Study English Literature surrounded by the iconic scenery which inspired some of Britain’s greatest writers – including Wordsworth, Ransome, Potter and Ruskin.
Our DipHE course is a gateway to a full BA (Hons) English Literature degree, so if you’re successful in your foundation year, you can transfer onto the full three-year programme if you wish.
You’ll explore the development of English Literature from the Renaissance to the present in global and regional contexts, in idyllic Cumbria, on the doorstep of the Lake District National Park – now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Why choose University of Cumbria
This is not your average English Literature course – it’s much more.
You’ll write essays, just as you would on any other English Literature degree, but in addition you’ll also develop the skills required for the contemporary workplace by scripting and recording a mock radio programme, designing a webpage, and even submitting a ‘job application’ assessed by academic and careers staff.
- Excellent working relationships with literary and cultural organisations such as Brantwood, Dove Cottage and the National Trust
- Field trips to places which inspired some of Britain's literary greats, to enrich your studies
- Taught by tutors who all research and publish in their specialist areas
- Small class sizes enable us to guide and work closely with you throughout your studies
- Opportunities to get involved with Carlisle’s thriving literary scene and local literary festivals
- Boost your job prospects by developing contemporary communication skills
- Study on our dedicated and creative arts campus at Brampton Road in Carlisle, where the River Eden - once described by the poet William Wordsworth as his “life’s neighbour” - flows through the adjacent and beautiful parkland
On our course, your passion for literature will be embraced and empowered while you develop strong and relevant employment skills that will bolster your CV to help you stand out from the crowd to future employers.
Course study options
This course is also available as a full bachelor's degree.
Graduate destinations
A DipHE in English Literature suits a range of careers demanding high-level analytical, interpretative, written and oral communication skills. Most of the students enrolled on the DipHE programme progress onto and complete the full BA (Hons) English Literature degree. Recent graduates from the BA have gone into teaching, lecturing, the cultural heritage sector, and work with major national organisations and companies.
Many English Literature graduates use their degree as the basis for further study and training in order to pursue high level ‘graduate’ work in a wide variety of fields. For the latest on what English graduates see the publication ‘What do graduates do?’.
How my Cumbria English degree helped land me my dream job
English Graduate Chandni Asher's story
After leaving, I went straight onto a Graduate Scheme with Network Rail entitled MSc Project and Programme Management. It is specially designed by Network Rail to prepare their candidates for entering the business after a year long Masters Course in a Project Management capacity. The Scheme is open to any graduate in any discipline from any UK university – they don’t usually take English graduates!
When looking at the job specification, I first identified the core skills from my time at university: time management, research, analysis and application. But it wasn’t just the skills I gained from the degree that helped me. The opportunities you have being a part of the department and the university are invaluable. Whilst with UoC, I took on extra responsibilities to gain experience. Being a cohort student rep, for example, can present you with unusual communication tasks that you may have never come across before since your role is to act as a go-between/buffer for students and tutors and, sometimes, university staff.
What’s important about this English degree is that it doesn’t just develop essential skills in for your work life. The tutors make the effort to push you (gently) out of your comfort zone to show you exactly how much you can do. That is why when doing modules such Literature in Media and English in the World is so important: it will challenge you and help you understand your own personal skill set. It was through the English in the World module that I found myself being good at project management!
Course outline
Course summary
All students follow a common pathway in the first year, providing a solid foundation for the study of English literature and developing a range of skills in critical and cultural analysis. You will have the opportunity to study a wide variety of texts drawn from different cultures and socio-historical contexts, and to explore the treatment of literature and literary topics within the contemporary media industry.
In your second year you develop a more in-depth understanding of major shifts in the development of an English literary tradition, focusing on significant literary periods, contexts, and developments. This will include at least one module exploring eighteenth or pre-eighteenth century literature which, apart from increasing your understanding of the development of English Literature, will also equip you to cover the National Curriculum should you be interested in teaching at a later stage. As part of our concern to develop your understanding of how literary texts live on in the world, all our students also follow a compulsory module applying knowledge of literature to real-world contexts. You will visit and study a regional cultural heritage site, and gain insights into the cultural heritage industry. You will develop new skills on this module, including designing and producing a webpage.
Most DipHE students progress to the third year of the BA (Hons) English Literature. See our BA (Hons) pages for what you would study in your final year.
Modules
Year one
Compulsory modules
- Texts and Contexts
- Introduction to Literary Studies
- Texts and Readers
- Travels in Poetry
- Literature in the Media
- Reading for Writing
Year two
Compulsory modules
- Early Modern Writing
- Texts in the World
- Research Skills for English
- Literature and the Environment
Optional modules (subject to availability and demand)
- British Romanticism: Literature in an Age of Revolution
- Literature in the Victorian Period
- Gothic Literature
- Literature and Film
- Shakespeare
- Poetry and Place
Programme Specification
For detailed summary of all course content please read our programme specification for this course.
Entry requirements
2017 entry
56 UCAS tariff points - to preferably include an A-level in English Literature.
Find out more about qualification options from the UCAS tariff table.
Please check selection criteria for any additional entry requirements.
2018 entry
56 UCAS tariff points - to preferably include an A-level in English Literature.
Please check selection criteria for any additional entry requirements.
Selection Criteria
Apart from looking at predicted grades, we read the UCAS form carefully, paying particular attention to personal statements.
We value applicants with non-traditional entry profiles and welcome informal approaches to discuss how other qualifications and experience may be relevant to an application for a place.
The programme seeks to widen access by means of a flexible admissions policy and applicants who do not present the normal entry requirements may be required to submit a short piece of work to enable us to assess their aptitude for the progamme.
Application information
Full-time courses
Apply online through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), between September and January; they will send your application on to us. Applications submitted after this date will be considered late and the course you have applied for might be full by this time; however, we will consider you for alternative suitable courses.
Their website provides all the information you need about universities, courses, locations, entry requirements and financial support. You are allowed to select up to five course choices. You need to use the correct UCAS campus and course codes as not all courses are offered at every campus. You will be asked for the following information when you apply online:
Institution code name: UoC
Institution code: C99
Campus location:
- A Ambleside
- B Brampton Road, Carlisle
- E University of Cumbria at Energus, Workington
- F Fusehill Street, Carlisle
- L Lancaster
- T University of Cumbria in London
- Y University of Cumbria at Furness College, Barrow-in-Furness
Part-time courses
Applications should be made online directly to the university; visit our website or contact enquirycentre@cumbria.ac.uk for details and guidance. There is no official closing date but we would encourage you to apply as early as possible, as many courses are competitive.
What makes a good application?
We consider all aspects of your application, not simply your qualifications and grades. We look at your academic background and performance, relevant experience (particularly for professional courses where some voluntary or paid experience is required) and your reference. Above all, we look for motivation, commitment and potential-evidence that you can benefit from study at higher education level.
Make sure you include:
- Relevant qualifications/evidence of ability: check our website for the specific entry requirements required for each course. Tell us your previous academic results and your projected grades.
- A supportive reference, from an employer or your school or college.
- A good personal statement.
- Explain clearly what attracts you to the course and tell us about your wider interests and experience. If you are applying for a course that incorporates professional training and placements, you should include any relevant experience or visits you have made in the workplace. Highlight your individual strengths and qualities, personal skills, capacity for teamwork, contribution to the community and your enterprise, originality and determination. Select some activities which bring out these qualities.
What next?
When we receive your application, we will send you an acknowledgement and if you are successful at this stage you will get either an offer (with an invitation to visit the campus to which you have applied), or an invitation to interview on a particular date. If we are not able to offer you a place on your chosen course we will usually try to offer you a place on a similar course and will contact you to discuss this. Alternatively, if we think you are suitable, but cannot offer you a place on your preferred campus because of the level of competition, we will offer you a place at another campus if one is available.
And if I accept?
The admissions team will contact you and send further information from February onwards about accommodation, and from May/June onwards about preparing to join the university. If you have any other queries, please telephone the admissions offices for information and advice on 0845 6061144.
Deferred entry
We welcome applications for deferred entry on some courses. If you have specific plans during your year out, indicate these on your personal statement as they may be relevant to your course and could enhance your application.
International students
Applications for full-time undergraduate study are made through UCAS. Please see the international pages of our website for full details of our entry requirements (including English-language skills) as well as contacts for advice and support.
From 2009 the UK Border Agency introduced a Points-Based Immigration System (PBS) for students coming to the UK from outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Students entering higher education will need to obtain a Confirmation of Acceptance (CAS) plus finance confirmation to obtain a Tier 4 student visa. UK education providers are licensed by the UK Border Agency. When students apply for their visa (or entry clearance) they will need a valid Certificate of Acceptance of Studies from the university. Please note that a CAS is not a guarantee that a visa will be issued.
See the following websites for further details:www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk
Tuition fees for UK students
The following tuition fees are for undergraduate students studying in the 2018/19 academic year (between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2019). This includes new students starting in 2018/19 and continuing students who began in 2016/17 or 2017/18.
Full-time
| Course | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| BA, BSc, BEng or LLB | £9,250 |
| DipHE or CertHE | £9,250 |
| FdA or FdSc | £9,250 |
| BA, BSc with integrated foundation year | £6,000 (year 1) BA or BSc fee for the year of study applies in years 2-4 |
| Sandwich or placement year | £1,650 |
Please note: These fees apply to the 2018/19 academic year only and may be subject to inflationary increases in subsequent years of study.
Paying your fees
Most students choose to take a student loan. If you are taking a student loan, you won't have to do a thing - the Student Loan Company will pay your fees directly to the university. For more information, please see the student finance section.
If you decide not to take a student loan, you can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. You can pay in full or spread out the cost through a maximum of three instalments. To discuss instalments, email us at accountsreceivableteam@cumbria.ac.uk.
Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students university and personal email accounts.
Make a payment - without an invoice
Make a payment - with an invoice
Part-time
The tuition fees for part-time courses are based on the full-time fee. It may be calculated either pro-rata or by module, depending on the type of course. To confirm whether your course is modular or pro-rata, please contact uocadmissions@cumbria.ac.uk.
Modular billing
Most part-time students are invoiced by module in each semester. If your programme allows the extension of study beyond the standard period of enrolment, modular billing enables you to study at a rate you can afford, and over a period of time which suits you.
The tuition fee payable for each module is based on the full-time fee for the relevant year of study. These fees represent the cost of studying for 120 credits in a year. For 2018/19, this means that each 10 credit module will cost £771. The tuition fee payable for modules will increase by inflation each year.
Pro-rata billing
Some courses are calculated on a pro-rata basis, by taking the cost of the equivalent full-time course and dividing it by the number of years it will take to complete. Please note that some course fees may be subject to inflation.
Paying your fees
Most students choose to take a student loan. If you are taking a student loan, you won't have to do a thing - the Student Loan Company will pay your fees directly to the university. For more information, please see the below.
If you decide not to take a student loan, you can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students university and personal email accounts.
Student loans
If you are from the UK, you can apply for a loan to help with the cost of university fees. There are two types of loans you may be able to apply for - tuition fee and maintenance loans.
NB. Apply by 25 May 2018 to ensure you receive your loan money in time for September 2018.
Full-time
Tuition fee loans
Full time students from the UK can apply for a tuition fee loan up to £9,250 for 2018/19. This is paid directly to the university each year, and is not dependent on your household income.
When applying for your student loan, you will need to contact the relevant student funding authority for the area in which you live. Your loan application is likely to take around 2 months to finalise so it is important to complete your application as soon as possible. We recommend completing your application by the end of May (new students) or June (continuing students) to avoid any delays in receiving your funding.
Students enrolling on NHS programmes can, subject to eligibility, qualify for a student loan even if they have accessed student loan funding for other programmes in the past.
Maintenance loans
You can apply for a maintenance loan to assist with meeting living costs such as food, accommodation and travel expenses. These are normally paid in three instalments throughout the university year directly to your bank account.
Depending on household income, students may be able to apply for the following amounts in 2018/19 (subject to parliamentary approval):
| Living at Home | Up to £7,324 |
| Living away from home (outside of London) | Up to £8,700 |
| Living away from home (in London) | Up to £11,354 |
| Studying abroad (for 1 year) | Up to £9,963 |
You can work out how much of a loan you are entitled to apply for using the Student Finance Calculator.
Repaying your loan
Graduates with a home address in England, who have a student loan, only start repaying their tuition fee loan the April after graduation and once they earn over £21,000 per year, and then only on the amount above £21,000 (e.g. £7 a month for earners of £21,000).
To repay the whole amount you would need to earn £37,000 a year or more (and even then it would still take up to 30 years). This means you may have some (or even all) of your loan written off.
These loans attract interest which is charged at different rates depending on your earnings. For more details on interest rates, please visit the Student Loans Company website. Please note that the terms of student loans are set by the Government rather than the University.
Part-time
Tuition fee loans are available for students studying for their first higher education qualification which is at least 25% of the intensity of the equivalent full-time course. CPD students may also be eligible for a loan based on level of study, intensity of the course and prior study.
These loans are not means-tested and you can be apply for up to the maximum amount of your fees, which is £6,935 in 2017/18. Tuition fee loans are paid directly to the university so you don’t have to worry about arranging payment.
Eligible courses include:
- a Bachelor's Degree, e.g. BA, BSc or LLB;
- a Foundation Degree (FdA, FdSc);
- a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE);
- a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE);
- Initial Teacher Training (ITT).
From 2018/19, the Government intends to introduce maintenance loans for eligible part-time students who are resident in England. When the details have been finalised, they will appear on the gov.uk website. We will update this page once the arrangements are known.
Depending on your circumstances, you may also qualify for additional support.
For more information about funding for part-time study, you can download this handy guide.
We recommend applying to your local funding body as soon as the application process opens in January/February. You do not need to have an offer of a place before you apply-just put down which university and course would be your first choice on your application. You can change this information very easily online later.
For more guidance on applying for a student loan, visit the Student Room's student finance guide.
What if I've studied before?
Health students
Students enrolling on a Nursing, Midwifery or Allied Health Professional course in England on or after 1 August 2017 may qualify for a student loan even if they have accessed student loan funding for other programmes in the past. Subject to eligibility
Other students
If you have undertaken any other previous Higher Education study, it is important to be aware that this can sometimes have an impact on the student funding, including tuition fee loans, available to you when you start a new course.
This is a complex area. If you are not sure of your entitlement to funding, it is really important that you seek advice from your funding organisation or with a Student Money Adviser who can clarify exactly how your previous study will impact on your future student funding entitlement.
Financial support
There's a range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and other funding available to support you in getting your degree.
Scholarships and Bursaries
Cumbria Bursary (first year undergraduate students)
The Cumbria Bursary is our financial award for first year UK or EU undergraduate students commencing their studies in the 2018/19 academic year. It is a non-repayable bursary designed to support students with a household income of less than £25,000.
In 2018/19 there are up to 90 full or part time Cumbria Bursaries available, worth £1,000 per year of study (full time) or £500 per year of study (part time) for up to 3 years for students entering onto full time or substantive part time* undergraduate programmes.
There are a further 15 Cumbria Bursaries available for students entering onto courses with integrated foundation years; these are worth £1000 per year for up to 4 years.
NHS courses
If you are studying an NHS course (ie. Nursing, Midwifery, Occupational Therapy, Diagnostic Radiography, Physiotherapy), the university will cover the costs of your uniform, DBS check and occupational health check if you enrol onto an undergraduate programme in 2018/19.
The NHS has not yet confirmed the financial support arrangements for students enrolling in 2018/19. In 2017/18, this included, for eligible students:
- a non-repayable grant of £1,000 per year for students with eligible child dependents
- access to exceptional support of up to £3,000 per year for those students in severe hardship
- support for excess travel and dual accommodation expenses incurred due to attending practice placements.
Further details of the 2017/18 arrangements are available on the NHSBSA website. We will provide an update once the arrangements for 2018/19 are confirmed.
Social Work bursary
It is possible for some undergraduate Social Work students to receive a bursary to support their studies in their second or subsequent years. The number of people who can get a bursary is limited (or capped), therefore there is no guarantee you’ll receive a bursary in your 2nd year. The university will provide a shortlist of students to the NHSBSA who will then assess bursary applications. Full details are available on the NHSBSA website.
Progression Scholarship (first year undergraduate students from partner colleges)
If you’re a student of any of the following colleges, you might be eligible for one of our Partnership Progression Scholarships for those applying to the university immediately after Further Education:
- Blackburn College
- Bury College
- Carlisle College
- Doncaster College
- Furness College
- Kendal College
- Lakes College West Cumbria
- Lancaster and Morecambe College
- Newton Rigg (Askham Bryan) College
- Northumberland College
- Southport College
We have up to 35 Progression Scholarships available for students starting study in the 2018/19 academic year.
The awards are worth £500 in total, these non-repayable grants are paid directly to your bank account in the first year only. The Progression Scholarship may be received alongside the Cumbria Bursary if a recipient is eligible and ranked to receive both awards.
Gymnastics scholarship (first year undergraduate sport students)
Are you a passionate gymnast? Do you want to study for a degree at a university that gives you the support to continue your passion?
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the University of Cumbria, we are offering a fantastic gymnastics scholarship opportunity to 10 successful applicants to the following undergraduate sport degree courses to start in September 2018 in Lancaster:
- BSc (Hons) Sport & Exercise Science
- BSc (Hons) Sport Rehabilitation
- BA (Hons) Sport Coaching and Physical Education
The scholarship will include 10 items:
- £1,000 off accommodation (£500 semester 1 and £500 semester 2)
- Free Biomechanical Analysis
- Free Fitness Testing
- Free lifestyle coaching
- Free Sport Psychology support
- Free Access to Sport Rehabilitation clinics
- Free nutrition advice
- If you hold suitable coaching qualifications, you will have the opportunity to coach at the nationally renowned Lancaster Gymnastics Club and ‘earn while you learn.’
- Access free training at the Lancaster Gymnastic Club if you are of competition standard.
- Flexibility in your study to allow international competition.
This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who is passionate about continuing their development in gymnastics-acrobatics or trampolining, and wants to be surrounded by people with the expertise to help them achieve this while studying towards a degree in sport.
Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme (ELCAS) - Armed forces personnel
We are proud to be a registered learning provider with the Ministry of Defence's ELCAS scheme. ELCAS is a scheme run by the Ministry of Defence to provide financial support to Armed Forces personnel (both serving and service leavers) to study a course at university.
Additional grants
If you have special circumstances, you may be able to get additional funding to help support you during your course.
For students with children
- Parents’ Learning Allowance - means-tested on household income. Maximum available £1,669
- Childcare Grant - means-tested on household income. A maximum of 85% of your weekly childcare costs may be paid on your behalf, up to £164.70 per week for one child and £282.36 per week for two or more children. For example, if childcare for one child is £150, you may receive a £127.50 grant (85% of £150).
For students with adult dependants
- Adult Dependants’ Grant - means-tested on household income. Maximum available £2,925.
For students with a disability or specific learning difficulty
- Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)— students with a disability or specific learning difficulty may be eligible to receive help towards enabling costs; eg non-medical helper, specialist equipment etc.
Armed Forces
- If you currently serve (or have recently served) within the Armed Forces and wish to enhance your education, then you can receive help covering your funding through the Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme. Find out more.
NHS Learning Support Fund
Eligible students on a nursing, midwifery or Allied Health Professional course may be able to access support from the NHS Learning Support Fund:
- a non-repayable grant of £1,000 per year for students with eligible child dependents
- access to exceptional support of up to £3,000 per year for those students in severe hardship
- support for excess travel and dual accommodation expenses incurred due to attending practice placements.
More information and eligibility criteria
Support funds
Depending on your circumstances, you might be able to qualify for extra funding. There are a number of different Awards and Funds that might be helpful should you require financial aid.
Visit our support funds page for more details.
Accommodation
From only £10 per night, we provide the lowest cost student accommodation in the North West. Check out our accommodation page for a full price list and more details about the residences.
Read more
Heating, lighting, water and internet costs are included in your rent and full-time students don't pay council tax.
Paying your accommodation fees
At the beginning of term, you will receive an email confirming your accommodation, your accommodation fees and a quick payment link. Please ensure that you have your student ID available prior to entering the online payments site.
Tuition fees for EU students
The following tuition fees are for undergraduate students studying in the 2018/19 academic year (between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2019). This includes new students starting in 2018/19 and continuing students who began in 2016/17 or 2017/18.
Full-time
These fees apply to the 2018/19 academic year only and may be subject to inflationary increases in subsequent years of study.
| Course | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| BA, BSc, BEng or LLB | £9,250 |
| DipHE or CertHE | £9,250 |
| FdA or FdSc | £9,250 |
| BA, BSc with integrated foundation year | £6,000 (year 1) BA or BSc fee for the year of study applies in years 2-4 |
| Sandwich or placement year | £1,650 |
Please note: These fees apply to the 2018/19 academic year only and may be subject to inflationary increases in subsequent years of study.
Paying your fees
Most students choose to take a student loan. If you are taking a student loan, you won't have to do a thing - the Student Loan Company will pay your fees directly to the university. For more information, please see the Student Loans section.
If you decide not to take a student loan, you can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. You can pay in full or spread out the cost through a maximum of three instalments. To discuss instalments, email us at accountsreceivableteam@cumbria.ac.uk.
Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students university and personal email accounts.
Make a payment - without an invoice
Make a payment - with an invoice
Part-time
The tuition fees for part-time courses are based on the full-time fee. It may be calculated either pro-rata or by module, depending on the type of course. To confirm whether your course is modular or pro-rata, please contact uocadmissions@cumbria.ac.uk.
Modular billing
Most part-time students are invoiced by module in each semester. If your programme allows the extension of study beyond the standard period of enrolment, modular billing enables you to study at a rate you can afford, and over a period of time which suits you.
The tuition fee payable for each module is based on the full-time fee for the relevant year of study. These fees represent the cost of studying for 120 credits in a year. For 2018/19, this means that each 10 credit module will cost £771. The tuition fee payable for modules will increase by inflation each year.
Pro-rata billing
Some courses are calculated on a pro-rata basis, by taking the cost of the equivalent full-time course and dividing it by the number of years it will take to complete. Please note that some course fees may be subject to inflation.
Paying your fees
Most students choose to take a student loan. If you are taking a student loan, you won't have to do a thing - the Student Loan Company will pay your fees directly to the university. For more information, please see the student loans section below.
If you decide not to take a student loan, you can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students university and personal email accounts.
Student loans
If you are from the EU, you can apply for a loan to help with the cost of university fees. This is paid directly to the University of Cumbria in February and May, so you can focus on your studies without worrying about payment.
Full-time
You can apply for a tuition fee loan up to £9,250 for 2018/19. This is paid directly to the University each year, and is not dependent on your household income. Click here to apply directly online.
If you decide to take the loan, you do not need to pay anything at registration. Just bring along your letter from the Student Loans Company to show that you have applied. It’s as easy as that. Please note that this loan will only cover your tuition, however you may be eligible for a grant to cover the living costs of studying in England from the Education Department of your own government. We recommend contacting them to find out more about how to apply-you don’t want to miss out.
Once you’ve finished your time at university, you will start repaying your loan from the April after you graduate, provided that you are earning above £21,000 a year (or the equivalent in your home country). The Student Loans Company will contact you about your employment after graduation. There will be a small amount of interest on the loan-more information about this can be found on the Student Loans Company website.
How to apply
You can apply for your Tuition Fee Loan through the European Union Team of the Student Loans Company. To get started, visit the Direct Gov website and scroll down to ‘New EU Students’. There you will find the forms you need to apply. If you get stuck, get in touch with us to help you out.
Once you’ve started university, should you have any trouble with your funding, our advisers can provide all the support and advice you need. To book an appointment please use our online referral form, or if your enquiry can be answered via email, please contact us on moneyadvice@cumbria.ac.uk.
Part-time
Tuition fee loans are available for students studying for their first higher education qualification which is at least 25% of the intensity of the equivalent full-time course. CPD students may also be eligible for a loan based on level of study, intensity of the course and prior study.
These loans are not means-tested and you can be apply for up to the maximum amount of your fees, which is £6,935 in 2018/19. Tuition fee loans are paid directly to the university so you don’t have to worry about arranging payment.
Eligible courses include:
- a Bachelor's Degree, e.g. BA, BSc or LLB;
- a Foundation Degree (FdA, FdSc);
- a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE);
- a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE);
- Initial Teacher Training (ITT).
Part time students are currently not eligible to apply for a maintenance loan, however, as a part time student, you do have the opportunity to pursue part-time employment along with your studies to balance the costs. Depending on your circumstances, you may also qualify for additional support.
For more information about funding for part-time study, you can download this handy guide.
We recommend applying to your local funding body as soon as the application process opens in January/February. You do not need to have an offer of a place before you apply-just put down which university and course would be your first choice on your application. You can change this information very easily online later.
For more guidance on applying for a student loan, visit the Student Room's student finance guide.
What if I've studied before?
If you have undertaken any other previous Higher Education study, it is important to be aware that this can sometimes have a impact on the student funding, including tuition fee loans, available to you when you start a new course.
This is a complex area. If you are not sure of your entitlement to funding, it is really important that you seek advice from your funding organisation or with a Student Money Adviser who can clarify exactly how your previous study will impact on your future student funding entitlement.
Financial support
There's a range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and other funding available to support you in getting your degree.
Scholarships and Bursaries
Cumbria Bursary (first year undergraduate students)
The Cumbria Bursary is our financial award for first year UK or EU undergraduate students commencing their studies in the 2018/19 academic year. It is a non-repayable bursary designed to support students with a household income of less than £25,000.
In 2018/19 there are up to 90 full or part time Cumbria Bursaries available, worth £1,000 per year of study (full time) or £500 per year of study (part time) for up to 3 years for students entering onto full time or substantive part time* undergraduate programmes.
There are a further 15 Cumbria Bursaries available for students entering onto courses with integrated foundation years; these are worth £1000 per year for up to 4 years.
Progression Award (first year undergraduate students from partner colleges)
If you’re a student of any of the following colleges, you might be eligible for one of our Partnership Progression Scholarships for those applying to the university immediately after Further Education:
- Blackburn College
- Bury College
- Carlisle College
- Doncaster College
- Furness College
- Kendal College
- Lakes College West Cumbria
- Lancaster and Morecambe College
- Newton Rigg (Askham Bryan) College
- Northumberland College
- Southport College
We have up to 35 Progression Scholarships available for students starting study in the 2018/19 academic year.
The awards are worth £500 in total, these non-repayable grants are paid directly to your bank account in the first year only. The Progression Scholarship may be received alongside the Cumbria Bursary if a recipient is eligible and ranked to receive both awards.
Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme (ELCAS) - Armed forces personnel
We are proud to be a registered learning provider with the Ministry of Defence's ELCAS scheme. ELCAS is a scheme run by the Ministry of Defence to provide financial support to Armed Forces personnel (both serving and service leavers) to study a course at university.
Support funds
Depending on your circumstances, you might be able to qualify for extra funding. There are a number of different Awards and Funds that might be helpful should you require financial aid.
Visit our support funds page for more details.
Accommodation
From only £10 per night, we provide the lowest cost student accommodation in the North West. Check out our accommodation page for a full price list and more details about the residences.
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Heating, lighting, water and internet costs are included in your rent and full-time students don't pay council tax.
Paying your accommodation fees
At the beginning of term, you will receive an email confirming your accommodation, your accommodation fees and a quick payment link. Please ensure that you have your student ID available prior to entering the online payments site.
EU Referendum
EU nationals, or their family members, who wish to enter the UK to study a course in England which starts in either the 2017/18 or the 2018/19 Academic Year, are still eligible for student support and home fee status.
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Our University has a proud and strong history of educating students from Europe and we look forward to welcoming you and other European students over the coming months and years. We are delighted that the Student Loans Company has given reassurance about financial support for current students and those starting in 2017 and 2018. We include a statement on this below for your convenience.
Whilst there is not yet official confirmation of Student Loan support for new entrants for 2019 and thereafter, the University of Cumbria will continue its ambitions to be a destination of choice for our European students and we encourage potential applicants to continue to check the University website for the latest information so we can share the most up to date position with you.
Student Loans Company statement
Students beginning study in the 2017/18 or 2018/19 Academic Years
EU Nationals and Student Finance in England (1) - Student Loans Company
The eligibility rules regarding student support and home fee status applying to EU nationals, or their family members, who wish to enter the UK to study a course in England which starts in either the 2017/18 or the 2018/19 Academic Year and which attracts student support, are also unchanged.
SFE will assess these applications against existing eligibility criteria, and will provide loans and/or grants in the normal way. EU nationals, or their family members, who are assessed as eligible to receive grants and/or loans by SFE will then be eligible for this support and for home fee status for the duration of their course. These eligibility criteria set out that for students beginning study any time after August 2016, EU nationals must have been resident in the UK for at least five years or be EEA migrant workers in order to apply for a maintenance loan.
The migration status of EU nationals in the UK is being discussed as part of wider discussions with the EU. The Prime Minister was clear in her letter to the President of the European Council that that we should seek an early agreement on the rights of UK nationals in the EU and EU nationals in the UK, on a reciprocal basis.
Students should consult their institution’s student finance office, or the GOV.UK website, for information on what support they may be able to receive.
Statement from the Student Loans Company website.
Tuition fees for international students
The following tuition fees are for undergraduate students studying in the 2018/19 academic year (between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2019). This includes new students starting in 2018/19 and continuing students who began in 2016/17 or 2017/18.
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| Course level | Tuition fee (annual) |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree (BA, BSc, LLB) | £10,500† |
| BA (Hons) Social Work | £15,500† |
| DipHE or CertHE | £10,500† |
| BA or BSc with integrated foundation year | £7,500 (year 1)† £10,500 (years 2-4) |
| Sandwich or placement year | £1,600 |
| Foundation degree (FdA, FdSc) | £10,500† |
| Premium Foundation (FdSc) | £10,500 |
| Health pre-registration programmes | £15,500 |
| Non-medical prescribing | £2,875 |
| Pre-sessional English (6 weeks) | £1,554 |
| Pre-sessional English (12 weeks) | £3,108 |
† An early payment discount is available for international students.
Please note: These fees apply to the 2018/19 academic year only and may be subject to inflationary increases in subsequent years of study.
Fee Deposit Policy
Before you can get started with your course, you will be required to pay a deposit of up to £5,000 (the exact amount will be listed in your offer letter). Until we receive this deposit, you will not be issued a 'Confirmation of Acceptance'. Your offer letter will provide more information on how to pay your deposit, but we recommend paying online. Please note that the deposit is non-refundable unless your visa is refused due to exceptional circumstances.
Alternatively you can provide a letter of sponsorship/financial guarantee. This must be on letter-headed paper and include the following information:
- name of the programme and academic year for which the sponsorship applies
- amount of sponsorship (for example, full fees or specified amount in pounds sterling)
- your full name (as stated on your passport)
- your student identification number
- address and named contact to which the University of Cumbria should send the invoice
- full name and address of the sponsoring institution
Pre-sessional courses
Those required to attend a pre-sessional course will need to pay the full fee, in addition to the deposit, which is part payment of the substantive programme fee. The university will not issue the unconditional offer or CAS until both the deposit and full pre-sessional fees are paid.
If a student on the 11-week pre-sessional fails to progress on academic grounds, the full deposit for the substantive programme will be repaid. If a student on either the 6-week or 11-week pre-sessional fails to progress as a result of non-attendance, poor attendance or lack of effort, the deposit for the substantive programme will not be repaid.
Deposit refunds
A refund of the deposits will only be considered where a student has been refused a visa for other than fraudulent reasons. Students may apply for a refund by sending copies of the official visa refusal notification from the British Embassy or High Commission, together with passport details. The university reserves the right to verify details with the embassy or High Commission.
Where the university decides to make a refund of the deposit, this will be refunded in pounds sterling to the person who originally made the payment. The university will transfer the deposit in the most cost-effective way but will not be liable for any bank charges involved in the money transfer. Refunds will not be made if the refusal, or a CAS withdrawal, is on the grounds of fraudulent activity by the student, or due to failure to disclose full details in the application.
Refunds will not be made if the student fails to attend at the start of the programme or withdraws after the start of the programme.
Paying your tuition fees
After you have paid your deposit or provided your sponsorship letter, you can decide to pay the fee balance in full, or you can follow our instalment plan.
An early payment discount is available if you choose to pay your full annual tuition fee by registration and not in instalments. The early payment discount is only available to self-funded students in their first year, and excludes pre-sessional courses, partnerships and students receiving other benefits such as scholarships.
If you choose to pay in instalments you will be required to pay 75% of your total tuition fees prior to registration. The deposit you have already paid will be included. For example: If your tuition fees are £10,000, and you’ve paid a deposit of £5000, you’ll need to pay £2,500 prior to registration to complete the 75% requirement. The remaining 25% must be paid three weeks before the end of your first term.
| Start date | Due date for payment |
|---|---|
| September 2017 | 75% due on registration (September), 25% due by 1 December |
| January 2018 | 75% due on registration (January), 25% due by 12 March |
If you are enrolling onto a one semester programme or short course, the tuition fee must be paid in full prior to the start of the programme or course. If your tuition is being sponsored, then you will not be able to pay with an instalment plan.
Planning your finances
Studying in a different country is a big financial investment, so you need to ensure you have everything planned when it comes to spending your money.
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There are many points to consider before submitting your application, such as food, accommodation and other day-to-day expenses.
We recommend that you budget at least £5,500 for an academic year in the UK. This will include your accommodation and living expenses. To help you plan effectively, we suggest using the online UNIAID International Student Calculator to set a proper budget for your academic life.
Accommodation
From only £10 per night, we provide the lowest cost student accommodation in the North West. Check out our accommodation page for a full price list and more details about the residences.
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Paying for your accommodation
If you choose to stay in univerisity accommodation you will be required to make a pre-payment of £250, and a pre-payment of £100 towards catering packages.
After you have made the pre-payment(s), and the contract has been returned, the balance of your contract will be due. Payment must be made by registration. Instalments are not available.
Please note that you do have the option to pay for the accommodation and catering in full with the contract.
Payment must be made in pounds sterling. You will be given the option online to convert your currency when making a payment.
If you’re having trouble paying online or have any questions, please contact your admissions officer who can give you advice about paying by bank transfer.
Additional costs
Students will be issued with reading lists in advance of each year of study indicating primary texts which you will need to purchase. In addition two key fieldtrips are included in the programme - a visit to Brantwood and a visit to Dove Cottage. Students contribute to the costs but the remainder is subsidised by the department.
Additional costsResources and facilities
One of our most important resources is our proximity to the Lake District, a beautiful part of England with a rich literary heritage. The programme team have long standing arrangements with key literary organisations in the region, including Brantwood, Dove Cottage, the National Trust, and the Words by the Water Literary festival and we use these excellent working relationships to enhance your studies with input from external speakers and a fieldtrip.
The course is taught at the Brampton Road Arts campus in the historic border city of Carlisle. The campus has a friendly and lively atmosphere and offers a great environment for your studies. Just across from the campus is the beautiful Rickerby Park. The River Eden, described by the poet Wordsworth as his ‘life’s neighbour’, flows through the park and from here you have views across to Carlisle’s castle and medieval Cathedral, at which your graduation ceremony will take place.
The campus itself has its own theatre and art gallery, and Carlisle has a vibrant literary and cultural scene. It also has one of the best Independent Bookshops in the country as well as its own annual literary festival, Borderlines.
Awards and recognition
English Literature staff were awarded a Vice-Chancellor's Teaching Excellence Award for 2011, making English the top-rated teaching team in the university's higher education provision for the academic year 2010-11. The award citation said that tutors "demonstrated a highly innovative and adventurous approach to the design of a single honours English degree, taking a usually traditional disciplinary area and introducing elements which address a range of agendas to enhance the engagement of students with English in the world and the development of skills and attributes for employability and further study."
English at Cumbria was also shortlisted for the Student Experience award byEducate North (June 2015).
Programme Leader, Dr Penny Bradshaw’s new critical edition of Ann Radcliffe’sObservations during a Tour to the Lakes was runner up for Lakeland Book of the Year in 2015. Penny is an Editorial Board Member for Romanticism: Life, Literature and Landscape (a digital resource published by Adam Matthew Digital and Adam Matthew Publications using archives held by The Wordsworth Trust) and she reviews for Green Letters, the journal of the Association for Literature and the Environment.
Dr Paul Ferguson reviews for the journal Literature, Interpretation, Theory and has been invited to give a lecture at the Scottish Universities’ Summer School at Edinburgh University in 2016.
Steve Longstaffe has had an article on employability and the English Degree published in The Times Higher Education Supplement in 2015. He reviews for a variety of journals and has acted as external consultant for curriculum reviews of Drama, English, and Creative Writing at Bath Spa University and London Met. He also reviews theatre for The Stage and Northern Soul.