Overview
Texts are all around us – from books and magazines to TV, email and the internet.
The ability to analyse text and language is a skill that employers value, and the tools you learn from studying English will support your career goals.
You can learn more about the power of language and literature with a degree in English from the University of Stirling. We’re ranked 1st in Scotland (National Student Survey 2024).
What you’ll study
Our course offers a blend of language analysis, literary studies, and creative writing. You will:
- explore literature from the medieval period to the present day;
- analyse a variety of literary texts including classic novels, plays, and poems;
- develop your creative writing skills to enhance your understanding of literary techniques;
- gain insights into linguistics and the evolution of the English language.
Unique opportunities
We offer several unique opportunities to enrich your studies. You can:
- meet creative writers, scholars and critics at our lectures and readings. Previous guests include Stirling alumni Graeme Armstrong and Kirsty Logan, and writers from the prestigious Royal Literary Fund and Charles Wallace fellowships;
- network with visiting authors, such as past guests Anne Enright, Sarah Waters, Ben Okri and Graeme Macrae Burnet;
- work with our Royal Literary Fund Fellow in one-on-one sessions to develop and enhance your writing skills.
Top reasons to study with us
Entry requirements
Year 1 entry – Four-year honours
SQA Highers
ABBB
GCE A-levels
BBB
IB Diploma
28
BTEC (Level 3)
DDM
Widening access students
Widening access students may be eligible for an adjusted offer of entry. To find out if this applies to you go to our widening access pages.
Care-experienced applicants will be guaranteed an offer of a place if they meet the minimum entry requirements.
Year 2 entry – Three-year honours
SQA Advanced Highers
ABB
GCE A-levels
ABB
IB Diploma
32
Essential subjects
To include English, English Literature or English Language
Other Scottish qualifications
Scottish HNC/HND
Year one minimum entry - Bs in graded units.
Access courses
University of Stirling access course - for mature students only. You must pass the course with 50% or above.
SWAP access course - for mature students only.
Email our Admissions Team for advice about other access courses.
Foundation Apprenticeships
Considered to be equivalent to 1 Higher at Grade B
Other qualifications
English, Welsh and Northern Irish HNC/HND
Merits and Distinctions
English, Welsh and Northern Irish access courses
Access to Higher Education - 60 credits, minimum 45 at QCF Level 3, pass at 60% or above.
Email our Admissions Team for advice about other access courses.
International entry requirements
Advanced entry
Advanced entry may be possible depending on your qualifications.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
- IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
Pre-sessional English language courses
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses
Course details
In Semesters 1-2, you'll take compulsory modules: Introduction to English Studies 1: Genres; and Introduction to English Studies 2: Theories and Approaches; plus four additional modules from other disciplines, which could include Linguistics.
In Semester 3 you will study Literary Revolutions, and in Semester 4, you’ll study a choice of core modules including: Writing and History; Writing and Theory; and Writing and Language. In Semester 5, students choose from several period-based modules, such as: Modernism and Modernity; British Romanticism; Renaissance Literature; The Literature of the Middle Ages; and Victorian Literature and Culture.
Semesters 6 and 7 cover a range of optional modules which may include: Speculative Fiction; Modern Gothic; Return of the Pagan Gods; American Literature; Shakespeare's Theatre; Tragedy; Pen, Print, and Press: Documenting the Eighteenth Century; Talking on Paper: The Essay as Literature; Consuming Dickens in the Twenty-First Century; and Creative Writing.
The final semester will be spent writing your dissertation, supervised by your tutor.
Modules
Course details
Teaching
You’ll be taught through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorial groups. Visiting creative writers, scholars and critics are involved in a lively programme of extra-curricular lectures and readings. We also host a Royal Literary Fund Fellow, who is on site specifically to give students extra one-to-one support as they develop their essay writing skills.
Assessment
Assessment takes the form of essays or other assignments written during each semester, with credit sometimes given for oral presentations.
We don’t use exams on our English Studies course, as we feel written course work creates a more productive and personal dialogue between you and your tutor, and is an effective method for fuelling both understanding and expression.
Study abroad
As a University of Stirling student, you’ll have the opportunity to broaden your horizons and study abroad through our well-established connections with several international universities.
Fees and funding
Fees and costs
Scottish students
This fee is set by the Scottish Government and is subject to change.
Although you’re liable for annual tuition fees, if you are domiciled in Scotland you can apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) to have your tuition fees paid by the Scottish Government on your behalf.
You will be charged the annual tuition fee each year when you enrol.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
This tuition fee may be subject to change depending on guidance provided by the UK Government.
You can apply for financial assistance, including a loan to cover the full cost of your tuition fees, from your relevant funding body. Students from the Republic of Ireland are eligible for a tuition fee loan of up to £9,535 from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).
We also offer additional funding – such as our Honours Year Scholarship – for students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. See our funding opportunities section below for more information.
You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy and terms and conditions.
International students (including EU)
Eligible students will automatically receive a scholarship worth between £8,000-£30,000 over the duration of your course. See our range of generous scholarships for international undergraduate students.
You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol. Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Funding
See what funding opportunities and loans are available to help you with tuition and living costs.
Students from Scotland
Find funding opportunities for Scottish students.
Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
Eligible students will automatically receive our Undergraduate Welcome Scholarship, Undergraduate Merit Scholarship, and our Honours Year Scholarship, which are worth between £1,000 and £9,250.
International students
Eligible international students will automatically receive a scholarship worth between £8,000-£30,000 over the duration of your course. Find funding opportunities for international students.
Cost of living
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
Payment options
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay.
After you graduate
Our Faculty Employability and Skills Officer and Careers Service ensure you'll be well-prepared for the world of work. They will help provide the right opportunities to prepare you for your career ahead. Our industry connections and emphasis on practical skills also ensure you're job-ready upon graduation.
The ability to write clearly and think analytically is valued in a host of professions. Employers for English graduates can include advertising, marketing, public relations, media, publishing, the NHS, schools, financial institutions, legal firms, and government bodies.
Notable Graduates
Notable graduates from the University of Stirling's English Studies program include several writers. These include Iain Banks, Graeme Armstrong, and Harry Josephine Giles. Other well-known graduates are Alan Bissett, journalist Grace Dent, and Scottish poet laureate Jackie Kay MBE.
