University of Essex
Literature and Art History (Including Foundation Year and Year Abroad) BA (Hons)
University of Essex

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews of 45 graduates of Literature and Art History (Including Foundation Year and Year Abroad) BA (Hons) and other courses in literature in English at University of Essex for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in literature in English.

The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in literature in English

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of literature in English at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £23000 £22000 £27500
25-75 percentile range £21000 - £25500 £16500 - £26500 £21000 - £32000


Salary of all UK Graduates of literature in English

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £24118 £22481 £26581
25-75 percentile range £20921 - £27631 £17144 - £27766 £20143 - £34050

Course Description

Our four-year BA Literature and Art History (including foundation year), will be suitable for you if your academic qualifications do not yet meet our entrance requirements for the four-year version of this course and you want a programme that increases your subject knowledge as well as improves your academic skills in order to support your academic performance. Our five-year version of this course enables you to study abroad during your fourth year of study.

This course includes a foundation year (Year Zero), followed by a further three or four years of study depending on whether you choose to study abroad for a year. During your Year Zero, you study three academic subjects relevant to your chosen course as well as a compulsory academic skills module, with additional English language for non-English speakers.

After successful completion of Year Zero in our Essex Pathways Department, you progress to complete your course with our School of Philosophy and Art History.

Our distinctive curriculum allows you to take advantage of the most up-to-date developments in the field, and to understand the interactions and differences between literature and the visual arts in history.

You have the opportunity to:

Study the relationship between text and image and the relationships that exist between the two

Develop your interests and explore a variety of interpretative methods which are appropriate to both the text and to the visual artefact

Literature is introduced in you through a series of seminal works in drama, poetry and narrative which have helped to articulate the literature of England and Europe both past and present. By adopting and practising close reading skills you develop your abilities in analysis and interpretation, and grow in confidence from the beginning of your undergraduate study.

Similarly in your art history modules you cover a broad history and can choose from a variety of specialist options to suit your own interests. Engage with art works that range from Old Master paintings, through the Pre-Raphaelites and Surrealists, to the most up-to-date contemporary art and visual culture.

You develop your understanding of visual history, which allows you to complement and enhance your exploration of different textual sources, from the earliest modern works to the literature and theory of the present day, in a variety of contexts.

One of the major reasons for choosing Essex is the quality of the education you will receive. We are ranked top 10 in the UK for History of Art (CUG 2018) and ranked 6th among Art History departments in the UK for research excellence (REF 2014). You will be taught by our expert staff in your very first year, a rarity in UK art history courses.

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

Current jobs

Required skill level of job after 15 months

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Literature and Art History (Including Foundation Year and Year Abroad) BA (Hons) at University of Essex

30% Teaching Professionals
15% Science, engineering and technology associate professionals
5% Sales occupations
5% Business, Research and Administrative Professionals
5% Administrative occupations
5% Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation
5% Business and public service associate professionals
5% Customer service occupations
5% Artistic, literary and media occupations
5% Nursing Professionals

Grading Distribution

Students of the course received the following grades

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for literature in English

Requirements for international students / English requirements

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

    • 6.5
    • Graduate Degrees
    • 6.0
    • Undergraduate Degrees

Please note that this course is not open to international applicants.
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Literature and Art History (Including Foundation Year and Year Abroad), BA (Hons), if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Costs

Tuition Fees Literature and Art History (Including Foundation Year and Year Abroad) BA (Hons)

England UK £9250 year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 year 1
Scotland £9250 year 1
Wales £9250 year 1
Channel Islands £9250 year 1
Ireland £9250 year 1
EU £19500 year 1
International £19500 year 1

Additional fee information

Fees displayed are for 2024-25 entry. Fees may increase for each academic intake and each academic year of study.

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

How to apply

Application deadline:

January 1, 2025

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Possible Entry Points:

  • Foundation

University Rankings

Positions of University of Essex in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of University of Essex in related subject specific rankings.

Social Studies & Humanities

    • #38 
    • #48 
    History
    CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
    [Published 08 June, 2023]
    • #58 
    • #68 
    History
    The Guardian University League Tables by Subject
    [Published 09 September, 2023]
    • #27 
    • #104 
    History
    URAP University Ranking by Academic Performance - By Field
    [Published 22 July, 2023]

See all 27 university rankings of University of Essex

About University of Essex

The University of Essex, is a public, research university where curiosity prevails and thinking outside the box isn’t just encouraged, it’s expected. Based in the county of the same name, Essex, the main campus is located in Wivenhoe Park, near Colchester. It is home to the university’s three faculties, Humanities, Science & Health and Social Sciences, as well as a very large community of local rabbits, and other small fauna typical of the English countryside.

List of 921 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Essex - Course Catalogue

Student composition of University of Essex

undergraduates:
12070
postgraduates:
3690
Total:
15760
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Where is this programme taught

Colchester Campus
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