English Literature with Media Studies BA (Hons), sandwich with foundation year and work placement

University of Portsmouth

United Kingdom, Portsmouth

University RankQS Ranking

643

Apply Now!

Go to Official Website

Home/United Kingdom/Portsmouth /University of Portsmouth/English Literature with Media Studies BA (Hons), sandwich with foundation year and work placement

University of Portsmouth

United Kingdom , Portsmouth

Key Facts

Program Level

Bachelor

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

Mix

Course Code

Q301

Campuses

London

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesSeptember-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 5 year(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 17,900 / year(s)

Next Intake September-2026

English Literature with Media Studies BA (Hons), sandwich with foundation year and work placement

About

Study English and media in a city rich in cultural legacy. Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle called these streets home, and Rudyard Kipling’s work was inspired by his early years in the city. If you're interested in how literature and media influences individuals and societies, from fiction, newspapers and television, to social networks, this English and media degree is ideal.

On this BA (Hons) English Literature and Media Studies degree, you’ll examine classic and contemporary literature along with television and social media, and become an expert in reading, analysing and discussing the written works and media that inspire you.

You’ll emerge with a skill set that’s sought after in careers in the arts, publishing and media. The critical thinking, reading and analytical abilities you'll develop will also set you up for postgraduate study or roles in areas like teaching and politics.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements

To do these degrees, you need to apply for the BA (Hons) English Literature or the BA (Hons) English Literature with Foundation Year course. This is because these are 'pathway' degrees.

You’ll study English Literature in depth and add Media Studies as a complementary subject later. You’ll graduate with a BA (Hons) English Literature with Media Studies degree when you finish the course.

These are the entry requirements for the BA (Hons) English Literature and BA (Hons) English Literature with Foundation Year courses.

Entry requirements (September 2026 start)

Typical offers for BA (Hons) English Literature

A levels - BBB-BCC
UCAS points - 104-120 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent, to include a relevant subject (calculate your UCAS points)
BTECs (Extended Diplomas) - DDM-DMM
International Baccalaureate - 24

You may need to have studied specific subjects or GCSEs - see full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept.

English language requirements

English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.

See alternative English language qualifications

We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.

If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Worried about your grades?

If you're not sure you meet the entry requirements, or need some help to get uni-ready, then we offer BA (Hons) English Literature with Media Studies with a Foundation Year through our partners at ICP to bring you up to speed. When you successfully finish, you'll get a guaranteed place on BA (Hons) English Literature with Media Studies.

Find out more about our foundation years with ICP

Typical offers for BA (Hons) English Literature with Foundation Year

UCAS points - 32 tariff points at A level, or equivalent (calculate your UCAS points)

You may need to have studied specific subjects – find full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept.

English language requirements

English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 5.5 with no component score below 5.5.

See alternative English language qualifications.

We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.

If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Please note this foundation year with ICP isn't currently open to EU or International students.

We look at more than just your grades

While we consider your grades when making an offer, we also carefully look at your circumstances and other factors to assess your potential. These include whether you live and work in the region and your personal and family circumstances which we assess using established data.

Explore more about how we make your offer

English Program Requirements

English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.

See alternative English language qualifications We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course. If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Career

A degree in English literature and media is a great foundation for a career in the arts, broadcasting or publishing.

Graduate employers also value the sophisticated analytical and presentational skills graduates develop on English and media degrees.

What can you do with an English Literature and Media Studies degree?

After the course, you could work in areas such as:

advertising
journalism
arts and media
public relations
copywriting
teaching and research

You could also study at postgraduate level.

Our Careers and Employability service can help you find a job or course that puts your skills to work. After you leave the University, you can get help, advice and support for up to five years as you advance in your career.

What jobs can you get with an English literature degree?

English literature graduates can be found in numerous sectors, filling a variety of roles - from journalist to teacher, marketing manager to legal advisor. Find out more about careers for English literature graduates.

Read our blog

A degree in English literature and media is a great foundation for a career in the arts, broadcasting or publishing.

Graduate employers also value the sophisticated analytical and presentational skills graduates develop on English and media degrees.

What can you do with an English Literature and Media Studies degree?

After the course, you could work in areas such as:

advertising
journalism
arts and media
public relations
copywriting
teaching and research

You could also study at postgraduate level.

From an English Literature degree to BBC Radio 1

Nels Hylton graduated with an English Literature degree. He's now a Presenter at BBC Radio 1.

Find out what it's like to work in the media industry and how the skills Nels learnt during his degree with us have helped him in his career.

Nels: I love doing radio. That drives me to get better every single day.

I graduated from the University in Portsmouth with a degree in English Literature.

Before university, I always wanted to be involved in radio to some aspect and when I got to university, that really solidified exactly that this is what I wanted to do.

University definitely taught me so many different life lessons. The main one is storytelling. Being able to talk about a piece of literature or a book and to talk about a piece of music on Radio 1, the skills are pretty much exactly the same.

Being able to block out the stage fright and articulate to a group of people has been something that I've used throughout my career.

The most important part outside of the course that led me to where I am today was probably PureFM, the student radio station in Portsmouth. I spent so much time in there just working on radio bits and having fun with my friends.

Those are some of the best memories I have of radio, and I'm super grateful for the opportunities they gave me and allowed me to put that passion to good use and eventually make my way here.

When you're at university, it's very easy to become isolated very quickly but, the University of Portsmouth has so many great support services and the counselling service which I use to pastoral care and chaplaincy.

If I could give any advice to any other students potentially struggling, go to these services and ask them for help because it really helped me hang in there and fight to finish.

Being the first black man to do the Radio 1 Rock Show was such a pivotal moment.

Making other people believe that just because they were born a certain way that they can do anything that they put their mind to.

I really want to do this until the wheels fall off. I'd probably say that the biggest impact is that it taught me that I can juggle a degree and juggle interning and sport and radio.

There were times where I wanted to quit. When it was all said and done, I felt a real sense of accomplishment, the opportunity to prove myself and do whatever I put my mind to, that is the impact that Portsmouth had on me.

Placement year

After your second year, you can do an optional work placement year to get valuable longer-term work experience in the industry.

Previous students have been on placements to:

We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your aspirations. You’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year.

Work experience and career planning

To give you the best chance of securing a great job when you graduate, our Careers and Employability service can help you find relevant work experience during your course.

We can help you identify placements, internships, voluntary roles and freelancing opportunities that will complement your studies and build your portfolio.

This course allows you to take the Learning From Experience (LiFE) option. This means you can earn credits towards your degree for work, volunteer and research placements that you do alongside your study.