BA Philosophy and English Literature
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UCAS code
VQ53 -
Typical offer
BBB -
Year of entry
2023/24 -
Course duration
Full Time: 3 Years
-
Year of entry
2023/24 -
Course duration
Full Time: 3 Years
With our BA Philosophy and English literature course, develop your critical and analytical skills and apply them to a variety of philosophical and literary texts. Our students become expert at presenting arguments clearly and persuasively.
In philosophy, we will give you an understanding of the central philosophical principles, concepts, problems, texts and figures. You will be taught by leading experts whose research strengths lie especially in moral philosophy and the philosophy of the mind and language. You will also have the chance to explore non-Western philosophies, such as Indian philosophy. In 2022, we achieved a 95% satisfaction score for BA Philosophy (National Student Survey 2022).
Your first year will introduce you to the general skills required for all philosophy. You can also select modules from outside the department. In years two and three you will have the opportunity to explore your chosen topic in more depth, with modules such as Ethics and Animals, Philosophy of Crime and Punishment and the Philosophy of Religion.
In your English Literature modules, you will read more of authors and genres that you may already know (from tragedy to Gothic, from Shakespeare and Dickens to Plath and Beckett). But you will also encounter aspects of literary studies that may be less familiar to you, from children’s literature to publishing studies and the history of the book. Our academics have published research on everything from medieval poetry to contemporary American fiction.
As you progress through your degree, your module choices become more diverse and specialised: you can do archive work on Studying Manuscripts, or look at the politics of literature in Writing Global Justice. Everyone in the English Department, from new lecturers to professors, teaches at every level of the degree: this gives you the benefit of our expertise and makes you part of the conversation about our research and its impact outside the classroom. We place a strong emphasis on small-group learning within a friendly and supportive environment. In your first and second years, you will have a mix of lectures and seminars.
In both subjects, you will be taught in small interactive seminar groups, encouraging discussion and debate with teaching staff and peers. Our small class sizes ensure that you will receive dedicated, individual attention.
We encourage you to undertake work placements as they provide you with a chance to put your newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice as well as allowing you to gain valuable real-world experience. You can undertake a placement at any point in your degree and work in a company or charity relevant to your final year studies. For example, a previous student worked at a zoo to learn more about the ethical treatment of animals. Other students have chosen to study abroad for one semester in their second or final year. Partner institutions include universities in Europe, the USA, Canada, Japan or Australia. You may decide to learn a language to complement your study abroad later on in your degree.
Overview
With our BA Philosophy and English literature course, develop your critical and analytical skills and apply them to a variety of philosophical and literary texts. Our students become expert at presenting arguments clearly and persuasively.
In philosophy, we will give you an understanding of the central philosophical principles, concepts, problems, texts and figures. You will be taught by leading experts whose research strengths lie especially in moral philosophy and the philosophy of the mind and language. You will also have the chance to explore non-Western philosophies, such as Indian philosophy. In 2022, we achieved a 95% satisfaction score for BA Philosophy (National Student Survey 2022).
Your first year will introduce you to the general skills required for all philosophy. You can also select modules from outside the department. In years two and three you will have the opportunity to explore your chosen topic in more depth, with modules such as Ethics and Animals, Philosophy of Crime and Punishment and the Philosophy of Religion.
In your English Literature modules, you will read more of authors and genres that you may already know (from tragedy to Gothic, from Shakespeare and Dickens to Plath and Beckett). But you will also encounter aspects of literary studies that may be less familiar to you, from children’s literature to publishing studies and the history of the book. Our academics have published research on everything from medieval poetry to contemporary American fiction.
As you progress through your degree, your module choices become more diverse and specialised: you can do archive work on Studying Manuscripts, or look at the politics of literature in Writing Global Justice. Everyone in the English Department, from new lecturers to professors, teaches at every level of the degree: this gives you the benefit of our expertise and makes you part of the conversation about our research and its impact outside the classroom. We place a strong emphasis on small-group learning within a friendly and supportive environment. In your first and second years, you will have a mix of lectures and seminars.
In both subjects, you will be taught in small interactive seminar groups, encouraging discussion and debate with teaching staff and peers. Our small class sizes ensure that you will receive dedicated, individual attention.
We encourage you to undertake work placements as they provide you with a chance to put your newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice as well as allowing you to gain valuable real-world experience. You can undertake a placement at any point in your degree and work in a company or charity relevant to your final year studies. For example, a previous student worked at a zoo to learn more about the ethical treatment of animals. Other students have chosen to study abroad for one semester in their second or final year. Partner institutions include universities in Europe, the USA, Canada, Japan or Australia. You may decide to learn a language to complement your study abroad later on in your degree.
Entry requirements A Level BBB
Select Reading as your firm choice on UCAS and we'll guarantee you a place even if you don't quite meet your offer. For details, see our firm choice scheme.
Typical offer
BBB, including grade B in A level English Literature or related subject.
Related subjects include English Language and Literature, English Language, Drama and Theatre Studies, and Creative Writing.
International Baccalaureate
30 points overall, including 5 in English at higher level
Extended Project Qualification
In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) provides to students for University study, we can now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer.
BTEC Extended Diploma
DDM (Modules taken must be comparable to subject specific requirement)
English language requirements
IELTS 7.0, with no component below 6.0
For information on other English language qualifications, please visit our international student pages.
Alternative entry requirements for International and EU students
For country specific entry requirements look at entry requirements by country.
International Foundation Programme
If you are an international or EU student and do not meet the requirements for direct entry to your chosen degree you can join the University of Reading’s International Foundation Programme. Successful completion of this 1 year programme guarantees you a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. English language requirements start as low as IELTS 4.5 depending on progression degree and start date.
Pre-sessional English language programme
If you need to improve your English language score you can take a pre-sessional English course prior to entry onto your degree.
Structure
Compulsory modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
EN1GC | Genre and Context | DR Chloe Houston |
EN1PE | Poetry in English | PROF Steven Matthews |
EN1RC | Research and Criticism | DR Nicola Abram |
PP1RA | Reason and Argument | DR Jumbly Grindrod |
Optional modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
EN1SL | Shelf Life | DR John Scholar |
EN1TCL | Twentieth-Century American Literature | PROF David Brauner |
PP1EL | Elementary Logic | DR Severin Schroeder |
PP1GJ | Global Justice | DR Shalini Sinha |
PP1ML | The Meaning of Life | DR George Mason |
PP1MM | Mental Machines | DR Nat Hansen |
PP1RG | The Right and the Good | PROF Philip Stratton-Lake |
PP1RP | Radical Philosophy | PROF Maximilian De Gaynesford |
PP1WRI | Writing the Philosophical Essay | DR Luke Elson |
AP1SB1 | Introduction to Management | PROF Julian Park |
AR1EMP | Early Empires: Mesopotamia, Egypt & Rome | PROF Roger Matthews |
AR1EMP10 | Early Empires: Mesopotamia, Egypt & Rome [10 credits] | PROF Roger Matthews |
AR1REV | Revolutions in Human Behaviour: 4 Million Years BC to the Present | PROF Steve Mithen |
AR1REV10 | Revolutions in Human Behaviour: 4 Million Years BC to the Present [10 credits] | PROF Steve Mithen |
AR1SOC | Contemporary world cultures: an introduction to social anthropology | DR Alanna Cant |
AR1SOC10 | Contemporary world cultures: an introduction to social anthropology [10 credits] | DR Alanna Cant |
EC110 | The Economics of Climate Change | DR Stefania Lovo |
FA1MM | Modernisms & Mythologies | DR Jenny Chamarette |
FT1ATF | Approaches to Film | DR Adam O'Brien |
FT1ATP | Analysing Theatre and Performance | DR Matt McFrederick |
FT1CSS | Comedy on Stage and Screen | DR Simone Knox |
IL1GICC | Intercultural Competence and Communication | MS Joan McCormack |
LS1GL | Globalization and Language | DR Tony Capstick |
ML1GEC | Greats of European Cinema | PROF Julia Waters |
ML1IL | Introduction to Linguistics | MR Federico Faloppa |
MT1CC | The Science of Climate Change | PROF Nigel Arnell |
PO1BRI | British Society | DR Dawn Clarke |
PO1INE | Inequality | DR Jonathan Golub |
PO1IPI | Introduction to Political Ideas | DR Andrew Reid |
PO1WAR | War and Warfare | DR Vladimir Rauta |
PY1IPY | Introduction to Psychology | DR Katie Barfoot |
TY1WTF | What the font? Making and using typefaces | DR Rob Banham |
These are the modules that we currently offer. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
Optional modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
EN2BB | The Business of Books | DR Nicola Wilson |
EN2CF | Contemporary Fiction | PROF Bryan Cheyette |
EN2CMN | Chaucer and Medieval Narrative | DR Aisling Byrne |
EN2CRI | Critical Issues | DR Stephen Thomson |
EN2MOD | Modernism in Poetry and Fiction | DR Mark Nixon |
EN2OEL | Introduction to Old English Literature | DR Eleni Ponirakis |
EN2RP | The Romantic Period | DR Matthew Scott |
EN2RTC | Renaissance Texts and Cultures | PROF Michelle O'Callaghan |
EN2SH | Shakespeare | PROF Lucinda Becker |
EN2VIC | Victorian Literature | DR Lucy Bending |
EN2WA | Writing America | DR Sue Walsh |
EN2WGI | Writing, Gender, Identity | DR Cato Marks |
EN2WPS | Writing in the Public Sphere | DR Mary Morrissey |
PP2EA1 | Ethical Argument 1: Philosophy and How to Live | DR Luke Elson |
PP2EA2 | Ethical Argument 2: Philosophy and How to Live | DR Luke Elson |
PP2GP1 | Global Philosophy 1 | DR Shalini Sinha |
PP2GP2 | Global Philosophy 2 | DR Shalini Sinha |
PP2HKW1 | Hume, Kant, and Wittgenstein 1 | DR Severin Schroeder |
PP2HKW2 | Hume, Kant, and Wittgenstein 2 | DR Severin Schroeder |
PP2IDR1 | Ignorance, Doubt, and Relativism 1 | DR Jumbly Grindrod |
PP2IDR2 | Ignorance, Doubt, and Relativism 2 | MR Petter Sandstad |
PP2MM1 | Meaning and the Mind 1 | DR Jumbly Grindrod |
PP2MM2 | Meaning and the Mind 2 | MR Petter Sandstad |
PP2OID1 | Oppression, Inequality, and the Enemies of Democracy 1 | DR Charlotte Newey |
PP2OID2 | Oppression, Inequality, and the Enemies of Democracy 2 | DR Charlotte Newey |
ED2TS1 | Development of transferable skills through a school placement 1 | DR Caroline Foulkes |
ED2TS2 | Development of transferable skills through a school placement 2 | DR Caroline Foulkes |
LS2LLE | Literature, Language and Education | MRS Suzanne Portch |
These are the modules that we currently offer. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
Optional modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
EN3AGN | American Graphic Novels | PROF David Brauner |
EN3AH | Hitchcock | DR Neil Cocks |
EN3BBF | Black British Fiction | DR Cato Marks |
EN3CL | Children's Literature | PROF Karin Lesnik-Oberstein |
EN3DD | Decadence and Degeneration: Literature of the 1880s and 1890s | DR Lucy Bending |
EN3DIC | Dickens | PROF Andrew Mangham |
EN3DIS | Dissertation | DR Stephen Thomson |
EN3HT | Holocaust Testimony: Memory, Trauma and Representation | PROF Bryan Cheyette |
EN3LMH | Literature and Mental Health | DR John Scholar |
EN3MAT | Margaret Atwood | DR Madeleine Davies |
EN3MCP | Modern and Contemporary British Poetry | PROF Steven Matthews |
EN3MO | Medieval Otherworlds | DR Eleni Ponirakis |
EN3OW | Oscar Wilde and the World of Art | DR John Scholar |
EN3PC | Publishing Cultures: Writers, Publics, Archives | DR Nicola Wilson |
EN3PSY | Psychoanalysis and Text | PROF Karin Lesnik-Oberstein |
EN3RF | From Romance to Fantasy | DR Mary Morrissey |
EN3SHF | Shakespeare on Film | PROF Lucinda Becker |
EN3TBS | The Bloody Stage: Revenge and Death in Renaissance Drama | DR Chloe Houston |
EN3UTD | Utopia and Dystopia in English and American Literature | DR Chloe Houston |
EN3VW | Virginia Woolf and Bloomsbury | DR Madeleine Davies |
EN3WWP | Writing Women: Nineteenth Century Poetry | DR Lucy Bending |
PP3AEST | Aesthetics | DR Severin Schroeder |
PP3BESR | Business Ethics and Social Responsibility | DR Charlotte Newey |
PP3CP | Chinese Philosophy | PROF John Preston |
PP3DIS | Dissertation in Philosophy | DR Jumbly Grindrod |
PP3FAI | Fairness | DR Charlotte Newey |
PP3HGML | Happy, Good and Meaningful Lives | PROF Philip Stratton-Lake |
PP3LA | Philosophy of Law | DR George Mason |
PP3LANG | Philosophy of Language: Animals, Babies, Colours, and Language Death | DR Nat Hansen |
PP3MEDI | Christian, Islamic and Jewish Mediaeval Philosophy | DR Luke Elson |
PP3MOA | The Morality of Abortion | PROF Philip Stratton-Lake |
PP3REL | Philosophy of Religion | DR George Mason |
PP3RVK | Reason, Value & Knowledge | PROF Philip Stratton-Lake |
PP3SCF | The Scandal of Film | PROF Maximilian De Gaynesford |
PP3SPA | Speech Attacks: bullshit, lies, propaganda | DR Nat Hansen |
PP3SSG | Society and State in Ancient Greece | DR George Mason |
PP3WMA | Wittgenstein’s Philosophy of Mind and Action | DR Severin Schroeder |
PP3WWP | World Views in Western Philosophy | PROF John Preston |
ED3TS3 | Development of transferable skills through a school placement 3 | DR Caroline Foulkes |
ED3TS4 | Development of transferable skills through a school placement 4 | DR Caroline Foulkes |
These are the modules that we currently offer. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
Fees
New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250*
New international students: £20,300
*UK/Republic of Ireland fee changes
UK/Republic of Ireland undergraduate tuition fees are regulated by the UK government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.
EU student fees
With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.
Additional costs
Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.
Financial support for your studies
You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.
Flexible courses (price per 10 credit module)
UK/Republic of Ireland students: £750
International students: £1275
Careers
Specialist career modules throughout the degree will give you the chance to think about what career you would like and what skills you will need for it.
Studying philosophy enables you to develop a range of transferable skills. In particular, skills in clear thinking, logical analysis and the critical assessment of argument are greatly valued in a variety of professional careers such as law, politics, management and marketing.
We are ranked 7th in the UK for graduate prospects in Philosophy. (Complete University Guide 2023). Past graduates have found employment in the civil service, journalism, consultancy, finance, local and central government, and previous employers have included the Ministry of Defence, Cambridge University Press, local authorities and other universities.
Some of our graduates choose to continue their studies at postgraduate level, or through conversion courses and teacher training.