English is a subject that will always be relevant, as it can be applied to all aspects of working life and is crucial to gaining context on everyday situations. Whether you want to screen write plays, teach English as a foreign language, or become a recognised novelist, read on to see how our courses can help you towards all of these goals and more.
English and Creative Writing
Key Modules:
- Craft of Writing
- Prose Writing
- Adaptation
Do you have a vivid imagination and enjoy writing in many different styles? If so, our English and Creative Writing course is a great choice, as it allows you to develop your original writing style alongside your research and critical thinking skills. You will be able to focus your studies on your individual interests and career aspirations, and have the chance to write your own screenplays, short stories, poetry and more.
You will be learning from published authors and top-class researchers. Previous guest speakers include author Kit de Waal, poetry activist Jo Bell, and novelist Jim Crace. We also love showcasing work made by our very own alumni and are immensely proud of them. You can check out their work here, some of which has won awards!
English Literature
Key Modules:
- Modernism and its Legacies
- Writing and the Environment
- The Romantics
If you find yourself invested in the literary greats and want to study them further whilst developing your written skills, English Literature is the course for you. You will study literature from all major periods, movements, and genres, with the opportunity to take your studies further and learn about art, cinema, and philosophy if you wish to do so.
You will be critically thinking and analysing texts, developing your theory, and gaining core knowledge which will be the basis of your studies. As well as this, you will also get the chance to participate in workshops and events related to your degree. Previous students participated in Philip K Dick Day, which entailed a conference focusing on the psychology, visual media, and creative construction of the author’s works. Events like this give you the chance to collaborate and share ideas with other students, writers, and academics.
English and Journalism
Key Modules:
- Telling Stories with Journalism
- Digital Reporting
- Media Law in Practice
Interested in current affairs, writing for news outlets and reporting on stories that matter to you? Our English and Journalism course combines learning from the two subjects to help you gain transferrable skills from both sectors and strengthen both your writing and journalistic skills.
You will be using aspects of both literature and creative writing alongside drama and English language to aid your studies, learning to work as an independent researcher and communicate with spoken and written discourse. A unique aspect of this course is the fact you’ll be writing for the University’s student-run website, Birmingham Eastside, alongside social media channels and other forms of interactive media.
English
Key Modules:
- Key Critical Concepts
- Writing and the Environment
- Major Project
This course offers a broad overview of English, covering creative, critical, personal, and social aspects of writing, and focuses on understanding how English as a discipline connects with the wider world. As this is such a broad area of study, you will be given the chance to specialise in an area of your choice, whether that be drama, poetry, documentary, periodical writing, or something else – there are many paths to choose from.
English at BCU also holds close links with cultural institutions such as the Birmingham and Midland Institute (BMI) and Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (BMAG). These links will provide you with more opportunities during and after your studies, ensuring you have all resources possible to achieve employability in your chosen area.
English Language and Literature
Key modules:
- Grammar and Style
- Language in Society
- Language in Action
Our English Language and Literature course gives you the chance to combine two different practices of English, see how they intertwine, and combine them to strengthen your skills in both areas. The English language aspect of the course focuses on communication in different forms and how language connects us with the wider world and different societies and cultures. The literary side of the course focuses on introducing you to different aspects of literature and learning to engage with them critically and practically.
Again, you are given the chance to specialise in an area that you’re interested in later into the course. To give you an idea of what you can do with this degree, previous students that studied this course went on to work as authors, writers, translators, teachers and more.
English at BCU
An English degree can open up a whole world of possibilities, from drama and screenwriting, to fast-track graduate schemes and presenting on the radio.