English Literature and Sociology BA

ENGLISH LITERATURE

*This course is only available as a combined honours for September 2025 entry

**Single honours course is open for 2026 entry only

Liverpool is the ideal city to study English Literature, with its thriving cultural scene, literary festivals, independent bookshops, and the renowned Central Library. Just a short walk from our Hope Park campus, you’ll also find The Reader Organisation in Calderstones Park—an inspiring hub for literature lovers.

Our English Literature degree explores a wide range of genres and historical periods, from fiction, poetry, and drama to autobiography, essays, travel writing, and slave narratives. You’ll study well-known authors as well as new voices offering fresh perspectives on key themes such as sustainability, identity, wellbeing, and power in society.

This English Literature course also looks beyond the texts themselves, inviting you to engage with the world of books through publishing, marketing, media, and digital technologies. You’ll even work with rare books and manuscripts from Liverpool Hope’s special collections.

Key features of the English Literature degree:

- A broad study of literature across periods, genres, and critical approaches

- Exploration of themes such as the environment, global perspectives, and wellbeing

- Hands-on opportunities in publishing, reading, and digital approaches

- Small group teaching and personalised support from expert tutors

- Employability skills embedded throughout the course

Our teaching team are internationally recognised researchers and published writers. In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), English at Liverpool Hope achieved outstanding results, with over 80% of staff publications rated “world leading” or “internationally excellent.”

By the end of the English Literature course, you’ll graduate with advanced critical, analytical, and communication skills that prepare you for careers in publishing, journalism, teaching, marketing, the creative industries, or further study.

Hear from one of our English Literature students.

SOCIOLOGY

Sociology is the study of how society is organised. It looks at how this organization influences individual attitudes and behaviors. It also examines the impact on social relationships within and between societies. Sociology studies both the current state of the social world and its changes. It explores how people can create positive change.

This degree promotes critical thinking on key issues. These include inequalities, climate change, feminism, social media, AI, racism, poverty, and social justice. You will gain the knowledge and skills to become a change-maker.

Our Sociology degree combines social theory, research methods, and comparisons of different societies. It helps you question common-sense assumptions by addressing personal, local, national, and global issues. You'll gain real-world experience in applying theory and using research methods. You can also focus on social issues that interest you through individual projects.

In line with Liverpool Hope’s commitment to social justice, Sociology seeks to understand modern social issues. It challenges conventional wisdom and emphasises the need for change. Graduates can pursue careers in various industries that require strong interpersonal, research, and creative skills.