Discover the power to transform yourself and society by studying pure literature or a flexible combination of language, literature and practical communication.

Our English BA (Hons) course scored 100% for overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2021.

Our English & Creative Writing courses are also ranked in the top 20 in the UK overall by the Guardian University Guide 2022, and our English courses are ranked 11th in the UK for teaching quality by The Times Good University Guide 2022.

Literature

Explore the greatest works ever written in English, from traditional classics to transgressive contemporary works that shake the foundations of our society. The course has options to study literature from the 18th to the 21st century – including myths and legends, crime fiction, travel writing, drama, poetry, postcolonial literature, American and Irish writing.

Language

Explore the workings and history of the English language, and how it shapes identities and the world around us. There are options to study language acquisition, language history, structure, dialects, sociolinguistics and ecolinguistics, and apply them to gain insights into gender, race, media and society.

Practical communication

Learn the language of leadership by gaining confidence and skills in inspirational speaking, persuasive writing, active listening, constructive criticism, visual design and ethical argumentation. These skills will provide a foundation for life and employment, giving you the power to shape society.

Study style

This course is primarily taught in small group seminars where students are actively involved in discussions and class activities. Assessment is entirely by coursework and consists of essays, a 9,000 word dissertation, and some creative tasks such as designing posters or making digital stories. You’ll be supported with your own Personal Tutor and one-to-one help with essay writing.

Graduates from this course can go on to work in:

• management and leadership
• cultural industries
• corporate/charity communications
• lecturing and teaching (after completing teacher training)
• the Civil Service
• publishing/cultural industries
• business/charity communications
• television/journalism
• education.