Bachelor of Arts (BA)

BA Latin and English Literature

Examine original sources of ancient literature and gain transferable language and analysis skills.
  • Duration: 3 years
  • Year of entry: 2026
  • UCAS course code: QQ36 / Institution code: M20
  • Key features:
  • Study with a language

Full entry requirementsHow to apply

Overview

Course overview

  • Study Latin from beginner, intermediate or advanced level.
  • Develop advanced knowledge of the language and culture of the classicalworld andexamine original sources of ancient literature.
  • Discover the connections between Latin and English Literature while studying in a UNESCO City of Literature.
  • Explore written forms ranging from illuminated manuscripts to graphic novels, from poetry to postmodern fiction.
  • Study at a top 10 UK university for Languages, Literature and Linguistics (THE World University Rankings 2024)

Open days

For details of the next University Undergraduate open day, visit open days and visits

Contact details

School/Faculty
School of Arts, Languages and Cultures
Telephone
+44 (0)161 509 2871
Email
Website
https://www.alc.manchester.ac.uk/cahae/
School/Faculty overview

See: About us

Courses in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

Entry requirements

A-level

ABB, including A in English Literature or English Language and Literature.

Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken.

Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.

A-level contextual offer

ACC, including A in English Literature or English Language and Literature.

Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken.

Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.

Contextual offers are available for applicants who:

  • live in the UK and will be under the age of 21 on 1 September of the year they will start their course; and
  • live in an area of disadvantage or with low progression into higher education; and
  • have attended a UK school or college for their GCSEs or A-levels (or equivalent qualifications) that has performed below the national average over multiple years.

See our contextual admissions page for full details and to check your eligibility.

UK refugee/care-experienced offer

ACC, including A in English Literature or English Language and Literature.

Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive.

Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.

UK refugee/care-experienced offers are available for applicants who:

  • have been looked after in care for more than three months; or
  • have been granted refugee status by the UK government or have been issued a UK visa under one of the Ukrainian schemes (Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Family Scheme or Ukraine Extension Scheme).

See our contextual admissions page for full details and to check your eligibility.

International Baccalaureate

35 points overall. 6,6,5 in Higher Level subjects including English Literature or English Language and Literature.

Applicants studying the International Baccalaureate Career Related Programme (IBCP) should contact the admissions team prior to applying so that their academic profile can be considered.

GCSE/IGCSE

Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education including acceptable levels of Literacy and Numeracy, equivalent to at least Grade 6 or B in GCSE/IGCSE English Language and grade 4 or C in Mathematics. GCSE/IGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/IGCSE English Language.

Please note that if you hold English as a second language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of  our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications  or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the admissions team in your academic School/Department for clarification.

Other entry requirements

Other entry requirements exist for this course. You may view these by selecting from the list below.

Country-specific entry requirements

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements including English language see Accepted entry qualifications from your country

English language requirements

All applicants to the University (from the UK and Overseas) are required to show evidence of English Language proficiency. The minimum English Language requirement for this course is either:

GCSE/IGCSE English Language grade B/6, or;

IELTS 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each sub-test, or;

An acceptable equivalent qualification.

Please note that if you hold English as a second language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of  our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications  or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the academic School for clarification.

If you need to improve your English language skills to meet the entry requirements for your academic course, the University Centre for Academic English (UCAE) summer pre-sessional courses can help. Check if your academic course offers the option of taking a pre-sessional course on the UCAE page .

The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires that every student requiring a visa to study in the UK must show evidence of a minimum level of English Language (common European Framework (CEFR B2 level) to be granted a Student Route visa (previously known as a Tier 4 visa) to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level.

In addition, our academic Schools/Departments may require applicants to demonstrate English proficiency above the B2 level. Further information about our English Language policy, including a list of some of the English Language qualifications we accept, can be found  here .

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Fees and funding

Fees

Fees for entry in 2026 have not yet been set. For entry in 2025 the tuition fees were £9,535 per annum for home students, and are expected to increase slightly for 2026 entry.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Application and selection

How to apply

Apply through UCAS

Home-schooled applicants

If you are a student who has followed a non-standard educational route, e.g. you have been educated at home; your application will be considered against the standard entry criteria of the course for which you are applying. You will be required to demonstrate that you meet the specified academic entry requirements of the course. We will also require a reference from somebody who knows you well enough, in an official capacity, to write about you and your suitability for higher education. If you are a home schooled student and would like further information or advice please contact the academic School for your chosen course who will be able to help you. 

Non-standard educational routes

Mature students are some of our most well-equipped learners, bringing skills and attributes gained from work, family and other life experiences.  Students come from a whole array of backgrounds, study every kind of course, undertake full-time and part-time learning and are motivated by career intentions as well as personal interest.  There is no such thing as a typical mature student at Manchester.

The application process is the same as for other prospective undergraduates.  If you require further clarification about the acceptability of the qualifications you hold please contact the academic School(s) you plan to apply to.  Further information for mature students can be found here ( http://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/mature-students/ )

How your application is considered

Applications are considered on the basis of an assessment of the quality of the personal statement, the reference, and past and predicted academic achievements. We encourage applicants to give details of their motivation for studying this particular subject.

Interview requirements

We don't normally interview for this degree, except in the case of mature applicants. In considering your application, all the information on the UCAS form is taken into account, particular attention being paid to academic qualifications and predictions, to your referee's confidential report, and to your personal statement.

Returning to education

We warmly encourage applications from mature applicants and students returning to education. All such applications are considered on an individual basis. Applicants are encouraged to contact us at  ug-classics@manchester.ac.uk for any discussion that they might find useful.

Overseas (non-UK) applicants

We warmly encourage overseas applicants. Applicants are encouraged to contact us at ug-classics@manchester.ac.uk for any discussion that they might find useful.

Deferrals

We welcome applications for deferred entry and feel a gap year benefits many students.

We do ask applicants to let us know as early as possible if they are intending to defer.  This helps us to adjust the number of offers we make, in order to achieve the required number of students in a given year.

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry.  In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved.  We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.If you are applying for a place for the same year of entry through UCAS Extra, you should provide additional evidence of your suitability for the course. If you are applying through clearing you are required to meet the clearing requirements. In both UCAS Extra and clearing the places will be subject to availability.

Transfers

We will consider applications to transfer to Manchester from other universities and would normally ask for a letter explaining why a transfer was needed, relevant transcripts, a copy of the applicant's UCAS form and a confidential reference from one of the applicant's current university tutors.

We will consider applications to transfer from other degrees within the University of Manchester but applicants are required to have the A-level grades (or other qualifications) needed for entry to that degree programme.

Both of the above are subject to our having enough places to accommodate such applicants.   Enquiries should be made to the admissions administrator for the subject (see contact details). 

Course details

Course description

Our BA Latin and English Literature Joint Honours course will enable you to develop your linguistic skills in an ancient language while making connections between the literature of the ancient, medieval and contemporary eras.

You will study Latin language and literature in each of your three years of study, alongside the full range of English literature studies. Options include writings from Middle English, the Renaissance, historical and contemporary English Language, and cultural theory.

You can learn Latin either as a beginner or from A-level standard. Once you've reached the appropriate level, your learning will allow you to study literary and historical texts in their original language.

On this course, you'll be taught by world-leading scholars, whose research will directly shape your learning. You'll have access to a wealth of cutting-edge critical thinking, as well as exclusive access to award-winning learning resources, including some of the city's key cultural assets.

As well as giving you a detailed knowledge of Latin and a wide range of literature, we'll train you to become an independent researcher, a critical and creative thinker, and a persuasive writer - preparing you for careers in a variety of fields.

The course unit details listed below are those you may choose to study as part of this programme and are referred to as optional units. These are subject to change and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this programme. Although language units may show here as optional, they are a mandatory part of your modern languages degree and you will take the units relevant to your level of language in each year of study. It is compulsory to study language at all levels of your modern languages degree. 

Special features

Placement year option 

Apply your subject-specific knowledge in a real-world context through a  placement year  in your third year of study, enabling you to enhance your employment prospects, clarify your career goals and build your external networks. 

Study abroad 

You may apply to spend one semester  studying abroad  during Year 2. 

Exchange partners are offered through the Worldwide Exchange scheme (e.g. Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore). 

Access to our Special Collections 

Explore exclusive resources such as the Special Collections of The John Rylands Library (home to papyri, medieval manuscripts and early printed books, including very early copies of the Homeric poems) and the Manchester Museum. 

Enjoy literary events 

Join Literature Live, our series of public events which brings contemporary novelists and poets to the University to read and engage in conversation, and Manchester Literature Festival, which holds events involving established and emerging authors at venues across Manchester - a UNESCO City of Literature.

Teaching and learning

You'll learn through a variety of methods. Lectures will help broaden your understanding of subjects, while small group tutorials and seminars will help you to deep-dive into these topics.

Language classes are taught intensively, with group size capped to encourage participation.

You are encouraged to involve yourself, under guidance, in independent study and original research.

Coursework and assessment

Assessment practices vary between course units, but our aim overall is to achieve a good balance between formal examinations, continuous assessment and project work.

Written examinations are held at the end of most course units. The Year 3 dissertation is a major piece of original work, accounting for 22% of the final overall mark.

Course content for year 1

Course units for year 1

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
CAHE10422 20 Mandatory
ENGL10021 20 Mandatory
CAHE10011 20 Optional
CAHE10022 20 Optional
CAHE10101 20 Optional
CAHE10132 20 Optional
CAHE10232 20 Optional
CAHE20151 20 Optional
CAHE20162 20 Optional
CAHE20171 20 Optional
CAHE30111 20 Optional
CAHE30121 20 Optional
CAHE30162 20 Optional
CAHE30182 20 Optional
ENGL10051 20 Optional
ENGL10062 20 Optional
ENGL10072 20 Optional
SALC11011 20 Optional
Displaying 10 of 18 course units for year 1

Course content for year 2

Course units for year 2

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
CAHE20292 20 Mandatory
CAHE20031 20 Optional
CAHE20042 20 Optional
CAHE20052 20 Optional
CAHE20061 20 Optional
CAHE20151 20 Optional
CAHE20162 20 Optional
CAHE20261 20 Optional
CAHE20272 20 Optional
CAHE20282 20 Optional
CAHE20382 20 Optional
CAHE20531 20 Optional
CAHE20701 20 Optional
CAHE20912 20 Optional
CAHE21041 20 Optional
CAHE21061 20 Optional
CAHE24102 20 Optional
CAHE24401 20 Optional
CAHE24602 20 Optional
CAHE25461 20 Optional
CAHE25762 20 Optional
CAHE30111 20 Optional
CAHE30121 20 Optional
CAHE30162 20 Optional
CAHE30211 20 Optional
ENGL20002 20 Optional
ENGL20231 20 Optional
ENGL20372 20 Optional
ENGL20482 20 Optional
ENGL20491 20 Optional
Creative Writing: Poetry ENGL20901 20 Optional
ENGL21022 20 Optional
ENGL21151 20 Optional
ENGL21161 20 Optional
ENGL21181 20 Optional
ENGL21192 20 Optional
ENGL21521 20 Optional
ENGL22102 20 Optional
SALC20081 20 Optional
Displaying 10 of 39 course units for year 2

Course content for year 3

Course units for year 3

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
CAHE30292 20 Mandatory
AMER30422 20 Optional
AMER30571 20 Optional
AMER30811 20 Optional
CAHE20162 20 Optional
CAHE30000 40 Optional
CAHE30031 20 Optional
CAHE30211 20 Optional
CAHE30261 20 Optional
CAHE30272 20 Optional
CAHE30311 20 Optional
CAHE30382 20 Optional
CAHE30701 20 Optional
CAHE30881 20 Optional
CAHE30912 20 Optional
CAHE31041 20 Optional
CAHE31061 20 Optional
CAHE34102 20 Optional
CAHE34401 20 Optional
CAHE34602 20 Optional
CAHE35461 20 Optional
CAHE35762 20 Optional
ENGL30001 20 Optional
ENGL30002 20 Optional
ENGL30122 20 Optional
ENGL30261 20 Optional
ENGL30902 20 Optional
ENGL30941 20 Optional
ENGL31141 20 Optional
ENGL31271 20 Optional
ENGL31282 20 Optional
ENGL31422 20 Optional
ENGL31622 20 Optional
ENGL32301 20 Optional
ENGL32551 20 Optional
ENGL33061 20 Optional
ENGL34052 20 Optional
ENGL34071 20 Optional
ENGL34102 20 Optional
ENGL34111 20 Optional
ENGL34122 20 Optional
ENGL34141 20 Optional
ENGL34152 20 Optional
ENGL34161 20 Optional
ENGL34171 20 Optional
ENGL34212 20 Optional
ENGL35111 20 Optional
ENGL35312 20 Optional
Displaying 10 of 48 course units for year 3

Facilities

The John Rylands Library

At The John Rylands Library , you'll have exclusive access to our internationally significant collections, including papyri, medieval manuscripts and early printed books such as very early copies of the Homeric poems.

Manchester Museum

The UK's leading university museum has more than four million objects spanning millennia, including one of the largest collections of ancient Egyptian artefacts in the UK. Go behind-the-scenes to handle, analyse and interpret rare artefacts, including exclusive material specific to ancient history.

The Centre for New Writing

The University is home to a major hub for new writing excellence and award-winning teaching staff, including Granta Best Young British Novelist Kamila Shamsie and Jeanette Winterson CBE.

The Centre also hosts Literature Live - a public event series which brings contemporary novelists and poets to The University to showcase their work.

Visit our facilities page to find out more.

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

Careers

Career opportunities

Allour courses involve the development of strong transferable skills, encouraging students to think logically and imaginatively to interpret andanalyseinformation and data.

A degree in Classics or Ancient History will equip you with the ability to effectively communicate ideas and demonstrate an intricate understanding of different cultures and societies, leading to a career in wide range of industries.

You'll have various opportunities to gain professional and practical experience.

Many employers seek graduates who have skills in many fields of expertise.

This is besides your major within Classics, Ancient History, Archaeology and Egyptology.

Alternatively, you could study selected course units from other courses around the University.

This is through the University College for Interdisciplinary Learning.

You can also apply to spend a year gaining valuable workplace experience on a work placement.

The creative economy accounts for one in 11 jobs across the UK and employs 700,000 more people than the financial services industry (Creative Industries Federation).

The University of Manchester is the second most targeted university in the UK for top graduate employers (High FliersResearch, 2024).

Our award-winning careers service provides a wealth of tools, advice, development opportunities and industry links.

You'll have access to dedicated, subject-specific support throughout your studies and for up to two years after graduation.

Our undergraduate courses are also designed to provide an easy transition into postgraduate study, if desired.

We offer a wide range of specialist master's courses within the University and even offer fast-tracked enrolment to high-achieving undergraduate students.

Our students can take part in our Stellifyprogrammealongside their degrees, developing professional and leadership skills while contributing to their local and global communities through volunteering.

Our graduates have gone on to work in a variety of industries, including positionswithBBC, Google, UK government, museums, cultural institutions and law firms.

Find out more onour Careers and Employability page.

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The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.