Course summary

A Combined Honours degree at Chester gives you the opportunity to study two subjects. You will spend a fairly even amount of time studying each subject area, with possible opportunities to declare a major – minor towards the end of your studies. English Literature Discover the power of words, from the earliest times to the present day, as you delve deep into new worlds. You will study an exciting variety of novels, poems and plays. You might find yourself looking for the psychological undercurrents in a fantasy novel, applying feminist theory to a Renaissance courtly sonnet, studying the motif of the vampire in Gothic horror or exploring the treatment of love in the comedies of Shakespeare. There’s the chance to write a dissertation on a topic of your choosing, exploring your interests. You will develop key skills for the future; our students learn how to frame a convincing argument, express it in discussion, analyse writing in all styles and work independently. We offer an engaging and supportive atmosphere in which ideas about literature are shared. Group discussion is at the heart of the degree, making the study of literature exciting, varied and dynamic. You can customise your degree as you progress, so by the third year you might be taking several optional modules as well as working on a dissertation that you have created, where you will work individually with a lecturer to complete the project. French Open up international pathways as you develop your understanding of the language and cultures of the French-speaking world. During this course, you will have the opportunity to develop your language to a very high level through the study of the history, diversity and cultures of the francophone world. You will have the chance to work or study abroad and gain invaluable employment skills and knowledge of current affairs. In your first year, you will also have the opportunity to study a further language from scratch, and our Languages For All programme allows you to also study one of eleven languages at a range of levels in addition to your degree. Fees are fully reimbursed on completion of the course. You will also have the opportunity to take a module in Teaching English as a Second Language which includes the Cambridge CELTA qualification. On this course, you will have the chance to undertake a short placement at the end of Year 2, as well as the opportunity to spend an academic year in a French-speaking country, as our institution has links all over the world. If this is an option for you, it allows you to split your experience of residence abroad, offering you the chance to spend time on different types of placement and, indeed, in different countries.