- 94% of our research overall in English Language and Literature was assessed to be world leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021)
- 4th in the UK for our research impact in History in REF 2021 (Times Higher Education)
Explore how literature and history have shaped our culture and society. You’re taught by literary experts and historians working in the field and taught to produce your own critical and creative response to the world.
We offer a bold, forward-thinking curriculum that allows you to study a thousand years of literature in new and progressive ways. We encourage you to experiment with writing and understand its ability to transform the world we live in. You will be taught by engaged and passionate tutors who will guide you through each year of your degree. You’ll also have the opportunity to experiment with your own writing, supported by our experts. They have links with the creative industries, as well as literary events such as the poetry series Placeholder and the festival The Coast is Queer.
You’ll engage with historical evidence of international interest in our special collections, housed at The Keep, a state-of-the-art archive conservation building located next to the Sussex campus. These collections include:
- the papers of Virginia Woolf and Rudyard Kipling
- the Mass Observation Archive.
We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.
The emphasis on interdisciplinary learning is what makes English at Sussex so strong.”Mae Losasso
English BA
Open Days and virtual visits
Meet us on campus or online
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for this course are currently under review – please check back in early March 2024.
Modules
This is a joint-honours course, offering you a combinations of subjects, each taking up 50% of your time.
Find out about our types of undergraduate degrees, their structure, modules and credits
Core modules
Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.
Autumn teaching
Spring teaching
We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.
We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.
Check back in January 2025 for more details of the modules running in the academic year 2025/26.
Core modules
Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.
Autumn teaching
Spring teaching
Options
Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.
While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.
- History Short Period: America in the 20th Century
- History Short Period: Britain in the 20th Century
- History Short Period: Europe in the 20th Century
- Inner Worlds: Literature, 800-1750
- Literature and Philosophy
- Outer Worlds: Literature, 800-1750
- Reading Post-Colonial Texts
- Science and Literature
- Short Period: The Asia-Pacific in the 19th Century
- The Art of Short Fiction
- The Novel
- Word & Image
- Contemporary Literature and Culture
- Literature, Politics and Culture in Postwar Britain
- Modernisms
- Romance
- Romanticism
- Sense and Sexuality: Women and Writing in the Eighteenth Century
- Staging the Renaissance: Shakespeare
- The Politics of Children's Literature
- Time and Place 1899: Apex Empires, Savage Wars
- Time and Place 2015: Fortress Europe and the Migration Crisis
- Time and Place: 1661: Slavery in English America
- Time and Place: 1942: Holocaust
- Time and Place: 1948: The Arab-Israeli Conflict
- Time and Place: 1953: Monarchs and Murders
- Time and Place: 1984: Thatcher's Britain (Observing the 1980s)
- Writing Poetry
Autumn teaching
Spring teaching
We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.
We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.
Check back in January 2025 for more details of the modules running in the academic year 2025/26.
Study abroad (optional)
Apply to study abroad – you’ll develop an international perspective and gain an edge when it comes to your career. Find out where your course could take you
If your application to study abroad is successful, you’ll have to meet the academic requirements at Sussex and also at the partner university. Find out more about studying abroad as a Sussex student
Studying abroad boosts your confidence, gaining language skills, international connections, and a totally fresh perspective on life (and literature!).”Josephine Mortimer
English (with a study abroad year) BA
Placement (optional)
To help you gain experience and increase your employability, you can apply for an optional placement as part of your course. You’ll be responsible for applying for and securing your placement. Our dedicated careers team can provide you with information and advice. If you’re successful in obtaining a placement, this will form part of your course.
Find out more about placements and internships
Please note that if you’re receiving – or applying for – USA federal Direct Loan funds, you can’t transfer to the version of your course with an optional study abroad period in any country or optional placement in the USA if the number of credits for the placement/internship exceeds 25% of the total credits for your course. Find out more about American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid
Options
You choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.
While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.
- Posthuman/Premodern
- Psychoanalysis and Literature
- Serial Fictions
- Special Subject: Britain and the Second World War Part A
- Special Subject: Genocide A
- Special Subject: Israel–US Special Relations and the New Diplomatic History Part A
- Special Subject: Palestine from the Ottomans to Nakba Part 1
- Special Subject: Post-Rave Britain, 1988-Present, Part A
- Special Subject: The Civil Rights Movement Part A
- Special Subject: The French Empire and Its Aftermath Part 1
- The First World War: Part 1
- Topics in African American Literature
- Virginia Woolf
- Writing Race, Gender, and the Social: Experiments Beyond Representation
- History Dissertation: The First World War
- History Special Dissertation Britain & the Second World War
- History Special Dissertation Genocide
- History Special Dissertation Israel-US Special Relations and the New Diplomatic History
- History Special Dissertation Palestine from the Ottomans to Nakba
- History Special Dissertation Post-Rave Britain
- History Special Dissertation: The Civil Rights Movement
- History Special Dissertation: The French Empire
- Championing Literacy Placement
- Class, Culture and Contemporary Writing
- Dissertation (English)
- Gender, Race and Society in Early Modern Drama
- Modern Nature
- Queer Fictions
- Special Subject: Britain and the Second World War Part B
- Special Subject: Genocide B
- Special Subject: Israel–US Special Relations and the New Diplomatic History Part B
- Special Subject: Palestine from the Ottomans to Nakba Part 2
- Special Subject: Post-Rave Britain, 1988-Present, Part B
- Special Subject: The Civil Rights Movement Part B
- Special Subject: The French Empire and Its Aftermath Part 2
- The First World War: Part 2
Autumn teaching
Autumn and spring teaching
Spring teaching
We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.
We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.
Check back in January 2025 for more details of the modules running in the academic year 2025/26.
Silver
The student experience and student outcomes are typically very high quality.
This rating was awarded in 2023, for four years.
(Teaching Excellence Framework 2023)
Find out more about our approach to teaching and supporting you to thrive
Our staff
English
Dr Helen Tyson
Senior Lecturer in 20th and 21st CenturyBritish Literature
History
Prof Maurizio Marinelli
Fees
Fees are not yet set for the academic year 2025/26 – please check back in September 2024. Note that your fees, once they’re set, may be subject to an increase on an annual basis.
Find out about typical living costs for studying at Sussex
Find out about our terms and conditions
Scholarships
Details of our scholarships are not yet set for entry in the academic year 2025/26.
Careers
Studying English and History at Sussex gives you transferable skills in researching, critical analysis, communication, independent thinking and problem-solving.
You can attend tailored careers events, including workshops, talks and drop-in sessions, throughout your time at Sussex. We’ve previously offered career-building experience through schemes that bring the power of reading and creative writing to the public such as Sussex Writes. You continue to receive careers support after graduation.
You could go on to further study, or use your English and History degree in fields such as:
- the arts, libraries and museums sectors
- publishing, media and journalism
- civil service, teaching and higher education.
What to do with an English, Literature and Creative Writing degree
Working while you study
Our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can help you find part-time work while you study. Find out more about career development and part-time work