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BA English Honours Course, Eligibility, Admission, Syllabus, Top Colleges

Course

Chetna Verma

Updated on 01st July, 2024 , 6 min read

BA English Honors Syllabus: Overview

English literature is a 3-year undergraduate program which includes, language, phonetics, and history via the study of classic English novels, plays, epics, and poems. BA English Hons program in 2024 requires the candidate to be in completion of the 10+2 as a requirement for admission. Merit-based admissions are used by a number of colleges for the BA Hons English program. Nonetheless, prestigious universities that offer BA English Hons Admission based on the CUET include Gargi College, St. Stephens, and others.

The BA English Honors syllabus is vast as it consists of literature from around the world such as British literature, Indian classical literature, European Classical Literature, American literature, Romantic Literature, Modern European drama, etc. Some of the topics included are 20th-century American drama, contemporary literature, Anglo-American Writing etc. This course is a combination of drama, prose and poetry. 

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BA English Honors Syllabus: Major Highlights

The relevant information that will be required for the candidates to gain a general understanding of the subject is listed in the table below -

CourseBachelor Degree
Course Full FormBachelor of Arts in English with Honors 
BA English Honors Duration3 years
BA English Honors Examination TypeSemester System
BA English Honors EligibilityCandidates have to pass their 10+2 exams
BA English Honors AdmissionMerit/ Entrance
BA English Honors FeesINR 1.91 Lakh
BA English Honors SalaryINR 6 lakhs per annum
Top RecruitersBirds Software Services Private Limited, Digital expertise Pvt. Ltd. In marketing, Wipro, Deloitte, IGNOU, Amity university, NBA Tech solutions in tech business, etc.
BA English Honors JobsTeacher, Content Developer, Public Relations Officer, Communicator, Blogger, Editor, Publisher or Researcher, Arts Administrator, Travel Writer, Speech Writer, etc.

BA English Honors Admission Process

The BA English Honors admissions procedure differs depending on the college. Admission exam results are taken into consideration when choosing candidates. Candidates must apply through the official portal of the major educational institutions, entering their previous exam results or valid entrance scores. Those who meet the requirements are then chosen through an interview process.

Merit Based Admission -

Step I: Applicants must first visit the official website of the college they wish to attend. the requirement to create an application ID and log in.
Step II: After this, the candidates must complete the application for the desired course. They must upload the required files, which include their past exam results, and enter the relevant information.
Step III: They have to fill out the application and pay the fees. The college will release a merit list on a specified date.
Step IV: The candidate must report in person or virtually to the college campus if their name is listed on the merit list. A seat will be assigned in accordance with that.

Read - BA English Course

Entrance Based Admission -

 Step I: Applicants must take the entrance exam in order to be chosen for the BA English Honors program. 
Step II: Applicants must be eligible for and take the entrance exam.
Step III: After that, candidates can apply through the college's official website. There, they must enter the results of their entrance exams and complete the application form as required.
Step IV: The college will publish a merit list on a designated date. Candidates must report to the college campus if their names appear on the list.

Read - BA English Subjects

BA English Honors Syllabus: Semester Wise

The BA Hon English course requires students to complete six semesters. The English honors syllabus is influenced by the core courses on analyzing and comprehending the complexity of the world's literature. The emphasis of elective courses is largely on helping students comprehend theory and literature. Given below is the detailed semester-by-semester English honors syllabus:

BA English Hons: First Year Syllabus

English Honors Syllabus Semester IEnglish Honors Syllabus Semester II
English Literature- IEnglish Literature- II
Twentieth-Century Indian Writing- ITwentieth-Century Indian Writing- II
Concurrent- Qualifying LanguageEnglish Literature- II
Concurrent- Credit LanguageAmerican Literature

BA English Hons Syllabus: Second Year Syllabus

English Honors Syllabus Semester IIIEnglish Honors Syllabus Semester IV
English Literature- IIIEnglish Literature- II
English Literature- IIEnglish Literature- I
Nineteenth-Century European Realism/ Classical Literature/ Forms of Popular Fiction- INineteenth-Century European Realism/ Classical Literature/ Forms of Popular Fiction- II
Concurrent- InterdisciplinaryConcurrent- Discipline Centered

BA English Hons Syllabus: Third Year Syllabus

English Honors Syllabus Semester VEnglish Honors Syllabus Semester VI
English Literature- IIEnglish Literature- II
English Literature- IContemporary Literature- II
Contemporary Literature- IAnglo-American Writing from 1930/ Literary Theory
Anglo-American Writing from 1930/ Literary TheoryConcurrent- Discipline Centered- II

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BA English Hons Syllabus: English Honors Subjects

The semester-based BA Hon English course topics are designed to provide students with information and a thorough understanding of the major literary principles. The BA Hon English course includes both theoretical classroom lectures and visit sessions for a deeper grasp of advanced application-related issues. Given below are the core and elective English honors subjects offered in this course:

BA English Hons Syllabus: Core Subjects

1. Indian Classical Literature

2. European Classical Literature

 3. Indian Writing in English

4. British Poetry and Drama: 14th to 17th Centuries

 5. American Literature

6. Popular Literature

7. British Poetry and Drama: 17th and 18th Centuries

8. British Literature: 18th Century

9. British Romantic Literature

10. British Literature: 19th Century

11. Women's Writing

12. British Literature: The Early 20th Century

13. Modern European Drama

14. Postcolonial Literature

BA English Hons Syllabus Elective Subjects

Discipline-Centric Elective Subjects

1. Modern Indian Writing in English Translation

2. Literature of the Indian Diaspora

3. British Literature: Post-World War II

4. Nineteenth-Century European Realism

5. Literary Theory

6. Literary Criticism

7. Science fiction and Detective Literature

8. Literature and Cinema

9. World Literature

10. Partition Literature

11. Research Methodology

12. Travel writing

13. Autobiography

Generic Elective Subjects

1. Academic Writing and Composition

2. Media and Communication Skills

3. Text and Performance

4. Language and Linguistics

5. Contemporary India: Women and Empowerment

6. Gender and Human Rights

7. Language, Literature and Culture

BA English Honors Syllabus: DU

Delhi University, popularly known as DU is the first choice of students seeking admission to English honors courses. In this section, we have mentioned the semester-wise English honors syllabus for your reference:

Semester 1

  • Indian Classical Literature
  • European Classical Literature

Semester 2

  • Indian Writing in English
  • British Poetry and Drama: 14th to 17th Centuries

Semester 3

  • American Literature
  • Popular Literature
  • British Poetry and Drama: 17th to 18th Centuries

Semester 4

  • British Literature: 18th Century
  • British Romantic Literature
  • British Literature: 19th Century

Semester 5

  • Women's Writing
  • British Literature: The Early 20th Century

Semester 6

  • Modern European Drama
  • Post-colonial Literature

BA English Hons Syllabus: Course Structure

BA English honors degree constitutes core as well as elective subjects. English honors course has a duration of three years, which is further divided into six semesters.

The first year of the course begins with the students being introduced to basic information through topics that are simple to understand. Students must follow a particular curriculum in their second year that is related to their area of personal concentration. Additionally, practical encounters and excursions enhance comprehension of academic ideas. The following is the course structure of the English honors course:

  • VI Semesters
  • Core and Main Subjects
  • Optional Subjects including Elective Subjects
  • Practical Meetups and Visits
  • Research Project/ Thesis Submission

BA English Honors Syllabus: Recommended Books

It is highly advisable to read through non-syllabus books for a better understanding of English literature. There are a variety of books available to study about English honors and literature from several authors and publishers. Some of the finest reference books to study apart from English honors syllabus books are listed below:

Name of the Book

Author Name

An Introduction to the Study of Literature

W.H Hudson

A Critical History of English Literature

David Daiches

The Short Oxford History of English Literature

Andrew Sanders

History of English literature

Edward Albert

English Literature: Its History and Significance

William J. Long

A History of English Literature

Lakshmi Narain Agrawal

Readings in Classical Literature

Harriet Raghunathan

A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning

John Donne

Best Colleges for English Honors

One of the most popular programs is the BA English Honors, which is offered in many Indian colleges. Let's take a look at a few of the best universities in India offering BA English Honors programs -

New Delhi -

College NameAverage Fees
Lady Shri Ram College for Women INR 15,870
Miranda House INR 14,160
Hindu College INR 17,560
Hansraj College INR 20,945
Ramjas College INR 13,495
JMC, New Delhi INR 15,610
Gargi College, New Delhi INR 12,295
Sri Venkateswara College, New Delhi INR 12,405
Delhi College of Arts and Commerce INR 8,495
Maharaja Agrasen College, New Delhi INR 11,000

Kolkata -

College NameAverage Fees
St. Xaviers College INR 32,600
Lady Brabourne College  -
Bethune College INR 1,181
Scottish Church College INR 12,401
Presidency College INR 2,000
Loreto College INR 21,940
Gokhale Memorial Girls College, Kolkata INR 13,420
Asutosh College INR 5,070
Maulana Azad College INR 1,145
Shri Shikshayatan College INR 35,360

BA English Honors: Distance Education 

BA English Honors Distance education is for students who are not in any way able to attend regular college. It is equally important for people who can manage their work and studies equally. Universities primarily offer the undergraduate degree through distance learning, and the English Honors degree is also offered in this manner. This degree takes three years to seventy-two months.

Admission Process -

The distance learning BA English Honors admissions procedure is largely the same as the on-campus one. It is mentioned below -

Step I: Applicants must first submit an application for the course via the college's official website.
Step II: They must complete the application and submit it with the required funds.
Step III: Applicants must verify whether their name is listed on the merit list. If so, they must report in person to the college (online).

BA English Honors Distance: Top Colleges

The best distance learning colleges for BA English Honors are listed below -

CollegesAverage Fees
IGNOU INR 3,800
Madurai Kamaraj University INR 7,500
Tamil Nadu Open University -
Panjab University INR 32,350
Sikkim Manipal University -

Read - BA English Literature: Course Details, Books, Subjects, Job Opportunities

Frequently Asked Questions

What all is included in English honours syllabus?

English honours syllabus includes variety of literature subject areas such as British literature, American literature, Indian classical literature, modern European drama, and more.

Is English Honours a good subject?

If you are passionate about teaching others, this is an excellent professional option to take. You can pursue a number of educational and academic job opportunities with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in English honours.

What are the subjects in 1st year BA English honours?

BA English honours syllabus 1st year include topics such as English Literature- I, Twentieth-Century Indian Writing- I, English Literature- II, American Literature, etc.

How many subjects are there in BA English honours?

In BA English honours syllabus, students are expected to study 4 core subjects and 2 electives subjects. However, for general BA English course, students can choose all 6 subjects.

Is BA English Honours tough?

As long as you are interested in the subject, studying English honours is not at all difficult. It will be a really engaging topic if you have an aptitude for writing and reading. It is dependent on the fact that numerous colleges and institutions have different curricula.

Which stream is best for English Honours?

English literature is a three-year undergraduate degree programme that falls under the Arts and Humanities stream. The arts and humanities stream is most well-liked and much sought-after for English honours.

Which are subjects covered in English honours syllabus semester 1?

English honours syllabus for semester 1 includes 4 subjects namely English Literature- I, Twentieth-Century Indian Writing- I, Concurrent- Qualifying Language, and Concurrent- Credit Language.

Which are the main subjects in English honours syllabus DU?

DU English honours syllabus include subjects such as Indian Classical Literature, European Classical Literature, Indian Writing in English, American Literature, British Literature: 18th Century, British Romantic Literature, Women’s Writing, and more.

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