BA (Hons) English Studies · Teesside UniversityBachelor's degree · 3 years
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Teesside University · Undergraduate

BA (Hons) English Studies Bachelor's degree at Teesside University

BA (Hons) English Studies at Teesside University. You'll work with core literary theory and research methods whilst building specialist expertise through optional modules tailored to your interests.

BA (Hons)
Award
3
Years
Full-time
Study mode
90%
in work/study (15m)

About this course

BA (Hons) English Studies is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at Teesside University, based in Teesside University Main Campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.

For English studies graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 50% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £25,000. (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.

8.6
/ 10
Excellent
3 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Exceptional92

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
Exceptional90

Stronger evidence Published sample: 4,225. Cohort 2021-22. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 90% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Strong75

Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 75% (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 4 modules
  • Critical and Creative PracticeCore
    Module details

    Develop your critical and creative skills. Apply close reading techniques to a range of texts and voices, and deepen your understanding of writing and reading. Explore critical approaches to texts including novels, poetry and drama.

  • Romantics to Victorians: Literature, Culture, and SocietyCore40 credits
    Module details

    Consider how romantic and Victorian literature is influenced by so many factors - the political revolution in Europe and beyond, a rising discussion of rights, the Woman Question, and industrial, economic and scientific transformations. You focus on the period between the French Revolution and Queen Victoria's death in 1901 to explore the dynamic relationship between their historical and cultural context. Critically write about class, gender and race to explore the ideological assumptions covere

  • Words Matter: Writing for Social ChangeCore20 credits
    Module details

    You investigate key writers, past and present, who have played or continue to play a role in social change. You address questions about why studying literature and creative writing matters. You consider the opportunities available after graduation including becoming an educator, publisher, facilitator, communicator and creative. And you write your own manifesto, alongside a personal development plan, to achieve your goals after you graduate.

  • Writing and AudienceCore
    Module details

    Explore why you write, who your readers are, and what you need to consider in terms of voice, register and form when writing for different audiences and reasons. Look at a range of forms of professional writing including online articles, reviews, how to guides, interpretative texts used in exhibitions and live texts using augmented reality technology.

Year 2 4 modules
  • Colonial and Postcolonial WritingCore
    Module details

    Examine colonial-era and postcolonial literary texts, including poetry, fiction, short fiction, drama, and life-writing. Consider different historical perspectives on, and legacies of, empire, from a range of country contexts including South Asia, Africa, Australasia, as well as America and Europe. Explore pressing concerns about how far such texts have questioned, and may continue to contest, dominant and often damaging perspectives on race, ethnicity, class and gender in changing colonial, pos

  • Future Directions: Research, Careers and Development in the HumanitiesCore20 credits
    Module details

    Develop graduate skills in preparation for further study, employment or lifelong learning, through engagement with our Student Futures team and humanities practitioners. Gain insight into career pathways and explore the opportunities available to humanities graduates, including as educators, policy-makers, publishers, facilitators, communicators, and creatives. Work on an individual project, either work focused or academic focused.

  • Make it New: Experimental WritingCore40 credits
    Module details

    Explore modernism as one of the most innovative and artistic movements of the 20th century, whilst examining your own experimental writing practices. You examine the diverse ways of writing in the early 20th century by experimenting with new methods of writing whilst reflecting on your own style. You investigate literature and other forms of cultural expression such as visual art, music and film to understand the relationship between modernism and modernity. You also learn how past artists and w

  • Representation and Cultural Identity: Student ConferenceCore20 credits
    Module details

    It is believed that our sense of who we are and how we perceive others is tied to the way identities are constructed through cultural representation. How does the way our perception is constructed tend to privilege some groups over others? Examine key theoretical perspectives on the representation of identity in relation to a range of concepts – such as class, gender, race, sexuality and disability – as constructed in and represented by contemporary culture. Investigate these ideas in relation t

Final year 4 modules
  • Doing Research: Developing Your SpecialismCore40 credits
    Module details

    Gain the skills and knowledge to devise, develop and execute an extended independent research project in an area of critical or creative practice. Develop advanced research skills including reflective practice, critical research, creative practice-based research, self-management, and research project management, preparing you for your dissertation and creative writing project. Explore the work of researchers in English and creative writing through research specialism workshops, which showcase re

  • English Studies DissertationCore40 credits
    Module details

    Study literary genres and movements and their historical, social and political contexts. You focus on the 19th century to the present, including aestheticism and decadence, black, Asian and minority ethnic writing, detective and crime fiction, the feminist movement and contemporary historical fiction. You consider the context of the texts' production and receipt. You also examine the diverse formal, technical and stylistic properties of the texts, exploring critical and theoretical perspectives.

  • Genres, Movements, Histories, CulturesCore20 credits
    Module details

    Examine literary genres and movements and their historical, social, and political contexts. Focus on the nineteenth century to the present, exploring aestheticism and decadence, Black, Asian and minority ethnic writing, detective and crime fiction, the feminist movement and contemporary historical fiction. And consider the circumstances within which the texts were produced and received. Discuss the diverse formal, technical and stylistic properties of the texts, and explore critical and theoreti

  • Speculative WritingCore
    Module details

    Examine examples of speculative writing from the 17th Century to the present day. Consider how literature responded to the possibilities of new technologies and geographical discovery, how it articulated fears about issues such as revolution and capitalism, and how it imagined visionary possibilities for the future of society.

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 study English literature and language through close reading, critical thinking and independent research. A course like this normally begins with foundations in literary analysis across poetry, prose and drama, alongside literature in historical context from medieval to contemporary periods. You'll usually explore critical theory to understand the major intellectual frameworks that shape literary interpretation. As you progress, you'll encounter modern and contemporary writing, including global anglophone voices, and develop practical writing skills through workshop-based study. In your final year, you'll typically choose specialist areas such as creative writing, Shakespeare and early modern texts, contemporary fiction, critical theory, world literature, or publishing pathways. You'll usually conclude with an advanced seminar and an extended independent research project or dissertation.

Who it's for

You're suited to this course if you read widely, enjoy unpicking how texts work and can articulate ideas clearly in writing. You'll thrive if you're curious about language, cultural contexts and competing interpretations rather than seeking single 'right answers'. The three-year structure gives you space to move beyond A-level study into independent research and specialisation. Expect seminar discussions, essays, close reading and a final project of your own design. If you value analytical rigour and want a degree grounded in humanities enquiry, this is for you.

Careers & job market

Across English and Literature courses nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Among those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles or undertaking further study. Starting salaries range from £23,000 to £30,000 nationally at 15 months; after five years, graduates earn between £24,650 and £34,800. Your degree will support careers in education, publishing, media, cultural organisations and roles requiring strong written and analytical skills.

University & format

Teesside University is a university located at Teesside University Main Campus. This is a full-time, 3-year Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons) English Studies) taught in English. The university holds Gold for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023 and is recognised as a UK degree-awarding body; your degree will be nationally recognised.

Student satisfaction

How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.

The teaching on my course
100%
Learning opportunities
98%
Assessment and feedback
98%
Academic Support
90%
Organisation and management
65%
Learning resources
97%
Student voice
97%

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.

Application timelineWhat happens next
  1. 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted

    Your application needs a reference before you can send it.

  2. 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  3. 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

  4. 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline

    18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.

Show 5 later dates
  1. 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens

    Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.

  2. 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers

    Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.

  3. 2027 entryClearing opens

    Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.

  4. 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  5. 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

Open daysBook an open day

See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.

Entry & how to get in

Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent65% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 112 - 127 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 Teesside University'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

QualificationShare
A-levels or equivalent65%
an Access course15%
a previous degree10%
Other10%

Entry & your chances

An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.

Offer-based entry

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.

Add your grades to see where you land

Your points will drop onto the distribution above, with an honest above / within / below read.

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 gradesBBBA-level equivalent admitted students held
  1. 1
    Register on UCAS Hub

    Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.

  2. 2
    Write 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.

  3. 3
    Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time

    UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.

  4. 4
    Reply to your offers

    When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.

  5. 5
    Results 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 Teesside University 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

Homeup to £9,790 / yr
Internationalset by the university

Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.

Check fees at Teesside University →

For students who normally live in England

illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
£9,790tuition used per year, illustrative full-time England fee-cap scenario
illustrative borrowing over 3 years

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.

Funding matched to this course

Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for

All Teesside University funding →

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.

StudyKit · free

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.

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

WhenMedianTypical rangeGraduates
15 months after£25,000£22,500 – £30,0004225
3 years after£19,000£15,000 – £25,00070
5 years after£22,500£18,000 – £29,00085

Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 4,225. Cohort 2021-22.

Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course

90%
in work or further study 15 months on
50%
in highly skilled work or study
75%
continue past their first year
80%
find their work meaningful
70%
say work fits their future plans
  1. 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
  2. 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in english & literature · 2–5 yrs
  3. 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
  4. 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs

How pay grows: this course vs English & Literature nationally

Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£25,000
£23,000 – £30,000
After 3 years LEO
£19,000
£19,975 – £28,200
After 5 years LEO
£22,500
£24,650 – £34,800
national 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.

90 of 100

were in work or further study

15 months after graduation

55% working10% working and studying25% in further study50% in highly skilled work or study

Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 4,225. Cohort 2021-22. 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 £22,500Peer median £29,000Middle 50% £25,500–£31,500
4th 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.

  • Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660
  • Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
  • Welfare and housing associate professionalsSOC 2020 322 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,937
  • Artistic, literary and media occupationsSOC 2020 341 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £33,824

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: 55; 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 Outcomes
55%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled
90%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuation

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.

Where they work

  • Publishers
  • Media & broadcasters
  • Marketing & PR agencies
  • Charities & public sector

Is 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

90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £25,000. 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 92.1% · in work or study 90% · continued 75%.

Who studies here and in this subject?

Provider- and UK subject-level context.

Teesside University

All students21,570
International28.5%
Aged 25+57%

Language and area studies across the UK

Students75,355
Aged 25+23.7%

HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.

Local crime-data context

A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.

Around Teesside University Main Campus

2,900 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.

Violent Crime 963Shoplifting 389Anti Social Behaviour 331Public Order 257Criminal Damage Arson 199

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 Teesside University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.

Tuition fees

International tuition is set per course by Teesside University; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. 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 Teesside University’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 Teesside University and gov.uk before you apply.

Common questions

Entry is offer-based and set by the university. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was 112 - 127 UCAS points. Use the calculator on this page to see where your predicted grades would put you; many universities also make lower contextual offers.
Set by Teesside University. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
For English studies graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 50% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £25,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
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. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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