BA (Hons) History and English Literature

Entry year:
2025/26
Start date:
September
Study mode:
Full-time
Course duration:
3 years
Campus:
Mount Pleasant
UCAS Code:
QV31
Grades/points required:
BCC-BBB (104-120)

Why study this course with LJMU?

  • Taught by a passionate team of academics
  • 97% of students surveyed said academic support on our English courses was good or very good (National Student Survey 2024)
  • 94% of students surveyed said the teaching staff on our History courses were good at explaining things (National Student Survey 2024)
  • Teaching from leading academics who have written scholarly works on topics ranging from American foreign policy to sport in the Soviet Union, through to Sherlock Holmes and Irish rock music
  • A broad range of module topics that includes Britain, Ireland, Europe, Japan and sub-Saharan Africa

About your course

Studying BA (Hons) History and English Literature at Liverpool John Moores University is designed to enable you to understand the past and present, and how that is captured in literature.

This degree is inspired by and is firmly rooted in the city of Liverpool. It draws on the cultural, social, historical and literary context of the city across a range of modules, including 'Liverpool Legacies and Exploring History where students work with cultural partners and institutions across the city region, including the Museum of Liverpool, the Museum of Popular Music, the Tate, the Maritime Museum and Granby Winter Gardens. You will also be given extended, more formal opportunities to work with cultural partners and local businesses and schools to gain valuable work experience.

The dual elements of the History and English Literature programme are complimentary, allowing students to study innovative topics and texts, following bespoke pathways through the programme which speak to your specific interests, be that Post-colonialism; the Victorians; or modern America. This distinctive programme encourages students to become a part of a vibrant community of students, post-graduate researchers and staff, to develop their own academic interests, and to prepare for next steps after graduation.

Course modules

What you will study on this degree

Learn more about the modules you'll be studying on the course with this useful module guide.

Further guidance on modules

Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.

Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.

Core modules

Core modules

Optional modules

Core modules

Optional modules

Your Learning Experience

Excellent facilities and learning resources

We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.

Teaching is delivered via a combination of lectures, online activities and tutorials, with additional information available on Canvas (our virtual learning environment) and in our Learning Resource Centre. Tutorials are fairly informal and provide an opportunity to further discuss material covered in the lectures. Once you reach your final year, your dissertation offers the chance to work more independently and focus on an area that particularly interests you.

Work-related Learning

This programme is centred on helping you to develop first-rate skills in communication and critical analysis, which are highly valued by employers. This is why a History and English Literature degree is a good basis for so many different careers.

At Level 5, you also have the opportunity to spend at least one month on a work placement in the United States after undertaking a specially designed module to help you prepare for it. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get invaluable work experience in a different culture and could even lead to employment once you graduate.

Past students have worked for the editor of Vogue, an advertising agency and a film company in New York, a Hollywood celebrity magazine, theatres on Broadway, a jazz magazine in New Orleans, an architects office in California and theme parks in Florida and New Jersey.

Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support

History and English Literature students at LJMU form part of a lively and supportive learning environment. If you join us, you will be given the support needed to enable you to reach your full potential in your studies and to help you make a decision about your future career. Lecturers in History and English Literature are supportive and approachable. We are proud of our students' achievements both during their studies and after graduation.

From the moment you begin your studies at LJMU, you will be allocated a personal tutor who will meet with you one-to-one to discuss course-related issues, monitor your progress and help you to put your career plans in place. They will be a point of contact for you throughout the degree. You will also receive advice and feedback on your assignments from module tutors.

Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.

We acknowledge that all students perform differently depending on the way they are assessed, which is why we use a combination of assessment methods. Half of your assessments will be coursework in the form of essays, portfolios, short written pieces, independent studies and dissertations. The rest of your assessment is by seen and unseen exam. Exam questions are available two weeks before the start of seen exams so you have the chance to prepare fully for them.

Your tutors will provide feedback on coursework assessments within 15 days of submission via Canvas, face-to-face or as written comments. We believe constructive feedback is vital in helping you to identify your strengths as well as the areas where you may need to put in more work.

History and English Literature at Liverpool John Moores University

To see official information about this course and others visit Discover Uni.

Make an informed choice.

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Where you will study

What you can expect from your School

The School of Humanities and Social Science offers an ideal environment in which to expand your knowledge and horizons. Situated on Mount Pleasant in the new ‘Knowledge Quarter ' of Liverpool, the School is home to five subject areas: English, History, International Relations, Sociology, and Media, Culture & Communication. It has a lively programme of cross-disciplinary research seminars, conferences, visits from international scholars and public events. Research from the School is recognised nationally and worldwide.

Course tutors

LJMU offers diverse history modules and histories that stretch the globe - from the English Civil War to the Japanese Meiji Restoration period. You'll come across themes and issues in the literary texts and accumulate knowledge that you can apply to your history studies. The support you receive is excellent and the lecturers, from both departments, go above and beyond to provide entertaining, structured and worthwhile lectures.

Career paths

Our former students are to be found working in occupations including advertising, marketing, museums, arts administration and publishing to industrial, retail, leisure and charitable organisation management, educational administration, accountancy, law, the social and Civil Services and teaching.

Some graduates complete teacher training PGDE courses at LJMU or other providers or use their skills in other types of teaching, such as English as a second language or adult education. Another option is to continue in education with a masters, PhD or vocational course such as journalism or marketing.

Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service

A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.

Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website.

Tuition fees and funding

Home full-time per year:
£9,535

Fees

The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as library membership and student IT support with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources including programme-appropriate software and on campus Wi-Fi.

Financial Support

The University offers a range of scholarships to support students through their studies. You'll find all the information you need on our specialist funding pages, including details of the Student Support Fund and other activities to support with the cost of living.

Additional Costs

In addition to fees, students should also keep in mind the cost of:

  • Accommodation
  • Travel costs including those for placements, visas and travel for studying abroad and field trips unless paid for by LJMU
  • Stationery, IT equipment, professional body membership and graduation gown hire

The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in accordance with any changes to the maximum allowable fees set by the UK Parliament. In the event of such a change, any fee increase will be subject to a maximum cap of 10% of the total course cost as originally stated at the time of your offer.

Entry requirements

Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements

Grades/points required from qualifications: BCC-BBB (104-120)

Work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth by visiting the UCAS Tariff Calculator.

Qualification requirements

How to apply

Securing your place at LJMU

UCAS is the official application route for our full-time undergraduate courses. Further information on the UCAS application process can be found here https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-students/how-to-apply.

An enthusiasm for the study of both History and English.

Demonstrate a willingness to take on new ideas about and new perspectives on History and English, as well as a desire to seek out evidence to support such fresh perspectives.An awareness of History as a discipline.

Desire in finding out about the societies and ideas that produce and infuse English.

Hence, if you have a love of history and literature, an enquiring mind and a desire to engage in debate and argument about the past and the nature of the contemporary world then we will be very happy to receive an application from you.

Your university life

From accommodation and academic support to clubs and societies. Find out what LJMU has to offer.

Talk to our students

Connect with a current LJMU student for advice and guidance on university life, courses and more.

See what our students are saying

At LJMU we want you to know you're making the right choice by studying with us. You can see what our students are saying about their experience with us via the following websites:

The university reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the university. Where this does happen, the university operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.