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. Journalism Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of news as you learn to practise journalism and critique the industry. Journalism is an exciting subject, crucial to any understanding of the current state of the world. Our course strives to remain at the cutting edge of journalistic practice and theory, with an emphasis on sustainability and technology. The way journalists report news and how consumers engage with it is evolving all the time – mainly due to the impact of digital technology. The Journalism course recognises the value of developing relevant skills throughout your studies with a particular focus on enhancing your ability to adapt to ever-changing environments within a fast-moving industry. To prepare for this multimedia environment, the practical skills we teach include news research and writing, photography, video and audio production techniques (including podcasting). All our team have an extensive range of experience in journalism, ranging from newspapers and magazines to radio and television. In addition to helping our students develop a high level of professionalism, we also place emphasis on key transferable skills, such as written and oral communication. Furthermore, our focus on digital and technical skills prepare you to hit the ground running should you choose to pursue journalism or other related professions as a career.