Calling lovers of literature and those passionate about exploring the past. Delve into 500 years of literature to unravel themes and discover a range of periods, topics and genres. Explore modern history and important events from across the globe.
On this combined honours degree, you’ll learn about English literature and modern history. Discover fascinating classic works, authors and genres and study the impact literature has on society, as well as how this has changed over time. You can also study topics such as contemporary French history, the crusades and British rule in Palestine.
From the very start of this English literature and history degree you’ll be able to shape your studies, with the opportunity to select modules that interest you most.
In history, you’ll explore the past and how it can change culture. You could develop your knowledge of medieval times and their influences on society today, or dissect history on screen by exploring the ways British, American and German cinemas represented pre-war history.
In literature, we’ll look at life beyond the page. You can learn how the influence of literature developed from the Bible to contemporary works, or critically analyse textual representations of sexuality.
Preparing you for life after university is key too. You’ll gain insight into the creative industries and become confident applying the theories you learn.
We’ll introduce you to the methods of critical and theoretical approaches to reading literature. Focusing on works from the past 500 years you’ll see the differences between reading for understanding and interpretation. Studying history, you could become a time detective, learning the tools and methods of historical researchers. You could also explore the political, economic and social influences of European society between 1789 and 1919 and its significance on world history.
Critical Theories is based around the study of critical essays which have had a lasting impact on literary studies. The module introduces you to significant and contemporaneous ideas in literary criticism which scholars still implement in the 21st century. The content of the module has been selected to highlight the difference in literary studies between reading for understanding and interpretive readings.
Module code: LIT1021
Credits: 20
Ways of Reading
Ways of Reading provides an overview of the skills and approaches necessary for the interpretation and evaluation of poetry, prose and drama. You will be introduced to a range of influential critical theories to literary texts from the early and mid 20th century. The module encourages you to make practical applications of these approaches to the primary literary texts.
Literary History introduces the development of English Literature. Beginning with the classical and biblical background which inspired examples of English Literature, the module will first focus upon international literature including examples of epic and lyric poetry and drama. You will then turn to the development of English literature from Shakespearean drama to Victorian lyric, before concluding with a consideration of how the novel has replaced the epic as a modern genre reflecting self and society.
Module code: LIT1024
Credits: 20
Language 1
Language 1 is ideal if you want to learn a new language, or further develop your current language skills, as an integrated part of this degree. You can study French, German, Arabic, Italian, Mandarin, Japanese or Spanish (subject to minimum numbers for your preferred language). Delivered at the Edge Hill Language Centre, the module will be taught in an interactive, communicative manner, using authentic materials in the target language. Emphasis will be placed on all four areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening. You will play an active role in the weekly two-hour classes, engaging in role-plays, short conversations, videos, authentic texts and listening materials. You will also be encouraged to reflect on your own learning needs. On enrolment to the module, you will complete a language induction form and be placed into a language level group appropriate for your prior knowledge of your chosen language. Please note, while we will endeavour to accommodate varying language levels per module, this is not always possible. While you can join the module with some prior experience of your target language, you will not be able to study a language you are already fluent or proficient in.
Europe Re-made introduces you to the key developments that transformed European society between 1789 and 1919. At the start of this period, on the eve of the French Revolution, Europe was predominantly an agrarian society with very limited industrial and urban development. In most European states, landed elites were still dominant as a conservative influence resistant to political and social change. By 1919, Europe had been transformed into a society in which state power lay in the hands of urban-based political parties with industry and trade as the dominant forms of economic activity. The module is primarily concerned with the broad political, economic and social influences that caused this transformation which was of immense significance not only for Europe but also for the course of world history during the twentieth century.
Module code: HIS1012
Credits: 20
History and Society: Theory, Practice and Impact
History and Society: Theory, Practice and Impact introduces you to the conventions of academic history and outlines a range of concepts and ideologies that are regularly employed within historical discourse. The module also examines the way that history and ideas about the past are employed in a wide variety of non-academic contexts, such as politics, popular culture and journalism.
Module code: HIS1017
Credits: 20
Imperialism, Liberation, Globalisation
Imperialism, Liberation, Globalisation examines some of the main events, political and social movements, economic developments and ideologies which dominated the twentieth century around the world. You will study the rise and fall of the great ideologies of Communism, Nazism and Fascism, the causes and outcome of the Second World War and the development of the Cold War between the Super Powers after 1945. The module will also look at international relations and the global economic system after the fall of the Soviet Empire in 1989-1991.
Module code: HIS1013
Credits: 20
The Dawn of Modernity
The Dawn of Modernity focuses on the immense social, political and religious changes which took place in Early Modern England. Reformation of the church, the outbreak of civil war, the emergence of radical sectarian groups and an increasingly politicised people created a rapidly changing society. The module will explore the diverse responses to those changes and the fear that people lived in a ‘world turned upside down’. Although the period can be characterised as one of tension and crisis, you will also consider continuities from the medieval period, and the existence of political and social consensus, climaxing in the restoration of monarchy after the short-lived republic. The module will consider whether we can truly agree with the perception of the early modern period as one of approaching modernity through a study of key developments in church, state and culture during the period 1500-1660.
Module code: HIS1011
Credits: 20
The Medieval Outlook
The Medieval Outlook focuses on the period between the end of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance. You will learn about the emergence of Europe as a distinct entity, comprised of a variety of peoples with diverse cultures and languages. ‘Christendom’ is often used to describe medieval Europe and we will look at how the Church did indeed give a type of cohesion to the continent. The Church assumed leadership of societies after the fall of Rome and held a deep and powerful influence on the medieval outlook. We will consider how this influence manifested itself through a study of the state, power and authority as well as popular beliefs and the medieval world-view. We will also consider the tensions which arose between the bishop of Rome and the development of more secular authority and culture. The module will predominantly focus on England but will place the country’s medieval past into a broader European context.
Module code: HIS1010
Credits: 20
Time Detectives
Time Detectives introduces you to the tools and methods required to become an independent historical researcher. These skills include selecting and interpreting primary evidence, independently locating books and articles, making effective use of digital tools and archives, applying these research skills to a specific historical problem, and producing a clear, convincing and original argument.
Module code: HIS1016
Credits: 20
Language 1
Language 1 is ideal if you want to learn a new language, or further develop your current language skills, as an integrated part of this degree. You can study French, German, Arabic, Italian, Mandarin, Japanese or Spanish (subject to minimum numbers for your preferred language). Delivered at the Edge Hill Language Centre, the module will be taught in an interactive, communicative manner, using authentic materials in the target language. Emphasis will be placed on all four areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening. You will play an active role in the weekly two-hour classes, engaging in role-plays, short conversations, videos, authentic texts and listening materials. You will also be encouraged to reflect on your own learning needs. On enrolment to the module, you will complete a language induction form and be placed into a language level group appropriate for your prior knowledge of your chosen language. Please note, while we will endeavour to accommodate varying language levels per module, this is not always possible. While you can join the module with some prior experience of your target language, you will not be able to study a language you are already fluent or proficient in.
Module code: TLC1010
Credits: 20
You could choose to study British children’s literature from the 18th century to today, or trace the complex historical, social and political contexts of contemporary American literature. In our graphic novel module, you’ll hone your skills, producing a mock script for a proposed text and receive a talk by a visiting graphic novelist. Shape your history studies by delving into migration and mobility in European history, or the foreign policy of the US since 1939.
Contemporary American Literature enables you to study a range of significant contemporary American literature from post World War 2 onwards. The module enables you to examine a variety of ways in which America is imagined and constructed within fiction. You will explore how persistent figures, landscapes, and mythic concepts are engrained in American culture and embedded in the wider world’s imagination. Such concepts retain imaginative power because of frequent re-enactments in popular cultural productions. This module will trace the complex histories and fictional appropriations and discursive shifts that form these literary productions. The aim is to concentrate specific study on American fiction within its historical, social, cultural, political, critical and theoretical contexts.
Module code: LIT2057
Credits: 20
Literature Dissertation Project
Literature Dissertation Project provides an opportunity to study a topic of your choice in depth and develop your own ideas through individual research, culminating in the production of a 4,000-word long essay or ‘mini-dissertation’. The topic may develop a particular, pre-established interest or arise from a desire to study an issue or subject in more depth.
Module code: LIT2041
Credits: 20
Pilgrim’s Progress: British Children’s Literature from the 18th Century to the Present Day
Pilgrim’s Progress: British Children’s Literature from the 18th Century to the Present Day explores British children’s literature from its origins in the 18th Century. The module progresses through the Romantic period’s celebration of childhood and Victorian ambiguities about the angelic versus the feral child, to the Golden Age of the Edwardian period and beyond into territory darkened by war, overshadowed by the implications of empire, and the oncoming of adolescence. The module will analyse the relationships between children and adults, nature, animals, class, gender, family origins and sexuality, underpinned by theoretical and methodological approaches to the history and representation of childhood in literature.
Module code: LIT2046
Credits: 20
Renaissance Drama
Renaissance Drama explores the drama of the English Renaissance, a period of extraordinary civil and cultural change. The module evaluates the dramatic literary output of the reigns of up to ten monarchs beginning with the Tudors. The diversity of Renaissance drama will be acknowledged and the period problematised as much as it is defined. You will explore canonical and non-canonical drama by male and female authors. Central themes and concepts under study may include monarchy, rebellion, class, nationalism, religion, heresy, superstition, witchcraft, gender and sexuality, power and self-fashioning.
Module code: LIT2048
Credits: 20
Romanticism
Romanticism provides an introduction to texts, authors, genres and central themes from the first stirrings of what has been traditionally conceived of as the Romantic age in the 1760s, until the dawn of the Victorian age seventy years later. Poetry, the prose essay and the novel are all studied on this module.
Module code: LIT2050
Credits: 20
Special Author 1
Special Author 1 focuses on a single author (such as Hardy or Dickens) or a related group of authors (such as the Brontës) whose works are sufficiently extensive to merit a whole semester’s study. You will examine the author’s work in the light of recent critical and theoretical approaches to authorship and canonicity and develop an ability to theorise the relationship between an author and their literary work. You will acquire a specialist knowledge of a literary period and a major writer through examination of the author’s development in relation to relevant historical, cultural and literary contexts.
Module code: LIT2051
Credits: 20
Special Topic 1
Special Topic 1 enables you to begin to develop your independent research skills within a structure which provides a clear and continuing framework of support. The module will take you through weekly subject-based sessions to structured study of your chosen extended special subject research. You will have considerable choice of subject matter within three broad pathways which draw on current staff research specialisms. You will work towards producing a guided but independent research project, with specialist staff support.
Module code: LIT2059
Credits: 20
The Graphic Novel
The Graphic Novel acts as an introduction to the contemporary graphic novel, examining the cultural and political impact of some key examples of the form. You will be encouraged to read these works as a writer, examining the elements of character development, structure, and use of research and developing those with specific reference to the demands and opportunities available in the graphic novel format. The module is both critical and creative. You will study examples of draft scripts for graphic novels, with your final assessment being a mock script for a proposed graphic novel, replete with artistic direction. There will be at least one visiting graphic novelist due to give a talk as part of the module and one visiting collaborative artist.
Module code: WRI2019
Credits: 20
Language 2
Language 2 is ideal if you want to learn a new language, or further develop your current language skills, as an integrated part of this degree. You can study French, German, Arabic, Italian, Mandarin, Japanese or Spanish (subject to minimum numbers for your preferred language). Delivered at the Edge Hill Language Centre, the module will be taught in an interactive, communicative manner, using authentic materials in the target language. Emphasis will be placed on all four areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening. You will play an active role in the weekly two-hour classes, engaging in role-plays, short conversations, videos, authentic texts and listening materials. You will also be encouraged to reflect on your own learning needs. On enrolment to the module, you will complete a language induction form and be placed into a language level group appropriate for your prior knowledge of your chosen language. Please note, while we will endeavour to accommodate varying language levels per module, this is not always possible. While you can join the module with some prior experience of your target language, you will not be able to study a language you are already fluent or proficient in.
Communism in Eastern and Central Europe After 1945
Communism in Eastern and Central Europe After 1945 examines the rise, stagnation, collapse and ongoing legacies of the communist experiment that ruled half of Europe during the decades after the Second World War. The module examines both the Soviet Union itself during the post-Stalinist era and the countries of east-central Europe, allowing you to choose to study the history of Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania or Yugoslavia. This history is of growing relevance to you, given that twenty years after its collapse the communist period can now be seen in historical perspective, and given the close relationships which many of the successors to these states have developed with the UK since the enlargement of the European Union in 2004 and 2007.
Module code: HIS2020
Credits: 20
Digital Detectives
Digital Detectives provides extensive practical experience with digital archives and will help you to develop a range of advanced digital research skills. Digital tools and archives are becoming increasingly central to the process of historical research. The module will be taught entirely in computer rooms and will take the form of weekly two-hour workshops. The historical content of the module will be structured around the history of crime and society in 18th and 19th century Britain.
Module code: HIS2032
Credits: 20
Global Revolution: The Postcolonial World Order, 1896-1957
Global Revolution: The Postcolonial World Order, 1896-1957 reflects on how, for thousands of years, perhaps starting with the Akkadian empire of ancient Mesopotamia in the 3rd millennium BCE, empire and colonialism were the norms of political order around the globe. In the 20th century, however, that ceased to be the case with not only the nation-state becoming the most common political structure, but the very idea of colonialism was discredited and disavowed by global political institutions. The module examines why this change happened, with a particular focus on the British empire. Starting in 1896, you will begin with examining the Second International’s decision to commit itself to the right to national self-determination. The module progresses through the first half of the twentieth century and slightly beyond, culminating in an exploration of the post-colonial independence of Malaya and Ghana, two years after the Bandung conference of Asia-Africa nations in 1955, which asserted the principle of national self-determination as the basis of a post-colonial world.
Module code: HIS2038
Credits: 20
History on Screen
History on Screen looks at how British, American and German cinemas respectively have represented the historical period up to 1945 on screen, using a combination of contemporary and retrospective film productions. The module will thus explore not only the nature of cinematic representation in general, but also how each nation in turn constructs, or indeed, in the particular case of Germany, reconstructs, national identity through the prism of its past.
Module code: MED2258
Credits: 20
Introduction to Contemporary French History: From the 1930s to the Present
Introduction to Contemporary French History: From the 1930s to the Present covers a subject that is both related to and distinct from the familiar Hitler and Stalin centric stories of 20th century Europe. You will examine the history of contemporary France during turbulent periods of political conflict and social change before, during and following the Second World War and France’s subsequent wars of decolonisation in Algeria and elsewhere, as well as its politics and society today. By taking up this comparatively rare opportunity to study the recent history of an important neighbouring country, which is often stereotyped and misunderstood in the UK, you can develop a wider international awareness.
Module code: HIS2033
Credits: 20
Islamisms: Religion, Politics and Colonialism from World War I to ISIS
Islamisms: Religion, Politics and Colonialism from World War I to ISIS delivers a history of the development of Islamist (political Islamic) movements from World War I to the present day. The module incorporates literatures and approaches which focus on social history and colonialism to historicise and contextualise the study of political Islam. With a broad geographical spread, from South and West Asia to Europe, the module makes use of case studies to highlight the diversity of thought and practice in political Islam and the historical relationship of Islamic political formations to the rest of the world.
Module code: HIS2037
Credits: 20
Making History
Making History is a placement-based module in which you will apply your historical skills and knowledge to a public-facing project of your choosing. You will have the option of either identifying an external partner yourself (subject to approval from the programme team), selecting from a list of approved external partners, or working on a public history project within the department. The precise nature of each project will be determined through discussions between yourself, your tutors and external partners but each project should involve making meaningful use of the historical skills and knowledge you have developed during your degree.
Module code: HIS2035
Credits: 20
Migration and Mobility in Contemporary European History
Migration and Mobility in Contemporary European History equips you with a better understanding of the historical context behind one of the most controversial issues facing Europe today. By placing current debates within a historical perspective stretching from the late 19th century right up to the present day, the module will enable you to understand political and social issues ranging from refugees to migrant workers, from cosmopolitanism to immigration controls, and from anti-racist activism to anti-migrant backlashes within a longer term context. By also examining the social and political history of daily journeys such as commuting for work, you will be encouraged to take a broad perspective on mobility.
Module code: HIS2031
Credits: 20
Mission and Manifest Destiny: U.S. Foreign Policy and Expansionism 1840-1939
Mission and Manifest Destiny: U.S. Foreign Policy and Expansionism 1840-1939 examines the process of frontier expansion within the United States during the nineteenth century. The module assesses the impact of the move west on native American populations and also the ideological justifications advanced to justify this expansionism, such as mission, manifest destiny and American exceptionalism.
Module code: HIS2023
Credits: 20
Rise to Globalism: U.S. Foreign Policy Since 1939
Rise to Globalism: U.S. Foreign Policy Since 1939 examines the rise of the United States as a global superpower from American entry into the Second World War in 1941 through to the present day. It examines the extent to which the ideology underpinning U.S. foreign policy, under successive administrations, has been shaped by American historical experience and values, such as the concepts of American exceptionalism, mission and manifest destiny. You will also study the challenges facing U.S. foreign policy planners from Franklin Roosevelt to Barack Obama and the effectiveness of the various strategies that have been advanced to overcome them. The module examines both the opportunities and limitations on the exercise of American power in the modern world.
Module code: HIS2024
Credits: 20
The World of the Crusades
The World of the Crusades examines the history of one of the most important phenomena of the Middle Ages. The module looks at the evolution and varieties of crusading in the Middle East and Europe from 1095 until the end of the Middle Ages and attempts to give you an understanding of this complex and often misunderstood phenomenon. In examining the causes that led to the emergence of crusading, the aim is to familiarise you with the religious and political culture of Europe and the Middle East. By charting the evolution of the movement, you will gain a wider understanding of medieval history. The module will also consider the effects of the crusades on Europe, the Middle East, Christianity, Islam and East-West relations, paying considerable attention to the afterlife of the crusades and their use in modern discourse and politics.
Module code: HIS2036
Credits: 20
Urbanisation, Immigration and Economic Crisis: The United States 1880-1941
Urbanisation, Immigration and Economic Crisis: The United States 1880-1941 examines the processes of cultural, social and economic change in the United States from 1880 onwards. The module examines the causes of such change and their impact on American culture and society. It analyses the reasons why U.S. political leaders and social reformers saw such changes as a threat to core American values, even the very survival of the Republic itself. The responses they advanced to deal with this threat are also assessed. The module concludes by examining the causes of the Wall St Crash, 1929, the ensuing Great Depression and the effectiveness of Roosevelt’s New Deal programmes in addressing the problems that resulted from them.
Module code: HIS2022
Credits: 20
You will further enhance your historical and literary skills and specialise in areas you’re enthusiastic about. You can explore contemporary English literature, or engage with a workplace by taking part in a group project. In history, you can explore the challenges faced by society based on history from across the globe, including conflict in the holy land and the special relationship between Britain and the USA.
Hosting a Festival enables you to make a direct connection between the subject matter of your degree and your plans a graduate career by engaging with workplace practice via a group project. This module provides the opportunity to work collaboratively to research, plan and initiate an in-house festival, aimed at a specific audience, while reflecting on and evaluating your ability to do so. Academic supervision and assessment is provided by the Department of English and Creative Arts while support is also available from the University’s Careers Centre. The module will equip you with a ready-made, experience-based case study of how you applied the knowledge and skills learned on your degree in a practical setting, providing valuable material for job applications, interviews and your CV.
Module code: HUM3000
Credits: 20
Modernisms
Modernisms develops your understanding and appreciation of the key features of early 20th century movements in the literary arts. Discover the writers who tried to breathe fresh life into literature for an altered fast-paced world. You will examine periodicals, short stories, fiction and poetry as new styles of writing designed to reflect the realities and hopes of a modern world.
Module code: LIT3042
Credits: 20
Sense of an Ending
Sense of an Ending develops your understanding and appreciation of the key features of late 20th century and early 21st century movements in the literary arts. This module examines realism and experiments in contemporary writing from post-war developments in literary culture to present day. You will have the opportunity to consider creative narrative strategies adopted by writers interested in cultural politics and a rapidly changing society.
Module code: LIT3055
Credits: 20
Sexuality and Subversion
Sexuality and Subversion is devoted to the critical analysis of textual representations of sexuality and especially of same-sex desire and sexual dissidence in British prose. The module focuses mainly on the novel, but also on key autobiographical prose texts, from the 19th century to now (with particular focus on the 20th century). It problematises perceptions that sexual radicalism originated in the late 20th century by interrogating its earlier textual representation(s). Texts, their contexts, and relevant literary and cultural theories combine to reveal the changes and continuities in the textual representation of subversive and dissident sexualities and sexual identities over time.
Module code: LIT3050
Credits: 20
Special Author 2
Special Author 2 examines a single author or a related group of authors to consider their work in the light of recent critical and theoretical approaches to authorship and canonicity. You might look at Shakespeare, for example, within the context of the writer as a global phenomenon. You will acquire a specialist knowledge of a literary period and of a major writer through examination of the author’s development in relation to relevant historical, cultural and literary contexts.
Module code: LIT3049
Credits: 20
Special Topic 2
Special Topic 2 enables you to pursue independent research within a structure which provides a clear framework of support. The module will take you through weekly subject-based sessions to more independent study of your chosen extended special subject research. You will have considerable choice of subject matter within three broad pathways which draw on current staff research specialisms. You will work towards producing a significant independent research project, with specialist staff support.
Module code: LIT3054
Credits: 20
The Victorians at Work
The Victorians at Work recognises that Victorians saw literature as a form of social commentary. This period survey module explores Victorian prose and poetry that addressed the pressing social and cultural questions of the period, such as the impacts of industrialisation, urbanisation, scientific advance and secularisation. You will examine the work of a range of canonical and popular Victorian authors and place their writing in the relevant literary, cultural and historical contexts.
Module code: LIT3040
Credits: 20
The Writer at Work
The Writer at Work places creative practice within its cultural and industry context through a detailed case study. focusing on the career of a significant 20th or 21st century author, who may be working in a single literary genre or across several, including script, fiction, poetry, non-fiction or electronic media. Examples might include Alice Munro, Alasdair Gray, Caryl Churchil, Iain Sinclair. You are able to study a writer’s body of work in greater depth than is usual at this level, while also gaining insights into the author’s creative and professional practice in relation to the creative industries.
A Century of Crime and Its Contexts: Circa 1840-1940
A Century of Crime and Its Contexts: Circa 1840-1940 examines a range of crimes that occurred in England and Wales over the century between approximately 1840 and 1940. During the chronological period covered, crime became an issue of national importance and perceived as originating partly in major social change and upheaval, such as urbanisation, the First World War and expanded ownership of the motor car. The module places the crimes in their criminal justice, social, cultural and economic contexts. The aim is to use crime and punishment as a lens through which to explore and analyse important changes over time and assess the impact of key events.
Module code: HIS3040
Credits: 20
Black Life and Black Protest in the United States 1895-1945
Black Life and Black Protest in the United States 1895-1945 examines African American life and history from the 1890s through to the end of the Second World War. It considers the reasons for the widespread introduction of racial segregation in the United States at the end of the nineteenth century and its impact on African American communities. You will examine the efforts of African American leaders to challenge discrimination, from Booker T. Washington through to Asa Philip Randolph, assessing their strengths and weaknesses. The extent to which developments in this period sowed the seeds for the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s are also considered.
Module code: HIS3020
Credits: 20
Black Life and Black Protest in the United States Since 1945
Black Life and Black Protest in the United States Since 1945 analyses the reasons for the emergence of the post-war civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. The contribution of leading individuals within the movement, like Martin Luther King, is also examined together with the life and career of Malcolm X and the Black Power movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The module concludes by assessing the legacy of the civil rights era for present day family origin relations and the extent to which the election of Barack Obama in 2008 means that the United States can now be described as a post-racial society.
Module code: HIS3021
Credits: 20
British Rule in Palestine
British Rule in Palestine explores the origins and development of British rule in Palestine, a seminal chapter in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Middle East and the British Empire. The module focuses on the political objectives and impact of British rule in Palestine, with particular reference to the evolution of the Zionist-Palestinian conflict.
Module code: HIS3025
Credits: 20
History: Interpretations and Context
History: Interpretations and Context explores the close relationship that history has with contextual developments within wider British society, in the period from circa 1840 to the present day. The relationship operates in both directions, as history and perceptions of the past act to inform notions of national identity and national values, through popular cultural media. By exploring the relationship between history and wider British society, the module also introduces you to the uses made of the past in a number of areas of employment, such as advertising, TV production, the press, marketing and commerce. You will reflect on how popularly held notions of national identity become points of connection for journalists, politicians and advertisers with the population at large.
Module code: HIS3037
Credits: 20
Seeds of Conflict in the Holy Land 1840-1923
Seeds of Conflict in the Holy Land 1840-1923 examines the origins of the Zionist-Palestinian conflict before the commencement of the British Mandate for Palestine in 1923. The module analyses the development of Zionism and Palestinian Arab nationalism under the Ottoman Empire, British support for Zionism in World War I, and the escalation of political conflict and violence by the 1920s. A principal focus will be the impact of the War.
Module code: HIS3024
Credits: 20
The Special Relationship: Britain and the USA
The Special Relationship: Britain and the USA concentrates on the major diplomatic, economic and cultural meeting points of arguably the two most influential nations of the 20th century. You will study how their relationship – at times good and at times bad – influenced the course of international history. It is a relationship of unparalleled closeness and complexity which persists into the present day. By analysing the principle issues that arose between these two competitive yet cooperative states, we may be in a position to judge to what extent the relationship actually deserves the epithet ‘special’.
Module code: HIS3036
Credits: 20
Language 3
Language 3 enables you to build on and develop your previous language knowledge in French, German, Arabic, Italian, Mandarin or Spanish. You must have either studied the prior language module in the previous year or be able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge of your target language (though you will not be able to study a language you are already fluent or proficient in). The language levels available will be determined by the continuation of corresponding groups from the previous language module. You will gain the language skills necessary to become a more proficient user of the language. Classes will be taught in an interactive and communicative manner using authentic materials to promote meaningful communication. They will be conducted in the target language as much as possible. Emphasis will be on speaking and listening, with appropriate attention also being paid to other communication skills. Other work will include a variety of tasks which may be completed in the Language Centre.
Module code: TLC3000
Credits: 20
Optional modules provide an element of choice within the course curriculum. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by timetabling requirements. Some restrictions on optional module choice or combinations of optional modules may apply.
How you'll study
Teaching and learning includes lectures and seminars, workshops, group activities, independent research and our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).
Modules have carefully designed to ensure that you develop your confidence, knowledge and skills in a gradual way and in a highly supportive environment, with easy access to tutors outside the classroom. We see our relationship with you as one in which we work together to help you succeed.
You will be able to read newspapers and journals online from the eighteenth to the twenty-first centuries, as well as consulting the latest journals.
Timetables for your first week are normally available at the end of August prior to enrolment in September. You can expect to receive your timetable for the rest of the academic year during your first week. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week. Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities.
How you'll be assessed
Assessment involves a mixture of coursework and examinations with emphasis placed on work produced in your own time or formally presented in class. Typically, you can expect to be assessed on essays, reports, close readings, critical analyses, oral presentations and group work.
Who will be teaching you
We have a dedicated and enthusiastic team of highly experienced, enthusiastic English Literature and History tutors also contribute to Masters courses and the supervision of research students. Our staff are active in research at the cutting edge of a range of topics, publishing books and articles on a regular basis.
Several English Literature tutors have been successful in winning national research awards from bodies such as the British Academy, the Arts and Humanities Research Council and The Leverhulme Trust. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, 30% of the History team’s published research was judged to be either ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’.
Entry criteria
Entry requirements
Typical offer 112-120 UCAS Tariff points. No specific subjects are required.
Example offers
Qualification
Requirement
A Level
BBC-BBB.
BTEC Extended Diploma (or combination of BTEC QCF qualifications)
Distinction, Merit, Merit (DMM).
T Level
Overall grade of Merit.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
We are happy to accept IB qualifications which achieve the required number of UCAS Tariff points. Subject-specific requirements at Higher Level (HL) Grade 5 may apply.
Access to Higher Education Diploma
45 credits at Level 3, for example 15 credits at Distinction and 30 credits at Merit or 24 credits at Distinction and 21 credits at Merit. The required total can be attained from various credit combinations.
Please note, the above examples may differ from actual offers made. A combination of A Level and BTEC awards may also be accepted.
If you have a minimum of two A Levels (or equivalent), there is no maximum number of qualifications that we will accept UCAS points from. This includes additional qualifications such as Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), AS Levels that haven't been continued to A Level, and General Studies AS or A Level awards.
English language requirements
International students require IELTS 6.0, with a score no lower than 5.5 in each individual component, or an equivalent English language qualification.
If your current level of English is half a band, one band, or one-and-a-half bands lower, either overall or in one or two elements, you may want to consider our Pre-Sessional English course.
Please see our international student pages for further information about how to apply as a prospective international student.
Should you accept an offer of a place to study with us and formally enrol as a student, you will be subject to the provisions of the regulations, rules, codes, conditions and policies which apply to our students. These are available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/studentterms.
Did you know?
If you join a full time undergraduate degree at Edge Hill University, we will guarantee you the
offer of a room in our halls of residence for the first year of your course.
The Department of English and Creative Arts is based in Creative Edge, a state-of-the-art £17million building offering highly contemporary facilities.
The £17 million Creative Edge building features a lecture theatre, seminar rooms, IT facilities and smaller tutorial spaces. It has everything you need to become a capable, versatile, creative writer and thinker. Creative Edge’s social learning spaces are ideal for passionate discussion with like-minded creatives.
You’ll develop the practical skills, analytical tools and confidence for wherever your creative flair and insight takes you.
History modules are led by the Department of History, Geography and Social Sciences, based in the Geosciences building. The modern facilities combine with a friendly and supportive learning environment to ensure that your studies are a rich and rewarding experience.
The Geosciences building features a large lecture theatre, small group teaching rooms, IT facilities, smaller tutorial spaces and a large social area.
The UK tuition fee rate is subject to final Government approval for academic year 2023/24 entry. The University may administer a small inflationary rise in tuition fees, in line with Government policy, in subsequent academic years as you progress through the course.
EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as Irish nationals, may be eligible for the UK tuition fee rate.
Financial support
Subject to eligibility, UK students joining this course can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the Government to cover the full cost of tuition fees. UK students enrolling on the course may also be eligible to apply for additional funding to help with living costs.
Please view the relevant Money Matters guide for comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK students.
EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may be eligible to apply for financial support. Irish nationals can ordinarily apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI).
If you are an EU student who does not have settled or pre-settled status, or are an international student from a non-EU country, please see our international student finance pages.
Your future career
Our BA (Hons) English Literature and History degree prepares you for many different roles. When you graduate, you will have learned to think critically about texts and historical events.
Your research and communication abilities will help you find a role in:
Teaching (further training required)
Speech therapy (further training required)
Library work
Museums
Media
Politics
Journalism
Arts administration
Publishing
Further study or research
Other career options for our graduates span industries and sectors such as:
The civil service
Business
Local government
Law and information management
Upon completion of this degree, you will have developed your communication skills and become a refined critical thinker. You will be well place for a diverse range of careers and industries.
Course changes
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, however our courses are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may necessitate alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses.
Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of professional bodies, revisions to subject benchmarks statements, to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.
Track changes to this course
Module change - 1 September 2023
LIT3055 Sense of an Ending replaces LIT3043 Contemporary Literature in English. Module content and assessment methods remain the same.
HUM3000 - 13 April 2023
Assessment method changed from Practical (20%), Coursework (80%), to Practical (30%), Coursework (70%).
LIT1021 - 13 April 2023
Assessment method changed from Coursework (100%), to Practical (40%) and Coursework (60%).
Change to Entry Requirements - 18 November 2022
Entry requirements updated to remove preferred subjects.
Change of Department - 25 July 2022
With effect from 1 August 2022, English students will be based in the Department of English and Creative Arts and History students will be based in the Department of History, Geography and Social Sciences. These new departments will be located in the Creative Edge building and Geosciences building respectively.
Change of Module - 20 April 2022
HUM3000 Hosting a Festival (20 credits) replaces LIT3045 Hosting a Literary Festival (20 credits) as an optional module in Year 3.
The Department of English and Creative Arts is based in Creative Edge, a state-of-the-art £17million building offering highly contemporary facilities.
