Updated on May 20, 2025 05:58 IST
Akansha Bisht

Akansha BishtSenior Executive

BA or Bachelor of Arts in English is a 3 year course for students to pursue undergraduate degree in English. The MA or Master of Arts is a 2 year postgraduate degree programme in English. The programmes in English basically focus on the features of the language, such as linguistics, semantics, and phonetics with the study of ancient and modern literature. The English courses include core subjects about popular and important literature and writing, as well as elective subjects that include literacy theory, literary criticism, world literature, philosophy, and history. Students with an active interest in the English language and writing take up these courses.

List of Subjects in English

Typical Core Subjects for English

The table below has the list of Core subjects that are provided in English Courses -

Subject Title

Subject Details

Indian Classical Literature

The subject includes readings of the classical literature of prominent Indian writers, including Kalidasa and Vyasa

European Classical Literature

Students learn about classical European writings from famous literature writers

Indian Writing in English

This subject has short stories and novels about Indian stories written in English. Some of the authors included are R.K. Narayan, Anita Desai, and Kamala Das

British Poetry and Drama: 14th to 17th Centuries

Learning about drama and poems written by British writers from the 14th to 17th Century. The writers included are Geoffrey Chaucer, Edmund Spenser, and William Shakespeare

American Literature

Studying about American literature by Tennessee Williams, Toni Morrison, Edgar Allan Poe and other writers

Popular Literature

Readings of famous literature include Alice Through the Looking Glass, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and Funny Boy

British Poetry and Drama: 17th and 18th Centuries

Poems and dramas written by acclaimed writers such as John Milton, John Webster, Aphra Behn during the 17th and 18th centuries

British Literature: 18th Century

Popular British literature such as The Way of the World, Gulliver's Travels, and London.

British Romantic Literature

Learning about British romance novels and stories, including The Lamb, The Tyger, and Tintern Abbey

British Literature: 19th Century

Famous British literature from acclaimed writers including Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice, Charlotte Bronte: Jane Eyre, and Charles Dickens: Hard Times

Women’s Writing

Literary pieces from famous women writers and renowned stories such as Emily Dickinson's 'I cannot live with you', Sylvia Plath's Daddy', and Mahasweta Devi's 'Draupadi'.

British Literature: The Early 20th Century

Early 20th Century British literature, including Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, Virginia Woolf's Mrs Dalloway, 'No Second Troy', 'Sailing to Byzantium'

Typical Elective Subjects for English

The table below has the list of Elective subjects that are provided in English Courses -

Subject Title

Subject Details

Modern Indian Writing in English Translation

Premchand's The Shroud', Stories, ed. M. Assaduddin, Ismat Chugtai's 'The Quilt', Rabindranath Tagore's Light, Oh Where is the Light?'

Literature of the Indian Diaspora

M. G. Vassanji: The Book of Secrets, Rohinton Mistry: A Fine Balance, Meera Syal: Anita and Me, Jhumpa Lahiri: The Namesake

British Literature: Post World War II

This elective subject includes famous British literatures, including 'Church Going' and Ted Hughes' Hawk Roosting'

Nineteenth-Century European Realism

Ivan Turgenev's Fathers and Sons, Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, Honore de Balzac's Old Goriot, tr. MA Crawford, Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary

Detailed Syllabus For English

Here is the detailed English syllabus with core and electives - 

Semester

Core/Elective

Subject Title

Subject Details

1

Core

 

 

Core

 

 

 

Core

 

 

 

Elective

Indian Classical Literature

 

European Classical Literature

 

 

Hindi/Sanskrit/MIL/Philosophy in Lieu

 

 

Comic Book and Graphic Novels

Readings of Indian classical literature

 

Learning about renowned works of European literature through classics

 

 

Readings of prominent literature in other languages through their English translations

 

Learning about acclaimed comic writers and their famous comic books and novels.

2

Core

 

 

 

 

Core

 

 

 

Core

 

 

 

Elective

 

Indian Writing in English

 

 

 

British Poetry and Drama: 14th to 17th Centuries

 

Environmental Studies

 

 

Women, Power and Politics

The subject emphasises the great writers of India and their literary works of global significance.

 

 

Students learn about the British poetry and drama written between the 14th and 17th century

 

Significant literary works about environmental occurrences, causes, and effects

 

Readings of famous literature written by women and about women, their relationship with power, and the politics involved in the process.

3

Core

 

 

 

Core

 

 

 

Core

 

 

 

Elective

American Literature

 

 

 

Popular Literature

 

 

 

British Poetry and Drama: 17th and 18th Century

 

Creative Writing

 

Knowledge of acclaimed literary works of American literature by famous novelists and writers

 

The most popular and well-known works of English literature are studied in this subject

 

Readings and analysis of British poetry and drama between the 17th and 18th century

 

Creative writing, media writing, and writing for publication.

4

Core

 

 

Core

 

 

 

Core

 

British Literature: 18th Century

 

British Romantic Literature

 

 

British Literature: 19th Century

Learning of the British literature of 18th century

 

Readings and analysis of famous British romantic novels and short stories

 

Knowing about the fine British literature and its areas of emphasis during the 19th century

5

Core

 

 

Core

 

 

Core

 

 

Elective

Women’s Writing

 

 

British Literature: The Early 20th Century

 

Literature of the Indian Diaspora

 

Science and Detective Fiction

Popular works of literature by women writers

 

Learning about the early 20th-Century British literature

 

Knowledge of well-known literary works of famous Indian authors

 

A specific study about the Science and detective fiction related literature

6

Core

 

 

Core

 

 

 

Core

 

 

 

 

Elective

Modern European Drama

 

Postcolonial Literature

 

 

Partition Literature

 

 

 

 

Literature and Cinema

Famous European literature of the 21st century and its analysis

 

Literary works about the after-effects of colonisation and the world after freedom

 

Popular works of literature about partition, the events involved, and its effects

 

 

Readings of the original literature that forms the basis of famous films and the process of filmmaking

Specialisations Offered In English

The specialisations for English programmes are as follows -

Specialisation

Specialisation Subjects

Subject Details

Linguistics

Phonetics

Phonology

Morphology

Introductory Transformational Generative Syntax

Aspects of Linguistic Behaviour

Applied Linguistics

Semantics

Historical Linguistics

Linguistics course deals with the way of speaking the English language, verbal and non-verbal communication, language structure and language system speech and writing, syntagmatic and paradigmatic relation langue and parole, phonetics and phonology, syntax and semantics, simple and complex words, root, stem, word, free and bound morphemes, prefixes,

suffixes and infixes.

Literature

English Literature

From Chaucer To Milton

Indian Women Novelists

17th, 18th, and 19th Century

English Literature

Indian Writing In English

Modern English – Structure And Usage

Literary Criticism

Novels of Indian Diaspora

Myth and Drama

European Classics In Translation

The course includes analysis and evaluation of literary texts, literature of the world and gaining insight into diverse cultures, writing and oration skills.

Communication Studies

Linguistics and Applied Linguistics

Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship

World Literature

Film Studies: Perspectives

Bhakti Poetry

Indian Literature in English and Translation

Literary Criticism and Theory

The specialisation of Communication Studies includes features of language and linguistics, language communication ways, literary criticism, Indian and world literature, film and media studies, and social communication through the English language.

Cultural Studies

Technical Writing

Mass Communication and Journalistic Writing

Indian Literatures in English and Translation

Audio Visual Studies

Speech and Accent

Postcolonial Literature

Cultural Studies: Fields, Issues, and Methods

Children’s Literature

Gender Studies

Cultural Studies with English course offers a blend of subjects regarding language and culture. The topics range across early and mediaeval literature, technical writing and translation, written and oral communication, impact of culture on literature, and age-specific literature.

Books and Authors Related to English

As English is a language subject, the books for the subject include a range of textbooks, reference books, novels, literature from renowned authors, historic literature books, and even the Oxford dictionary. Here is a list of books that students can refer to during BA English programme:

Subject

Book Title

Author

Indian Classical Literature

Kalidasa

Abhijnana Shakuntalam

British Literature

The Cambridge Companion to Old English Literature

Gordden, Malcom, and Michael Lapidge

Colonial Indian Writing

Women’s Education and the Unity of India

 

Sarojini Naidu

Introduction To Literature

Jane Eyre

 

Beloved

Charlotte Bronte

 

Toni Morrison

Indian Writing in English

A Horse and Two Goats

 

Inscrutable Americans

R. K. Narayan

 

Anurag Amthur

Contemporary Indian Literatures

Gandhi and Nehru -The Uses of English

Sunil Khilnani

FAQs on English

Q. What is the full form of BA?

A. The full form of BA is Bachelor of Arts. It is an undergraduate degree programme in Humanities subjects such as English, History, and Economics.

Q. What is the duration of a BA programme?

A. The duration for a regular BA programme is three years, and for a distance BA programme, students can complete the course and obtain their degrees in three to six years.

Q. What is BA Pass course and BA Honours course?

A. The BA pass course and BA Honours courses are undergraduate courses in Humanities. However, the BA Honours course has additional subjects and a choice of better electives for students to choose from. The cutoff for BA Honours is higher than that of a regular BA Pass course.

Q. What is the admission process for BA in English?

A. The admission to most colleges offering BA in English is through the marks obtained in classes 10 and 12. There is a cutoff percentage for most colleges, including those under the Delhi University. Some colleges also conduct entrance examinations for students, including JNU and Christ University.

Q. What are the core subjects under BA English programme?

A. The core subjects of BA English include History Of Literature And Philology, European Classical Literature, Indian Writing In English, British Poetry And Drama (14th – 17th Century), American Literature, Popular Literature, British Poetry And Drama (17th – 18th Century), British Literature (18th Century), British Romantic Literature, 19th Century British Literature, Women's Writing, Early 20th Century British Literature, Modern European Drama and Postcolonial Literature.

Q. What are the elective subjects under BA English programme?

A. The elective subjects for BA English varies with each college and university. Some of these electives are Modern Indian Writing In English Translation, Literary Theory, Partition Literature, Literary Criticism, Contemporary India: Women And Empowerment, Autobiography, Environment Study, And Communicative English.

Q. What are different entrance exams for admission into BA English?

A. The entrance exams for BA English includes Delhi University Entrance Test (DUET), Jawaharlal Nehru University Entrance Examination (JNUEE), and Christ University Entrance Test (CUET).

Q. Which books from foreign authors are studied in BA English?

A. The BA in English programme includes several chapters from American and British authors in the curriculum. These authors are William Shakespeare, John Donne, Christopher Marlowe, Ernest Hemingway, Lewis Carroll, Agatha Christie, Robert Frost, Sylvia Plath, and Felicity Hughes.

Q. Which programme can I pursue after BA in English?

A. After completing the BA programme, students can opt for postgraduate courses. These include Master of Arts or MA, Master of Business Administration or MBA, Master of Mass Communication or MMC, and Master of Journalism.

Q. Who can study BA English?

A. To study the BA English programme, students must have completed their 12th standard with English as a compulsory subject. In addition, many colleges require a minimum of 55 to 60% marks in the 12th standard for admission to the programme.

Q. Is BA in English a good course?

A. BA in English is an undergraduate course focussing on English literature, writing, and communication. It is an interesting course for those who are fascinated by the English language and those who wish to widen their understanding of the subject. The scope of the course has also increased with several new-age opportunities such as content writer, social media creator, and communications expert.

Which Indian authors find a place in the curriculum of BA in English?

A. Several Indian authors are discussed in the curriculum of BA in English. These authors include R.K. Narayan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Amitav Ghosh, Rabindranath Tagore, Mulk Raj Anand, Salman Rushdie, Nayantara Sehgal, and Vikram Seth.

Q. What are the specialisations under the MA English course?

A. The specialisations available for MA in English are:

  • Linguistics

  • Literature

  • Communication Studies

  • Cultural Studies

Q. Can I study BA in English with a Science background?

A. Yes. Students with a Science background are eligible for the BA in English programme if they meet the minimum eligibility criteria. Students must have studied English in 12th standard to be eligible to apply for the programme.

Table of contents
  • Popular English Colleges in India
  • Popular Private English Colleges in India
  • Popular Exams
  • Most Popular Courses
  • Popular English UG Courses
  • Popular English PG Courses

Popular English Colleges in India

Following are the most popular English Colleges in India. Learn more about these English colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
3 Courses
55.95 K - 86.01 K
9.24 - 9.5 LPA

#1 NIRF

432 - 540
8.4 LPA

#3 NIRF

4 Courses
15.21 K - 19.09 K
7 LPA

#2 NIRF

4 Courses
33.81 K - 47.45 K
5.4 LPA

#4 NIRF

5.0
4.0

#5 NIRF

22.2 K - 4.65 L
5.5 - 6.22 LPA

#8 NIRF

Popular Private English Colleges in India

1 L - 4.2 L
3.0
60 K
5.0
80 K - 4.77 L
3.68 LPA
1.06 L - 1.65 L
5.0

English Applications open. Apply Now

3.08 L - 4.73 L
4 - 4.6 LPA
2 Courses
1.5 L - 9.6 L
6 - 7.5 LPA

Popular Exams

Following are the top exams for English. Students interested in pursuing a career on English, generally take these important exams.You can also download the exam guide to get more insights.

Jun '26

CPGET 2026 Notification

TENTATIVE

Jun '26

CPGET 2026 Registration

TENTATIVE

Mar '26

CUET 2026 Application Process

TENTATIVE

May '26 - Jun '26

CUET 2026 Exam

TENTATIVE

Nov '25

SAT Registration Deadline for November Test

TENTATIVE

Mar '26

PUBDET 2026 Applications

TENTATIVE

To Be Notified:

PUBDET 2026 2nd Round Seat Allotment

Popular English UG Courses

Following are the most popular English UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular English PG Courses

Following are the most popular English PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

qna

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 2 months ago

Yes you can.For most of the courses youare elligible as 50/55/60 in the minimum requirement.

 

Most of the courses admission is direct and some may required score like CUET, CMAT, University entrance.

 

Also you can explore about -

  • CUET
  • CLAT
  • Teaching as a career 
  • B.ed after graduation

 

 

98252958
Dinesh upadhyay

Scholar-Level 16

Answered 2 months ago

Yes you can you have a great opportunity in this field 

S

Sayyad

Beginner-Level 1

Answered 2 months ago

The questions in the english section of RULET exam are asked from Tenses, Phrasal Verbs and idioms, etc. Aspirants can check the Shiksha portal for more details. The syllabus for this exam will be similar to other entrance exam. 

D

Damini Aggarwal

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

Yes, almost every programme at the institute is taught in English. Besides, every programme has electives in addition to its core curriculum. To learn more, check the courses and fees panel of Eindhoven University of Technology at Shiksha.

A

Akash Gaur

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

Students need to submit an IELTS score as an English language score. Brunel Uni generally requires a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 and 7.0. This may vary for different programs. However if a student fails to meet requirement, university will offer him an English language course.

P

PRIYANKA

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

The Madhya Pradesh Board Class 10 English exam pattern for 2025 includes four main sections: Reading, Writing, Grammar, and Textbook. The exam is conducted for 3 hours with a total of 100 marks. The Reading section involves three unseen passages totaling 15 marks, while the Writing section covers es

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P

PRINCE MISHRA

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 2 months ago

In MET English section, students will be tested on their aptitude. In English section, students should prepare Grammar and Language Use, Vocabulary, Punctuation, and Reading Comprehension.

N

Nidhi Chaudhary

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 2 months ago

As a final-year English Honours student, choosing between MBA from DU SOL with a job or MA English from DU regular depends on career goals. MBA from DU SOL allows flexibility, skill development, and corporate exposure while earning, but lacks strong placements. MA English at DU regular offers in-dep

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70155193
Vivek Kumar Yadav

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 months ago

BITSAT English section has to be attempted in the exam. Students should focus on Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension and Composition to prepare for the BITSAT English section. These topics will help them work on their basic knowledge and will be helpful in the examination.

N

Neha Anand

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 2 months ago

Depends on what you're good at. In my opinion, translating the other language from your native language is easier because when you understand the meaning of the sentence, it gets easier to speak. But in the case of German, it has a more complicated grammatical structure than English, so it will be a

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Rashmi Srivastava

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 2 months ago

The University of Nottingham is among the top choices of international students in the UK. International students whose native language is not English are required to submit proof of English language test to the Nottingham University. The university accepts various English language tests such as TOE

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Rachit Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

Applicants are required to demonstrate their English language proficiency to apply to the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Typically via tests like TOEFL or IELTS. Some schools under this university may also accept Duolingo or PTE.  

Mentioned below are the minimum English language proficiency re

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M

Mayank Katariya

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 months ago

Yes, the specific skills that are essential for Masters in Mass Communication are:

  • Strong Writing and Editing Skills

  • Verbal Communication

  • Critical Thinking

  • Creativity and Storytelling

  • Research Skills

  • Digital Literacy

  • Interpersonal Skills

  • Media Law and Ethics

K

Kanishk Shukla

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

The English Language section will comprise only around 10 questions from the following topics-

  • Word Usage
  • Vocabulary
  • Grammar
  • Synonyms
  • Antonyms
  • Critical Reasoning
  • Para Jumbles

D

Damini Aggarwal

Contributor-Level 10

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