BA (Honours) English

UCAS code

Q300

Attendance

Full-time

Three years full-time

At a glance

Develop your understanding of English as a writer, critic and linguist on a course led by established writers and academics at the forefront ofаresearch into the subject. You study English language and English literature as well as developing your creative writing skills, before tailoring the course to meet your interests and career aspirations.

Key points
ХаStudy all aspects of English, including literature, language and creative writing.
ХаBenefit from the insights of internationally acclaimed tutors such as Professor Jane Rogers, an award winning novelist, short-story writer and playwright.
ХаGain experience with work-based projects working in journalism, education, and marketing environments.
ХаTailor your studies to your own interests and career aspirations.

What is English?
Studying English means you become familiar with both the history and the current state of literature and English language. It includes studying English literature using techniques of literary analysis and interpretation, as well as the structure of the English language, its history, grammar and use. You also have the chance to put into practice what you learn about language and literature by producing your own creative work.

About this course

Study the three strands of English, literature, language and creative writing, and get to grips with the subject from the perspective of the critic, the author and the linguist.

You study in a large English department, which gives you access to staff with diverse interests. This gives you the chance to examine the subject in all its dimensions, both familiar and new.

During the course, you study both historical and contemporary modules on literature and language, as well as creative writing practice. There is also the opportunity to take work-based projects to gain professional experience and understand how your skills and knowledge can be applied in the workplace.а

In your first year, you complete
Х a broad literature survey taking in Renaissance tragedy, detective fiction and literature of СThe Great HouseТ
Х an introduction to descriptive linguistics, which provides you with an English language toolkit
Хаa series of introductory creative workshops that give you experience in writing poetry, fiction, script and journalism

In your second year, you take literature modules studying writers such as Shakespeare, Marlowe, Shelley and Keats. You study literary linguistics, and you also take an optional module in your preferred creative writing genre.

You then have a range of choices, including childrenТs literature, teaching English as a second language, writing and the environment, and the opportunity to take aаwork-related project or to study abroad.

In your final year, you complete an independent project working with your own supervisor.а You also study Victorian literature and choose from a wide range of language, literature and creative writing modules.а This might include working on literary texts which have been banned, looking at the relationship between language and music, or writing your own part of a historical novel.

Throughout you benefit from the support and supervision of a large team of research-active academic staff and published creative writers. You can choose from a large number of modules in your second and third years, some of which you can only study at Sheffield Hallam.

We run a number of events where our students can perform their work, such as our regular open-mic night, Speak Easy.

Key areas of study
Key areas include Х reading literature Х critical theory Х verse and narrative Х describing language Х renaissance literature Х literature of the 18th century and Romantic period Х professional writing Х dissertation Х Victorian literature.

Internationally acclaimed teaching team
Our internationally acclaimed tutors include
Х novelist, short-story writer and playwright Jane Rogers (Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature; Arthur C. Clarke Award-winner)
Х poet Maurice Riordan (former editor of Poetry London)
Х prize-winning poet and memoirist Conor OТCallaghan
Х award-winning childrenТs writer and performer David Harmer
Х Forward-Prize-nominated poet Chris Jones
Х script-writer and theatre director Mike Harris
Х writer of literary detective fiction, James McCreet
Х environmental poet and editor, Harriet Tarlo
Х award-winning TV dramatist and novelist, John Milne

Associated careers

Our graduates have found careers as Х marketers Х copywriters Х teachers Хаresearchers Хаcivil servants ХаNHS administrators Хаyouth workers Хаrecruitment consultantsаХ journalists.а

Students often go on to take postgraduate qualifications in teaching, social work and law, and we offer postgraduate courses and research supervision in English language, literature, and writing.

Course content

Year one modules

Х introduction to English studies Х introduction to critical theory Х describing language Х reading literature Х verse and narrative

Year two core modules

Х Renaissance literature Х literature of the eighteenth century and romantic period Х language and literature Х creative writing Ц short story, poetry, scriptwriting and journalism

Year two options

Two from Х childrenТs literature Х foreign language Х the gothic Х introduction to TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) Х language, identity and power Х race, slavery and empire in nineteenth century British and American literature Х work-based project Х libertines and devils Х modern drama 1880Ц1990

Year three core modules

Х literature or language dissertation or creative writing portfolio Х Victorian literature

Year three options

At least one from Х Shakespearean drama Х twentieth century literature

plus a choice of modules from Х literary editing Х language and music Х language and education Х fiction between two wars Х contemporary poetry Х existentialism and literature Х tragedy of blood Х kiss and tell Ц female sexuality in American poetry Х politeness Х understanding meaning Х language and gender Х language and psychology Х work-based project Х digital fiction Х writers, readers, spectators: fiction at work 1880Ц1910 Х experimental writing Х writing and the environment Х post-colonial Britain Х censorship, conflict and scandal

Assessment

Approximately 40 per cent by examinations and 60 per cent by special assignments

Entry requirements

2014 entry requirements

GCSE English language at grade C or above. We do not accept GCSE equivalents, plus one of the following

Х 300 points from at least two GCE/VCE A levels or BTEC National qualifications, including 100 points from A2 in either English language, English literature or English language and literature combined. We accept AS levels and general studies and consider Key Skills.

Х Access Ц at least 45 credits at level 3 from a relevant Open College Network accredited course

If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS average score of at least 6.5 with a minimum score of 5.5 in all skills.

We consider other qualifications from the UCAS tariff. Applicants with alternative qualifications or a combination of qualifications and work experience are also considered. We welcome applications from people of any age. Please contact us for further advice.

Meeting the qualifications on the entry criteria does not guarantee you a place. You should ensure that you submit a personal statement and reference as these are considered as part of the selection process. Guidelines on personal statements and references can be found on the UCAS website.

2013 entry requirements

GCSE English language at grade C or above. We do not accept GCSE equivalents, plus one of the following

Fees

International students

2013/14 academic year

Typically г10,680 a year

2014/15 academic year

Typically г11,250 a year

How to apply

You apply for this course through UCAS.

Contact details

For more information or to check the progress of your application phone +44 (0)114 225 5555, fax +44 (0)114 225 2167, e-mail admissions@shu.ac.uk