Program Overview

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English Literature BA Honours

Overview

Our English Literature BA gives you an opportunity to study English literature in its wider social, cultural, and historical contexts. You'll be able to engage with an exciting variety of texts, both traditional (such as Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and Charles Dickens) and non-traditional (such as queer fiction, graphic novels, and new forms of digital content) alongside other kinds of cultural works such as films, museums and art. You'll become a sophisticated reader of texts in their wider cultural contexts, at the same time as sharpening your skills in research. This training in critical and creative reading is particularly suitable if you are considering English teaching, the publishing or journalism industries, or any career that involves sophisticated communication skills and an advanced level of language use. It is of particular interest to those wishing to develop their skills as a writer. Our degree is strong in promoting the transferable and cognitive skills that employers value, and that contribute to lifelong personal and professional development.

Course Structure

There is a range of optional modules available from within the School of Humanities and across the University in each year of study. In Year 3, you have a particularly extensive array of modules to choose from, which allows you to tailor the degree to your own interests and future aspirations. In Year 3, you also complete a dissertation in a topic of your choice, with one-to-one supervisory support.

Our principal mode of teaching is through seminars of 15-25 students, with some larger university lectures. A key feature of our degree is our weekly small group tutorials (about five students per tutor). These are designed to support your own individual learning needs as you go through the first two years. The tutorials are specific to this degree and provide an important space for you to find personalised support in your studies more generally, alongside enhancing your study and employability skills.

As with all university study, much of your learning is independent, conducted beyond the classroom (individually and in groups) in the library, at home, and via our online learning system (Blackboard), and the tutorials provide essential support for independent study.

Assessment on the English Literature BA varies from traditional essays, presentations and small analytic exercises of texts through to small research projects and ultimately the preparation and writing of your own dissertation in the final year. Some modules combine coursework with a short exam.

Subjects of Study

• Year 1
  • Children's Literature
  • English Literature Tutorial 1: What is Literature?
  • Key Words for Literary Studies
  • Poetry and Politics
  • Reading for Pleasure
  • Shakespeare and Performance
• Year 2
  • English Literature Tutorial
  • Making Memory: Culture History and Representation
  • Monsters
  • Realisms
  • Romanticisms
  • The Victorian World
  • Writing Revolutions
• Placement Year
  • Between Years 2 and 3 you’ll have the option to undertake either a study or work placement at a partner institution abroad. The optional year abroad helps you develop cultural and intercultural awareness of the country you visit and gives you an opportunity to gain experience in a different setting.
• Year 3
  • Dissertation
  • Fiction After 1950
  • Issues in Culture
  • Reading the Present
  • Sexualities in Literature and Culture
  • Special Topic
  • The Modernist World
  • Tragedy: Ancient to Modern
  • Work Placement for the Humanities

Entry Requirements

• UK
  • A levels – BCC (104 UCAS Tariff points)
  • T levels – 104 UCAS Tariff points
  • International Baccalaureate – 104 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis
  • BTEC Extended Diploma – DMM
  • BTEC Diploma – D*D
  • Access – 104 UCAS Tariff points from the Access course
• International
  • International Baccalaureate – 104 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis
  • Other international qualifications – We accept a wide range of international high school level qualifications. Please see information on country-specific entry requirements.
  • International Foundation courses – We work in partnership with Kaplan International College London who provide the International Foundation Certificate at their College based in Liverpool Street. These courses are for students who don’t meet our direct entry requirements. Upon successful completion, you can progress to your chosen degree at the University of Westminster.

English Language Requirements

• If your first language is not English, you should have an IELTS score of 6.0 overall, with a score of 5.5 in each component.

Tuition Fees

• UK tuition fee: £9,535 (Price per academic year)
• International tuition fee: £17,600 (Price per academic year)

Careers

Graduates of the English Literature BA go on to work in a wide variety of fields, including further study at MA and PhD levels, teaching, arts organisations such as theatres and museums, charities, journalism, marketing and public relations.

Transferable Skills

On graduating, you'll have an array of important transferable skills, including:

• A sophisticated use of written and spoken English
• An advanced critical ability in the use of theoretical perspectives
• Facility and precision in the use of analytical tools
• Strong skills and initiative in collecting and organising complex materials and writing up clear, well-presented reports or fluent critical arguments

Work Experience

You’ll have the option to complete a work placement as part of this course.

Job Roles

This course will prepare you for roles in a range of fields, including:

• Advertising
• Academia
• Curation
• Journalism
• Marketing and PR
• Publishing and editing
• Research
• Teaching

Graduate Employers

Graduates from this course have found employment at organisations including:

• Apple
• Arsenal Football Club
• Bank of England
• BBC (Newsround, Holby City)
• Cancer Research
• Charles Dickens Museum
• Civil Service
• English Heritage
• Hope Not Hate
• Imperial War Museum
• Ministry of Defence
• NHS
• Penguin
• Selfridges & Co
• Tate Britain
• Taylor and Francis (publishing)
• Ted Baker
• The Guardian
• Victoria and Albert Museum

International Opportunities

Many of our courses offer international study and work experiences, and the University provides other global opportunities that all students can apply for – so whatever you're studying, you'll have the chance to go abroad.

Opportunities could include:

• Taking part in semester or year-long exchanges at institutions around the world
• Attending an international summer school or field trip
• Developing your CV through volunteering or work placements abroad

International experience broadens horizons, boosts self-confidence, and improves global understanding, alongside being fantastic for your career.

Course Leader

• Dr Lucy Bond, Head of the School of Humanities

Teaching and Assessment

Our undergraduate courses include a wide variety of assessments.

Assessments typically fall into three broad categories:

• Practical: examples include presentations, videos, podcasts, lab work, creating artefacts
• Written exams: end of semester exams
• Coursework: examples include essays, reports, in-class tests, portfolios, dissertation

Year 1: 2% Written exams, 4% Practical, 94% Coursework Year 2: 2% Written exams, 15% Practical, 83% Coursework Year P: 0% Written exams, 25% Practical, 75% Coursework Year 3: 0% Written exams, 12% Practical, 88% Coursework

Supporting You

Our Student Hub is where you’ll find out about the services and support we offer, helping you get the best out of your time with us.

• Study support – workshops, 1-2-1 support and online resources to help improve your academic and research skills
• Personal tutors – support you in fulfilling your academic and personal potential
• Student advice team – provide specialist advice on a range of issues including funding, benefits and visas
• Extra-curricular activities – volunteering opportunities, sports and fitness activities, student events and more

Course Location

Our Regent Campus is comprised of two sites, situated on and around Regent Street – one of the most famous and vibrant streets in London.

Subjects including Criminology and Sociology, English and Creative Writing, History, Languages, Politics and International Relations and Visual Culture are based at 309 Regent Street, which includes recently refurbished social spaces, gym facilities and our Regent Street Cinema.