How is the BA Literature Studies different from a BA English Literature?

The BA Literature Studies includes a substantial comparative and world-literature strand alongside the English tradition. Students who want a purely English-focused programme should consider that route instead; the BA Literature Studies is for readers who want to work across traditions.

Do I need to know a second language for the BA Literature Studies?

No. Comparative literature on this BA is taught with works in translation and Anglophone world literature. Students who do have a second language can pursue translation work in their dissertation, but the degree is fully accessible to monoglot English readers.

Can I take the BA Literature Studies online or by distance learning?

Yes. The online route runs live seminars on the same syllabus as on-campus; distance learning is structured around fortnightly deadlines and tutor-marked essays. Digital library access is provided for online and distance students.

Does the BA Literature Studies include creative writing?

Only as an elective option where available. The core focus is critical reading, comparative method and academic essay craft. Students wanting creative practice should consider the BA in Professional Writing or take a creative writing module as an elective.

Is the BA Literature Studies recognised by UK employers?

Yes. The BA Literature Studies is a UK honours degree mapped to English Association, British Comparative Literature Association and Society of Authors standards. Publishing, editorial, education and cultural employers recognise the credential and the dissertation you graduate with.

BA Literature Studies in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The BA Literature Studies at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a three-year UK honours degree for readers who want a serious encounter with English and comparative literature — from early modern drama through to the contemporary novel and works in translation. You will work with primary texts, engage with the major critical traditions, and graduate with a research project that demonstrates the discipline and curiosity of a working literary scholar.

This BA goes wider than a standard English degree. The BA Literature Studies includes works in translation, world literature in English, and the comparative methods that let you read across national traditions without losing sight of the text on the page.

Key Features

UK honours degree in literary study — three years full-time, with online and distance routes.
English and comparative strands — canonical English literature taught alongside works in translation and world literature in English.
Critical theory module — major schools taught with primary texts rather than as a separate semester.
Final-year research project — 10,000–12,000 words on a topic agreed with your supervisor.
British Library and London archives access for on-campus students; structured digital archive support for online and distance learners.
Industry-aligned outcomes mapped to English Association, British Comparative Literature Association and Society of Authors standards.

What You Will Learn

The BA Literature Studies is structured around the practices of literary study — close reading, comparative method, contextual research, theoretical reflection. You graduate able to read across traditions, situate a text in its critical conversation, and write an essay or research project that earns marks against UK undergraduate standards.

Close reading — practical criticism applied to poetry, drama and prose.
Early modern literature — Shakespeare, the early modern stage, the lyric tradition.
The Romantic and Victorian periods — major poets and novelists, contextual reading.
Modernism and the twentieth century — Woolf, Joyce, the post-war novel, late-century innovation.
Contemporary literature — twenty-first-century fiction and poetry, the diversifying canon.
Comparative literature — works in translation, comparative reading methods.
World literature in English — Anglophone writing from beyond the British Isles.
Critical theory and research methods — major schools, applied with primary texts.

Who This Course Is For

School leavers with a strong reading habit and an appetite for sustained literary study.
International students seeking a UK literature degree with a comparative and world-literature dimension.
Career-changers from publishing, teaching or editorial work returning to academic study.
Mature readers wanting a structured undergraduate encounter with literary scholarship.

Career Pathways

The BA Literature Studies opens routes into publishing, editorial, education, cultural research and postgraduate study. Typical first roles include:

Editor (trade publisher, academic press, magazine)
Critic (literary press, journal, broadcaster)
Academic Researcher (after postgraduate study)
Curriculum Designer (schools, awarding body, EdTech)
Lecturer in Literature (after postgraduate study)
Editorial Researcher (publisher, broadcaster, festival)

Graduates progress to an MA in Literature Studies, Comparative Literature or a related discipline at LSJHML or a partner university.

Entry Requirements

Three A-Levels at BBC or above (or international equivalent — IB 28 points, BTEC DMM, or accepted national qualification).
GCSE English Language at grade 5 or equivalent English proficiency test.
IELTS 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) for non-native English speakers.
A short personal statement and an essay sample (1,000–1,500 words on a literary text).
Mature applicants (21+) without standard qualifications may apply with a portfolio and short interview.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.