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Check eligibility →BA (Hons) English Bachelor's degree at Ulster University
BA (Hons) English at Ulster University. The course, founded in 1984, combines core theory with research methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project, and professional skills development.
About this course
BA (Hons) English is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at Ulster University, based in Coleraine. 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.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 85% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
A typical UK English & Literature degree builds from foundations to specialist options and a final project. An indicative structure:
| Stage | Module |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | Introduction to Literary Studies Close reading and critical writing across poetry, prose and drama. |
| Year 1 | Literature in History I Medieval to Renaissance texts in their worlds. |
| Year 1 | Critical Theory Foundations The ideas, from formalism to postcolonialism, critics argue with. |
| Year 2 | Literature in History II Enlightenment, Romantic and Victorian writing. |
| Year 2 | Modern & Contemporary Literature Modernism to the present, including global anglophone writing. |
| Year 2 | Creative or Applied Writing Workshop-based writing craft on many courses. |
| Year 3 | Specialist options Typically Shakespeare, gothic, world literature, or literature and gender/ecology. |
| Year 3 | Advanced Critical Seminar Research-led study at the edge of the field. |
| Year 3 | Dissertation An extended independent literary research project. |
Typical structure for this subject (indicative). Modules vary by university. Check the provider's course page for the exact curriculum.
Specialisations & pathways
Tip: click a specialisation → current jobs in that area.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
A typical English & Literature degree moves from foundations to specialised study and independent research. In Year 1, you'll usually study introduction to literary analysis, close reading across poetry, prose and drama, alongside literature in its historical contexts, from medieval to Renaissance texts, and critical theory foundations covering the ideas critics use to interpret texts. Year 2 typically progresses through later periods (Enlightenment, Romantic and Victorian writing) and modern to contemporary literature including global anglophone work. Many courses include creative or applied writing workshops. In Year 3, you'll normally choose specialist options such as Shakespeare & early modern, creative writing, contemporary fiction, critical theory, world literature or publishing pathways, whilst undertaking advanced critical seminars and an extended independent dissertation.
Who it's for
Most students entering this programme hold another higher-education qualification, 50% of accepted students come in with prior higher-education experience. The part-time structure suits those balancing study with work or other commitments. You'll develop expertise across literary analysis, research design, and professional communication.
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. Graduate earnings across the sector range from £23,000–£30,000 at the 15-month point, rising to £24,650–£34,800 after five years. These figures reflect national labour-market outcomes; your own prospects depend on your experience, location, and career choices. The university's careers service can advise on opportunities within your field.
University & format
This BA (Hons) English is studied part-time at Ulster University, a university located in Coleraine. Instruction is in English. The degree is a nationally recognised qualification from a recognised UK degree-awarding body and is.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
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
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| another higher-education qualification | 50% |
| A-levels or equivalent | 40% |
| a previous degree | 10% |
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. 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
Set under Northern Ireland's student-finance system; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at Ulster University →If you normally live in Northern Ireland
2026/27 maximum Tuition Fee Loan for eligible Northern Ireland students. Maintenance support depends on household income. Students from elsewhere use their home funding body.
Check the current amounts with Student Finance NI →Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: up to £4,985 in Northern Ireland or £9,790 elsewhere in the UK for eligible NI-domiciled students in 2026/27.
- Maintenance support: a mix of grant and loan from Student Finance NI, weighted to household income.
- Repayment: only above the income 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.
Northern Ireland runs its own system through Student Finance NI; check studentfinanceni.co.uk for current rates.
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.
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 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.
continued or completed
continued into the next year or completed their qualification
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Published threshold met. Sample size is not included in this snapshot. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
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.
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 Northern Ireland's own student-finance system, not the England cap; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. If you normally live in Northern Ireland, Student Finance NI can pay a Tuition Fee Loan directly to the university. For 2026/27 the maximum is £4,985 when studying in Northern Ireland and £9,790 elsewhere in the UK. Students from elsewhere use their ordinary-residence funding body, and maintenance support is a mix of grant and loan weighted to household income. You repay only above the income threshold.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.5 out of 10: continued 85%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Ulster University
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 Coleraine
156 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 Ulster University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Ulster 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 Ulster 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 Ulster University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Ulster University
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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