english and history joint honours personal statement

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• 4 Common UCAS Personal Statement Issues and How to Resolve Them

The pressure is on, and it’s not helped by the fact that there are a few common problems making things more difficult for some students. We’ve previously given you some tips on how to write an effective personal statement, but in this article, we tackle some of the common issues head-on and show you how to make sure your personal statement still shines.

1. Writing a personal statement for a joint honours course

It’s notoriously tricky to write a personal statement for a joint honours course – that is, a course on which you study two different subjects. Those two subjects may be fairly similar – such as history and archaeology – in which case it should be fairly straightforward to talk about the two subjects and how they work effectively together. However, if the two subjects are very different – such as Birmingham’s Economics with Italian, or Oxford’s Computer Science and Philosophy – you face the challenge of trying to talk equally about your interests in both. It can be hard to know how to structure a personal statement that needs to cover two very different subjects, and it can also be difficult to explain your equal enthusiasm for both and how it came about. Many students writing joint honours personal statements end up talking too much about one and not enough about the other, or talking more naturally and enthusiastically about one than the other. The key points you need to get across when applying for a joint honours course are:

• Your interest in both
• Your aptitude for both, and what you’ve done to develop your interest in them
• Why you want to study them together, and how the two might complement each other
• How you see these two subjects fitting in with your longer-term aims

Rather than trying to talk about both at the same time, you might find it more straightforward to begin by talking about one subject, then the other, and then perhaps adding a line or two about why you think it would be beneficial to study them alongside each other. A slightly different way of doing it would be to talk about the first subject (what motivates you to study it, what aspects particularly interest you, and so on), and then discuss the second in relation to the first, immediately discussing why you think it complements the first and why you think a joint honours course is for you.

To write an effective personal statement, you’ll need to make sure that you’re applying for the same combination of subjects at all your university choices. Your personal statement might sound great if you’re applying for Computer Science and Philosophy at University A, but it will make no sense to University B if you’re applying only for Philosophy. Alternatively, some students choose to write about just one of their joint honours subjects. This leaves them the flexibility to apply for different combinations of subjects, with one in common (such as English and French or English and Spanish). Approaching it this way has the advantage of allowing you to talk in more depth about the main subject; if you’re trying to talk about two subjects in a very limited amount of space, you may not be able to say everything you want to say. On the other hand, if you can show how keen you are on both subjects, and even talk about why you think it makes sense to study both, then your personal statement may come across stronger than that of a student who only talks about one subject, with no explanation as to why they have applied for the joint honours course rather than that one subject on its own.

2. Writing a personal statement for several subtly (or very) different courses

Unless you’re applying for a joint honours course, you’re not going to be able to choose two wildly different subjects, because your personal statement simply won’t work if you try to appeal to admissions tutors from different courses or departments. However, you can choose closely related subjects, and of course some courses are called different things at different universities and cover some different topics. The key here is to look for overlaps in the course content and talk about those. You’ll need to scrutinise the course content closely for each university and draw up a list of the topics that are covered by all of them. Don’t fall into the trap of stating your enthusiasm for studying a particular module if it’s not provided at all your university choices, because it will look odd to the universities who don’t cover it (and may be enough to lose you a potential offer). Avoid specifically naming any course in particular, as this is another dead giveaway to admissions tutors that another university may be your first choice. If you’re writing with your first choice university in mind, be careful that you don’t let slip any information that may reveal this; for example, if you know that the English course at your first-choice university places great emphasis on early English, but your other choices have less of a focus on this aspect, they may be able to tell that your heart lies elsewhere!

3. Explaining a bad grade (or many)

Whether it’s a below-par GCSE grade, or many, or a less-than-brilliant predicted A-level grade, or many, the ease with which you’ll be able to explain this shortfall on your personal statement depends very much on the circumstances surrounding it. Nevertheless, easy or not, it’s definitely worth acknowledging it in your personal statement, because the admissions tutor will have noticed – so it’s no use pretending it’s not the case and hoping they won’t notice. Let’s look at some of the possible reasons for low grades and consider each in turn.

Illness or family problems

This may be a sensitive issue and it’s probably best not to dwell too much on in your personal statement; you don’t want to look as though you are angling for the ‘sympathy vote’. However, genuinely extenuating circumstances that explain a bad grade should be mentioned in passing, along with an explanation of what you’re doing to make up for it and, ideally, evidence to back up your claim that you’re trying to do better. For example, you might say something like: “Although my GCSE English grade was lower than I’d been aiming for due to my falling ill for several weeks during the term before exams, I’ve worked hard to make up for this at A-level, as you can see from my strong AS and predicted grades in this subject.” If you do have extenuating circumstances, your teachers will almost certainly mention them in your references , so you’ll have those to back up what you say. If you’re concerned about how your grades may look, talk to your teachers about it and remind them of the circumstances – this should jog their memory so that they remember to mention it in their references.

You didn’t work hard enough

This is clearly something you can’t admit to in your personal statement, as it will give a very poor impression to admissions tutors. It’s difficult to explain, though, and you may be at a disadvantage even if you’ve since got your act together and improved your grades; there will be many other candidates whose grades are just as good as yours – and better than yours. You certainly can’t feign illness or personal problems as an excuse, because your personal statement then wouldn’t corroborate what your teachers say in your references, and that would arouse suspicion. Your best bet is to try to show what you’re doing to improve, rather than focusing on the reasons.

Acknowledge – briefly – that your grade(s) aren’t as good as you’d like, but tell them what you’re going to improve your forthcoming grades, and prove to them with your intelligent remarks in your personal statement that you are academically gifted. Explain that you’re taking on extra classes to bring your grades up to scratch, or that you’re reading around the subject even more in an effort to improve. Evidence of original thinking in your personal statement – for example, in your comments about what you’ve been reading – may be enough to counter the detrimental effect of a poor grade or grades. If you can provide some evidence that you’ve improved, even better; for instance, if your GCSE grade in Physics wasn’t as good as you were hoping for, but you’re predicted an A in A-level Physics, this is evidence that you are capable of doing better. Without this kind of evidence, you may find that it’s more difficult to win them over; but if the rest of your application is strong, you may just be able to do it.

You’re not academically up to it

This is the hardest reason to account for poor grades, because there isn’t really much you can do about it. If your grades are generally lower than the typical offers of universities you’re applying to, you should be questioning whether or not these universities are actually right for you. There’s nothing wrong with aiming high, within reason; but if you’re going to struggle academically, you’re probably not going to have a particularly enjoyable university experience. This is an issue that you should talk to your teachers about; you need a frank and objective opinion from someone who knows your academic standard. It’s a hard thing to face up to, but you’ll thank yourself in the long run.

4. Not enough extra-curricular activities

Many students worry that they don’t have enough extra-curricular activities to talk about on their personal statements. This needn’t necessarily be a hindrance to you, as personal statements are there primarily to assess your academic interest in and suitability for the subject for which you are applying. In fact, students often make the mistake of devoting too much of their personal statement to talking about extra-curricular activities, which is worse than not having enough to talk about. Hobbies are useful for showing that you’re a well-rounded person, and they’re especially helpful if they have some relevance to your course (for instance, you play in an orchestra and you’re applying to read Music), but for universities in the UK, they’re not the be all and end all that you may have heard they are (American universities may place more importance on them, however). You certainly don’t need a huge long list of them. Here are some of the things you could do about this if you really feel it’s an issue:

• Devote more of your personal statement to talking about aspects of your A-level courses you’ve enjoyed.
• Discuss books you’ve read on the subject, and perhaps towards the end mention what kind of books you enjoy reading in your spare time (they don’t have to be relevant to the course in the context of general comments about your hobbies).
• Spend more time highlighting aspects of the subject that you’re most looking forward to learning more about, and why.
• Talk about the extra-curricular things you’re planning for the summer: you don’t necessarily have to be doing them now. For example, “I’m planning to spend the summer developing my French skills whilst touring France”.
• Take up a new extra-curricular activity right now! They don’t need to know that you’ve only just started it. If you are going to do this, you could score extra brownie points by making it something that not only demonstrates key attributes such as teamwork, but that also has some relevance to the course you’re applying for. It could even be a blog dedicated to something related to your subject.

These are four of the most common issues students encounter when writing personal statements, but as we’ve seen, there is almost always a way around them. If you’re in need of extra advice, don’t be afraid to seek the help of a teacher who knows you and your work. Personal circumstances have a big part to play in university applications (that’s why they’re called ‘personal’ statements!); although it may not seem like it, universities aren’t looking for a generic ‘cookie cutter’ student, and your personal statement probably isn’t as bad as you fear.

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• How to write a personal statement that works for multiple courses

Applying to university

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• Filling in your application
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• The new personal statement for 2026 entry
• How To Write Your Undergraduate Personal Statement
• Fraud and similarity
• How to start a personal statement: The attention grabber
• How to end your personal statement
• Introducing the personal statement tool
• Personal statement dos and don'ts
• What to include in a personal statement
• Using AI and ChatGPT to help you with your personal statement
• Using your personal statement beyond a university application
• Carers, estranged students, refugees, asylum seekers, and those with limited leave to remain
• Personal statement guides
• References for mature students

Yes, it is easier to tailor your personal statement to just the one subject or course – but that doesn't mean doing it for more than one is entirely impossible...

Applying to multiple courses or subjects? Check out our FAQs further down .

Writing a personal statement for more than one course

Ok, it is easier if all five of your choices are the same Throughout our personal statement advice , the message is clear: admissions tutors are very keen to hear why you've chosen that course, the reasons you're so enthusiastic about it,  and what aspects you especially want to learn more about at uni.

This assumes that you have one, specific course in mind, because you can only write one personal statement in your application (in most cases – see below when you can write an additional personal statement ).

But what if your five choices aren't all the same?

With thousands of possible courses , it's hardly surprising that you may find it difficult narrowing down your choices to one specific subject or course.

It's possible that you may want to apply to two quite different courses, or to a mixture of single subject and joint or combined courses (with differing subjects). It isn't even unheard of for a student to apply successfully to five diverse courses with one application.

If you're in this scenario, take care with how you approach your application. But equally, don't be put off from applying to a variety of courses if you're genuinely interested in them.

So how do I write a personal statement for more than one course?

Here are some personal statement pointers depending on how different the courses you're applying to are:

1. If there are only slight differences, or you've chosen joint or combined degrees with slightly different subject combinations...

This shouldn't be a problem. Just try to make everything in your statement as relevant as possible to all five choices. If you've included some joint or combined degree courses, make sure that each discipline or subject is addressed in some way.

2. If there are big differences between your course choices...

It might be possible to blend your statement in such a way that everything you write provides appropriate evidence of your skills, academic interests, and the way you think that's relevant to all of the courses you've chosen.

Alternatively, you could take the honest and transparent approach, and openly explain why you've chosen to apply to different courses by providing reasons or evidence for each.

Whichever approach you take, if some (or all) of your course choices are very competitive, then it's advisable to put across your commitment to your chosen subjects as earnestly as you can. 

3. If just one of your choices is completely different from the others...

It quite often happens that admissions staff will agree to accept a separate personal statement for that specific course, sent directly to them.

However, make sure you contact that particular university first, to make sure that they're aware.

There are also two specific circumstances where choosing one course that's different from the other four might be unavoidable. These are:

• If you're applying for medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine courses, where you're restricted to a maximum of four choices. In this situation, some courses at some universities will be happy to be your fifth choice, despite your statement not being directly relevant to them. However, we would advise contacting these universities directly to discuss your application. 
• If you're applying for a unique or unusual course that's only offered by a small number of universities, then it's quite likely that admissions staff will be used to advising on this issue, and may even provide guidance on their website – check with them directly.

Finally, if in doubt...

Go straight to the horse's mouth: the university themselves.

First, check their website, as they may well have received previous enquiries about this and have published specific advice around it.

Secondly, department staff at a lot of universities will be quite happy to answer a quick email or phone enquiry.

Better still, go to an open day and speak to them face to face. While there will be many other students there too, your conversation may help you stand out later on.

Some courses won't have a problem if they can see that you've applied to a mixture of courses, but some may not make you an offer if your statement lacks focus, which is a risk when applying to multiple subjects.

So don't make assumptions – ask to be safe!

Applying to multiple courses or subjects: Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for different courses on UCAS?

Yes, you can make up to five  choices on your UCAS Undergraduate application. 

Can you apply for different courses at the same university?

Yes, you can apply to more than one course at the same university. For instance, you might apply to a single honours English course and a joint honours English and Media course, both at the same university.

Can you write more than one personal statement?

No, you only write one personal statement that all of your choices see. The same goes if you apply to further universities, or courses in Extra or Clearing. 

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History and English

• Admissions Requirements
• Fees and Funding
• Studying at Oxford

Course overview

UCAS code: VQ13 Entrance requirements: AAA Course duration: 3 years (BA)

Subject requirements

Required subjects: English Literature or English Language and Literature Recommended subjects: History Helpful subjects: Not applicable

Other course requirements

Admissions test:  HAT Written Work: Two pieces

Admissions statistics*

Interviewed: 46% Successful: 12% Intake: 14 Successful for a different course: 7% Applicant intake for a different course: 9 *3-year average 2021-23

History contact

Tel: +44 (0) 1865 615000 Email:  [email protected]

English contact

Tel: +44 (0) 1865 271055 Email:  [email protected]

Unistats information for this course can be found at the bottom of the page

Please note that there may be no data available if the number of course participants is very small.

About the course

A joint degree in History and English requires students to think critically about how we define ‘history’ and ‘literature’, and about how the two disciplines interrelate and, to a large extent, overlap.

Close attention is given to changing methodologies, to the nature of evidence and to styles of argument. It is assumed that historical documents are just as much ‘texts’ as poems, plays or novels, and are therefore as subject to interpretation as works of narrative, rhetoric and, fundamentally, language.

In turn, it is assumed that poems, plays and novels represent historically-grounded ways of interpreting a culture.

Interdisciplinary study has become a thriving area in its own right as scholars have moved away from what would once have been thought of as ‘purely’ historical or literary criticism to a more comparative way of thinking about the written records of the past (including, of course, the very recent past).

The History and English Faculties are among the largest in Britain, with long and distinguished traditions of teaching and research. Students are offered a great deal of choice in the course over their three years, and whether their interests are in the medieval period, the Renaissance, or the later periods, intellectually fruitful combinations are always possible.

The course structure at Oxford is intended to enable students to relate literary and historical ideas as effectively as possible in the investigation of their chosen historical periods, topics or authors. The structure recognises that some students will wish to opt for variety rather than close congruity between their historical and literary papers.

An interdisciplinary approach is embedded in each year of the course, with:

• dedicated classes in the first year as part of the Introduction to English Language and Literature paper
• a bridge paper taken in the second year (examined by extended essay)
• and an interdisciplinary dissertation in the final year.

All interdisciplinary elements of this course are co-taught or co-supervised by a historian and a literary scholar.

Oxford possesses exceptional library provision for both subjects in the Bodleian Library , the History Faculty and English Faculty libraries, other faculty libraries and the college libraries.

Unistats information

Discover Uni  course data provides applicants with Unistats statistics about undergraduate life at Oxford for a particular undergraduate course.

Please select 'see course data' to view the full Unistats data for History and English.

Please note that there may be no data available if the number of course participants is very small. 

Visit the Studying at Oxford section of this page for a more general insight into what studying here is likely to be like.

A typical week

You will have up to two tutorials a week and will often, but not always, be working on two papers simultaneously. Most students attend three to four lectures a week. In the first and second years, you will also attend interdisciplinary classes with both English and History tutors present, in preparation for the bridge paper. For the final-year dissertation you will be allocated an adviser from each discipline. 

Tutorials are usually 2-4 students and a tutor. Class sizes may vary depending on the options you choose. There would usually be no more than around 12 students. 

Most tutorials, classes, and lectures are delivered by staff who are tutors in their subject. Many are world-leading experts with years of experience in teaching and research. Some teaching may also be delivered by postgraduate students who are usually studying at doctoral level.

To find out more about how our teaching year is structured, visit our  Academic Year  page.

Course structure

Years 2 and 3

Visit the  History website  and the  English website  for the latest information on all course details and options.

The content and format of this course may change in some circumstances. Read further information about potential course changes .

Academic requirements 

Wherever possible, your grades are considered in the context in which they have been achieved.

Read further information on  how we use contextual data .

If a practical component forms part of any of your science A‐levels used to meet your offer, we expect you to pass it.

If English is not your first language you may also need to meet our English language requirements .

Astrophoria Foundation Year

If your personal or educational circumstances have meant you are unlikely to achieve the grades listed above for undergraduate study, but you still have a strong interest in the subject, then applying for History and English with a Foundation Year might be right for you.

Visit the Foundation Year course pages for more details of academic requirements and eligibility.

All candidates must follow the application procedure as shown on our  Applying to Oxford  pages.

The following information gives specific details for students applying for this course.

Admissions test

All candidates must take the  History Admissions Test (HAT)  as part of their application. 

All the information you need to arrange to take your test as well as how best to prepare can be found on  your test page .

Written work

Visit our further guidance on the  submission of written work  for more information, and to download a cover sheet.

What are tutors looking for?

Tutors are looking for intellectual curiosity, as well as a flexible approach to engaging with unfamiliar concepts or arguments and an enthusiasm for writing and talking about history, literature and language.

Shortlisted candidates will usually be given at least two interviews, one with the History tutor(s) in the college, and one with the English tutor(s). In the English interview, the candidate may be asked to discuss a piece of prose or verse, provided before or at the interview.

Successful candidates will read widely, and will be interested in pursuing a comparative approach to historical and literary texts. 

Studying this degree provides you with the opportunity to acquire a range of skills valued by recruiters and employers, including the ability to work independently, to evaluate the significance of evidence and to present arguments clearly and persuasively.

Graduates from this course have worked in the media, legal professions, public administration, teaching and finance.

Note: These annual fees are for full-time students who begin this undergraduate course here in 2024. Course fee information for courses starting in 2025 will be updated in September.

We don't want anyone who has the academic ability to get a place to study here to be held back by their financial circumstances. To meet that aim, Oxford offers one of the most generous financial support packages available for UK students and this may be supplemented by support from your college.

Further details about fee status eligibility can be found on the fee status webpage.

For more information please refer to our  course fees page . Fees will usually increase annually. For details, please see our  guidance on likely increases to fees and charges.

Living costs

Living costs at Oxford might be less than you’d expect, as our  world-class resources and college provision can help keep costs down.

Living costs for the academic year starting in 2024 are estimated to be between £1,345 and £1,955 for each month you are in Oxford. Our academic year is made up of three eight-week terms, so you would not usually need to be in Oxford for much more than six months of the year but may wish to budget over a nine-month period to ensure you also have sufficient funds during the holidays to meet essential costs. For further details please visit our  living costs webpage .

• Financial support

**If you have studied at undergraduate level before and completed your course, you will be classed as an Equivalent or Lower Qualification student (ELQ) and won’t be eligible to receive government or Oxford funding

Fees, Funding and Scholarship search

Additional Fees and Charges Information for History and English

There are no compulsory costs for this course beyond the fees shown above and your living costs.

Contextual information

Unistats course data from Discover Uni provides applicants with statistics about a particular undergraduate course at Oxford. For a more holistic insight into what studying your chosen course here is likely to be like, we would encourage you to view the information below as well as to explore our website more widely.

The Oxford tutorial

College tutorials are central to teaching at Oxford. Typically, they take place in your college and are led by your academic tutor(s) who teach as well as do their own research. Students will also receive teaching in a variety of other ways, depending on the course. This will include lectures and classes, and may include laboratory work and fieldwork. However, tutorials offer a level of personalised attention from academic experts unavailable at most universities.

During tutorials (normally lasting an hour), college subject tutors will give you and one or two tutorial partners feedback on prepared work and cover a topic in depth. The other student(s) in your tutorials will be doing the same course as you. Such regular and rigorous academic discussion develops and facilitates learning in a way that isn’t possible through lectures alone. Tutorials also allow for close progress monitoring so tutors can quickly provide additional support if necessary.

Read more about tutorials and an Oxford education

College life

Our colleges are at the heart of Oxford’s reputation as one of the best universities in the world.

• At Oxford, everyone is a member of a college as well as their subject department(s) and the University. Students therefore have both the benefits of belonging to a large, renowned institution and to a small and friendly academic community. Each college or hall is made up of academic and support staff, and students. Colleges provide a safe, supportive environment leaving you free to focus on your studies, enjoy time with friends and make the most of the huge variety of opportunities.
• Porters’ lodge (a staffed entrance and reception)
• Dining hall
• Lending library (often open 24/7 in term time)
• Student accommodation
• Tutors’ teaching rooms
• Chapel and/or music rooms
• Green spaces
• Common room (known as the JCR).
• All first-year students are offered college accommodation either on the main site of their college or in a nearby college annexe. This means that your neighbours will also be ‘freshers’ and new to life at Oxford. This accommodation is guaranteed, so you don’t need to worry about finding somewhere to live after accepting a place here, all of this is organised for you before you arrive.
• All colleges offer at least one further year of accommodation and some offer it for the entire duration of your degree. You may choose to take up the option to live in your college for the whole of your time at Oxford, or you might decide to arrange your own accommodation after your first year – perhaps because you want to live with friends from other colleges.
• While college academic tutors primarily support your academic development, you can also ask their advice on other things. Lots of other college staff including welfare officers help students settle in and are available to offer guidance on practical or health matters. Current students also actively support students in earlier years, sometimes as part of a college ‘family’ or as peer supporters trained by the University’s Counselling Service.

Read more about Oxford colleges and how you choose

Applicants for this course may instead be offered a place for History or for English. 

FIND OUT MORE

• Visit the History Faculty's website
• Visit the English Faculty's website

Our 2024 undergraduate open days will be held on 26 and 27 June and 20 September.

Register to find out more about our upcoming open days.

English Faculty State School's Open Day  - 13 May 2023

Top-ranked history department in the UK

With more than 180 historians, Oxford's submission to REF 2021 was by far the largest in the United Kingdom.

More than 50% of our research* was ranked as 4* (world leading) putting us no. 1 in the country for 'research power'.

*Overall profile, impact and environment.  Visit the REF website for more detail . 

RELATED PAGES

• Which Oxford colleges offer my course?
• Your academic year
• Foundation Year

Related courses

• English Language and Literature
• Foundation Year (Humanities)
• History of Art

FEEL INSPIRED?

Why not have a look at some History magazines such as  History Today  or  BBC History  (which also has  weekly podcasts ). 

You may also like to explore the  British Museum  website or  BBC Radio 4 archives , both of which have excellent links to historical materials. 

For English, visit the University's collection of literary resources on our  Great Writers Inspire site .

You may also like to listen to radio programs such as BBC Radio 4's  In Our Time , or one of the  University's podcast series . 

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Applying for Joint Honours Courses

This page refers to 'joint honours' courses, or those involving the study of more than one subject. It was compiled by students of joint honours courses so contains so invaluable advice!

What do we mean by Joint Honours?

Joint honours means any degree that incorporates multiple subjects within one degree. For example, a student studying French and Spanish would receive one ‘Spanish and French’ degree after graduating, rather than two separate degrees. At Oxford and Cambridge a variety of joint honours degrees are offered, as well as some degrees that are technically single honours but incorporate multiple subjects in similar areas, such as Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford 🔗.

The Joint Honours at Oxbridge

The key difference between Oxford and Cambridge for joint honours is that Oxford offers more combinations of subjects as joint honours degrees. Cambridge meanwhile has a couple of true joint honours degrees ( History and Politics 🔗, History and Modern Languages 🔗) and instead has many single honours that cover a really wide variety of topics, such as Human, Social and Political Sciences 🔗 which can be tailored from the start to individual interests.

Check out the options for courses at Oxford 🔗 and Cambridge 🔗.

Pros and Cons

We’ve compiled a list of pros and cons of taking a joint honours degree from current students across both Oxford and Cambridge. Their honest opinions might help you see whether joint honours is for you, or what to expect from a joint honours course at university.

Why we chose it

‘I liked the idea of a balanced workload between problems and essays and because I was interested in how both subjects interact’ - History and Economics at Oxford

‘I didn’t want to narrow my studies...I thought they complemented each other well.’ - Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford

‘I really wanted to maximise my options and have the widest variety of topics possible to study. I didn’t like the idea of having to specialise early or narrow my study too much so joint honours was perfect.’ - History and Politics at Cambridge.

‘I remember thinking doing one straight degree would be quite intense.’ - Philosophy, Psychology and Linguistics at Oxford

Applying for Joint Honours

Applying for joint honours is fairly similar to the standard application process for Oxbridge. However, your personal statement will be expected to address all the subjects within the joint honours, so make sure your personal statement integrates all the subjects and gives each one fair weighting.

Make sure you double-check which admissions assessments are required for your application. You may be required to take additional assessments such as the TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment) 🔗.

At the interview stage, you will likely have one interview for each subject of the joint honours. This means making sure you’re prepared for both! You can use our interview insights 🔗 🌟 to help you prepare for your interviews.

You can also check out our Course and Subject Guides 🔗 🌟 to check out whether certain joint honours courses might work for you.

Did you spot a typo or formatting issue? Let us know by emailing us at [email protected] .

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Joint honours language degree personal statement

I know there might be barely any people on here that see this post that know the answer to this but it’s worth a shot. I study russian french and maths at A level and want to do Russian and German (ab initio) at university. I barely have any knowledge of German as I didn’t do a GCSE or A level (I would have done but the timetabling at my school meant that you had to do Russian OR German. How much, if any, about German should I write in my PS? I guess this works for any joint honours with a new subject as well. I have things I could say about my interest but I can’t speak German. What would be expected? Thank you

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History & english literature personal statement example.

History and English Literature have been by far my most exciting studies in the Sixth Form. Ever since discovering historical literature I have been engrossed by the way the two disciplines coexist and entwine, an interest intensified by school ventures to the Reichstag building, Ypres battlefield and Auschwitz.

My drive to understand the intricacies of foreign relations and populist rebellion has inspired me to study transcripts of tapes recorded during the Cuban Missile Crisis and read Zola's 'Germinal' respectively. Literature and History are, to me, inextricably linked. To explore the consequences of war, revolution and social change upon a generation of poets, playwrights and authors is to understand the making of the modern world, and it is that which I find so utterly compelling.

It strikes me as essential that Literature students should understand the social conditions in which their favourite authors were inspired or condemned. My study of the James Baldwin novels 'Giovanni's Room' and 'Another Country' offered absorbing accounts of rage, sexuality and racial segregation, paralleling the momentum of the Civil Rights Movement in 1960s America. Baldwin's evocative experiences within the novel urged me to study the turbulence of the Kennedy Presidency in my History coursework.

I am deeply passionate about investigating the relationship between literary works and historical context and aspire to continue in this field after University; therefore I am confident that a joint degree in History and English Literature is the ideal course for me.

Studying Politics at A Level has greatly complemented my study of both History and English Literature by enabling me to assess the complicated relationships of power that exist today while improving my critical essay-writing skills. Studying Drama to AS Level has not only increased my confidence and public speaking abilities but taught me the importance of teamwork and commitment to the cast.

I have used these skills in the school Debating Society, of which I am a founding member and have recently qualified for the regional round of the Debating Matters competition. Research required for debate preparation has broadened my knowledge of political and scientific topics relevant today and taught me how to form cohesive, rational arguments and authenticate evidence.

I took part in a Mediabox course in which I wrote and directed a short film in July 2007. This provided me with the ability to accept constructive criticism and strengthened my written work. I am also an aspiring poet and regularly attend the poetry discussion group at my local bookshop.

This has allowed me to receive feedback, refine and develop my own literary style. One of my biggest achievements was being asked to read in the Northern Liners festival last year at Newcastle's Literary and Philosophical Society.

As a regular speaker at UK Youth Parliament meetings I have had the opportunity to structure and maintain arguments and represent the viewpoints of others in an engaging and imaginative format. Assisting in History lessons as a classroom supporter has allowed me to offer guidance, listen and relate to younger students.

Being a Ranger at a local Guiding branch for three years and currently undertaking the v50 voluntary project has also taught me the values of organisation and time management; with careful planning I am able to meet all deadlines.

Having thoroughly enjoyed my A Level studies so far, the challenges and opportunities that a joint degree in History and English Literature will provide is a thrilling prospect and I eagerly look forward to my time at University.

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This personal statement was written by lolcartz1991 for application in 2000.

lolcartz1991's Comments

I'm pretty happy with my personal statement. With it I applied to Cardiff, Southampton, Lancaster, Leicester and St. Andrews universities last week. I hope it helps :)

This personal statement is unrated

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Wed, 17/10/2012 - 20:08

This personal statement is inspiring, informative, and above all helpful. I want to study the same course as you and how you structure and write your personal statement has been important in helping me think about my personal statement when I apply next year. Thank you!

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English and Comparative Literary Studies

Joint honours.

This information is not for Q300 English, QW34 English and Theatre or VQ32 English and History students, but is for any student doing a joint hons degree with English, where their home department is elsewhere.

That is those on English and Creative Writing; English and French; English and German; English and Italian; English and Classics; Film and Literature; Philosophy and Literature; Philosophy, Literature and Classics; English and Hispanic Studies, and modules as part of the Liberal Arts English Pathway, or Centre for Lifelong Learning.

In the lead up to welcome week you will find links on the right-hand side of the page (or at the bottom of page on some mobile devices) are induction handouts to help you navigate your English modules and sign-up. These will also be available at the induction itself.

Here's a summary checklist of things you need to do in the first weeks relating to the English side of your degree:

1. Enrol   2. Attend the Joint Honours Induction - Wednesday 27th September, 14.00 – 15.00pm in FAB 0.08 3. Find the Library 4. Register for your modules (see induction sheet for instructions) 5. Buy your books. 6. Wellbeing 7. Later in term, use the ECLS Academic Writing moodle (link on right) for help with essays.

Finally, if you need help in the first week with the "English" aspect of your degree, contact the Undergraduate Office Link opens in a new window or contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies for first years, Dr Sarah Wood .

The Autumn term officially begins on Monday 2nd October 2023 (week 1). You should already have enrolled on-line before this date, but if not, please make sure that you do so as soon as possible.

If you have been unable to enrol from home or elsewhere before arrival at the University, you can get access to the internet to enrol from the suite of PCs in the Student Computer Centre. Please see University enrolment information for full details.

Induction Meetings

All Joint honours students should attend the ECLS induction

Wednesday 27th September, 14.00 – 15.00pm in FAB 0.08

The Bookshop

Course books are available for purchase from Blackwells . All course book lists should be available by the beginning of term but you don't need to purchase them all at the same time and you may find specific editions and price comparisons here . Pay attention to whether modules specify certain editions.

There is also a collection of free pre-owned books Link opens in a new window and journals donated by staff and former students who were keen to pass these on to current undergraduates - especially those who find it challenging to purchase all the required texts. We have a range of books from first and honours years modules, as well as texts that may support your wider reading.

You should check the module reading list by typing in the module code or module name on Talis Aspire Link opens in a new window to see if the library has hard/e-copies available.

If you have trouble locating a text, inform your module convenor immediately.

Social Announcements

Look out for notices inviting you to join the huge range of the university's social clubs – including the Lit.Soc , Freshblood, and Warwick University Drama Society.

Your wellbeing is supported by the university and the department throughout your time at Warwick. Your first port of call will be your Personal Tutor and for particularly serious issues your Home department Senior Tutor and they will inform us of anything you wish to share / we need to know. See HERE .

Useful Links:

ECLS UG Handbook

ECLS Academic Writing Moodle Link opens in a new window

Welcome to Warwick

The University Library

Warwick Lit.Soc Facebook page

Transformations: Teaching in Local Schools

The Students' Union

Interactive Campus Map

ECLS UG SSLC Link opens in a new window

Induction handouts

Liberal Arts (Eng Pathway)

Centre for Lifelong Learning

Film and Literature

English and Creative Writing

Classics and English

Philosophy, Literature, and Classics

Philosophy and Literature

English and French

English and German

English and Italian

English and Hispanic Studies

Induction Powerpoints:

These will be available by the end of Welcome Week.

Induction Weds 2-3pm Link opens in a new window

Joint honours personal statement?

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