Skip to content

BA (Honours) English with Foundation Year

Students chatting on lawn
Year of Entry 2023/24
BA (Honours)

English with Foundation Year

Full-time English

Take this exciting opportunity to shape your own path through the study of English language, literature and creative writing, with an initial foundation year to prepare for the course.


Everything you need to know...

What is the fee? Home: £9,250 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
International/EU: £15,860 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
How long will I study? 4/5 Years
Where will I study? City Campus
What are the entry requirements? 48 UCAS points
What is the UCAS code? C009
When do I start? September 2023
Placement year available? Yes

UG open day 2022

Come to an open day

Find out more at our undergraduate open days. Book now for your place.

Learn more

Course summary

  • Explore all aspects of English, with modules in literature, language and creative writing
  • Determine your direction of study and discover the areas that most fire your interest
  • Get a head start in the writing and publishing industries by teaming up with industry partners on live briefs and accredited work placements.
  • Give yourself the best chance to succeed and thrive, by developing your personal skills, awareness of resources and commitment to the subject

If you’re passionate about all areas of English, then this course is for you. You will analyse an exciting variety of literary texts, discover the relationship between language and the world around you, and develop your creative voice in a range of genres and forms.

How you learn

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

On this course, you will be encouraged to think critically. You’ll respond to existing debates, develop a distinctive and confident writing voice and engage with the world through English language and literature. You'll be joining a welcoming academic and creative community that values your experience, perspective and contribution.

During the foundation year, you will develop a good foundation of knowledge, to help you thrive in your University studies, but also the personal skills and awareness of resources that will help you manage your studies effectively and be self-motivated

You learn through

  • specialist lectures, seminars, live brief projects and tutorials 
  • an innovative range of assessments
  • small and large group sessions
  • creative problem solving
  • critical reflection
  • generating and pitching ideas
  • workshopping your writing
  • working with different audiences
  • live readings and performances
  • writing and sharing your work online and offline
  • field trips and writing retreats

Course leaders and tutors

No photo of Fraser Stevens found
Fraser Stevens
Lecturer in Performance, Course Leader for the Foundation Year in Humanities

Fraser is artist/scholar and lecturer in Acting and Performance.

Applied learning

Work placements

In your second year, of the full degree, you’ll raise your professional profile through a placement module. You’ll have the chance to collaborate with external partners, undertake a work placement or develop your own enterprise. 

Previous students have worked with local schools and local children’s charities to develop materials and resources. Many have also gained experience in industries like publishing, event design and public relations, and some have even started their own businesses. 

Live projects

You’ll get regular opportunities to showcase your knowledge and skills to our industry and community partners. You’ll work independently and in teams throughout your studies, bringing your ideas to life in response to real briefs.

In the foundation year, you will undertake a series of projects that respond to real world debates.

Field trips 

We run regular local, regional and international field trips at no additional cost such as writing retreats, festivals and theatre visits. These start right from the beginning of the foundation year and continue throughout your studies. Students in previous years have visited London Book Fair, as well as events in Montreal, Canada and Zagreb, Croatia. They also took part in the Festival of Debate, Doc/Fest film festival and Off the Shelf literature festival, and attended the ZEE-Jaipur Literature Festival in London.

Networking opportunities 

We work with renowned festivals such as Off the Shelf and Doc/Fest and bring literary agents, publishers and high profile writers to Sheffield to work with our students. You can take part in networking events and masterclasses, giving you a head start into the writing and publishing industries. 

You’ll also have the opportunity to work with leading researchers. We have a strong alumni network and will encourage you to connect with partners outside of the University to give you the best career opportunities possible.


Future careers

Our students have gone on to careers in

  • the creative industries
  • marketing, communications, media
  • local and regional government
  • the charity sector
  • education
  • social work

Where will I study?

You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.

City Campus

City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.

City Campus map | City Campus tour | Keeping safe on Campus


City Campus map
Location

Howard Street
Sheffield
S1 1WB

Get directions
students working on computers in the library
Adsetts library

Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.

Learn more

Equipment and facilities

On this course you’ll have access to

  • co-working spaces with flexible desks, large screens, a laptop library, comfy seating, and a shared kitchen
  • a wide range of learning resources, including access to an extensive collection of specialist books, databases and journals

Entry requirements

All students

48 UCAS points, including 24 points from one A Level, BTEC or equivalent; prior learning options available for students that have been out of education for a number of years, but can show some commitment to the subject (e.g. evidence of some creative writing when applying to Creative Writing course). GCSEs – English Language at C, but no requirement for Maths.

If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.

Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.

Additional information for EU/International students

If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.

For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.


Modules

Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

Year 1

Compulsory modules
Module Credits Assessment
Module: Talent Accelerator Credits: 120 Assessment: Coursework

Year 2

Compulsory modules
Module Credits Assessment
Module: Craft And Form Credits: 40 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Describing Language Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Linguistic Creativity Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Local To Global: Literary Explorations Credits: 40 Assessment: Coursework

Year 3

Compulsory modules
Module Credits Assessment
Module: Ideas Into Action Credits: 40 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Imagined Futures: Literature, Time And Hope Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: What's The Story? Long And Short Fiction Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Elective modules
Module Credits Assessment
Module: A Fine Line: Poetry And Poetics Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Exploring Second Language Learning Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Foreign Language Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Foundation Studies In Tesol Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Style And Interpretation Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Talk And Interaction Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: The Literature Of Things Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework

Year 4

Optional modules
Module Credits Assessment
Module: Placement Year Credits: - Assessment: Coursework

Final year

Elective modules
Module Credits Assessment
Module: Changing Lives: Literature And Social Movements Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Counter-Culture And Creativity Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Creative Writing Major Project Credits: 40 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Exploring English Education Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Foreign Language Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Language, Learning And Wellbeing Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Language Research Project Credits: 40 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Life On Earth: Writing And Environment Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Literature Research Project Credits: 40 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Make It New: Experimental Writing Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Reading And The Mind Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Revealing Gender Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Tesol Classroom Teaching And Reflection Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: The Ends Of The Earth: Literature And The Anthropocene Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: The Spectacular City: Exploring Urban Spaces Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Writing For Change: Writing And Advocacy Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Writing For Young People Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework

Fees and funding

Home students

Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2023/24 is £9,250 per year. These fees are regulated by the UK government and are therefore subject to changes in government policy. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.

If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.

International students

Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2023/24 is £15,860 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.

Students sat on a sofa

Financial support for home/EU students

How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.

Learn more

Additional course costs

This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.

Additional costs for English courses (PDF, 218.6KB)

Legal information

Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.

 

How do I apply?

Apply now via UCAS

Not ready to apply just yet?

Why not come to our next open day? Open days are the perfect place to talk to staff and students, visit our campuses and get all the information you need. Alternatively, feel free to ask us a question.

Come to an open day Ask a question

Why choose us?

A trophy icon

Teaching

We are Gold rated in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) for the outstanding quality of our teaching and student outcomes

A bed icon

Accommodation

We guarantee to find you an affordable place to live that’s close to campus and comes with all bills included

A head and shoulders icon

Employment

95% of our UK graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating (2020/21 Graduate Outcomes Survey)

Where next?

Want to know more about Sheffield Hallam? Get your questions answered with our tips, guides and information.

Image of students in a UG open day

Come to an open day

Meet our students and staff, see our campuses and accommodation, and get all the information you need.

Book now
UG prospectus

Order a prospectus

Find out everything you need to know about studying at Sheffield Hallam.

Order undergraduate prospectus
Accommodation buildings

Find accommodation

We guarantee accommodation for all first year students. All of our halls are in popular student areas, and close to our campuses.

Find your home from home

Cancel event

Are you sure you want to cancel your place on Saturday 12 November?

Close