Course overview

English Literature and History at Keele combines the study of historical events and literature with reflections on how our modern society and culture has developed, tackling important debates around issues such as decolonisation, sustainability and the environment, gender and sexuality, and political extremism.

On this combined honours programme, you will examine literature in English from across the world, including Britain, North America and Africa, taking a truly global perspective.

Taught by expert lecturers in the School of Humanities, you will explore and interpret literary texts that will challenge your views, advance your tastes, prompt your creativity, and give you the opportunity to become a versatile graduate. Through a range of activities and assessments, this diverse course will equip you with a vast array of attributes that employers are looking for, including problem solving, creativity, emotional intelligence, and digital literacy.

History at Keele is taught by academics who are experts across a diverse range of fields and periods of history. This will enable you to trace the course of change in key areas of human history and appreciate the impact of events, forces, and processes on individual societies and the world as a whole.

You will develop your knowledge, critical thinking, and analytical skills and learn how to research diverse topics, critically interrogate evidence and reflect on pivotal moments in history. This experience will help to broaden your expertise and develop transferable skills that will prepare you for employment after university.

Work Placements

The School of Humanities hosts a ‘Work Placement in the Humanities’ module which provides you with the opportunity to apply for a placement within an organisation to further enhance your professional skills. With the guidance of module tutors, you will identify an organisation based on your interests, and will spend a semester engaging with projects and tasks set out by the employer.

You may cover areas such as heritage, education, charity, marketing and management, as well as the creative industry. Alumni have previously taken work placements in a range of settings including museums and schools. You will engage with taught sessions in addition to your time at your chosen organisation and will be encouraged to reflect upon your experiences to identify how you can apply your learnings throughout your studies and beyond.

You will have the opportunity to apply for a Work Placement Year, taken between Year 2 and 3, that allows you to practice your knowledge and prepare for employment after university. This experience will enable you to build confidence in the workplace and demonstrate your abilities in a professional environment, using the skills you have gained throughout your degree programme. You will be supported to prepare for your placement with advice on CV writing and cover letters, as well as the chance to attend Q&A workshops to discuss individual experiences with alumni and employers. This is a valuable experience where you will develop both personally and professionally.

Study Abroad

International Year

Enhance your career prospects with an International Year at one of our partner institutions. Utilising this opportunity between 2nd and 3rd year can help in your employment search to stand out from the crowd and broaden your horizons, potentially working across the globe.

On successful completion of all modules across the year, you will graduate with a degree title ‘English Literature and History with International Year’. This can be highly beneficial for your career prospects; through experiencing different cultures, you will not only grow as an individual, but you will also strengthen your knowledge and experience of the wider world. You can find more information here.

Alternatively, you may choose to study abroad for just a semester in your second year which will count towards your second-year grades. Our Global Opportunities team will support you through the process, ensuring you are able to get the most out of your international experience.

Student Support

To help you meet your academic and personal needs, we offer a multi-layered student support structure. You will have access to an academic mentor and member of staff from the Student Experience and Support team if you need any additional support, or someone to talk to, whether about your degree programme or life outside of your studies.

Societies

We have a wealth of student-led societies at Keele which cover a diverse range of interests. Joining a society is a great opportunity to continue to develop your skills away from your studies and can be beneficial when applying for graduate roles. It’s also a great way to meet like-minded people, make friends and share interests with fellow students.