Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in English

• Direct entry into the programme. You will begin your literary studies from the first year onwards 

• We have comprehensive coverage of all of the literary periods 

• We offer a suite of modules dedicated to Singapore Literature 

• Our diverse and vibrant community has strengths in contemporary literature and world literature 

• We offer the only creative writing minor in Singapore. We also host famous writers-in-residence from Singapore and around the world 

Unique modules include: children's literature, history of the book, literature & medicine, fantasy fiction, opera & literature, gender & diversity, and many more!

Students with Singapore-Cambridge GCE 'A' level 

A good grade in General Paper/Knowledge & Inquiry/H1 or H2 Level Humanities subject 

Students with NUS High School Diploma 

Good overall CAP in English Language 

Students with IB Diploma 
 
A good grade in Standard Level English 

Please note the following: 

• The grade profiles, GPAs and programme places vary from year to year, depending on the number and performance of applicants, and the number of places available. 

• Meeting the previous year's grade/GPA scores of a programme does not guarantee admission to that programme for the current year.

NTU is increasingly admitting students based on holistic practices including written exams and interviews. For this reason we encourage all interested parties to apply. 

The curriculum is designed as a four-year programme. Well-prepared students can complete the degree in three and a half years. ​

​Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in English are required to complete two categories of requirements, totalling at least 125 Academic Units (AUs):  ​

​A. Major Requirements (69 AUs) ​

B. Interdisciplinary Collaborative Core (ICC) (27 AUs)

C. Broadening & Deepening Electives (BDE) (29 AUs)​

Click here to learn more about the programme structure. 

The BA (Hons) in English combines the traditional core elements of the British literary canon with comprehensive offerings of Asian literature and culture, new literatures in English and film and theatre studies, as well as incorporating contemporary literary and cultural studies. 

Students will acquire a good knowledge of literary texts, authors, and literary movements, as well as the cultural and historical forces that have shaped them.

​Students can pursue in-depth studies in any of the four categories in the English programme such as (A) Period Studies, (B) World Literatures, (C) Theory, Culture, and Film, or (D) Special Interest Areas.

As an English student, you will graduate with an outstanding command of the language, as well as a deep understanding of a wide variety of literatures and cultures. In addition, the study of literature encompasses many other disciplines such as philosophy, religion, history, politics, gender studies, fine arts, etc. Our program will also equip you with strong argumentative, communication, analytical, research, and imaginative skills that will stand you in good stead when it is time to look for a job. 

Stephen Fry (actor, comedian, writer), Andrea Jung (CEO of Grameen America), Jack Ma (Co-founder of Alibaba), Martin Scorsese (director, screenwriter), Emma Watson (actress), Cyril Wong (writer) are all English graduates! 

 
Need more convincing? The following articles talk about the value of studying literature and the humanities: 

• Why Read Literature?, Memoria Press 

• Opinion: Why students persist in studying English lit in a tech world, Montreal Gazette 

• Why Literature Matters: A Youtube Series, Norton Literature 

• The Forgotten Value of a Literature Course, The Chronicle of Higher Education 

• Importance of literature education for the future, Straits Times 

• Why STEM is not enough, Academia.sg: A case for the arts and humanities in the age of tech and coronavirus 

• Why ‘worthless’ humanities degrees may set you up for life, BBC 

• Why tech needs the humanities, TED 

 
Here are some of the sectors in which the skills you gain as an English graduate are marketable: 

• Arts 

• Business and Management 

• Civil Service 

• Education 

• Human Resources 

• Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations 

• Media 

• Publishing 

• Social Work 
  

Minor in English

​Minor in Creative Writing