BA (Hons) English Literature (Single) (3-year degree)
English Literature here is taught to small groups by energetic and enthusiastic staff, led by Oxford-trained academics.
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Course overview
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Sep 2025 (Full-time)
| Module | Type | Credits | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Childrens Literature | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Creative Writing 1 | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Eras of English | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Fiction and Theory | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Plays in Performance | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Poetry and Poetics | Core | 15.00 | 4 |
| Book, Script, Film | Core | 15.00 | 5 |
| Literary Journalism 1642-Present | Core | 15.00 | 5 |
| Reading Genders | Core | 15.00 | 5 |
| Rewriting Empire | Core | 15.00 | 5 |
| The Gothic Legacy | Core | 15.00 | 5 |
| Twentieth Century Theatre | Core | 15.00 | 5 |
| Victorian Literature | Core | 15.00 | 5 |
| Contemporary Writing | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| Creative Writing 2 | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| Dissertation (English Literature) | Core | 30.00 | 6 |
| Inklings and their Influences | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| Modern American Literature | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| Modernist Writing | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| Renaissance Literature | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| Shakespearean Drama | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| Synoptic Study Unit | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
| The Long Eighteenth Century | Core | 15.00 | 6 |
You will encounter the canon of great authors, from Shakespeare onwards, but you also study themes like Film, Gender, and Empire. In other words, the degree combines traditional and contemporary aspects of the subject. Buckingham’s unique tutorial system makes for highly personalized teaching. If you’d like to try out a tutorial, come along to one of our free taster sessions.
What is Buckingham English?
- It is an encounter with the complexity and beauty of great literature
- It aids you on your journey to becoming a professional-level writer, able to write fluently and well in any context
- Like philosophy, it teaches you to argue and debate your ideas
- As a central liberal arts subject, it is a clear space to address the big questions of meaning and existence
We don’t think that formal essays are always the best way of assessing how students understand a subject, so you will find that you have opportunities to write a book review, reportage, poems and short stories, even part of a screenplay. You will learn a number of skills, not least how to write fluently and persuasively. As a result, our graduates go on into a range of careers in media, teaching, publishing, academia, business, and marketing.
This is the 3-year format of the BA degree (UCAS code Q321), which allows you the traditional summer break. Starting each September, there are 3 terms per year, leading to an assessment period in early June. Then the summer is free, before returning for the new academic year in late September. This allows you more time for reading and reflection. For the 2-year format of the degree see BA English Literature | 2 Years, 2 Years (+ 1 term).
Dissertation
In your final year, you are given the opportunity to research, develop, and write a mini-dissertation of 6,000 – 8,000 words. This sounds daunting, but you have six months to complete it, and plenty of guidance from us, so many of our students have found it one of the most rewarding parts of their studies.
Among other outcomes, you should gain from this course:
- In-depth understanding of your chosen field of study.
- Experience of completing an individual piece of research through from conception to final, fully-documented work.
- Understanding of scholarly standards of objectivity, documentation, referencing and citation.
- A more nuanced sense of the complexities of contemporary critical practice.
The final dissertation has to be bound, fully ‘styled’ and sourced (in other words, a professional piece of report writing in every sense), and is your chance to connect together many of the skills you have acquired on the Literature programme here at Buckingham. Subjects presented recently include ‘The Idea of the Gentleman in Victorian Fiction,’ ‘Heroes, Anti-Heroes, and Villains in Gothic Fiction,’ ‘Virginia Woolf’s prose fiction in the 1920s’, and ‘Sympathy and Alienation in the Plays of Christopher Marlowe’. Your bound dissertation makes an ideal accompaniment to your CV if you are applying for jobs where research and report-writing are important.
Entry Requirements
Typical Offers
The standard entry requirements for English are A-level : BBB-BBC , IB:31-32 or equivalent qualifications.
Applications to Buckingham are individually considered by the Admissions Tutor and other factors may be taken in to account. Applicants with BTEC qualifications are welcome to apply, including if you have a mix of BTEC and A levels. Equivalent A-level grades are also accepted (for example BBD equivalent to BCC)
Where an applicant is taking the EPQ alongside A-levels, the EPQ will be taken into consideration and result in a slightly lower A-level grade offer.
Foundation options are also available. Please contact the Admissions Office (admissions@buckingham.ac.uk or +44 (0)1280 820227) for more information.
Applicants must also have GCSE English and Maths at Grade C / Grade 4, or above (or equivalent). If English is not your first language you will also need an IELTS score of 6.5 (with at least 6.0 in each component).
Flexible entry
All of our undergraduate programmes operate a flexible entry process, and the Admissions Tutor is happy to consider entrants from all backgrounds with slightly lower qualifications if they are able to demonstrate an alternative eligibility for the course. This may be in the form of relevant work experience, keen aptitude and a passion for the subject, or unlocked potential that you feel can be discovered through your studies at Buckingham. If you are uncertain whether you will be eligible to apply for this course, please contact the Admissions Team.
UCAS applications
You may apply either through the national UCAS university admissions system or at any time directly to the University using our own online application form. Our UCAS code is B90.
Mature students
Because of our two-year degree, we find that the age range of our student body varies between those who have recently completed A-levels (or equivalent) to more mature students. Age is no barrier to learning and we welcome all applications from suitably qualified students.
International students
We are happy to consider all international applications and if you are an international student, you may find it useful to visit our international pages for details of entry requirements from your home country.
The University is a UKVI Student Sponsor.
English levels
If English is not your first language, please check our undergraduate English language requirements. If your English levels don’t meet our minimum requirements, you may be interested in applying for our Pre-sessional English Language Foundation Programmes.
Selection process
Wherever possible, you will be invited to the University to meet the Admissions Tutor for an informal interview and to have a tour of our campus. If you are an international applicant, it may not be possible for you to visit in person, so if the Admissions Tutor has any queries about your application you may be contacted by Microsoft Teams, email or phone.
Our Admissions Team will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Call us on +44 (0)1280 820227 or get in touch via our online contact form.
Student Contract for prospective students
When you are offered a place at the University you will be notified of the student contract between the University and students on our courses of study. When you accept an offer of a place on the course at the University a legal contract is formed between you and the University on the basis of the student contract in your offer letter. Your offer letter and the student contract contain important information which you should read carefully before accepting an offer. Read the Student Contract
Teaching & Assessment
Quality teaching
We offer high quality, traditional Oxbridge-style teaching, which leads to our degrees being recognised around the world. The standards of degrees and awards are safeguarded by distinguished external examiners – senior academic staff from other universities in the UK – who approve and moderate assessed work.
High calibre staff
Most of our academic staff teach for three terms out of four, with the remaining term used for research. Because of this, we have no difficulty in attracting high calibre, highly respected lecturers, many of whom also have a background in business or industry and can offer networking opportunities for students.
Teaching methods
Teaching is carried out through a combination of lectures supported by seminars, workshops, tutorials and informal one-to-one discussion.. A key feature of the Buckingham teaching method is the use of small tutorial groups which provide the most effective means of ensuring that the students benefit from the academic expertise at their disposal. It is also the philosophy of Buckingham’s faculty to be available to students outside the scheduled tutorial times and to encourage good working relationships between staff and students.
We believe in the surpassing value of the reading, discussing and understanding of great works of literature, not simply as processes that lead to higher levels of employability and the development of valuable critical skills (which they undoubtedly do) but as ends in themselves which are enriching and, ultimately, liberating.
Assessment methods
The assessment of individual modules within each course varies according to the subject. Assessment is usually by examination, assessed coursework, or a combination of the two. Please check module information for more details.
Preparation for work
All our degree courses combine academic challenge with the transferable skills that will stand you in good stead for future employment. Many of our more vocationally-focused degrees offer the opportunity of work placements and experience in industry.
After Your Course
Graduate employment
Our graduates have gone on to further study at most of the world’s leading universities, including Harvard, London, Oxford and Cambridge and secured jobs in senior positions around the world. Among our alumni we have a graduate who became the head of his country’s civil service and one who became a leading Formula One motor-racing driver. Another secured a position as the Minister of Sabah and one female law graduate became the first British lawyer to become a French Advocate.
What our students and alumni say
“What attracted me to the campus initially was not only the location in terms of beauty and commutability, but the Oxbridge teaching style: small classes and tutorials, one-to-one access with teaching staff, and an open-door policy. The course modules are diverse and engaging, the research dissertation allows for an in-depth study of your own choosing, and the library staff are most accommodating. I find myself incredibly grateful to have worked alongside my lecturers who are experts within their field and exceptionally dedicated to each and every student’s growth and progression.”
Sophie Lowde
English Literature, 2019
“The small class sizes were one of the reasons I was drawn to study English Literature at Buckingham, but I could not have expected the personalised interactions with each of my lecturers which I would be so fortunate to have. The English department is comprised of a passionate and dedicated group of staff who truly care about their students, and are eager to see them succeed. I will forever be grateful to them for reigniting my passion for learning, and it is because of their expertise and unrivalled support that I did not even consider looking elsewhere to continue onwards to postgraduate study.”
Amy Coles
English Literature, 2020
Fees & Scholarships
The fees for this course are:
| Start | Type | First Year | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Sep 2025 Full-time (3 Years) | UK | £9,250 | £27,750 |
| INT | £14,800 | £44,400 |
The University reserves the right to increase course fees annually in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI). If the University intends to increase your course fees it will notify you via email of this as soon as reasonably practicable.
Course fees do not include additional costs such as books, equipment, writing up fees and other ancillary charges. Where applicable, these additional costs will be made clear.
Scholarships
Details of our scholarships can be found on our Bursaries and Scholarships page.
Discounts
Students who graduate from the University and plan to continue their studies with a postgraduate degree at Buckingham can benefit from a very generous automatic discount on their fees:
- 33%, those with a first class honours degree from Buckingham
- 25%, those with a Second Class Honours, Upper Division (2:1) degree from Buckingham
Accommodation
On-campus accommodation
We guarantee on-campus accommodation to all new students for their first four terms of study, as long as it is booked and paid for in good time, so you’re assured of a safe and secure home from home when you arrive at the University. Most new students choose this option.
Living on campus enables you to become involved in University activities, make friends, and integrate with the University community. For some of you this will be your first time in the UK; for others it will be the first time living away from home – and independence brings its challenges as well as its excitements. Whatever your circumstances, we know how important it is for you to feel comfortable in your accommodation.
What’s included?
All our study bedrooms are fully furnished, centrally heated, and connected to the internet. With few exceptions they have a wash basin and small refrigerator. We have a large number of ensuite rooms, and are upgrading more rooms each year. There are shared kitchens for when you wish to cook for yourself.
Find out more
If you’d like to find out more, visit our Accommodation pages or get in touch with our Accommodation Team.
We recommend that all prospective students visit our campus if they are able to, at one of our open days or a Campus Tour, campus tours include a typical student room.
How To Apply
We welcome applications in two different ways – directly via our online application form or through UCAS.
Apply directly
Apply online via our course pages:
- Most flexible option
- Apply until shortly before the course starts
- No application fees
- You can apply to us as an extra option alongside your UCAS choices
You can apply directly through our website by clicking the ‘apply’ button at the bottom of the course page.
Apply via UCAS
You can easily make Buckingham one of your UCAS choices:
- You can apply to up to 5 choices
- The application and decision deadlines are set by UCAS
- There is an application fee to UCAS
Our UCAS code is B90.
If you’re interested in transferring to Buckingham from another university then please get in touch to talk through your options.