Journalism, Media and English Literature

The BA in Journalism, Media and English Literature provides you with the opportunity of specialising in two university honours subjects.

Many students find joint honours both stimulating and rewarding as they observe both similarities and differences between the two subjects. Often there are complementary issues and perspectives as well as skills and that link the subjects, be they critical analysis, historical contexts or recent research.

While the journalism part of the degree examines the media in its growth and historical and cultural significance in shaping our lives, the English literature modules focus on the critical analysis of a range of texts from different periods together with the exploration of complex ideas.

Each school involved in delivering the degree offers a challenging set of modules, supported by a friendly atmosphere and excellent staff-student relationships.

Within English literature, you are free to follow a traditional programme covering multiple periods and genres or to build a more distinctive mix of modules combining literary study with analysis of other cultural forms.

You will also study the many facets of journalism and media in an era of globalisation and dynamic social change and their impact on society, politics and popular culture.

The degree provides the training necessary for students who wish to study either discipline at postgraduate level, and a valuable range of intellectual and transferable skills for students who wish to enter other professions.

Distinctive features

The distinctive features of the course include:

teaching across the whole chronological and geographical span of English literature, from the Anglo-Saxon period to the 21st century

a reputation for theoretically informed reading, bringing texts from all periods into dialogue with contemporary concerns about gender, identity, sexuality, nationality, race, the body, the environment, and digital technology

a strong tradition in creative writing, taught by writers making their mark on today’s culture

a flourishing Journalism Society and English Society as well as a student media centre

careers weeks and workshops organised regularly to ensure your readiness for the ‘world of work’.