oxford english coursework

About the course

If you're interested in studying English at Oxford, there are a variety of routes to do so. This page has information about the full-time English degree, if you're interested in studying English alongside another subject, please see our Joint Schools page. We also have information about studying part-time , and studying as a mature student , see the links in the left-hand menu for further details.

How is the course taught?

College teaching is the bedrock of the undergraduate experience at Oxford. In each term your tutors will arrange a combination of tutorials (one or two students with a tutor) and classes (with your college year group), so that you benefit both from the intensive individual attention of the tutorial and from discussing your ideas with your peers. In the English Faculty, lectures are given by tutors from all colleges which supplement and complement this work, so you have access to the expertise of tutors from the whole University as well as those in your college.

During most of your undergraduate career you will be studying one or two papers in each term (a ‘paper’ is a course on a particular topic or period of literature), and will thus have about three tutorials a fortnight, supplemented by one or two college classes each week. You will also normally attend a number of lecture courses and seminars in the English Faculty.

It is usual to have one tutor for each paper, and this means that the tutor gets to know you and your work well, and is able to tailor the course according to your own individual interests, while guiding your progress throughout. The weekly tutorial, usually based around your own essay, gives you the chance to explore and clarify your ideas about the author or subject. Oxford tutors are active academic researchers at the forefront of their specialisms, and the tutorial system brings advantages both to students and tutors. Our students find that studying a tutor's area of research improves their own work; in addition, our third-year courses and dissertations enable students to work even more closely with tutors on current research areas, preparing them for graduate study. Our tutors also find that tutorial discussions often prompt them to reflect on their own research in new ways.

Oxford places considerable emphasis on the production of regular written work, normally in the form of essays. This ensures that you have brought your ideas on a subject to a point where you are able to express them cogently on paper. This kind of training is also excellent preparation for many of the kinds of careers available to you after university.

What can I study on the course?

The English degree at Oxford is one of the broadest in the country, and you will have the chance to study all periods of English Literature, from 650 AD to the present day.

In the first year, you will study three periods of English Literature (Early Medieval, Victorian and Modern Literature), in addition to an introductory course to studying Language and Literature, which is designed to furnish you with skills that you can draw on for the remainder of your studies.

In the second year and third years, you will study English Literature from 1350 to 1830. There is one compulsory author paper, on Shakespeare. In addition to these, you can choose from a lengthy list of topics for your Special Options paper in the third year. This is the only paper delivered primarily through seminars. The convenor for each option will guide you as you decide on a facet of the topic to pursue in an extended essay. You will then write a dissertation, which can be on any topic of your choice, or which might approach Language and/or Literature from a more thematic point of view.

Alternatively, in the second and third years, you can follow our course focusing on earlier literature and the history of English (Course II). The compulsory papers cover the literatures of England from 650 to 1550, along with textual criticism (in which you will begin the study of many aspects of manuscript culture) and the history of the English language up to c. 1800. Optional papers for this course might include Old Norse, Old French, Shakespeare and Literature in English from 1550 - 1660. As with the other second and third year course, you will also write a dissertation on a subject area of your choice.

We also offer three joint courses - BA (Hons) English and Modern Languages , BA (Hons) Classics and English , and BA (Hons) History and English .

How is the course examined?

The course is examined through a combination of examinations and submitted written work. First-year work requires you to submit one piece of coursework, a portfolio of two 1,500-word essays, towards the start of your third term. The year then culminates in a set of examinations, in which your other three papers are assessed through three-hour written examinations. You must pass all of these papers in order to pass the examination as a whole and to enter into the second year, but the marks that you get do not count towards your final examination result; effectively you start anew in the second year.

In the second and third years, the four period papers are assessed by three-hour examinations at the end of the third year. The Shakespeare paper is examined by a portfolio of written work, and the Special Option paper by an extended essay of 6,000 words. The Dissertation is a submitted essay of 8,000 words. This means that submitted work will comprise nearly half of your final assessment.

See the full prospectus on the University of Oxford website >>

Course structure, first year (prelims).

Introduction to English Language and Literature

Early Medieval Literature, c. 650 - 1350

Literature in English 1830 - 1910 ('Victorian')

Literature in English 1910 - present day ('Modern')

At the end of your first year, you can choose whether to take Course I or Course II for your Final Honour School course.

Second and third year (Final Honour School) Course I

Shakespeare

Literature in English 1350 - 1550

Literature in English 1550 - 1660

Literature in English 1660 - 1760

Literature in English 1760 - 1830

Special Options. Students will choose one topic from a list of options, which will change from year to year. Recent choices have included: The American Novel after 1945, Post-War British Drama, Postcolonial Literature, Forming Literary Character, The Icelandic Saga, Writing Feminisms/Feminist Writing, Film Criticism, Tragedy, Afrofabulation, The Literary Essay, Comparative Literature. Twenty or more options will be made available in each academic year.

A dissertation in any area of English Language or Literature.

Second and third year (Final Honour School) Course II

Course II focuses on earlier literature and the history of English.

Literature in English 650-1100

Medieval English and Related Literatures 1066-1550

Literature in English 1350 - 1550 (shared with Course I)

The History of the English Language to c. 1800

Either: The Material Text   Or: Shakespeare (shared with Course I)

Special Options. Students will choose one topic from a list of options, which will alter on an annual basis. Choices might include: Old Norse; Medieval Welsh; Old Irish; the Archaeology of Anglo-Saxon England; Medieval French. Course II students will also have the opportunity to choose option papers from any of the available Course I papers.

Online Pre-Sessional Course in Academic English

8 July-16 August 2024

A six-week intensive online programme to prepare students for studying in English at Oxford. International academics and students preparing to study at other universities are also welcome.

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Our term-time Modern Languages course run in person and online and are open to students, staff and the public. Enrolment opens on 8 April.

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Duration: 2 years part-time

Starts: September 2024

Application deadline, 7pm UK time:

• Thursday 02 May 2024

Please read the  application guidance notes  before applying.

Course Directors:  Prof Sandie Byrne  and  Prof Tara Stubbs

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Undergraduate Certificate in English Literature

Course details, do you love reading a wide variety of books are you looking for a new challenge and enjoy english literature.

Taught part-time over two years, the Undergraduate Certificate in English Literature is equivalent to the first year of a full-time undergraduate English degree. It is modelled on the first year of Oxford University’s BA programme in English Language and Literature, and is taught mainly by members of the University’s English Faculty. The course can be studied  in person or mostly online .

The course covers a range of English literature from the Early Modern period to the early twentieth century. Among the authors you study will be Shakespeare, Marlowe, Donne, the Brontës, Seacole, Mansfield, Joyce and Woolf. During the two years, close analysis of works by these and other authors, reinforced by general discussion of modern literary theory, critical practice, and canonicity, will provide the basis for an enhanced appreciation of the pleasures and problems associated with the serious reading of literature.

Please note: this course was previously called the Foundation Certificate in English Literature. 

Online taster session:  Friday 12 April 2024, 12:00 BST

Join Professor Sandie Byrne for an engaging one-hour online session, offering a glimpse into the enriching content of the Certificate course. During this session, Sandie will talk through the fundamentals of close reading using a simple short poem in modern English.  Reserve your place.

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Who is this course for, how you will study.

• The course in detail  – including course structure and assessment

IT requirements

• Teaching staff and contact information
• Application details  – how to apply, fees, award and credit transfer

English language requirements

Info session recording.

This course is for those with a keen interest in literature, who love reading a wide variety of texts and who have a strong motivation to study at degree level. After completing the course, you will be able to apply for second-year entry to an English Literature degree. More than 50 of our students have moved on to full-time study at Oxford University since 1995, while others have gained places at universities such as Warwick, Exeter, UCL, Birkbeck, Oxford Brookes, Cardiff, St Andrews, York, Leeds and Birmingham. (Please note that you will need to apply for entry into another institution and go through their entry process.)

This is an intensive and intellectually challenging course, which demands a high level of commitment. You will need to devote around 15 hours a week to private study. If you have little or no recent experience of study or exams, please don’t let this put you off. Although relevant qualifications will normally be favourably regarded (particularly if recent), formal qualifications are not essential and other considerations may be more important.

You must demonstrate an effective command of written English and some proficiency in discussing your reading. If you have not had experience of formal study of English literature, we recommend taking a short course in Critical Reading before applying for the Undergraduate Certificate. Critical Reading is available as a weekly class in Oxford, and as an  online course  (please note: the course content for these two courses differs – check each course page for full details).

There are two study options for the Undergraduate Certificate in English Literature:

Option 1 is taught mainly in person. Each week during term you will take part in a two-hour evening class, usually held on Tuesday evenings, 7.00-9.00 pm at Rewley House. There are ten of these classes per term. 

This option is taught mainly online. A variety of online resources, including recorded presentations, will be provided, and you will engage in collaborative group work exercises with other students on the course. On four Saturdays of each term, you will take part in live teaching sessions, usually from 1-4pm (UK time). These will be delivered remotely, using Microsoft Teams. In the six teaching weeks a term where there is no live session, you will be encouraged to attend a group tutorial, usually on Thursdays 7-8pm (UK time). These will also be delivered remotely, using Microsoft Teams.

All students (both options) also attend a one-week, non-residential Shakespeare Summer School, usually held in September between Year 1 and Year 2.

There are also six weekend day schools over the two years, usually one per term. These will either be hybrid (in-person and online) or fully online, so you do not have to attend in person if you are unable to.

Each term you will have two one-hour tutorials, in person or online. There are usually no more than two students in each tutorial group.

The course in detail

The course covers a range of English literature from the Early Modern period to the early twentieth century. Among the authors you study will be Shakespeare, Marlowe, Donne, Dickens, Tennyson, the Brontës, Seacole, Mansfield, Joyce and Woolf. Close analysis of works by these and other authors, reinforced by general discussion of modern critical theory and practice, and canonicity, will provide the basis for an enhanced appreciation of the pleasures and problems associated with the serious reading of literature.

Section 1: Approaches to Language and Literature I

In this section of the course, we will consider fundamental questions of why and how we should study literature. There will be an emphasis on techniques of close reading, through detailed analysis of poetry, drama, and fiction. Students will also be introduced to some important frameworks and wider contexts for thinking about literature, such as the literary canon, gender, and imperialism.

Section 2: Victorian Literature

In this section of the course, students will have the opportunity to study works by a diverse range of authors from the British canon such as the Brontës, Charles Dickens, and Gerard Manley Hopkins, BAME authors including Mary Prince and Mary Seacole, and voices of colonialism. Both fiction and poetry will be related to their social and intellectual contexts. 

Section 3: Early Modern Poetry

The third section will be largely devoted to the study of Early Modern poetry and to the contemporary critical debate about its form and purpose. We will examine a selection of poems by writers such as Edmund Spenser, Sir Philip Sidney, John Donne and George Herbert. In this term a special day school will be devoted to preparation for the first-year examinations.

Shakespeare Summer School

A favourite part of the course for many students, this one-week summer school gives a flavour of life as a full-time student at Oxford. It focuses centrally on two comedies, two tragedies and two history plays, combining close textual analysis with an exploration of the wider contexts of Shakespeare’s work. The central texts are likely to be:  A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Winter’s Tale, Hamlet, King Lear, Richard III, Henry IV Part I.

Section 4: Approaches to Language and Literature II

In this section we will spend five weeks on critical theory, considering the ways in which structuralist, post-structuralist, gender, Marxist, and other theories raise questions about and challenge concepts such as the production of meaning, reading, literature, and literary value.

During the next five weeks of term students are introduced to the concepts and methodologies of the history and varieties of the English language.

Section 5: Modernist Literature

In the fifth section we will explore the rise of Modernism in Britain and Ireland, looking at writing by literary modernists, including Mansfield, Eliot, Woolf, Joyce and Yeats.

Section 6: Early Modern Drama

The sixth section explores Early Modern drama, through the contemporaries of Shakespeare. In this term, a special day school will be devoted to preparation for the second-year examinations. Many of these are now available online, and students have access to these too.

As well as the lectures arranged specifically for the Undergraduate Certificate, you will be entitled, for no extra payment, to attend the wide range of lectures organised by the University’s Faculty of English.

Course structure

The course structure is the same for both study options.

• Michaelmas term (Autumn): Section 1, Approaches to Language and Literature I
• Hilary term (Winter): Section 2, Victorian Literature
• Trinity term (Spring): Section 3, Early Modern Poetry

Our Shakespeare Summer School runs for a week in September before the start of Year 2.

• Michaelmas term (Autumn): Section 4, Approaches to Language and Literature II
• Hilary term (Winter): Section 5, Modernist Literature
• Trinity term (Spring): Section 6, Early Modern Drama (excluding Shakespeare)

You will also attend six weekend day schools, usually one per term. Some of the day schools will be part of the Public Programme, while others will be designed specifically for Undergraduate Certificate students. Each day school will be linked to the syllabus, usually by its subject matter, though the third will focus on preparation for examinations.

Examinations will be held at the end of each year of the course.

Assessment will be based both on coursework (usually two 2,000-word essays submitted each term) and on written examinations, usually held in June of each year. The exceptions are the Approaches to Language and Literature I and II sections, both of which are examined by a Portfolio of written work.

The Shakespeare Summer School, between Years 1 and 2, also has a coursework requirement. One essay, written immediately after the Summer School, will count towards the final total of 11 assessed essays.

Examinations: you will have to write four papers, two on each of the topics below:

a - Early Modern Literature

b - Victorian and Modern Literature

Your two Portfolios of written work will demonstrate practice, use and knowledge of comparative criticism. The first will be up to 3,000 words in length and the second up to 5,000 words.

To study at this level you are expected to have some IT skills, as well as access to a computer and the internet. Your course requires you to engage with the Virtual Learning Environment for course materials and uses the Department’s online assignment submission system. Students need to have regular access to a computer and the internet, and some level of experience and skill including the use of Microsoft Word or similar word-processing package, email and internet browser such as Firefox or Google Chrome.

The computer you use should meet our  recommended minimum computer specification .

Teaching staff

The Course Directors are Dr Sandie Byrne and Dr Tara Stubbs.

Professor Sandie Byrne  was formerly Fellow and Tutor in English at Balliol College, Oxford, and Professor of English at the University of Lincoln. She is the author of a number of books and articles on nineteenth- and twentieth-century literature.

Professor Tara Stubbs  is Associate Professor in English Literature and Creative Writing at the Department. She has published widely on Irish and American modernism, and is the author of  American Literature and Irish Culture, 1910–1955  (MUP, 2013), and  The Modern Irish Sonnet: Revision and Rebellion  (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020).

Dr Ben Grant  is Departmental Lecturer in English Literature at the Department. His research interests include colonial and postcolonial literature, literary brevity, and life writing. He is the author of  Postcolonialism, Psychoanalysis, and Burton: Power Play of Empire  (2009) and  The Aphorism and Other Short Forms  (2016). He is currently writing a book on the contemporary British-Jewish writer Jenny Diski.

Most other tutors on the course are drawn from the English Faculty at Oxford University.

As well as being experts in their subjects, teaching staff understand the pressures on students who are combining part-time study with other commitments. Much of the academic support you receive will come from the Course Directors, whom you can contact at any time during office hours to discuss matters relating to the course. In addition, the Department runs a programme of Study Skills workshops designed to enable you to develop and improve the skills needed for effective study. Some of these workshops are free to students enrolled on the course. For full details please contact +44 (0)1865 280892 or email  [email protected] .

Contact information

If you would like an informal discussion on academic matters before applying, please do get in touch. You can contact:

Dr Sandie Byrne:  [email protected]

Dr Tara Stubbs:  [email protected]

Applications and admissions:  [email protected]

For general guidance and advice, credit transfer, special needs provision and sources of funding: +44 (0)1865 280355  [email protected]

For information about Study Skills courses: +44 (0)1865 280892  [email protected]

How to apply

Please click on the ‘Apply’ button which will automatically notify us that you want a link to the online application form. We will email you that link together with a code to waive the application fee, and guidance on completing and submitting your application.

You will need to upload the following documents as part of your application:

• A written statement of 300–400 words stating why you wish to undertake the course
• An outline of your literary interests, detailing books you would be willing to discuss in some depth during the interview and explaining your choices

(You should be prepared to discuss these submissions during your interview.)

• proof of English language ability if a non-native English speaker. Further information on  English language requirements can be found here . Please note that candidates are required to have the higher-level score.
• contact details for one referee

If possible, your referee should be someone who can comment on your academic ability and background, but where this is not appropriate, please choose a referee who can vouch for your motivation, commitment and potential. A reference from a family member is not acceptable.

Admissions decisions will be based on an assessment of knowledge, relevant experience, academic ability, potential and suitability for a course of study. We welcome applicants without traditional qualifications, including those with relevant career or life skills.

Selection criteria

Even if a course has no specific academic entry requirements then: (a) assessment of an applicant’s academic ability and suitability for the course of study will still take place and (b) since applications for many courses often significantly exceed places available, each application will be judged against the gathered field of applicants for each course each year.

The University is committed to promoting diversity, equality, inclusion, and widening access, including during the admissions process. We fully endorse the  Equality Policy  and our admissions procedures are kept under regular review to ensure compliance with this policy.

Short-listed applicants will be invited for interview.

The final decision on admission to the course rests with the Department.

Award and credit transfer

An Undergraduate Certificate will be awarded on completion of the course. You will be invited to receive your Undergraduate Certificate at the annual Awards Ceremony of the Department for Continuing Education, held at Oxford’s Sheldonian Theatre.

The syllabus and teaching of the course are aimed at first-year undergraduate level (FHEQ Level 4). Students who successfully complete this two-year course will be awarded an Oxford University Undergraduate Certificate in English Literature, equivalent to 120 CATS points at first-year undergraduate level (FHEQ Level 4) in the Department’s Qualifications and Credit Framework. Outstanding performance will qualify for a Distinction. These credit points are widely recognised in terms of credit for transfer to other higher education institutions, including the Open University and modular universities such as Oxford Brookes University. 

Opportunities vary for the transfer of credit, so students who are considering taking this course in order to transfer credit are advised to discuss the possibilities with the Course Administrator at  [email protected]  or  [email protected] . 

Learn more about the  Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS points) .

The fee for 2024-25 will be £3,620 (Home, Islands, and Republic of Ireland students) or £6,210 (Overseas students). An option to pay the fee in instalments may be available. Please be aware that fees will usually increase annually.

Information for applicants from the EU, EEA and Switzerland

On 11 May 2021 the UK Council for International Student Affairs published  new regulations and guidance  to be used in assessing the fee status of students commencing courses in August 2021 and later. We will be using this guidance to carry out fee status assessments for students commencing courses in 2021/22 and later, including students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland. 

If you are an EU national and do not live in the UK then you are likely to be charged Overseas fees. Students with settled and pre-settled status in the UK and some other categories of students who work in the UK can qualify for Home fee status as long as they meet the residence criteria.

Students from outside the UK/Republic of Ireland

If you are from outside the UK/Republic of Ireland, you will be classed either as an ‘Overseas’ or 'Islands' student.

Information on financial support can be found on  our website here .

Specific non-repayable bursary funding is available for this course for students from lower-income households; you will be automatically considered for this if you apply for a Departmental Bursary .

Information on other forms of financial support can be found on our  Funding pages .

Please check the information on the specific  English language requirements  for this course. Applicants are required to have the higher-level scores.

The Department for Continuing Education offers  day and weekend  courses,  weekly learning programmes  and  summer schools  in English literature, creative writing and film studies.

In the undergraduate programme, as well as the Undergraduate Certificate in English Literature, we also offer the  Certificate of Higher Education  and the  Diploma in Creative Writing . At postgraduate level we offer an  MSt in Creative Writing  and  MSt in Literature and Arts , along with the  DPhil in Literature and Arts .

If you are planning on embarking on a new career as a result of your studies, or hope to progress in your current field, you can access help and advice through the  University Careers Service .

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• How to Make Your Coursework as Good as It Can Possibly Be

Many GCSE and A-level subjects are assessed in part by coursework in addition to exams, meaning that the mark you receive for coursework contributes to your overall grade. Many students prefer coursework, because it’s a chance to showcase your academic abilities away from the high-pressured environment of the exam room, making it ideal for those who don’t perform to the best of their abilities in exams. However, the time you have available for coursework, in contrast with the time constraints of the exam room, can lull some students into a false sense of security. Coursework is arguably just as challenging as exams, just in different ways – and, given the fact that you have more time, much higher standards are expected of you in coursework than in exams. Careful planning and research are needed for successful coursework, as well as strong data-gathering and essay-writing skills. In this article, we look at how to produce excellent coursework, from planning to proofreading. This information might also be useful to you if you’re planning on attending an Oxford Summer School this summer.

What is coursework?

GCSE and A-level coursework typically takes the form of an extended essay or project. Its objectives vary from one subject to another, but there’s usually an emphasis on the student conducting independent research into a topic of their own choice. Thus coursework often takes the form of some sort of investigation; it may, therefore, help to have your ‘detective’ hat on as you explore, investigate and analyse your topic. You can usually work on your coursework at home, though it’s sometimes completed under controlled conditions through sessions at school. To give you a better idea of how coursework varies from one subject to another, here are some examples:

• English – English coursework usually takes the form of an extended essay with a title of your choice. You’re usually given a choice of themes and/or texts to explore, and you could choose a format such as a comparison between a set text and another one.
• Geography – Geography coursework usually focuses on the gathering, reporting and interpretation of data designed to answer a particular geographical question. You could investigate usage of a shopping centre, for example, or look at erosion on a particular beach.
• Sciences – coursework for science subjects often takes the form of a scientific project or experiment that you conduct and report on yourself.

Before you start work on your coursework, it’s essential that you have a thorough understanding of the rules. Failing to conform to the rules – inadvertently or not – may result in your coursework (or possibly even your entire qualification) being disqualified, so it’s a serious matter.

• No plagiarism – this is particularly dangerous given the ready availability of relevant information on the internet these days. Make sure everything is in your own words; you’ll need to sign a declaration stating that it’s your own original work.
• There’s only so much help your teacher can give you . They can provide guidance on what you need to include, and on what the examiners will be looking for. You can ask them questions, but they’ll usually only be able to check through your first draft once and offer broad hints on updating it.
• Check the word count , and stick to it. Find out whether footnotes, appendices and bibliographies are included in the word count.
• Check what topics you’re allowed to do your coursework on; if there’s an exam on this topic, you’ll almost certainly have to choose a different one for your coursework.

Choose your topic wisely

Ideally, choose something you’re genuinely interested in, as your enthusiasm will come across and you’ll find it more enjoyable to write. If there’s something you’ve been working on for the course so far that you’ve particularly enjoyed, you may be able to focus more on this as part of your coursework. For science coursework, you’ll need to choose something to investigate that you can measure, change and control; it should be what’s called a ‘fair test’, meaning that you have to acknowledge all the controls you use in the experiment and why. Try not to pick a topic for which the scope is too vast, as you’ll struggle to research it properly and you’re unlikely to do it justice, and it’ll be hard to keep within the word limit. Ask your teachers for some guidance on choosing your topic if you’re not sure what to write about; they might even tell you a bit about what previous students have done to give you some inspiration.

Plan how long it’s going to take

Never leave your coursework until the last minute, even if this is your normal approach to essays and it usually works for you. Make sure you understand when the deadlines are, including time for submitting a first draft for comments from your teacher. Then schedule blocks of time for working on it, allowing plenty of time before the deadline to cater for any unexpected delays. Allow ample time for making corrections based on teacher feedback on your first draft, and keep some time aside before the deadline for final editing and proofreading. Because actual deadlines are few and far between, you’ll need to take responsibility for the writing process and impose some deadlines on yourself to ensure it’s finished in time. Write down your deadlines on a calendar, with the coursework broken into stages and dates assigned to each, by which time each task should be complete. You can base your stages on the next few points in this article – research and data gathering, a structure plan for the piece of work, writing up, and so on.

Conducting your research and gathering data

As coursework is primarily a research exercise, the research phase is crucial, so don’t be tempted to skimp on it and go straight to writing up. Use as many different resources as you can to gather data: books, journals, newspapers, television, radio, the internet and anything else you think might be relevant. For science and Geography coursework, you’ll need to base your work on a hypothesis, so the research stage should start by coming up with at least one hypothesis, otherwise your research will lack direction. The research phase for some subjects may involve site visits for gathering data, so allow plenty of time for this, particularly if you need your parents to drive you somewhere to do so. If it’s a scientific experiment you’re conducting for your coursework, you’ll need to pay careful attention to planning the experiment using rigorous scientific methods (also noting what Health and Safety precautions you are taking), as well as reading up on the background and theory so that you have an idea of what to expect from the outcome of your experiment. In the research stage, make notes about what you expect to happen, so that you can later compare your expectations with what actually did happen. The experiment itself also forms part of the research and data-gathering stage for your science coursework; in the write-up stage, which we come onto shortly, you analyse and write up the results.

Plan your structure

Once you’ve completed your research, the process of writing up begins. Before you get down to the actual writing, however, it’s advisable to write a plan for how you’re going to structure it – essentially an essay plan for English coursework and other subjects for which the coursework is based on an extended essay. It’ll look slightly different from an essay plan for science subjects and others that revolve around project work, but the principle is the same: plan out what order you’re going to present your information in. For big projects, this is particularly important, because with a lot of information to convey, you risk being disorganised and waffling.

Writing up your project

For any coursework, but particularly coursework based around an extended essay, you’ll need to perfect your essay-writing abilities. For science coursework, writing up your project also involves data analysis, as you interpret the results of your experiment and work your notes into formal scientific language. Follow the links below to find lots more useful advice on writing great essays.

• How to write dazzlingly brilliant essays
• How to write more original essays
• Techniques from creative writing that can improve your essays

When you’re writing up, it’s important to find a place where you can work quietly, without distractions that could cause you to make careless errors. You wouldn’t want noise or distractions when you were in an exam room, so treat your coursework with the same reverence.

Supporting materials and images

For some subjects, namely the sciences and Geography, it would be appropriate to include images, graphs, charts, tables and so on in your coursework. For example, for Geography coursework, your extra material could include annotated images and maps of the site you’re talking about, plus tables, graphs and charts. An appendix could then detail your raw data; if, for example, your coursework focused on the results of a survey, you could put the raw survey responses in an appendix and provide summaries and analysis in the main body of the coursework.

Footnotes and bibliography

As we said earlier, it’s important that you always use your own words in your coursework to avoid the possibility of falling foul of plagiarism rules. However, it’s acceptable to quote from another source, as you would in any piece of academic writing, but you must make sure that you state where it is from and use quotation marks to show that it’s a quote from somewhere else. The best way of citing another work is to use a footnote; word processors will allow you to insert one, and it just puts a little number at the end of the sentence and another in the footer of the document, into which you put the name of the author and work, and the page within that work that the quote can be found. At the end of your piece of work, include a bibliography that includes a list of every external source you’ve used in the creation of your coursework. Stick to a set formula when including books. A common format is: Author Surname, Initial. (Date) – Title of Book , page number For example: Lewis, C.S. (1960) – Studies in Words , p. 45 When you get to university, you’ll be expected to include footnotes and bibliographies in all your essays, so it’s a good habit to get into and coursework gives you good practice at it.

The final pre-submission check

Having completed a first draft, received feedback from your teacher, and honed your work into a finished piece of coursework, have a final check through it before you send off your coursework for submission.

• Sense check : have a read through your completed piece of work and check that it all makes sense. Make sure you haven’t contradicted yourself anywhere, or repeated yourself, or laboured the point. If there are any facts that you may have meant to look up to double check their accuracy, do so now.
• Word count : ensure that the completed work falls within the word count, and double check whether the bibliography should be included in the word count. If you’ve exceeded it, you’ll need to work through the piece and tighten up your writing, omitting unnecessary information, reordering sentences so that they use fewer words, and so on.
• Proofread : check your spelling and grammar, and ensure that there are no typos. Don’t just use the spellcheck – go through it with a fine toothcomb, manually, and if you can, ask someone to read through it for you to see if they spot anything you haven’t.
• Formatting : check that you’ve included page numbers, and that the font and line spacing is consistent throughout the work. Ensure that the font is plain and easy to read, such as Arial or Times New Roman.
• Bibliography : check that you’ve included everything, that the format is the same for all sources mentioned, and that the right information is included for each.

Once this stage is complete, you’re ready to submit your coursework along with your declaration that it’s entirely your own work. Get ready for a feeling of immense satisfaction when you finally send off your hard work!

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History and English

• Admissions Requirements
• Fees and Funding
• Studying at Oxford

Course overview

UCAS code: VQ13 Entrance requirements: AAA Course duration: 3 years (BA)

Subject requirements

Required subjects: English Literature or English Language and Literature Recommended subjects: History Helpful subjects: Not applicable

Other course requirements

Admissions tests:  -  HAT -  ELAT Written Work: Two pieces

Admissions statistics*

Interviewed: 46% Successful: 12% Intake: 14 Successful for a different course: 7% Applicant intake for a different course: 9 *3-year average 2021-23

History contact

Tel: +44 (0) 1865 615000 Email:  [email protected]

English contact

Tel: +44 (0) 1865 271055 Email:  [email protected]

Unistats information for this course can be found at the bottom of the page

Please note that there may be no data available if the number of course participants is very small.

About the course

A joint degree in History and English requires students to think critically about how we define ‘history’ and ‘literature’, and about how the two disciplines interrelate and, to a large extent, overlap.

Close attention is given to changing methodologies, to the nature of evidence and to styles of argument. It is assumed that historical documents are just as much ‘texts’ as poems, plays or novels, and are therefore as subject to interpretation as works of narrative, rhetoric and, fundamentally, language.

In turn, it is assumed that poems, plays and novels represent historically-grounded ways of interpreting a culture.

Interdisciplinary study has become a thriving area in its own right as scholars have moved away from what would once have been thought of as ‘purely’ historical or literary criticism to a more comparative way of thinking about the written records of the past (including, of course, the very recent past).

The History and English Faculties are among the largest in Britain, with long and distinguished traditions of teaching and research. Students are offered a great deal of choice in the course over their three years, and whether their interests are in the medieval period, the Renaissance, or the later periods, intellectually fruitful combinations are always possible.

The course structure at Oxford is intended to enable students to relate literary and historical ideas as effectively as possible in the investigation of their chosen historical periods, topics or authors. The structure recognises that some students will wish to opt for variety rather than close congruity between their historical and literary papers.

An interdisciplinary approach is embedded in each year of the course, with:

• dedicated classes in the first year as part of the Introduction to English Language and Literature paper
• a bridge paper taken in the second year (examined by extended essay)
• and an interdisciplinary dissertation in the final year.

All interdisciplinary elements of this course are co-taught or co-supervised by a historian and a literary scholar.

Oxford possesses exceptional library provision for both subjects in the Bodleian Library , the History Faculty and English Faculty libraries, other faculty libraries and the college libraries.

Unistats information

Discover Uni  course data provides applicants with Unistats statistics about undergraduate life at Oxford for a particular undergraduate course.

Please select 'see course data' to view the full Unistats data for History and English.

Please note that there may be no data available if the number of course participants is very small. 

Visit the Studying at Oxford section of this page for a more general insight into what studying here is likely to be like.

A typical week

You will have up to two tutorials a week and will often, but not always, be working on two papers simultaneously. Most students attend three to four lectures a week. In the first and second years, you will also attend interdisciplinary classes with both English and History tutors present, in preparation for the bridge paper. For the final-year dissertation you will be allocated an adviser from each discipline. 

Tutorials are usually 2-4 students and a tutor. Class sizes may vary depending on the options you choose. There would usually be no more than around 12 students. 

Most tutorials, classes, and lectures are delivered by staff who are tutors in their subject. Many are world-leading experts with years of experience in teaching and research. Some teaching may also be delivered by postgraduate students who are usually studying at doctoral level.

To find out more about how our teaching year is structured, visit our  Academic Year  page.

Course structure

Years 2 and 3.

Visit the  History website  and the  English website  for the latest information on all course details and options.

The content and format of this course may change in some circumstances. Read further information about potential course changes .

Academic requirements 

Wherever possible, your grades are considered in the context in which they have been achieved.

Read further information on  how we use contextual data .

If a practical component forms part of any of your science A‐levels used to meet your offer, we expect you to pass it.

If English is not your first language you may also need to meet our English language requirements .

Astrophoria Foundation Year

If your personal or educational circumstances have meant you are unlikely to achieve the grades listed above for undergraduate study, but you still have a strong interest in the subject, then applying for History and English with a Foundation Year might be right for you.

Visit the Foundation Year course pages for more details of academic requirements and eligibility.

All candidates must follow the application procedure as shown on our  Applying to Oxford  pages.

The following information gives specific details for students applying for this course.

Admissions test

All candidates must take both the  English Literature Admissions Test (ELAT)  and the  History Admissions Test (HAT)  as part of their application. 

Guidance on preparing for the test can be found on the  ELAT  and  HAT  pages.

New arrangements for 2024 admissions tests and beyond are still to be confirmed but will be communicated as soon as possible and no later than the start of the new admissions cycle in early Spring. 

Written work

Visit our further guidance on the  submission of written work  for more information, and to download a cover sheet.

What are tutors looking for?

Tutors are looking for intellectual curiosity, as well as a flexible approach to engaging with unfamiliar concepts or arguments and an enthusiasm for writing and talking about history, literature and language.

Shortlisted candidates will usually be given at least two interviews, one with the History tutor(s) in the college, and one with the English tutor(s). In the English interview, the candidate may be asked to discuss a piece of prose or verse, provided before or at the interview.

Successful candidates will read widely, and will be interested in pursuing a comparative approach to historical and literary texts. 

Studying this degree provides you with the opportunity to acquire a range of skills valued by recruiters and employers, including the ability to work independently, to evaluate the significance of evidence and to present arguments clearly and persuasively.

Graduates from this course have worked in the media, legal professions, public administration, teaching and finance.

Note: These annual fees are for full-time students who begin this undergraduate course here in 2024. Course fee information for courses starting in 2025 will be updated in September.

We don't want anyone who has the academic ability to get a place to study here to be held back by their financial circumstances. To meet that aim, Oxford offers one of the most generous financial support packages available for UK students and this may be supplemented by support from your college.

Further details about fee status eligibility can be found on the fee status webpage.

For more information please refer to our  course fees page . Fees will usually increase annually. For details, please see our  guidance on likely increases to fees and charges.

Living costs

Living costs at Oxford might be less than you’d expect, as our  world-class resources and college provision can help keep costs down.

Living costs for the academic year starting in 2024 are estimated to be between £1,345 and £1,955 for each month you are in Oxford. Our academic year is made up of three eight-week terms, so you would not usually need to be in Oxford for much more than six months of the year but may wish to budget over a nine-month period to ensure you also have sufficient funds during the holidays to meet essential costs. For further details please visit our  living costs webpage .

• Financial support

**If you have studied at undergraduate level before and completed your course, you will be classed as an Equivalent or Lower Qualification student (ELQ) and won’t be eligible to receive government or Oxford funding

Fees, Funding and Scholarship search

Additional Fees and Charges Information for History and English

There are no compulsory costs for this course beyond the fees shown above and your living costs.

Contextual information

Unistats course data from Discover Uni provides applicants with statistics about a particular undergraduate course at Oxford. For a more holistic insight into what studying your chosen course here is likely to be like, we would encourage you to view the information below as well as to explore our website more widely.

The Oxford tutorial

College tutorials are central to teaching at Oxford. Typically, they take place in your college and are led by your academic tutor(s) who teach as well as do their own research. Students will also receive teaching in a variety of other ways, depending on the course. This will include lectures and classes, and may include laboratory work and fieldwork. However, tutorials offer a level of personalised attention from academic experts unavailable at most universities.

During tutorials (normally lasting an hour), college subject tutors will give you and one or two tutorial partners feedback on prepared work and cover a topic in depth. The other student(s) in your tutorials will be doing the same course as you. Such regular and rigorous academic discussion develops and facilitates learning in a way that isn’t possible through lectures alone. Tutorials also allow for close progress monitoring so tutors can quickly provide additional support if necessary.

Read more about tutorials and an Oxford education

College life

Our colleges are at the heart of Oxford’s reputation as one of the best universities in the world.

• At Oxford, everyone is a member of a college as well as their subject department(s) and the University. Students therefore have both the benefits of belonging to a large, renowned institution and to a small and friendly academic community. Each college or hall is made up of academic and support staff, and students. Colleges provide a safe, supportive environment leaving you free to focus on your studies, enjoy time with friends and make the most of the huge variety of opportunities.
• Porters’ lodge (a staffed entrance and reception)
• Dining hall
• Lending library (often open 24/7 in term time)
• Student accommodation
• Tutors’ teaching rooms
• Chapel and/or music rooms
• Green spaces
• Common room (known as the JCR).
• All first-year students are offered college accommodation either on the main site of their college or in a nearby college annexe. This means that your neighbours will also be ‘freshers’ and new to life at Oxford. This accommodation is guaranteed, so you don’t need to worry about finding somewhere to live after accepting a place here, all of this is organised for you before you arrive.
• All colleges offer at least one further year of accommodation and some offer it for the entire duration of your degree. You may choose to take up the option to live in your college for the whole of your time at Oxford, or you might decide to arrange your own accommodation after your first year – perhaps because you want to live with friends from other colleges.
• While college academic tutors primarily support your academic development, you can also ask their advice on other things. Lots of other college staff including welfare officers help students settle in and are available to offer guidance on practical or health matters. Current students also actively support students in earlier years, sometimes as part of a college ‘family’ or as peer supporters trained by the University’s Counselling Service.

Read more about Oxford colleges and how you choose

Applicants for this course may instead be offered a place for History or for English. 

FIND OUT MORE

• Visit the History Faculty's website
• Visit the English Faculty's website

Our 2024 undergraduate open days will be held on 26 and 27 June and 20 September.

Register to find out more about our upcoming open days.

English Faculty State School's Open Day  - 13 May 2023

Top-ranked history department in the UK

With more than 180 historians, Oxford's submission to REF 2021 was by far the largest in the United Kingdom.

More than 50% of our research* was ranked as 4* (world leading) putting us no. 1 in the country for 'research power'.

*Overall profile, impact and environment.  Visit the REF website for more detail . 

RELATED PAGES

• Which Oxford colleges offer my course?
• Your academic year
• Foundation Year

Related courses

• English Language and Literature
• Foundation Year (Humanities)
• History of Art

FEEL INSPIRED?

Why not have a look at some History magazines such as  History Today  or  BBC History  (which also has  weekly podcasts ). 

You may also like to explore the  British Museum  website or  BBC Radio 4 archives , both of which have excellent links to historical materials. 

For English, visit the University's collection of literary resources on our  Great Writers Inspire site .

You may also like to listen to radio programs such as BBC Radio 4's  In Our Time , or one of the  University's podcast series . 

Follow us on social media

Follow us on social media to get the most up-to-date application information throughout the year, and to hear from our students.