The University of Sydney

Bachelor of Arts (English)

Nationally Recognised Higher Education

An English major will introduce you to a wide range of literary and cultural works including poems, plays, novels and films that extend from medieval times to the present day. You will encounter the richness, breadth and depth of the department's research and teaching culture, allowing you to customise your study according to your interests.

Areas of specialisation include Old and Middle English (800-1500); Early Modern (1500-1750); Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century; Modern and Contemporary; Australian, American, British and World literatures; literary theory; cultural, gender, postcolonial and transnational studies; film, multimedia, linguistics and language studies; and creative writing.

You will learn to analyse and explain the formal and linguistic features of texts, aspects of their genre and history, and their dynamic role in local and global cultures. You will formulate and pursue meaningful theories of critical analysis, reading communities and literary value.

Delivery mode

The University of Sydney offers this course through the following delivery modes:

On campus

Work with instructors and classmates in a supportive and collaborative environment.


Locations
  • Camperdown
  • J12/1 Cleveland St, Darlington
  • Manning Rd, Camperdown
  • Level 2, Building A M02/88 Mallett St, Camperdown

Entry requirements

Domestic Students

  • There are no mandated entry requirements.

A secondary education qualification such as the NSW Higher School Certificate (including national and international equivalents), OR approved higher education study, including approved preparation courses

If English is your first language, you may be able to meet the English language requirements if you have:

  • Citizenship or permanent long-term residency (minimum ten years), AND
  • Completed secondary or higher education (tertiary) studies recognised by the University in an approved English-speaking country

If English is not your first language, you may be able to prove English proficiency with an approved English skills test taken within 2 years of commencing the course.

  • IELTS A minimum result of 6.5 overall
  • TOEFL - IBT: A minimum result of 85 overall
  • Pearsons Test of English: A minimum result of 61 overall

A secondary education qualification such as the NSW Higher School Certificate (including national and international equivalents), OR approved higher education study, including approved preparation courses

If English is your first language, you may be able to meet the English language requirements if you have:

  • Citizenship or permanent long-term residency (minimum ten years), AND
  • Completed secondary or higher education (tertiary) studies recognised by the University in an approved English-speaking country

If English is not your first language, you may be able to prove English proficiency with an approved English skills test taken within 2 years of commencing the course.

  • IELTS A minimum result of 6.5 overall
  • TOEFL - IBT: A minimum result of 85 overall
  • Pearsons Test of English: A minimum result of 61 overall
Additional requirements may apply.

Course fees

Estimated Fee* $45,426 - $139,500 Fees are based on full-time study.
* Fees are indicative only and vary based on your circumstances and eligibility for government funding.
Standard Tuition:
$45,426
Full Fee Tuition:
$139,500
Enquire with The University of Sydney to find out more.
Study mode On Campus
Duration 3 Years
Estimated fee* $45,426 - $139,500 Support may be available

Career opportunities

The Bachelor of Arts (English) will prepare you for the following roles.

Author

Authors are professional writers who write books for publication and sale, either fiction or non-fiction. They develop their original ideas into a ...

Avg yearly income $98,800
Entry barriers Low

Copywriter

A Copywriter produces written material for use in advertising and promotional material. You might write about a product or service or about an orga...

Avg yearly income $93,340
Entry barriers Low

English Teacher

An English Teacher instructs students in reading, writing, grammar, and literature across secondary education levels. Key duties include planning a...

Avg yearly income $109,980
Entry barriers Low

Freelance Writer

Freelance Writers are writing professionals who work on their own terms for a range of business clients and/or media outlets. They are usually self...

Avg yearly income $78,000
Entry barriers Low

Journalist

A Journalist writes and presents news stories in a range of media formats. You might research news events and conduct interviews with news subjects...

Avg yearly income $79,976
Entry barriers Low

Writer

A Writer writes fiction and nonfiction pieces for a range of purposes. You might specialise in a particular type of writing such as poetry, short s...

Avg yearly income $85,020
Entry barriers Low

About The University of Sydney

We’re ranked in the top 20 universities in the world.

Our excellence in research and teaching makes the University of Sydney one of the top universities in Australia and highly ranked among the best universities in the world.

We excel across an incredible breadth and depth of subjects and disciplines in university rankings, from arts to architecture, engineering to education, geography to technology, and business.

For over 170 years, we’ve been finding innovative solutions to the problems that matter. Our vision for the next decade is unashamedly aspirational: to be known as a place where our education is transformational, where our community thrives through diversity, and our research tackles the world’s greatest challenges. Whether in small steps, or giant leaps, the things we do today will change tomorrow. When leadership is for all of us, it is leadership for good.