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English BA (Hons)

UCAS code: Q301

Ready to immerse yourself in language, critical thinking and linguistic discovery? Want to explore new worlds in the pages of celebrated works of literature? Sharpen your skills in communication, research and self-expression in language and literature on our English degree.

Overview

Course length: 3 years full-time
6 years part-time
Start dates: September 2024
September 2025
Location: Edge Hill University
Example offers: BBC-BBB (A Level) or DMM (BTEC) View full entry criteria
Subject(s): English
Faculty: Arts and Sciences
Department: English and Creative Arts
Six students talk in a group study space in the Catalyst building.

Our BA (Hons) English degree is designed to investigate central themes and concepts across both English literature and language. From the Brontë classics to the origins of dialects, we’ll cover over 3,000 years of literary history. You’ll also delve into areas such as sociolinguistics, language teaching, child language development, gender and sexuality.

Do you want to evaluate and examine topics from literary history to language change? The flexibility of our English degree gives you the power to shape your studies. Choose modules such as Contemporary American Literature, Modernisms or Forensic Linguistics from Year 2 onwards.
You’ll also get the chance to focus on a single author and study them extensively. Understand their writing against the historical, cultural and literary context in which they were written. In English language, you’ll examine key aspects, including its structure, sound system, history and real world applications.

Course features

  • International students can apply

  • Learn a language option available

  • Sandwich year option available

  • Studying abroad option available

What you'll study

You’ll study a balanced number of language and literature modules in Year 1. We’ll introduce you to the sounds and structures of language to boost your understanding of phonetics and phonology. You’ll also learn the difference between reading for understanding and interpretative reading, while delving into the development of English literature, from Old and Middle English to Renaissance drama, significant poetry and prose.

Compulsory modules:

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Critical Theories
Studying English Language
The Structure of English
Ways of Reading

Two of:

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Literary History
The Sounds of English
Language 1

In Year 2 you’ll shape your studies, selecting from both literature and language modules, or choosing to specialise in either discipline. In literature you’ll build your skills and confidence in analysing poetry, prose and drama from key literary periods of the Renaissance or Romantic age. We’ll also look at fiction from across the pond in contemporary American literature. In language you’ll learn about its history and development, and may choose to explore areas such as discourse analysis, child language development or the language of Shakespeare. You’ll also have the option of developing and carrying out your own research into an area of language that interests you.

Compulsory modules:

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History and Development of English

Five of:

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Analysing Discourse
Child Language Development
Contemporary American Literature
English Language: Forms and Contexts
Investigating English Language
Language of Shakespeare and His Time
Literature Dissertation Project
Pilgrim’s Progress: British Children’s Literature from the 18th Century to the Present Day
Renaissance Drama
Romanticism
Special Author 1
Special Topic 1
Language 2

In Year 3 you’ll choose from a broad range of modules to help hone your literature and language abilities. Take a step back in time with the Victorians or grasp how key factors like cognition, psychology and society can change language. Carry out independent research or examine the work of a single author. You’ll expand your critical thinking skills and understand the power of creative communication.

120 credits from:

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An Introduction to Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
Critical Discourse Studies
English Language: Varieties and Other Languages
Forensic Linguistics
Hosting a Festival
Language Change
Language Dissertation
Language, Gender and Sexuality
Literature Dissertation
Modernisms
Psycholinguistics
Sense of an Ending
Sexuality and Subversion
Special Author 2
Special Topic 2
The Victorians at Work
Language 3

Optional modules provide an element of choice within the course curriculum. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by timetabling requirements. Some restrictions on optional module choice or combinations of optional modules may apply. In addition to the optional module choices listed, it may also be possible to apply to study an alternative 20-credit module in Year 2 and/or Year 3, chosen from outside the course curriculum. Some restrictions on this elective module choice may apply.

How you'll study

Teaching and learning is by lectures and seminars, workshops, group activities, independent research projects and through our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). We have tutors and personal tutors on hand to provide support when it is needed.

You must study a minimum of 40 credits of English Language modules and a minimum of 40 credits of English Literature modules as part of the 120 credits studied in each of the second and third years of the course to ensure each discipline is covered in sufficient depth.

Timetables for your first week are normally available at the end of August prior to enrolment in September. You can expect to receive your timetable for the rest of the academic year during your first week. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week. Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities.

How you'll be assessed

Assessment involves coursework and formal tests or examinations. Emphasis is placed on work produced in your own time or formally presented in class. You can expect to be assessed by critical essays, short analyses, individual/group oral presentations, poster presentations, research projects, blogs and group work. In your final year you may opt to write a dissertation on a specialised linguistic or literature theme, which you will research independently with one-to-one support from an expert supervisor.

Who will be teaching you

You will study in a large department with well qualified tutors who are recognised experts in their field. You will be carefully guided, no matter what area of English you decide to study. When you choose an option module, your tutor will be an active specialist in this area, producing and publishing current research. Our staff are active in research in all taught subject areas, publishing books and articles on a regular basis. Several have been successful in winning national research awards from bodies such as the British Academy, the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Leverhulme Trust.

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

Typical offer 112-120 UCAS Tariff points. No specific subjects are required.

Example offers

Qualification Requirement
A Level BBC-BBB.
BTEC Extended Diploma (or combination of BTEC QCF qualifications) Distinction, Merit, Merit (DMM).
T Level Overall grade of Merit.
International Baccalaureate (IB) We are happy to accept IB qualifications which achieve the required number of UCAS Tariff points. Subject-specific requirements at Higher Level (HL) Grade 5 may apply.
Access to Higher Education Diploma 45 credits at Level 3, for example 15 credits at Distinction and 30 credits at Merit or 24 credits at Distinction and 21 credits at Merit. The required total can be attained from various credit combinations.

Please note, the above examples may differ from actual offers made. A combination of A Level and BTEC awards may also be accepted.

If you have a minimum of two A Levels (or equivalent), there is no maximum number of qualifications that we will accept UCAS points from. This includes additional qualifications such as Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), AS Levels that haven't been continued to A Level, and General Studies AS or A Level awards.

English language requirements

International students require IELTS 6.0, with a score no lower than 5.5 in each individual component, or an equivalent English language qualification.

If your current level of English is half a band, one band, or one-and-a-half bands lower, either overall or in one or two elements, you may want to consider our Pre-Sessional English course.

How to apply

Apply full-time

Apply online through UCAS

Read our guide to applying through UCAS to find out more about the application process.

International

Apply as an international student

Please see our international student pages for further information about how to apply as a prospective international student.

Part-time applications require a direct application to Edge Hill. Please select the year of entry that you wish to apply for.

Apply for September 2024 part-time.

Apply for September 2025 part-time.

Should you accept an offer of a place to study with us and formally enrol as a student, you will be subject to the provisions of the regulations, rules, codes, conditions and policies which apply to our students. These are available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/studentterms.

Did you know?

If you join a full time undergraduate degree at Edge Hill University, we will guarantee you the offer of a room in our halls of residence for the first year of your course.

Discover our accommodation

Facilities

Creative EdgeThe Department of English and Creative Arts is based in Creative Edge, a state-of-the-art £17million building offering highly contemporary facilities.

The £17 million Creative Edge building features a lecture theatre, seminar rooms, IT facilities and smaller tutorial spaces. It has everything you need to become a capable, versatile, creative writer and thinker. Creative Edge’s social learning spaces are ideal for passionate discussion with like-minded creatives.

You’ll develop the practical skills, analytical tools and confidence for wherever your creative flair and insight takes you.

Where you'll study

Creative Edge

Finance

Tuition fees

UK Full-Time

£9,250

a year

UK Part-Time

£77 per credit

for 360 credits

International

£16,500

a year

The University may administer a small inflationary rise in tuition fees, in line with Government policy, in subsequent academic years as you progress through the course.

EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as Irish nationals, may be eligible for the UK tuition fee rate.

Financial support

Subject to eligibility, UK students joining this course can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the Government to cover the full cost of tuition fees. UK students enrolling on the course may also be eligible to apply for additional funding to help with living costs.

Please view the relevant Money Matters guide for comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK students.

EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may be eligible to apply for financial support. Irish nationals can ordinarily apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). If you are an EU student who does not have settled or pre-settled status, or are an international student from a non-EU country, please see our international student finance pages.

Your future career

So what can you become with a degree in English? There are many options available to English graduates, who are empowered to forge their own paths. The skills gained during our degree are transferable across a myriad of industries and careers, such as:

  • publishing
  • marketing and social media
  • hospitality
  • business management and consultancy
  • law
  • journalism
  • public and voluntary sectors
  • teaching (further training required)
  • language or speech therapy (further training required)

Many go on to further study at Masters level and PhD, while some have filled excellent roles such as:

  • Senior production editor
  • Communications assistant
  • Whole school literacy coordinator
  • Talent coordinator

Our graduates are trained to be excellent communicators and critical thinkers. This course is a great foundation for a diverse range of careers and industries.

Course changes

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, however our courses are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may necessitate alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses.

Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of professional bodies, revisions to subject benchmarks statements, to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

Track changes to this course

Discover Uni: Full-Time Study

Discover Uni: Part-Time Study

Download our course leaflet