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English - BA (Hons)

Currently viewing course to start in 2025/26 Entry.

Our versatile BA (Hons) English course gives you the freedom to choose the subjects that suit you at each stage of your degree. You can combine the literary and the linguistic, the critical and the creative, the historical and the contemporary....

  • Level Undergraduate
  • Study mode Full Time

This course is:

Available with Professional Placement year

Open to International Students

Overview

[00:00:01] Speaker 1 My name is Tia Cullis and I'm a third year English Literature student. If you're thinking of studying English, BCU is the place for you, and that's why my story starts here. English literature was always the thing I was going to choose to do at uni. At the open day of the talks that we had, the information that we got given really made me understand that this was what I wanted to do. My highlight has probably been the modules that I got to take and how they have really influenced and shaped who I am as a person. I took a module that was about work placements, so I got to go the Black Country Living Museum and from there in that placement, it stemmed this kind of love in me for the marketing and from the it's made me realise that that's what I want to do as a career.

[00:00:46] Speaker 2 I'm Ian Taylor, I'm in my first year of my Creative Writing degree. I sort of went from the rural countryside to Birmingham, just this massive new place. I want to tell stories that make sure that the reader knows that they're allowed to love themselves, even if they feel no one else does. And I think a creative writing degree is just going to help that. I believe in the concept of having your own sort of people, and I think by coming to BCU, I've definitely found that I've met so many people that also like reading, that also like doing the things I like doing. You can't get really much better than that when it comes to making connections.

[00:01:22] Speaker 3 My name is Kseniia Yakutina, I'm doing Foundation Year and I'm studying English and Journalism. Before in Ukraine, I lived in a small town and because Birmingham is big, there's lots to see and do, lots of opportunities, lots of new and interesting people. After the invasion of Russia in 2014, there was a programme they opened to give some opportunities for children and I won a scholarship to come to England. And from there my English journey started. I really wanted to have the skill and know what am I doing, how to write and how to do it professionally. I really liked how the programme is built because they do really relevant modules. They have like literature, linguistics and also some of journalism. And it's, it's super interesting for me.

Our versatile BA (Hons) English course gives you the freedom to choose the subjects that suit you at each stage of your degree. You can combine the literary and the linguistic, the critical and the creative, the historical and the contemporary. You can experience all aspects of English Studies to develop extensive knowledge and skills in different literary periods, approaches to language, and writing practices. The course covers how language, writing and texts work; studies diverse literature authors have created; and teaches you to write cogently and imaginatively. It empowers you to plot your own story as an individual, collaborator, and future professional.

This course is open to International students.

What's covered in this course?

At the heart of our English courses is a shared interest in words and stories, and an appreciation of the real difference they make in the world. Taught by world-leading academics in a friendly, supportive learning community, you will explore the power of language and literature in ways that matter today and to you.

Flexibility and diversity of choice are built into our inclusive course for you to shape your degree according to your interests, strengths, and career goals. You can study and practice a range of forms, genres, and modes of communication from different historical contexts and theoretical perspectives, across literature, language, creative writing, and drama. Our courses include opportunities for work experience or peer collaboration as standard and culminate in a Major Project, which allows you to research and write about ideas and questions of your choosing.

English at BCU is a top-20 research department for English Studies and research excellence is central to our taught courses. We focus on the practice and application of subject knowledge and skills to develop graduate readers, thinkers, and writers that excel in criticality, creativity, and communication. As a perceptive critical thinker, you will interpret and assess complex information and situations to form intelligent judgements and solutions. As a creative individual, you will produce new and imaginative texts, and devise interesting, challenging ideas. And, as a proficient, versatile communicator, you will be trained in clear and accurate spoken and written English to professional standards.

Our graduates are characterised by their extensive knowledge and skills in English, and transferrable qualities that are sought-after by employers. These subject-specific and professional skills and attributes are embedded in the course to open a wide range of career paths and employment opportunities, including (but not limited to) education; writing, editing and publishing; advertising and marketing; public relations; and digital content creation.

Professional Placement Year

This course offers an optional professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, following successful completion of your second year, and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies.

If you choose to pursue a placement year, you will need to find a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will be able to draw on the University’s extensive network of local, regional, and national employers, and the support of our Careers teams. If you are able to secure a placement, you can request to be transferred to the placement version of the course.

Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year.

What I enjoy most about the BA English course is the variety of modules we get to choose from. From writing short stories to studying multicultural literature, I've had the chance to explore texts from many time periods and locations. The assessments provide a brilliant opportunity to express my ideas, while building on my critical thinking skills. My experience with the course has only nurtured my passion for language and literature - and motivates me to pursue it further!

Madina Outama

Why Choose Us?

  • Top 10 for English graduate prospects (Complete University Guide 2024).
  • You will be taught by world-leading academics and expert practitioners who foster a community of experimentation, innovation and inclusivity, creating an environment in which student learning can flourish. The programme focuses on the development of core knowledge and skills for English study and how they can be translated to foster interdisciplinary, practice-based education.
  • Combining the study of literature, language, drama and creative writing, English at Birmingham City University is, by definition, interdisciplinary. The programme offers multiple opportunities for you to collaborate across disciplines in order to gain new perspectives on the relevance of your study in the wider world.
  • English is a subject highly-prized by employers for the range of transferable skills it develops. Equipped with a strong subject knowledge, you will develop an ability to work as an independent researcher, to communicate effectively in spoken and written discourse, to critically evaluate the work of others, and to respond imaginatively to original briefs, initiate, manage and complete research projects, either independently or as a group. You will be able to apply these skills through work placement opportunities or collaborative practice with others in your year group to ensure you can articulate and demonstrate a sound knowledge and skill-base to future employers.
  • English is a global language; its culture has an international reach. Understanding the effects of this and how English has been shaped and reshaped by its engagement with the world at large is a key principle of the programme. You not only have the opportunity to contextualise English in this way as part of the taught programme, but can also apply to undertake part of your studies abroad at one of our exchange partner universities.
  • Our teaching staff are also expert researchers in English Language and Literature. 94% of research in English at BCU was judged to be either world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*) in REF2021.

Open Days

Join us for an on-campus Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation.

Next Open Day: 19 October 2024

Book your place

Entry Requirements

These entry requirements apply for entry in 2025/26.

All required qualifications/grades must have been achieved and evidenced at the earliest opportunity after accepting an offer to help confirm admission and allow for on-time enrolment. This can also include other requirements, like a fee status form and relevant documents. Applicants can track their application and outstanding information requests through their BCU mySRS account.

Essential requirements

112 UCAS Tariff points. Learn more about UCAS Tariff points.

Please note: If you qualify for our BCU Accelerate scheme, you could receive an offer that is two grades below our normal entry requirements. Find out more about BCU Accelerate.

If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.

Fees & How to Apply

Please select your student status to view fees and apply
  • UK Student
  • International Student

UK students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: BA (Hons)

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

International students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: BA (Hons)

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Full Time
  • 3 years
  • £17,690 in 2025/26

Access to computer equipment 

You will require use of a laptop, and most students do prefer to have their own. However, you can borrow a laptop from the university or use one of our shared computer rooms. 

Printing 

You will receive £5 print credit in each year of your course, available after enrolment. 

Field trips 

All essential field trips and associated travel costs will be included in your course fees. 

Access to Microsoft Office 365 

Every student at the University can download a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 to use whilst at university and for 18 months after graduation. 

Key software 

You will be able to download SPSS and Nvivo to your home computer to support with your studies and research. 

Key subscriptions 

Subscriptions to key journals and websites are available through our library. 

Excess printing (optional) 

Once you have spent your £5 credit, additional printing on campus costs from 5p per sheet. 

Personal stationery and study materials (optional) 

Based on the past experience of our students, you might find it helpful to set aside about £30 for each year of your studies for your personal stationery and study materials. 

Placement expenses (optional) 

If you choose to undertake a placement, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst living or working away from home. 

Field trips (optional) 

This course includes the option of additional trips that may enhance your experience, at extra cost. 

Books (optional) 

All module key texts will be in the University library, but in limited numbers. You may choose to purchase a copy. We suggest budgeting approximately £250 per year for this. 

Personal equipment (optional) 

Whilst not essential, it is advised you own a computer or laptop with a Word processor and Internet access will be required for completing and submitting assignments. You will be able to use the University laptops and computers, but you will likely find it helpful to have one of your own. 

Accommodation and living costs (optional)

The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.

Guidance for UK students

UK students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.

Applying through UCAS

  1. Register with UCAS
  2. Login to UCAS and complete your details
  3. Select your course and write a personal statement
  4. Get a reference
  5. Pay your application fee and submit your application

Guidance for International students

There are three ways to apply:

1) Direct to the University

You will need to complete our International Application Form and Equal Opportunities Form, and submit them together with scan copies of your original academic transcripts and certificates.

2) Through a country representative

Our in-country representatives can help you make your application and apply for a visa. They can also offer advice on travel, living in the UK and studying abroad.

3) Through UCAS

If you are applying for an undergraduate degree or a Higher National Diploma (HND), you can apply through the UK’s Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

You can request a printed form from your school or nearest British Council office. You will be charged for applying through UCAS. Birmingham City University’s UCAS code is B25 BCITY.

Personal statement

UK / EU students are required to submit a personal statement as part of their application for this course.*

The personal statement gives you a crucial opportunity to say why you’re applying and why the institution should accept you.

Here are the key areas you’ll need to address:

  • Course choice - Why does this course appeal? What areas are of particular interest?
  • Career plans - If you have a specific career in mind, say how your chosen course will help you pursue this goal.
  • Work experience - Mention any work that is relevant to your subject, highlighting the skills and experience gained.
  • School or college experience - Highlight skills gained at school/college, eg summer schools or mentoring activities.
  • Non-accredited skills or achievement - eg Duke of Edinburgh Award, Young Enterprise scheme.

You should also mention your future plans – if you’re planning to take a year out, don't forget to give your reasons. Talk about any subjects you’re studying that don’t have a formal assessment and any sponsorships or placements you’ve applied for. And don't be scared to add in details about your social, sports or leisure interests.

Worried about Personal Statements?

If you've got no idea where to start or just want to check you're on the right track, we’ve got expert advice and real examples from our students to help you nail your personal statement. You can even download our ultimate personal statement guide for free.

Get personal statement advice

*Non-EU students are not required to submit a personal statement when applying for this course.

Course in Depth

First Year

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 80 credits):

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 40 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules:

Second Year

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete the following CORE module (totalling 20 credits):

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete 20 credits from the following indicative list of CORE Faculty modules.

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 80 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules.

Professional Placement Year (optional)

In order to qualify for the Professional Placement Year, a student must successfully complete the following Level 5 module:

Final Year

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 60 credits):

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 60 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules.

Download course specification

Download now

How you will learn

Your learning will be through a mixture of lectures, practical workshops and seminars. Your course also provides an opportunity to undertake work-based learning through a placement. We embed flexible opportunities for you to access your curriculum including recorded lectures, blended learning, on-campus delivery and intensive delivery of some modules. We recognise that students progress to higher education from a variety of educational experiences and that university is a completely new educational environment for most of you. For that reason, you will find that in your first year with us there is a focus on supporting your transition which places an emphasis on developing both the confidence and the competencies required for being successful at your university assignments. Where appropriate, we will bring in external speakers or arrange visits relevant to your specialism. These may be from industry or be focused on a particular specialist academic interest. We have excellent links with industry, community and scholarly partners which we draw on to enhance your learning experience.

How you will be assessed

All our assessments are designed to ensure that you meet the learning outcomes of your modules and thus of the course overall. Assessment types may include written research reports, essays, case studies, practical work, portfolios and presentations. There is one exam, taken online, in an optional module in the second year of your course. You will be assessed as an individual but there may be times when you will be asked to work within teams and submit assessments as groups. All modules offer chances for formative assessment, that is, informal assessments that are used to assess your understanding before the final submission of your work. Formative assessments also help inform the teaching strategy within a module, identifying areas where we can offer extra help and guidance. We will offer tutorials and a chance for you to discuss your draft assessments before you submit them. Once marked, we will give formal feedback and ‘feed forward’ on all work submitted, aimed at helping you improve future submissions. 

Teaching and learning activities

Teaching and learning activities may include lectures, seminars, workshops, field trips and guided independent study. You will also have access to a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, including seminars by prestigious guest speakers and published authors and a programme of scholarly and creative events. Online facilities, such as the University’s Virtual Learning Environment Moodle, are used to guide, support and enhance your learning experience.

You will benefit from tutorial support and spoken or written feedback on your learning and preliminary work to help you in preparing for and reflecting on your assignments. A wide range of assessment methods are used in the programme, including essays, presentations, exhibitions, conferences and creative portfolios, giving you the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills.

Links

The School maintains close links with cultural institutions such as the Birmingham and Midland Institute (BMI) and Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (BMAG) and works with agencies such as Writing West Midlands.


Learn from industry experts

The school regularly organises talks and visits that will provide you with the chance to learn from industry experts with guest masterclasses and visiting authors.

Novelist Jim Crace delivered a series of workshops with students, giving feedback on their work and an insight into the world of professional writing and the publishing industry. Student Nabiyah Saddique said: "It was beneficial to students like me who want to write and be an author by career, to see how his experiences have shaped him and how he has created such beautiful pieces of work from these experiences."

Jim also enjoyed the chance to work with the students: "Everybody tried their hands at pitching an idea, writing the opening paragraphs of a novel, and line editing. It was testing and daunting but nobody fell short. The level of commitment and ability was astounding. London publishers should be beating a path to the School of English; it houses writing talent in abundance."

Employability

Enhancing employability skills

Employability is embedded across our programme, from sector- and industry-specific skills in creative writing, drama, linguistics and literature, through to transferable skills that hold real value regardless of your employment direction, including literacy and numeracy, time management and organisation, oral and written communication, team work, initiative and enterprise, creative and analytical thinking, self-direction and discipline, independence, information gathering and interpersonal skills.

You will have multiple opportunities to engage in problem solving and problem-based learning, particularly through individual assessments and collaborative practice modules, and to reflect on your own career development needs through participating in the Graduate+ scheme and other employability schemes over the course of your degree.

Placements

The School is committed to developing strong links with employers in Birmingham and the West Midlands. Several language and Creative Writing modules have explicit employer and industry engagement, where you work in collaboration with employer and external partners over the course of the semester and are encouraged to adopt industry-standard practices to facilitate connections and links independently with external partners.

In the case of the Work Placement module, you will have the opportunity to develop skills and abilities in a sector-specific context, while ensuring that academic aims and objectives are met as part of your wider learning journey.

Links to Industry

We regularly seek out opportunities to build further links with partner organisations in the region, including Creative Black Country, Birmingham Literary Festival, Birmingham Museums Trust (including Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery), Black Country Museum Trust, Arvon Creative Writing Foundation, Flatpack Film Festival, West Midlands Screenwriters' Forum, and other Schools within the University, in addition to publishers, charities, third sector organisations, and more, in Birmingham and beyond.

International

Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.

The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.

Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:

Facilities & Staff

Curzon with Millennium Point and Parkside

Our Facilities

When you join Birmingham City University, the first thing you will notice is the high standard of our campuses. With an investment of over £400 million across our buildings and facilities, we are committed to giving you the very best learning environment to help shape your experience.

Our English courses are based at both Millennium Point, and at our £63 million development the Curzon Building, located on our City Centre campus in the vibrant second city that is Birmingham.

Discover your bright and open learning spaces, your 24 hour (during term time) library, drama, media and radio studios, along with state of the art lecture theatres, and a variety of sociable break-out areas, all adding to your unique learning experience.

Our staff

Professor Gregory Leadbetter

Professor of Poetry, Course Director of the MA in Creative Writing, Director of the Institute of Creative and Critical Writing

Gregory Leadbetter is Professor of Poetry at Birmingham City University. His research focuses on Romantic poetry and thought, the traditions to which these relate, and the history and practice of poetry more generally. His book Coleridge and the Daemonic Imagination (Palgrave Macmillan, 2011) won the University English Book Prize 2012. His poetry...

More about Gregory

Dr Robert Lawson

Associate Professor in Sociolinguistics

As an award-winning academic with 15 years of experience investigating the relationship between language and society, Dr Robert Lawson has produced world-leading research with tangible real-world benefits, as well as establishing new research paradigms in media linguistics and applied language studies. Dr Lawson completed his ESRC-funded PhD thesis...

More about Robert

Dr Soudabeh Ananisarab

Lecturer in Drama

Before joining BCU, Dr Soudabeh Ananisarab taught at the University of Nottingham where she completed an MA in English Literature (Distinction) and a PhD in English. She currently teaches on a range of modules, exploring drama both in theory and practice.

More about Soudabeh

Andy Conway

Course Director for BA (Hons) Film and Screenwriting

Andy Conway is a novelist and screenwriter based in Birmingham, who graduated from the School of English in 1994 with a 1st in English Language and Literature. He teaches undergraduate courses in Screenwriting, Drama and Adaptation in the School, and also teaches Screenwriting at The National Academy of Writing, Worcester University and Newman...

More about Andy

Dr Joseph Anderton

Associate Professor of Modern and Contemporary Literature

Joseph Anderton writes and teaches on modern and contemporary literature, particularly in relation to dehumanisation; animals and the environment; homelessness; and literary ethics. He is author of Beckett’s Creatures: Art of Failure after the Holocaust (Bloomsbury, 2016), which considers conceptions of the ‘creature’ and ‘creaturely life’ as...

More about Joseph