English and History

English and history is a combination that brings together two disciplines with deep complementary strengths. English study develops close attention to language and form, the capacity to interpret ambiguous and complex texts, and the skills of clear, persuasive written argument. History develops the ability to evaluate evidence from the past, to construct causal accounts of events and change, and to situate human experience within longer patterns and contexts.

Read alongside each other, literature and history illuminate what the other might miss: historical context deepens the meaning of texts, while literary analysis reveals how the past was experienced and imagined by those living through it.

At Strathclyde you will study this four-year full-time degree, developing expertise in both disciplines through a programme that recognises how naturally they connect. A year abroad is available within the programme, giving you the opportunity to study in a different literary and historical environment and to broaden your perspective on how the English-language literary tradition and historical scholarship are practised internationally. Across the four years you will develop strong research and writing skills, the ability to work with primary sources in both literary and historical contexts, and the analytical precision that both disciplines demand.

Graduates of English and history enter careers in which reading, research, and writing are valued. Education, publishing, journalism, public relations, heritage, broadcasting, the civil service, arts administration, and libraries are all common destinations. The combination of literary and historical knowledge is particularly valued in roles that require cultural understanding and the ability to communicate complex material to varied audiences.

Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study in English, history, cultural studies, or education, or use the degree as a foundation for graduate-entry training in law or journalism.