UK · Bachelor's
University of Oxford
BA English Language and Literature
University of Oxford
Course Overview
Oxford's BA English Language and Literature is the oldest English degree in the world (founded 1894) and consistently ranked #1 globally for English Language and Literature in QS World Rankings by Subject. The 3-year degree spans the full 1,000-year sweep — Old English (Beowulf), Middle English (Chaucer), Renaissance (Shakespeare, Milton), Restoration through Romantic, Victorian, Modernist, and contemporary literature. Students study under one-on-one tutorial supervision, the Oxford pedagogical signature, with leading scholars at colleges like Balliol, Magdalen, Worcester and St John's.
For Sri Lankan applicants this is an exceptional stretch target — entry requires A*AA at A Level with the A* in a humanities subject, plus the ELAT admissions test (Oxford-specific) and a written work submission. Successful applicants typically have 3+ A*s, Olympiad placings, or published creative writing. Oxford English graduates feed into journalism (FT, Economist, BBC), publishing (Penguin Random House), creative writing (Booker winners disproportionately have Oxford English degrees), academia (Oxford / Cambridge / Ivy League PhDs), Civil Service Fast Stream and management consulting (McKinsey, BCG).
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle A Level: A*AA — the A* should ideally be in English Literature or English Language and Literature. // VERIFY 2026 grade requirements
- check_circle IB Diploma: 39 points (with 7,6,6 at Higher Level — at least one HL in English Literature or History).
- check_circle ELAT (English Literature Admissions Test): all applicants must sit this in early November.
- check_circle Written work submission: two pieces of recent A-Level English essays (1,500-2,000 words each).
- check_circle Oxford-specific UCAS application by 15 October — one year earlier than other UK universities.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 7.5 Overall (min 7.0 in each band) — Oxford "Higher" level for Humanities.
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 110 Overall (min 22 Listening, 24 Reading, 25 Writing, 25 Speaking).
- check_circle Cambridge English C2 Proficiency: 191 Overall.
- check_circle Waived if your education was conducted entirely in English for at least 7 years.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (£) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year, 2026 estimate) | £40,500 | Rs. 16,200,000 |
| Oxford College Fee (per year) | £9,500 | Rs. 3,800,000 |
| Living Expenses (per year, Oxford) | £16,000 | Rs. 6,400,000 |
| Student Visa & IHS Fee (3 years) | £2,500 | Rs. 1,000,000 |
| Total Programme Investment (3 years) | £200,500 | Rs. 80,200,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Eligible for the 2-year UK Graduate Route on graduation. Oxford English graduates earn the highest first-graduate salaries in UK Humanities (~£37,000 starting). Top hirers: McKinsey, BCG, Bain (consulting); FT, Economist, BBC, Guardian (journalism); Penguin Random House, HarperCollins (publishing); plus Civil Service Fast Stream, Sotheby's / Christie's, and Oxbridge / Ivy League PhD pathways.
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