Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in French and English Literature

at University of Westminster - Regent Campus United Kingdom

The English Language and Literature MA aims to allow you to explore the interconnections between language and literature. It will provide you with a thorough understanding of the linguistic features of English from a wide range of perspectives (theoretical and applied, synchronic and diachronic), as well as leading you to explore a wide array of texts in connection with the social, historical and political circumstances from which they emerge. Furthermore, the MA will equip you with the intellectual perspectives and the scholarly skills that will prepare you to conduct independent research.

The MA is suitable for students who have taken English language and/or literature modules at undergraduate level, and others who have taken allied disciplines such as TESOL. It is of particular interest to those wishing to pursue further study and those teaching English who wish to gain a further qualification and investigate recent and current developments in the field.

Immigration, crime, social injustice and youth unemployment make headline news almost daily. These are the key issues of our time. If you’re interested in such issues, and want to understand how societal structures impact on people's everyday lives and interactions, or how criminal justice relates to social justice, then you should consider studying sociology and criminology. Combined, these two disciplines develop your sociological and criminological imagination and answer questions about society and its various institutions.

You’ll be taught by active researchers, whose expertise includes human rights, migration, comparative and transnational criminology, convict criminology, youth justice, terrorism studies, psychology of crime, education, gender and sexuality, 'race' and ethnicity, social movements, families, media and cultural studies. You’ll have access to a wide range of specialist option modules in both disciplines, and you’ll have the opportunity to take a work experience module where you can put into practice the personal and professional skills you've developed while studying.

This combined degree enables you to sufficiently specialise in criminology to enter professions connected to the criminal justice system, but also benefit from the broader careers available to sociologists. You'll also gain the transferable skills necessary for lifelong personal and professional development.

Our students go on to careers in the police and police-supporting organisations, crime prevention, the probation service, the charity and non-governmental organisations sector, local and central government, teaching, social work, youth work, and many more.

This course offers a unique curriculum. A distinctive feature of the course is our use of London as a learning and teaching resource, with several modules offering field trips around the city such as museum visits and themed street walks. You’ll be part of a diverse and international student culture, and you can also gain valuable experience studying abroad for a semester.

Top reasons to study with us

• Study in a multicultural city – London is one of the world's most diverse cities, making it a fascinating place to study sociology and criminology. We make the most of our central location, with field trips around the city, museum visits and themed street walks
• Thrive in an academically supportive environment – you'll be taught by friendly, dedicated lecturers who are all active researchers
• Engage critically with contemporary issues – our curriculum focuses on social and criminal justice and, together with students from diverse backgrounds, you'll explore some of the most important issues facing the world today
• A wide-ranging learning experience – by combining sociology and criminology you'll have access to a broad range of specialist modules, giving you a well-rounded learning experience that enables you to pursue a variety of careers

Our Spanish and International Business BA will help you develop the skills and knowledge you'll need to succeed in the internationalised business world.

In today's global economy, language skills are of significant value to prospective employers when combined with business expertise. This combination can greatly enhance your career opportunities.

You'll have the opportunity to study Spanish language, culture and international business in an integrated way, exploring the relationships between these elements and the broader economic, financial and cross-cultural contexts in which they are produced.

Our comprehensive language training places strong emphasis on the use of language in a professional environment, while our business modules will allow you to gain a solid understanding of international business – a combination that will enable you to gain the real-world skills required to progress to a rewarding career.

The training you'll receive in cross-cultural communication will equip you with the flexibility, adaptability and creativity required in global interactions.

Top reasons to study with us

• Gain practical Spanish language skills and intercultural awareness in simulated and authentic professional contexts  
• Experience a sophisticated business environment – our state-of-the-art Bloomberg Financial Markets Suite allows you to gain first-hand exposure to technology that’s widely adopted in leading global investment banks in the major financial centres of the world
• Benefit from an (optional) international experience through a placement, study abroad and/or field trips. Previous field trip destinations have included Morocco, Hong Kong, France, Cuba and Argentina
• Receive tailored academic support and career planning through our tutorials
• Enjoy opportunities to practise one-to-one conversation with a native speaker through the Languages Plus programme

Our Arabic and Linguistics BA trains you to be a competent linguist ready to enter graduate employment.

Our degree offers the exciting combination of the study of Arabic language and culture alongside the wider study of the forms, structures and varieties of language itself.

You'll develop a high level of competence in oral and written communication in Arabic, proficiency in language transfer skills, and a thorough knowledge of Arabic culture. On graduation, you'll be able to thrive linguistically in diverse cultural situations.

You'll study an integrated curriculum with a focus on applied language skills and cultural studies, supported by a rigorous development of your foreign languages skills in all areas. We teach in an integrated interdisciplinary way, exploring the connections between language and culture and the broader historical and cross-cultural contexts in which they are produced. 

We place particular emphasis on employability and the contemporary cultural context, and offer high-quality teaching in all language skills.

The linguistics component of your combined degree will develop your understanding and knowledge of language to an advanced and sophisticated level, while fostering and enhancing your skills in using English.

Our English Literature BA gives you an opportunity to study English literature in its wider social, cultural, and historical contexts.

You'll be able to engage with an exciting variety of texts, both traditional (such as Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and Charles Dickens) and non-traditional (such as queer fiction, graphic novels, and new forms of digital content) alongside other kinds of cultural works such as films, museums and art. You'll become a sophisticated reader of texts in their wider cultural contexts, at the same time as sharpening your skills in research. This training in critical and creative reading is particularly suitable if you are considering English teaching, the publishing or journalism industries, or any career that involves sophisticated communication skills and an advanced level of language use. It is of particular interest to those wishing to develop their skills as a writer. Our degree is strong in promoting the transferable and cognitive skills that employers value, and that contribute to lifelong personal and professional development. 

We begin the course with an examination of what literature is, what tools we use to discuss it, and how texts are related to the historical contexts from which they emerge. As you progress through the course, you'll be introduced to a wide variety of literature from Shakespeare to the Gothic, American fiction, Modernism and contemporary writing. You'll study different forms including poetry, prose, and drama, looking at texts from diverse periods and places.

We make the most of our central London location in the midst of galleries, museums, cinemas and theatres, and use the urban landscape as a resource for studying the social and theoretical issues relating to literature.

Top reasons to study with us

• Benefit from small group learning – We offer bespoke small group tutorials of around five students per tutor, which are designed to support your individual learning needs during the first two years of your degree, as well as academic skills support throughout your degree
• Engage with a variety of texts – You'll be studying both traditional and non-traditional texts alongside other cultural works such as films, museums and art
• Gain experience before graduating – you’ll have the option to do a work placement as part of this course
• Learn transferable skills – Our degree will prepare you for a variety of careers by helping you to build your communication skills, research skills and creativity in problem-solving
• Experience cultural London – Our unrivalled central London location allows us to take advantage of the wealth of cultural institutions and opportunities in London

At Westminster, we'll train you to become a competent linguist in modern languages, ready to enter graduate employment. 

We place particular emphasis on employability and the contemporary cultural context, and offer high-quality teaching in all language skills.

Our course offers you an opportunity to study the French and English languages and cultures in an integrated interdisciplinary way, exploring the connections between them and the broader historical and cross-cultural contexts in which they are produced.

This course will enable you to achieve a good or high level of linguistic competence in French in all four skill areas (reading, writing, listening and speaking), enhance your skills in using English, and develop linguistic and cultural knowledge and understanding.

You’ll be able to thrive linguistically in diverse cultural situations and you’ll gain the transferable and cognitive skills necessary for lifelong personal and professional development.

We accept students at two different entry points – beginner or intermediate. Please note that we may need to test you to determine your entry point.

You'll study an integrated curriculum with a focus on applied language skills and cultural studies, supported by a rigorous development of your foreign languages skills in all areas.

You’ll develop your understanding of the English language in terms of the way it is structured, its linguistic diversity in Britain and around the world as a global language, the ways in which it varies between different texts, and, at a wider level, the ways in which it reflects and contributes to wider meanings in society.  You’ll also have the opportunity to learn about the history of the English language and consider the theoretical tools of both literary analysis and language research in detail.

You may have the option to spend a full academic year abroad at a partner institution and/or approved form of employment in a country where French is the official language. You can also study an optional module from a range of topics across the University in each year.

History remains among the most fascinating and best-loved of the arts and social science disciplines. This is an exceptional degree which makes the most of our unique West End location.

Our course is modern, with a focus on British and European history, but there are many opportunities to study American, imperial and global history as well. A distinctive element of the degree is its focus on the extraordinary history of London.

You’ll explore the streets of the capital, learn how to conduct your own research in London’s unique archives, and graduate as a well-trained and experienced historian, ready to launch yourself into the world of work in careers such as the media, education, law and the Civil Service – or into further study or research.

You’ll also gain the transferable and cognitive skills necessary for lifelong personal and professional development.

Research underpins much of our teaching, and we encourage you into a community of scholars, through teaching which will enthuse and inspire you.

Our French and International Relations course focuses on questions of governance, democracy and human rights, while training competent French linguists ready to enter graduate employment.

This course will enable you to achieve a good or high level of linguistic competence in French in all four skill areas (reading, writing, listening and speaking), and a critical understanding of culture and politics from the perspective of the changing dynamics of the global political order. You will have the opportunity to study language, culture and international relations in an integrated way, exploring the connections between them and the broader geopolitical and cross-cultural contexts in which they are produced. You will also gain the transferable and cognitive skills necessary for lifelong personal and professional development.

We place particular emphasis on employability and the contemporary cultural context, and offer high-quality teaching in all language skills.

We accept students at two different entry points – beginner or intermediate. Please note that we may need to test you to determine your entry point.

You'll study an integrated curriculum with a focus on applied language skills and cultural studies, supported by a rigorous development of your foreign languages skills in all areas.

You'll develop a high level of competence in oral and written communication in French, proficiency in language transfer skills, a thorough knowledge of French culture, and the ability to thrive linguistically in diverse cultural situations.

You'll have the opportunity to spend a full academic year abroad at a partner institution and/or, depending on your language level, an approved form of employment in a country where French is the official language. You can also study an elective module from across the University in each year.

Our French and Linguistics BA trains you to be a competent linguist ready to enter graduate employment.

Our degree offers the exciting combination of the study of French language and culture alongside the wider study of the forms, structures and varieties of language itself.

You'll develop a high level of competence in oral and written communication in French, proficiency in language transfer skills, and a thorough knowledge of French culture. On graduation, you'll be able to thrive linguistically in diverse cultural situations.

You'll study an integrated curriculum with a focus on applied language skills and cultural studies, supported by a rigorous development of your foreign languages skills in all areas. We teach in an integrated interdisciplinary way, exploring the connections between language and culture and the broader historical and cross-cultural contexts in which they are produced. 

We place particular emphasis on employability and the contemporary cultural context, and offer high-quality teaching in all language skills.

The linguistics component of your combined degree will develop your understanding and knowledge of language to an advanced and sophisticated level, while fostering and enhancing your skills in using English.

The Professional Writing MA is designed for those who want to turn their love of words and writing into a dynamic and fulfilling career. It will give you the skills, motivation, networks and connections to work across a wide variety of industries – in publishing, journalism, public relations, advertising, as literary agents, copywriters and copyeditors. It will also allow you to explore the history and future of writing and the writing industries from a variety of perspectives, and to develop your own interests and specialisms.

Professional Writing takes a broad, holistic view of writing, because writing is not just about writing. It is about editing, about working with the words of others and with other languages, it is about the reader, it is about the form into which the words are packaged. It is about essays and tweets, novels and headlines, criticism and advertising, prizes and publicity. As a result, the course brings together the combined expertise of English, Creative Writing, Media, Communication, and Film and Cultural Studies to offer a truly interdisciplinary MA.

On the course you'll examine the changing role of professional writing through historical and theoretical debates and examples of contemporary professional practice across languages. From the story of the book to multimedia journalism, your modules will allow you to develop your skills and interests in a range of relevant professional contexts. You'll be taught through seminars, one-to-one and small group tutorials, practical sessions and workshops, together with independent, student-directed study where you'll develop your own project or special topic with the help of an expert mentor. You'll work with academics, practitioners and industry professionals to gain an understanding of vocational issues, practices and concerns, and will build up a network of contacts and connections within your chosen industries.