Course Overview
Lancaster's combined English Language and Literature degree is taught by award-winning teaching and research staff who'll help you develop an appreciation of literature through the appreciation of its language.
Your degree looks at the relationship between a writer's linguistic choices and the effects these have on the reader. You'll be introduced to literature from different genres and historical periods and to a range of current approaches in literary theory. You'll also learn about the structure, history, uses and variation of the English language.
In your first year, you'll take courses including English Literature, Introduction to English Language, and Introduction to Media Discourse. You'll move on to second-year subjects such as Stylistics and The Theory and Practice of Criticism, and then complete your degree with a wide range of options including Contemporary Literature; From Decadence to Modernism, 1890 - 1945; American Literature from 1900; Shakespeare; and Literature and Film.
Related Courses
Modules
Lancaster degree programmes are flexible, offering students the opportunity to cover a wide selection of subject areas to compliment their degree. The following is an example list of modules which our previous students have studied. For a full list contact the Linguistics and English Language department.
Year 1
- English Literature
- English Language
Year 2
- The Theory and Practice of Criticism
- Victorian Literature
- Renaissance to Restoration, English Literature, 1580-1688
- American Literature to 1900
- British Romanticism
- Literature and Film
- Stylistics
- English Sounds and Structures
Year 3
- Shakespeare
- Modernism, 1890-1945
- American Literature from 1900
- Contemporary Literature in English
- Language and Identities: Gender, ethnicity and class
- Literature and Film
Lancaster University offers the chance to follow a structured study programme or the option to devise a more flexible programme. We divide academic study into 2 sections - Part 1 (Year 1) and Part 2 (Year 2, 3 and sometimes 4). In Part 1 you will take three modules of study which, depending upon your programme, will be drawn from one, two or three different academic subjects, a higher degree of specialisation then develops in subsequent years. For more information about our teaching methods at Lancaster visit our Teaching and Learning section.
For further information about the department, staff and courses please visit the Linguistics and English Language department website.
Entry Criteria
A-level: AAA to include English Literature or English Language and Literature combined at grade A. We normally expect three A-levels
General Studies: Accepted as one of 3 A-levels
Preference: A-levels
Key skills: Not included in offer
GCSE: Normally Maths and a language
Scottish Highers: AAABB to include frade A in English
Irish Leaving Cert: Offers will be made on the basis of 5 or 6 Higher level subjects. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office (01524 592028) for further information
International Bacc: 36 pts overall with 16 pts from best three HL courses
BTEC: Overall grades of DDD
Mature students: We are keen to recruit mature students. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office (01524 592028) for further information
IELTS: 6.5
Careers
Lancaster's English Language and Literature degree helps you develop an analytical approach to working and refine crucial interpersonal and communication skills, which will be of great value in your future employment.
Your degree will be of particular benefit if you wish to work in education, language teaching, speech therapy, translation, information technology, management, the mass media, creative arts, social work and counselling. A sizeable proportion of our graduates take up employment overseas.
Recent graduates have gone on to work or train as speech therapists, teachers of English overseas, teachers of English as a mother tongue, computer programmers and consultants, bankers, chartered accountants, personnel managers, journalists and social workers.
Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring you not only gain a highly reputable degree, but that you also graduate with relevant life and work based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which offers you the opportunity to complete key activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development. Visit our Employability section for full details.
Studying
Teaching and Learning Methods
At Lancaster we offer a broad range of learning environments designed to best support the requirements of your chosen degree programme. These may include lecture and tutorials, interactive workshops, laboratory sessions, other practical activities, student-led seminars and web-based elivery.
The modules which make up a programme of study are assessed using a variety of different methods, enabling students to demonstrate their capabilities in a range of ways. Typical coursework assignments include laboratory reports, essays, literature reviews, short tests, short and sharply focussed critical reports, poster sessions and oral presentations. Formal examinations include short answer questions, essays and data analysis. Multiple choice formats are also employed where appropriate. Students are supported in the production of final year project reports and dissertations. Details of the assessment methods for individual modules can be accessed via the university's online module catalogue.
In addition to these learning and teaching methods we encourage independent study, meaning you take responsibility for your own learning. For more information visit our Teaching Approach page.
Assessment Methods
We offer you a variety of stimulating and effective approaches to teaching, learning and assessment. This enables you and your tutors to explore the very latest thinking within your subject and develops your skills in problem solving, analysis and critical reflection, communication, application of knowledge and modern technologies.
As a University, we commit to providing all our undergraduates with a minimum number of contact hours per week, providing you with timely feedback on your work and a maximum number of 15 students per seminar group.
Funding
Lancaster University has committed £2.7m in scholarships and bursaries to help with your fees and living costs. Our financial support depends on your circumstances and how well you do in your A-levels (or equivalent academic qualifications) before starting study with us.
Lancaster University's priority is to support every student to make the most of their life and education. For students starting their study with us in 2014, over 600 each year will be entitled to bursaries and/or scholarships to help them with the cost of fees and/or living expenses. For UK students entering in 2014 we will have the following financial support available:
- An Academic Scholarship of £2,000 for the first year of study to any student from the UK entering with A*, A*, A or equivalent academic qualifications
- An Access Scholarship of £1,000 per year for all UK students from households with an income of less than £42,600 who achieve grades of A*, A, A or the equivalent academic qualifications
- A Lancaster Bursary of £1,000 per annum for all students from England with a household income of more than £25,000 but less than £42,600
- As part of the National Scholarship Programme, a £1,000 Bursary, a £1,000 Fee Waiver and a £1,000 Accommodation Discount in the first year of study, for students from England with a household income of less than £25,000. Plus a Lancaster Bursary of £1,000 in subsequent years.
*All of the financial awards above are subject to approval by the Office for Fair Access July 2013.
For full details of the University's financial support packages including eligibility criteria, please visit our fees and funding page
View details of our current Undergraduate fees.
