Studying our English BA (Hons) course will equip you with a solid foundation in the combined fields of English language, linguistics and literature. In the first year, you will begin with an introduction to a range of literary genres and theoretical approaches in Approaching Literature, while also developing an understanding of phonetics and exploring concepts used to describe how language works in an Introduction to Linguistics and Phonetics. Our unit Describing Language aims to introduce you to the main structures of English language while also familiarising you with the anatomy of the vocal tract and how sounds are produced. You’ll learn How Talk Works and How Text Works by focusing on the rules of conversation, its patterns and norms, and how it varies between people and situations. You will do the same with the written word by examining how texts are produced to help build your language interpretation skills. In your second and third years, you’ll build on the knowledge and skills that you developed in the first year.  

You will be introduced to key concepts of literary Style and Stylistics by examining linguistic practices of poems, plays and prose and deepening your understanding and enjoyment of literature. In English Sentence Structure you will build on key elements of English grammar, descriptive and communication skills. In Investigating the Social World, you will develop an understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methods, data collection, analysis and reporting. You can then choose from a range of units, depending on your interests. In The Meaning of Meaning, you will explore the nature of language interpretation from a cognitive perspective. Language is also heavily influenced by cultural and societal conventions; therefore, our Forensic Linguistics unit will allow you to understand how language can provide useful insights into an individual’s background. You can study the relationship between phonology and grammar, speech and accent variation in our The Sounds of English and develop these interests in Exploring Language Professions, where you will identify aspects of language and its value in specific career fields. Our Radical Change in the Long Nineteenth Century unit will expose you to how literature has contributed to ideas around religion, gender, science and the arts in the long nineteenth century.  

Through examining poetry, prose and plays, you will consider Modern and Postmodern Literary Practices around popular culture from the early twentieth century to the present day. In other areas of the study of literature, you can explore plays from the ancient Greeks to the 21st century in our The Play’s The Thing unit as you develop your understanding of the philosophical, cultural and political conditions under which they were produced. Alternatively, you could study postcolonial texts in World Literature: Crossing Borders or engage in critical language study in our Discourse and Ideology unit. Another key skill as an educational professional is writing, and this is where our Creative Writing unit will introduce you to writing short stories and poetry that you will share in small group workshops. Our Children’s and Young Adult Fiction unit will familiarise you with a range of fictional genres written for children, including film adaptations, fairy tales, and other popular fiction. Moreover, you will get the chance to explore various types of Gothic Literature as well as how contemporary readers respond to the fictional genre.  

You will also be able to experience the excitement of working in an archive with our Research in Action unit where you’ll have the opportunity to learn about publishing, book history, and the development of reading material for young children. You can learn how language is developed and realised by the human mind and brain in our Psycholinguistics - Language and the Brain unit. In areas of teaching, you will be exposed to research in second-language learning in our Language Teaching, Learning and Assessment unit. Similarly, our TESOL Teaching Practice unit will allow you to apply current theoretical issues in language teaching and methodology to practice by providing you with the skills to design and deliver your own lessons and materials using various teaching techniques. Finally, you will complete a Dissertation where you will choose a topic of interest relevant to your course and apply your academic and practical skills under the guidance of a supervisor.