Course summary

If you are fascinated by English language, linguistics, literature and creative writing, this course provides you with a wealth of opportunities to explore a wide variety of approaches to English. You’ll discover key linguistic frameworks as well as exciting and varied forms of literature, and have the flexibility to design your studies to fit your strengths, learning style and areas of interest. You’ll also have the option to study for the TEFLi, an important qualification should you wish to teach English in language schools both in the UK and worldwide. Foundation Year In the Foundation year you will study three days per week. The focus will be on academic writing skills and numeracy, plus subject-specific content to fully prepare you for entry to an Undergraduate degree. It provides a balance between content related to your chosen subject and the range of wider skills required for undergraduate study. This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will be required to pass the foundation year in order to progress to the first year of your degree. This course is ideal for those who do not meet our standard entry requirements or those with a non-standard educational background. It will allow you to graduate with a full undergraduate degree in your chosen subject in four years. Facilities and Specialist Equipment

• Four-storey library with extensive range of physical and digital resources as well as PCs, group-work areas, presentation-practice rooms and a silent study floor.

• Access to the Hockliffe Collection, a unique collection of 18th- and 19th-century children’s books, as well as our Cinderella archive of books, scripts, designs, theatrical memorabilia and ephemera relating to the Cinderella story.

• Mock classrooms with specialist technology so you can watch and assess your TEFLi lesson.

• We have well-established partnerships with more than 500 schools and other associated organisations.

• Our Bedford campus is a small, thriving academic community where academic staff get to know you well.

• Our academic team are all experienced, research-active subject specialists including active researchers, language consultants and trainers; we even have an academic who is a published poet.

• You develop your subject knowledge, powers of analysis and critical thinking as well as professional communication skills, creating a portfolio of work and a skill set to launch you into your graduate career.

• Support of your own personal tutor, a unit and course coordinator, and the additional support of our experienced library staff, all of whom will help you throughout your student journey and with balancing study with work and personal commitments.

• You have the opportunity to go on relevant field trips to theatres, museums and art galleries (recent trips include a visit to Jane Austen’s house) as well as attending relevant conferences and research seminars.

• You can contribute to research projects such as Literary Bedfordshire and get involved in organising conferences.