Program Overview

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English Language and Literature - BA (Hons)

Overview

The BA (Hons) Language and Literature course is a balanced programme of study that reflects the multidisciplinarity of contemporary English studies. It develops you as a reader of texts and critical concepts with an emphasis on the precise analysis of language, its structures, and effects.

What's covered in this course?

At the heart of our English courses is a shared interest in words and stories, and an appreciation of the real difference they make in the world. Taught by world-leading academics in a friendly, supportive learning community, you will explore the power of language and literature in ways that matter today and to you.

Alongside core modules in language, flexibility and diversity of choice are built into our inclusive course for you to shape your degree according to your interests, strengths, and career goals. You can study and practice a range of forms, genres, and modes of communication from different historical contexts and theoretical perspectives, across literature, language, creative writing, and drama. Our courses include opportunities for work experience or peer collaboration as standard and culminate in a Major Project, which allows you to research and write about ideas and questions of your choosing.

English at BCU is a top-20 research department for English Studies and research excellence is central to our taught courses. We focus on the practice and application of subject knowledge and skills to develop graduate readers, thinkers, and writers that excel in criticality, creativity, and communication. As a perceptive critical thinker, you will interpret and assess complex information and situations to form intelligent judgements and solutions. As a creative individual, you will produce new and imaginative texts, and devise interesting, challenging ideas. And, as a proficient, versatile communicator, you will be trained in clear and accurate spoken and written English to professional standards.

Our graduates are characterised by their extensive knowledge and skills in English, and transferrable qualities that are sought-after by employers. These subject-specific and professional skills and attributes are embedded in the course to open a wide range of career paths and employment opportunities, including (but not limited to) education; writing, editing and publishing; advertising and marketing; public relations; and digital content creation.

Professional Placement year

This course offers an optional professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, following successful completion of your second year, and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies.

If you choose to pursue a placement year, you will need to find a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will be able to draw on the University’s extensive network of local, regional, and national employers, and the support of our Careers teams. If you are able to secure a placement, you can request to be transferred to the placement version of the course.

Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year.

Why Choose Us?

• Top 10 in the UK for career prospects in English, with 88% of our graduates in graduate-level jobs or further study after 15 months (Guardian League Tables 2025)
• You will be taught by world-leading academics and expert practitioners who encourage a community of experimentation, innovation and inclusivity and create an environment in which your learning can flourish.
• The programme offers multiple opportunities for you to collaborate across disciplines in order to gain new perspectives on the relevance of your study in the wider world.
• English is a subject highly-prized by employers for the range of transferable skills it develops. Equipped with a strong subject knowledge, you will develop the ability to work as an independent researcher, to communicate effectively in spoken and written forms, to critically evaluate the work of others, and to respond imaginatively to original briefs.
• English is a global language; its culture has an international reach. Understanding the effects of this and how English has been shaped and reshaped by its engagement with the world at large is a key principle of the programme. You not only have the opportunity to contextualise English in this way as part of the taught programme, but can also apply to undertake part of your studies abroad at one of our exchange partner universities.
• Our teaching staff are also expert researchers in English Language and Literature. 94% of research in English at BCU was judged to be either world-leading (4) or internationally excellent (3) in REF2021.

Entry Requirements

• Standard offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points. Learn more about UCAS Tariff points.
• Accelerate offer: 80 UCAS Tariff points. Find out more about BCU Accelerate.

GCSE and other level 2 requirements

This course does not require evidence of GCSE qualifications. Please see A Level, BTEC and other level 3 requirements below.

A Level, BTEC and other level 3 requirements

Qualification| Entry requirements
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A Level / AS Level |

• A Level: 112 UCAS Tariff points / BBC (or equivalent)
• AS Level: Must be in a different subject to A Levels
• A maximum of four subjects will be considered
• Required subjects: English Language or Literature A Level at Grade C or above.
• In lieu of English Language or Literature A Level, subjects that include an element of essay writing will be considered as an alternative, i.e History, Religious Education, The Sciences, Philosophy, Film Studies, Communication Studies & Creative Writing all include a component of this. Applicants will be required to submit a satisfactory essay set by the department.

Pearson BTEC (Diploma / Extended Diploma/ Extended Certificate) |

• 112 UCAS Tariff points
• Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications
• Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications
• Applicants will be asked to complete an essay set by the department unless they are already holding or are working towards an A Level in English at grade C or above.

T Level |

• Merit overall
• Applicants will be asked to complete an essay set by the department unless they are already holding or are working towards an A Level in English at grade C or above.

Access to HE Diploma |

• Pass with 60 credits, 45 credits at level 3.
• Accepted subjects: Language, Literature and Culture subjects preferred but other subjects also considered.
• Applicants may be asked to complete an essay set by the department if subject doesn't contain any English.

OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications |

• 112 UCAS Tariff points
• Applicants will be asked to complete an essay set by the department unless they are already holding or are working towards an A Level in English at grade C or above.

NCFE CACHE Level 3 qualifications |

• 112 UCAS Tariff points
• Applicants will be asked to complete an essay set by the department unless they are already holding or are working towards an A Level in English at grade C or above.

WJEC Level 3 qualifications |

• 112 UCAS Tariff points
• Considered with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualification(s)
• Applicants will be asked to complete an essay set by the department unless they are already holding or are working towards an A Level in English at grade C or above.

Irish Leaving Certificate (Highers) |

• Minimum of 112 UCAS Tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects
• Required subjects: English Language or Literature.

Scottish Higher / Advanced Higher |

• 112 UCAS Tariff points from three Advanced Highers (CCD) or two Advanced Highers (CD) plus two Highers (CC)
• Required subjects: English Language or Literature or combined Language and Literature subject.

Welsh Baccalaureate |

• 112 UCAS Tariff points. Considered with three A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications
• Applicants will be asked to complete an essay set by the department unless they are already holding or are working towards an A Level in English at grade C or above.

UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma |

• Merit overall
• Applicants will be asked to complete an essay set by the department unless they are already holding or are working towards an A Level in English at grade C or above.

Foundation Studies (Art and Design, and Art, Design and Media) |

• Distinction overall
• Applicants will be asked to complete an essay set by the department unless they are already holding or are working towards an A Level in English at grade C or above.

Fees & How to Apply

UK students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: BA (Hons)

Starting: Sep 2025

• Mode
• Duration
• Fees
• Full Time
• 3 years
• £9,535 in 2025/26
• Apply via UCAS

International students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: BA (Hons)

Starting: Sep 2025

• Mode
• Duration
• Fees
• Full Time
• 3 years
• £17,690 in 2025/26
• Apply Online

Course in Depth

First Year

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 100 credits):

• Voices of Birmingham 20 credits
• Adaptation 20 credits
• Prose Writing 20 credits
• Key Critical Concepts 20 credits
• Language in Action 20 credits

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 20 credits from the following list of OPTIONAL modules:

• Literature and Conflict 20 credits
• Craft of Writing 20 credits

Second Year

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 60 credits):

• Writing and the Environment 20 credits
• Grammar and Style 20 credits
• Language in Society 20 credits

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete 20 credits from the following indicative list of CORE Faculty modules.

• Work Placement 20 credits
• Collaborative Practice 20 credits

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 40 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules.

• The Romantics 20 credits
• Writing Short Stories 20 credits
• The Victorians 20 credits
• Screenwriting 20 credits
• Gender, Sexuality and Culture 20 credits
• Multicultural Literature 20 credits
• Modern and Contemporary Theatre 20 credits
• Digital Storytelling 20 credits
• Creating Compelling Content 20 credits

Professional Placement Year (optional)

In order to qualify for the Professional Placement Year, a student must successfully complete the following Level 5 module:

• Professional Placement 120 credits

Final Year

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 80 credits):

• Applied Sociolinguistics 20 credits
• Major Project Preparation 20 credits
• Major Project: English Dissertation 40 credits

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 40 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules.

• Modernism and its Legacies 20 credits
• Writing Poetry 20 credits
• The Gothic 20 credits
• Shakespeare Studies 20 credits
• Teaching English as a Foreign Language 20 credits
• Writing Creative Nonfiction 20 credits
• Moral Philosophy 20 credits
• Stage and Society 20 credits
• Understanding Social Media: Practices, Cultures and Debates 20 credits
• Audio Drama and Podcast Writing 20 credits

Employability

Employability is embedded across our programme, from sector- and industry-specific skills in creative writing, drama, linguistics and literature, through to transferable skills that hold real value regardless of your employment direction, including literacy and numeracy, time management and organisation, oral and written communication, team work, initiative and enterprise, creative and analytical thinking, self-direction and discipline, independence, information gathering and interpersonal skills.

You will have multiple opportunities to engage in problem solving and problem-based learning, particularly through individual assessments and collaborative practice modules, and to reflect on your own career development needs through participating in the Graduate+ scheme and other employability schemes over the course of your degree.

Our graduates have found employment in roles such as:

• Teacher (Primary, Secondary, FE/HE, TEFL)
• Speech and Language Therapy Assistant (with further study)
• Linguistic Data Analyst
• Copywriter / Technical Writer
• Marketing Executive / Digital Marketer
• Communications and Engagement Officer
• Writer (news, features, broadcast, online media)
• Publishing / Editing (sub-editor, commissioning editor, proof-reader)
• Charity / NGO Campaigns Officer
• HR Officer

Facilities & Staff

Our English courses are based at both Millennium Point, and at our £63 million development the Curzon Building, located on our City Centre campus in the vibrant second city that is Birmingham.

Discover your bright and open learning spaces, your 24 hour (during term time) library, drama, media and radio studios, along with state of the art lecture theatres, and a variety of sociable break-out areas, all adding to your unique learning experience.

Our staff

• Dr Robert Lawson
• Dr Tatiana Grieshofer (formerly Tkacukova)
• Professor Islam Issa
• Dr Gemma Moss