2025/26 Undergraduate Programme Catalogue

BA English Language and Literature (For students entering from September 2023 onwards)

Total credits: 360

Entry requirements:

• A-level AAB with A in English (Language, Literature, or Language & Literature) excluding General Studies and Critical Thinking
• International Baccalaureate: 35 points overall with 17 at Higher Level including 6 in English at Higher Level.
• Applications welcome from mature students with Access qualifications and from students with international or other non-A-level qualifications.
• IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component.

School/Unit responsible for the parenting of students and programme:

School of English

Examination board through which the programme will be considered:

School of English

Relevant QAA Subject Benchmark Groups:

English

Programme specification:

The information on this page is accurate for students entering the programme from September 2023. For students who entered the programme before September 2023, you can find the details of your programme: BA English Language and Literature



This is one of the country's most prestigious degrees in English, in one of the UK's most highly rated English departments. There is a large academic staff (over 40 full time), and an annual intake of over 200 students to the Single Honours Programmes).

The Single Honours English Language and Literature programme is distinguished by the wide range of subject areas to which students are exposed, across the whole spread of English Studies. After a compulsory Level 1, the programme allows students a high degree of choice within a structure which ensures that all students are exposed to a range of periods of and genres within English literature, and a range of topics in English Language study. The programme meets the benchmarking requirements for English and English Language. The School enjoys close links with the excellent Brotherton Library and its Special Collections resources, many of which are directly supportive of the study of English Language and Literature.

Students may apply for transfer to a European or an International Degree. The opportunity to apply for a work placement degree is also available. Those students who are accepted may participate in one of our Erasmus/Socrates schemes or go to one of a range of universities with which the University of Leeds has established links.

Programme Aims:
At the end of the programme students should:

In English Language, be able to demonstrate awareness of the following:
- the internal structure of contemporary English, including knowledge of its phonetics and phonology (sound system), morphology, syntax, semantics, lexis and pragmatics;
- have a basic knowledge of the structure of English, and how to apply concepts relating to the structure and history of English to the analysis of texts;
- some of the main ways of analysing English text and discourse, including for example conversation analysis, aspects of stylistics and discourse analysis (including critical discourse analysis);
- some of the main theories of meaning and how meanings are influenced by context and negotiated by speakers;
- the history of English, including its ongoing development;
- key geographical and social determinants of variation in English, including a number of the main regional varieties of English in the British Isles;
- the role of language within the broader field of communication, including its role in constructing individual and group identities;
- how language produces and reflects cultural change and difference;
- the implications of language choices, for example in constructing particular registers and styles;
- the application of these approaches to a range of text types and language contexts.

In English Literature, be able to demonstrate:

- Overall (i.e. skills which run across both English Language & Literature modules, and produce useful dialogue between them) be able to demonstrate:
- an awareness of the basic concepts, information, practical competencies and techniques which are standard features of English studies;
- use basic generic and subject-specific qualities, ie, present a structured and coherent simple argument
- have some knowledge of critical terminology
- have some knowledge of linguistic terminology;
- develop critical skills;
- develop analytical skills;
- demonstrate a critical knowledge of the social, political cultural contexts of the English language as a medium for literature; and of how to discuss the style of a literary work in terms of grammar, lexis, and sound;
- demonstrate a critical knowledge of particular and specific literary and language fields, facilitated either through the choice and pursuit of res tated either through the choice and pursuit of research-led option modules or via the planning and production of a dissertation.

At Level 3, all students will take a 40 credit capstone project appropriate to their degree programme. Alongside the capstone projects, students will be able to take 80 further credits of optional specialist modules (selection of typical options shown below).

Year1 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Students are required to study a total of 120 credits at Level 1.

A maximum of 20 credits may be taken in modules outside the School of English.

General overview of Level 1:

1. Students must take FOUR COMPULSORY CORE modules (80 credits).
2a. Students can choose 40 credits of OPTION modules.
OR
2b. Students can choose 20 credits of OPTION modules and 20 credits from outside the School from a selection of DISCOVERY modules.
3. No more than 70 credits can be taken in one semester.

Compulsory modules:

At Level 1, candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules: 

Optional modules:

Discovery modules:

Discovery modules:
Students may opt to take a MAXIMUM of 20 credits from a suite of modules available across the University from outside the School of English which are known as DISCOVERY modules.

Year2 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Compulsory modules:

At Level 2, candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules: 

Optional modules:

Candidates will be required to study 2 modules from the following optional modules, but may not choose 2 from the same basket.

Basket 1:

Basket 2:

Basket 3:

Discovery modules:

L2 students may take 20 credits of discovery modules in place of one of the Basket modules.

Year3 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

At Level 3, all students will take a 40 credit capstone project appropriate to their degree programme. Alongside the capstone projects, students will be able to take 80 further credits of optional specialist modules (selection of typical options shown below).

Compulsory modules:

Choose one FYP from:

Optional modules:

Up to four optional modules to be chosen from an indicative list:

Plus up to 20 credits of Discovery Modules

Discovery modules:

Last updated: 07/06/2024 15:35:29

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