English Language

English Language is offered as a joint honours degree which means that you study it in combination with another subject.

Follow the links below for a brief summary of each available English Language award, including information on the aims of various courses and their entry requirements:

• BA (Hons) English Language and Creative and Professional Writing
• BA (Hons) English Language and Linguistics
• BA (Hons) English Language and Media and Communication Studies
• MA  Language and Information Processing

Why study English Language at Wolverhampton?

The BA (Hons) English Language provides you with a broad understanding of the nature, history and diversity of the English language and the ways in which meaning is shaped through language use in a variety of social contexts.

You will acquire the theoretical knowledge and skills required for analysing spoken, written and multi-modal texts in a variety of contexts. There is a strong emphasis on studying the way language is used in the real world. Through debate and discussion, you will develop critical and independent thinking.

You will also engage with practical applications of language research and have the opportunity to take part in a Professional Development Award

For defining principles and more information on the subject consult the English Language Subject Benchmark.

Meet the team 

Our teaching

We use a variety of teaching methods and strategies, to allow you to develop a breadth of skills. We make extensive use of electronic resources and the digital learning environment, in particular through WOLF, our online learning framework. This means that you have access to plenty of learning material outside the classroom, and can study independently alongside class work, using our excellent IT facilities.

Comments from our external examiner

Each course at the University of Wolverhampton is externally assessed by an examiner from another Higher Education institution in the country. This is what was said about English Language:

"I've read many good essays which show students' real engagement with module primary and secondary materials, which in turn suggest overall degree structures with decent breadth. Each module in Wolverhampton is assessed by more than one mode of assessment, allowing students to play to their strengths. All of these show good practice, real dedication to teaching on the tutors' behalf, and a great deal of effort going into the designing of modules, the setting of assignments, and the assessment of the submitted assignments.I particularly liked seeing innovative assessment methods…adjusted to the different kinds of student population."

Employability 

Your English Language degree makes you highly employable, as it develops many skills that are essential in the workplace. You will acquire a range of transferable skills including communication skills, research skills, the ability to select, summarise and synthesise information, problem solving skills, time management, enterprise and digital literacy, all of which are of immense value in graduate employment.

You will have the opportunity to take some volunteering modules and join our employability professional development award programme whilst completing your degree in our school. These will prepare you very directly for the world of work.

The optional module: 'Teaching Writing' gives you training in tutoring students in writing skills and, if studied, adds to your employability.

For detailed information about subject specific skills, generic and transferable skills which you will acquire whilst doing your degree, see the Higher Education Academy Subject Benchmark

Graduate destinations

• Yvonne Skalban graduated in 2009 with a first class honours degree in English Language and Linguistics. Achieving the highest grades that year from among the students of the School of she was awarded the school prize. Yvonne is now studying for a PhD in Computational Linguistics under Professor Ruslan Mitkov at the University.
• Anna Maria Clark graduated in 2009 with a BA (Hons) English Language and Media and Communication Studies, class 2:1. Anna qualified as a secondary teacher on the Graduate Teaching Programme (GTP) in 2010. She taught English in a Birmingham secondary school, successfully completing her probationary year. She also completed an MA Contemporary Media at the University and is now lecturing part time in Media Studies. Anna says, “My English Language degree has made me much more analytical and helped build up my confidence in understanding grammar. It gave me good preparation for teaching”.
• Daniel Hammonds graduated in 2008 with a BA (Hons) English Language and Linguistics, 2:1. Combining his aptitude for language with IT skills and a passion for design, Daniel set up his own business as a computer artist and graphic designer.
• Zoe Hibbs studied Creative and Professional Writing and English Language and graduated with a second class degree in 2006. After graduating, she started to work for the Sandwell Primary Care Trust (NHS) as a self-employed health assessor for the Walkwell project. She is also responsible for providing the content for the quarterly Walkwell journal. As well as contributing to this publication, Zoe writes for a range of magazines and websites. She now plans to start a diploma course in magazine journalism.