English with English Language BA, 3-4 years
Course information
Typical offer AAB-ABB
UK/EU fee £9,250
UCAS code Q3W2
Institute code L34
Taught by English
Admissions enquiries
+44 (0)116 252 5281
ahladmissions@le.ac.uk
Course enquiries
+44 (0)116 252 2620
ArtsAdmissions@le.ac.uk
Literature and language are intertwined; study of one deepens appreciation of the other. On this degree, you will study both disciplines in tandem, encountering texts from a range of periods and cultures as you acquire the framework and vocabulary for interpreting language use. You will see how English has developed throughout its long history, and discover how language colours ideas of personal and cultural identity.
Course description
Course description
Our English with English Language BA offers you the chance to study English language and literature from its earliest forms through to the present day, and gives you the opportunity to learn a range of approaches for analysing language use.
As well as studying poetry, novels, and drama, you will learn the key frameworks for describing English, and a range of approaches for studying language use, getting to grips with the historical and social variation in the English language.
Flexibility is at the heart our our courses, and you will be able to study options in a range of specialist modules including World Englishes, Language and Gender, place names, lexicography and more. Under the guidance of specialists in the relevant fields, you will gain experience in carrying out fieldwork and independent research.
As you explore the development of the modern novel, you will learn about the history of the English language itself; while reading texts in Old and Middle English you will examine the social and political dimensions of language.
This dynamic course will introduce you to fascinating material both old and new, while equipping you with a raft of analytical skills to appraise the language which made that material possible.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
- A/AS-levels: AAB-ABB at A-level including English (Language, Literature or combined). Two AS-levels may be considered in place of one A-level. General Studies is accepted
- EPQ with A-levels: ABB-BBB at A-level including English (Language, Literature or combined) + EPQ at grade B
- International Baccalaureate: Pass Diploma with 30 points, including 6 in Higher Level English
- Access to HE Diploma: Pass Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 45 credits at level 3, 30 of which must be at Distinction. To include 12 credits at Distinction in English Level 3 Modules
- BTEC Nationals: Pass Diploma with D*DD. Plus grade B in A-level English (Language, Literature or combined)
Other national and international qualifications considered.
Selection Process
When considering your application, we will look for evidence that you will be able to fulfil the objectives of the course and achieve the standards required. We will take into account a range of factors including previous exam results.
Applicants are not normally interviewed. If you receive an offer you will be invited to visit the department.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.
International Qualifications
Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.
Countries listFees and funding
Fees and funding
UK and EU Students
Starting in 2021
The University of Leicester has made the decision to keep fees for EU students at the same level as UK student fees for this year, despite this no longer being a UK Government requirement.
- £9,250 in your first year. Tuition fees are subject to government regulations and may change in future years
- Year Abroad: your fee will be £1,250 for that year
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
International Students
Starting in 2021
Tuition fees for 2021/22 are yet to be confirmed. As an indication of what you might pay, the fees for students who started in 2020/21 were:
- £17,450 per year
- Year Abroad: £4,362.50, which is 25% of the full-time tuition fee
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
We offer an option module on 'Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages'. This will increase your own understanding of the English language and provide practical teaching experience. It leads to the highly respected Cambridge CELTA qualification, which will allow you to teach both in this country and abroad.
We also offer an option module on 'English and Education' which provides practical teaching experience with a placement in a local school. You can also gain direct experience in the publishing industry with the module 'Diversifying Publishing and the Literature Industry'.
Graduate destinations
Our graduates have found work with companies such as:
- Allegis Group
- Aceville Publications
- The Mills Archive Trust
- PPL PRS Music Licensing
- Dennis Publishing
- Miyazaki City Board of Education
Rachel studied English with a year abroad and went on to become Head of English and Associate Assistant Principal at a secondary school in London.
Career Development Service
Get career-ready at Leicester with guidance from our award-winning Career Development Service. We're here to give you a lifetime offer of support, even after graduation. Our team of specialist careers advisers and mentors will help you every step of the way. From supporting you with CVs and interviews, to volunteering opportunities and placements, we're here to help you reach your professional goals.
Related courses
Related courses
Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Development Goals
We are committed to providing skills and knowledge to help prepare you tackle global challenges. We have mapped our undergraduate degrees for learning which aligns to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
This degree includes learning which relates to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:
- Goal 5: Gender equality
- Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
- Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
Course structure
Year 1
Year 1
Core modules
- Reading English
- The Novel Around the World
- Studying Language
- History of the English Language
- Renaissance Drama: Shakespeare and his Contemporaries
- Describing Language
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Year 2
Year 2
Core modules
Option modules
You will choose three option modules from the following list. You cannot choose both Renaissance Literature modules.
- Chaucer and Medieval Culture (double module)
- Renaissance Literature B (double module)
- Renaissance Literature A
- Beginnings of English Literature
- Language in the Digital Age
- Literary Leicester - if you choose this module, you must also select it from the list below
You will then choose four option modules from the following list, including at least one of the modules marked *. You cannot choose both Love Wars modules or both Concepts in Criticism modules.
- Love Wars: Gender, Writing and Society, 1660-1789 B (double module)
- Concepts in Criticism B (double module)
- Sin and Redemption in Medieval Literature
- Love Wars: Gender, Writing and Society, 1660-1789 A
- Concepts in Criticism A
- Reading Old English*
- English and Education
- Language, Politics and Human Rights*
- Literary Leicester - if you choose this module, you must also select it from the list above
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Year Abroad (optional)
Year Abroad (optional)
If you wish, you can spend your third year studying abroad at one of our partner institutions (eligibility is dependent on your academic performance in Years 1 and 2). Alternatively, you can opt to continue studying at the University and complete your degree in three years.
Studying abroad is not just for people who are interested in travelling and meeting new people. It is about acquiring life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. Whether you go on to work in the private sector, the state sector, a non-governmental organisation, or become self-employed you will find the experience invaluable. Find out more from our Study Abroad Unit.
Please note that a year spent abroad still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See our Fees and Funding section for details.
English at Leicester has links with several European universities, administered through the Erasmus+ scheme. If you are eligible for a loan from Student Finance you can apply for a travel grant from them. Languages courses, at both beginners and advanced level, are available through the University’s Languages at Leicester scheme.
- For the latest information on the future of the Erasmus+ scheme at UK universities please see our Brexit microsite.
We have links with the following universities:
- Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- University of Helsinki, Finland
- Paris Diderot University - Paris 7, France
- Universität Salzburg, Austria
- Universität Heidelberg, Germany
- Universität Leipzig, Germany
- Università di Bologna, Italy
- Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
- Universiteit Leiden, Netherlands
- Universiteit Utrecht, Netherlands
We also have links with some universities outside Europe. If you are receiving financial assistance from Student Finance your support will continue and you may also be eligible to apply for additional travel grants or scholarships. We have links with the following universities:
- Queen's University, Ontario, Canada
- University of Geneva, Switzerland
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Final Year
Final Year
In your final year of study, you will be free to explore a broad range of literary and linguistic topics, from the Gothic and Romantic movements to the globalised culture of the twenty-first century. You will also write a dissertation on a research topic of your own choosing, and take cutting-edge modules led by specialists in their fields.
Option modules
You will choose four option modules from the following list - this must include one module marked *. You cannot choose both Victorians modules.
- Dissertation (double module) - may be chosen from either list
- Victorians: from Oliver Twist to The Picture of Dorian Gray B (double module)
- Victorians: from Oliver Twist to The Picture of Dorian Gray A
- English Around the World*
- Advanced Old English Language*
- Multilingual and Multicultural Communities*
You will then choose four option modules from the following list - this must include one module marked *. You cannot choose both Post-War to Postmodern modules.
- Dissertation (double module) - available if not already chosen from the list above
- Rewriting Britain (double module)
- Modern Literature
- Postcolonial Britain
- Language, Power and Persuasion*
- English Place Names*
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Why Leicester?
Job prospects are excellent: 97% of our English students are employed (or studying for a Masters degree) six months after graduating. (DLHE)
Notable authors who have spoken at the University include Carol Anne Duffy, Will Self, Amitav Ghosh, Jacqueline Wilson, Roger McGough, Fay Weldon, Linton Kwesi Johnson and Sarah Waters.
The David Wilson Library has extensive collections of rare books and manuscripts plus the personal archives of two local giants of 20th century writing: Joe Orton and Sue Townsend.
Our teaching staff are active researchers in a large number of different fields, from Caribbean literature to writing on medicine, and from the pre-Conquest period to the post-colonial era.
Reading list
See the types of texts you might read, over the summer, to get a feel for the course and arrive prepared and ready to go.
Teaching and learning
Teaching
For each module you will typically have one or two lectures and a seminar every week. Alongside these events will be a number of additional sessions, such as workshops on research and study skills, learning groups, introduced film screenings, and scheduled personal tutor meetings. Lectures are designed to introduce you to important background information for understanding a text, theme, or author. Weekly seminars, in which a tutor leads a small group of students in discussion, will allow you to explore a text or topic in greater depth, developing your own responses in active conversation with your tutor and peers.
For your third-year dissertation you receive one-to-one tuition across the term from a tutor with expertise in your chosen subject.
Assessment
You will be assessed by range of different methods, in order to reflect the number of different skills you will acquire, including essays, group-work projects, oral presentations, reviews, portfolios, and exams. These assessments are designed to help you build confidence in a range of areas and to provide prospective employers with evidence that you can work effectively both as an independent researcher and as a team member. Your final degree result will be based on the work you do in the second and third years of your degree.
You will have regular meetings with your personal tutor to discuss progress in your studies. Your personal tutor will also provide a sympathetic ear for all matters of personal concern, whether academic, financial, housing, career, or social. Our pastoral care system is first-rate, and feedback and participation are encouraged through the Student-Staff Committee, where lecturers and student representatives from all years meet to discuss the issues that affect you.
Independent learning
When not attending lectures, seminars or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. To help with your independent learning, you can access the Library and our social study spaces in halls of residence.
Your contact hours will depend on the option modules you select. You can see details of the contact hours on individual module pages.
Academic support
Our Student Learning Development Team provides help in the following areas:
- study and exam skills
- academic writing
- presentations
- dissertations
- numerical data skills
- referencing sources
Our AccessAbility Centre offers support and practical help for students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties, including physical, mental health or mobility difficulties, deafness, or visual impairment.
Teaching staff
You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. PhD research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader. Our teaching is informed by the research we do. You can learn more about our staff by visiting our staff profiles.
Apply now
| Course | Qualification | Duration | UCAS Code | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course English with English Language | Qualification BA | Duration 3 years, full-time | UCAS Code Q3W2 | Availability Apply Now |
| Course English with English Language with a Year Abroad | Qualification BA | Duration 4 years, full-time | UCAS Code Q3W2 | Availability Apply Now |