
Aims to expand students' ability to express themselves in accurate written German. Major grammatical issues will be taught and/or revised, and students will work on a wide range of authentic material in German to expand their vocabulary and range of expressions.
Assessment: Taught and assessed in German
- German Advanced Oral IOptional
Module details
Aims to expand students' ability to express themselves in accurate spoken German. Students will work on a wide range of authentic material in German to expand their vocabulary and range of expressions and to introduce them to contemporary issues and culture.
Assessment: Taught and assessed in German
- Italian Ab Initio Written IOptional
Module details
Aims to develop reading and writing skills in Italian. Uses a blended approach based on a beginners' coursebook with additional material on Moodle and weekly hand-outs based on authentic material. Themes include every-day life in Italy, an introduction to Italian-speaking society and culture, regions and traditions.
Assessment: Assessed in Italian
- Italian Ab Initio Oral IOptional
Module details
Aims to develop speaking and listening skills in Italian. Uses a blended approach based on a beginners' coursebook with additional material on Moodle and weekly hand-outs based on authentic material. Themes include every-day life in Italian-speaking countries, an introduction to Italian-speaking society and culture, regions and traditions.
Assessment: Assessed in Italian
- Italian Advanced Written IOptional
Module details
Aims to expand students' ability to express themselves in accurate written Italian. Major grammatical issues will be taught and/or revised, and students will work on a wide range of authentic material in Italian to expand their vocabulary and range of expressions.
Assessment: Taught and assessed in Italian
- Italian Advanced Oral IOptional
Module details
Aims to expand students' ability to express themselves in accurate spoken Italian. Students will work on a wide range of authentic material in Italian to expand their vocabulary and range of expressions and to introduce them to contemporary issues and culture.
Assessment: Taught and assessed in Italian
- Spanish Ab Initio Written IOptional
Module details
Aims to develop reading and writing skills in Spanish. Uses a blended approach based on a beginners' coursebook with additional material on Moodle and weekly hand-outs based on authentic material. Themes include every-day life in Spain, an introduction to Spanish-speaking society and culture, regions and traditions.
Assessment: Assessed in Spanish
- Spanish Ab Initio Oral IOptional
Module details
Aims to develop speaking and listening skills in Spanish. Uses a blended approach based on a beginners' coursebook with additional material on Moodle and weekly hand-outs based on authentic material. Themes include every-day life in Spanish-speaking countries, an introduction to Spanish-speaking society and culture, regions and traditions.
Assessment: Assessed in Spanish
- Spanish Advanced Written IOptional
Module details
Aims to expand students' ability to express themselves in accurate written Spanish. Major grammatical issues will be taught and/or revised, and students will work on a wide range of authentic material in Spanish to expand their vocabulary and range of expressions.
Assessment: Taught and assessed in Spanish
- Spanish Advanced Oral IOptional
Module details
Aims to expand students' ability to express themselves in accurate spoken Spanish. Students will work on a wide range of authentic material in Spanish to expand their vocabulary and range of expressions and to introduce them to contemporary issues and culture.
Assessment: Taught and assessed in Spanish
- Critical Foundations: Thinking As A CriticCore
Module details
You will develop an understanding of how to think, read and write as a critic. You will look at the concepts, ideas and histories that are central to the 'disciplinary consciousness' of English Literature, considering periodisation, form, genre, canon, intention, narrative, framing and identity.
- Reorienting the NovelCore
Module details
You will develop an understanding of the origins, developments and innovations of the novel form. You will look at a range of contemporary, eighteenth and nineteenth-century novels and learn to use concepts in narrative theory and criticism. You will examine novels such as 'The Accidental' by Ali Smith, 'Things Fall Apart' by Chinua Achebe and 'North and South' by Elizabeth Gaskell.
- Introduction to PoetryCore
Module details
You will develop an understanding of a variety of major poems in English. You will look at key poems from the Renaissance to the present day. You will examine poems from Shakespeare to Sylvia Plath and analyse topics such as sound, the stanza and the use of poetic language.
Year 2 2 modules
- French Language IIOptional
Module details
In written French, the module builds on techniques acquired in first-year language modules through a particular focus on techniques of analysis, writing and rewriting, in particular on learning to construct arguments and exposés in authentic, accurate and appropriate French. Themes help as preparation for the year abroad.
- German Language IIOptional
Module details
You'll maintain and develop a broad intermediate vocabulary in German; revise the basics of German grammar and syntax and learn more complex language structures; be able to understand natural, idiomatic as well as formal spoken German as delivered by a native speaker, present information in written and spoken German; and discuss topical issues critically in written and spoken German.
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
You'll gain fluency in a modern language whilst undertaking rigorous critical study of English literature and language. A course like this typically moves from foundations, close reading and critical writing across poetry, prose and drama; literary history from medieval to contemporary texts; and critical theory, into more specialist work in Year 2, often including modern and contemporary literature and creative or applied writing. In your final year, you'll usually choose specialist options such as Creative writing, Shakespeare & early modern, Contemporary fiction, Critical theory, World literature, or Publishing pathways, alongside advanced seminars and an extended independent dissertation project that lets you pursue your own literary research interests.
Who it's for
This course suits students with strong A-level qualifications or equivalent. Most accepted entrants held A-levels, typically with a UCAS tariff between 128–143 points. It's designed for those interested in exploring modern languages alongside English literature, cultural studies and linguistic analysis. You'll develop research, writing and communication skills applicable across professional and academic settings.
Careers & job market
Nationally, 85% of English and Literature graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating. Of those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles or pursuing further study. Starting salaries typically range from £23,000 to £30,000 at 15 months post-graduation; after 5 years, graduates earn between £24,650 and £34,800 nationally. These figures reflect broad labour-market outcomes, not individual guarantees. The university's funding pages detail bursaries and scholarships available to support your studies.
University & format
This BA (Hons) degree is taught full-time over 4 years at Royal Holloway, University of London, a higher education college located on the Egham Campus. Instruction is in English. The degree is awarded by a recognised UK degree-awarding body and is nationally recognised. The university holds a Silver award for teaching quality from the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
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.
- 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.
Work placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
Entry & how to get in
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 | 100% |
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.
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.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
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.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code RQ93). 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.
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 RHUL →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.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £28,000 | £25,000 – £30,000 | 15 |
| 3 years after | £24,500 | £20,000 – £29,000 | 180 |
| 5 years after | £30,500 | £24,000 – £37,000 | 190 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 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.
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.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. 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.
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.
- Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
- Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
- Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
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: 35; response rate: 75%. 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.
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.
English GraduateRibbons and Reeves LimitedEnglish, Maths & Digital Skills ManagerHIT TrainingEnglish Certification Examiner (Written & Oral) – Paid TrainingPearsonEnglish Supply Teachers - Oldham and RochdaleTradewind RecruitmentIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £28,000. 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 8.6 out of 10: NSS 86.3% · in work or study 85% · continued 88%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Royal Holloway and Bedford New 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 Egham Campus
437 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 RHUL from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £26,800 / 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 RHUL’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 RHUL and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at RHUL
English & Literature at other universities
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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