English
Language and
Literature
BA Honours
UCAS code Q300
3 Years
www.ncl.ac.uk/ug/Q300
Printed from the web page above on 07/07/2015
English Language
and Literature
BA Honours
UCAS code Q300
3 Years
This degree combines elements from our
English Language and English Literature
degrees in roughly equal proportions,
allowing you to immerse yourself in both
subjects.
You will enjoy wide-ranging literature options
including pre-twentieth-century literature up
to the present day. For example, Renaissance
literature, the Romantics, American modernism,
and postwar culture.
In linguistics you learn about the history of
English and the social contexts in which it is
used, as well as scientific methodologies for
studying it.
You study at least one third of your topics in
each discipline at each Stage. This gives you
the freedom to choose the remaining third from
a wide selection of language or literature
modules, or topics outside the School.
Quality and ranking
The quality of the English study experience at Newcastle is
recognised with a top 10 UK ranking in The Times/Sunday
Times Good University Guide 2015 and The Complete
University Guide 2016.
English Language and Literature at Newcastle ranks 3rd
overall in the UK for research (Research Excellence
Framework 2014), and in the top 150 universities in the
world in the QS World University Rankings by Subject
2015.
Your placement will be assessed through the submission of
a Project Work Diary and a Final Report which together form
the Placement Portfolio.
Places are limited and entry to the module may be on a
competitive basis.
Field trips and events
Studying at Newcastle means much more than your time
spent in the classroom or the library. The School organises
regular field trips to cultural venues in the region such as:
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theatres
The Wordsworth Trust (Dove Cottage)
Lindisfarne
Bede’s World
Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children's Books,
here in Newcastle
local museums including Beamish and the Great North
Museum
We are home to the Newcastle Centre for the Literary Arts
(NCLA). This brings internationally renowned writers to
Newcastle, through a year-long festival of readings,
discussion and debate.
The cross-faculty Centre for Research in Linguistics and
Language Sciences also organises a rich programme of
extracurricular events.
Study abroad
You will have the opportunity to study abroad for one
semester in your second year, through the Erasmus
programme. The work that you do and the grades you
achieve are counted towards your final degree.
The School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics
has Erasmus links with the following universities:
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Leiden in the Netherlands
Peter Pazmany in Hungary
Gdansk in Poland
Ghent in Belgium
We also have study abroad links with two universities in
Canada – Dalhousie and New Brunswick - available through
our Non-EU Study Abroad exchange programme.
Facilities and support
Cultural industries placement
In Stage 3, you have the chance to gain valuable
work-related experience by undertaking a work placement
in one of the cultural industries.
This is an exciting opportunity to relate the knowledge and
skills you have acquired to the work environment, as well as
enhancing your CV.
Your placement will be an integrated part of your degree
which will last for one day per week for about 10 weeks (60
hours).
As a student at Newcastle, you will be part of our School of
English Literature, Language and Linguistics, which has a
long and prestigious history.
Facilities
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The School occupies its own building, the Percy Building,
in the heart of campus where you will join a lively
community of students, academics, authors and
professionals
All of our students enjoy exceptional library provision from
our award-winning Library Service, which houses over
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one million books and a huge range of electronic
resources
Find out more
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Writing opportunities
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Newcastle University Students' Union is home to one of
the best student newspapers in the country, The Courier
You also have the opportunity to submit poetry and short
prose for the School's magazine, Alliterati
Support
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Personal tutor throughout your degree – an academic
member of staff who can help with academic and
personal issues
Peer mentor in your first year – a fellow student who can
help you settle in and answer any questions you have
Social activities
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Lively literary society, EngSoc, which organises social
and academic events around a literary theme, as well as
a Linguistics Society
Active student drama scene on campus, with two
student drama societies open to all
Opportunities throughout the year to get subsidised
tickets for theatre productions in Newcastle
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Teaching and assessment methods may vary from
module to module. More information about each module
can be found in the Modules section
Visit our Teaching and Learning pages to read about the
outstanding learning experience available to all students
at Newcastle University
Find out more:
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Visit us
Request a prospectus
Take a virtual tour
Watch a video about Newcastle University
Enquire online
Telephone (Student Services): +44 (0) 191 208 3333
Apply
Find out more
Visit the School of English Literature, Language and
Linguistics' website, where you can:
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watch video interviews of our current students
watch video interviews of our graduates and find out
what they're doing now
Teaching and assessment
Study at the cutting edge
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Picturesque Newcastle Quayside at night.
The content of all of our degrees is shaped by the
research specialisms of our staff, many of whom are
international leaders in their field. This means you have
access to the very latest ideas and discoveries in your
subject
We focus our research in five key areas:
Literature
English Language and Linguistics
Creative Writing
Children's Literature
Film
Teaching methods
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You can normally expect to spend around 10 hours per
week attending lectures, seminars, workshops and film
screenings
You also spend around 25 hours per week on class
preparation, reading, writing, and other kinds of
independent research recommended by your tutor
Assessment methods
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Written course work
Group presentations
Discussion-board postings
End-of-semester examinations
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Modules
Stage 3
Our degrees are divided into Stages. Each Stage lasts for
an academic year and you need to complete modules
totalling 120 credits by the end of each Stage.
Optional modules
You choose one module from Group D and one from
Group E and two from Group F below.
Group D
SEL3090 Chaucer, Chivalry, and Heresy in the Middle
Ages
SEL3092 The Early Modern Book Club
SEL3093 Coming of Age in the Renaissance
SEL3303 Writing Rebellion: The Literature of the English
Revolution
SEL3340 Journeys of the Imagination: Romantic Poetry
SEL3366 The Ways of the World: 18th Century
SEL3373 Women of Virtue and Women of Pleasure
SEL3379 Enlightened Romantics
SEL3385 Myth and Magic: Inventing the Past in
Renaissance England
Group E
SEL3091 Sex and Money: Economies of the Victorian
Novel
SEL3096 Special Topic: Modernism
SEL3098 Special Topic: 20th Century Literature
SEL3308 Murder, Mystery, Mayhem
SEL3315 Postwar British Fiction
SEL3319 Spielberg Generation
SEL3323 English Ghost Story: Themes and Forms
SEL3338 Children's Literature
SEL3346 Contemporary Documentary 1: Theory and
Practice
SEL3347 Contemporary Documentary 2: Theory and
Practice
SEL3356 Madness, Medicine and Modern Literature
SEL3375 Cultures of Decadence: From the Wilde 90s to
the Jazz Age
SEL3378 Landscapes of American Modernism
Please be aware that programme modules do change and
therefore may differ for your year of entry.
Stage 1
Compulsory modules
SEL1003 Introduction to Literary Studies I
SEL1004 Introduction to Literary Studies II
SEL1007 The Nature of Language
SEL1012 Language Through Time
SEL1023 Transformations
SEL1027 Shaping Sounds and Syntax
SEL1029 Language Across Space
Stage 2
Optional modules
You take one module from Group A:
SEL2201 Writing the Renaissance
SEL2202 Writing New Worlds
SEL2203 Revolutionary Britain
SEL2204 Victorian Passions: Victorian Values
SEL2219 Monsters, Misery and Miracles: Heroic Life in
Old English Poetry
You take one module from Group B:
SEL2205 Fictions of Migration
SEL2206 Class, Nation and Identity
SEL2207 Modernisms
SEL2216 Poetry, Script and Prose Workshop
SEL2217 Popular Performance Here and Now
You take two modules from Group C (subject to
prerequisites):
SEL2000 Phonological Theory
SEL2001 Semantics and Pragmatics
SEL2084 The Syntax of the World’s Languages
SEL2086 Introduction to Language Acquisition
SEL2089 Syntactic Theory
SEL2091 Sociolinguistics and the Sociology of Language
SEL2211 Contexts: Mind, Cognition and Computation
SEL2212 Early English: Words, Patterns and Varieties
NCL2007 Career Development for Second Year Students
NCL2100 Developing Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and
Employability
NCL2010 Career Management Module
You choose an additional module from any of the above
lists.
You also select one further module from Group C or take
the following:
SEL2210 Independent Research Project 2
Group F
SEL3005 Language Origins and Evolution
SEL3006 Topics in Phonological Theory
SEL3012 Immigrant Second Language and Literacy
Acquisition
SEL3025 New Words in English
SEL3094 Accents of English
SEL3341 Old English: Texts and Translations
SEL3343 Syntactic puzzles and how to solve them
SEL3349 The History of Linguistic Ideas
SEL3352 Language development: Cross-disciplinary
approaches
SEL3372 Language and ethnicity in twenty-first century
Britain
SEL3382 Change in Modern English
You also study one of the following modules:
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Group F
SEL3326 Extended Study: Linguistics and English
Language (Semester 1)
SEL3327 Extended Study: Linguistics and English
Language (Semester 2)
SEL3364 Independent Essay I (English Literature)
SEL3365 Independent Essay II (English Literature)
Access Qualifications
45 level 3 credits at Distinction, to include at least 15 Level 3
credits in English literature.
BTEC Level 5 HND
Applicants will be considered on an individual basis.
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC
National Diploma)
You take another module from any of the above lists or
one of the following to bring your total credits to 120:
Applicants will be considered on an individual basis.
SEL3324 The Cultural Industries (Semester 1)
SEL3325 The Cultural Industries (Semester 2)
D3,D3,D3-D3,D3,M2 in Principal Subjects including English
at grade D3.
NCL3007 Career Development for Final-Year Students
PARTNERS - A Levels
NCL3008 Advanced Career Development for Final-Year
Students
ABB including English Literature or English Language and
Literature and not including General Studies.
Other optional modules may also be available, including
modules from the following list:
Cambridge Pre-U
SEL2001 Semantics and Pragmatics
The PARTNERS Programme is Newcastle University’s
supported entry route for students from identified schools
and colleges. Find out more about the PARTNERS
Programme.
SEL2084 Syntax of the World’s Languages
English Language Requirements
SEL2086 Introduction to Language Acquisition
Applicants whose first language is not English require a
minimum score of IELTS 7.0 or equivalent.
SEL2000 Phonological Theory
SEL2089 Syntactic Theory
SEL2091 Sociolinguistics and the Sociology of Language
SEL2211 Contexts: Mind, Cognition and Computation
If you need help to meet our English Language
requirements, we can provide support with extra tuition.
SEL2212 Early English: Words, Patterns and Varieties
Read more about UK visas and immigration requirements.
If you wish, you may replace one module from Group F
and the extended study/ independent essay with one of
the following:
PARTNERS - BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma
(formerly BTEC National Diploma)
SEL3329 Dissertation: Linguistics and English Language
SEL3333 File of Original Literary Work
SEL3362 Dissertation in English Literature
Entry Requirements
All candidates are considered on an individual basis. If your
qualifications are not listed here, please see our additional
entry requirements web pages to find out which other
qualifications are considered.
A Levels
AAA-AAB including English Literature or English Language
and Literature at grade A, and not including General
Studies.
Scottish Qualifications
AAAAA-AAABB at Higher Grade including English at grade
A. Advanced Higher English at grade A is preferred.
Combinations of Highers and Advanced Highers accepted.
International Baccalaureate
35-36 points with English A1 at Higher Level, grade 6.
Irish Leaving Certificate
A1A1A1AB-A1A1A1B1B at Higher Level, with minimum
Grade A1 in English.
Applicants will be considered on an individual basis.
The PARTNERS Programme is Newcastle University’s
supported entry route for students from identified schools
and colleges. Find out more about the PARTNERS
Programme.
Undergraduate Admissions Policy
• Newcastle University Undergraduate Admissions Policy
2015 Entry‌ (PDF: 109 KB)
‌See further Newcastle University Admissions Policies.
English Language and Literature
careers
English students acquire a range of valuable skills, which
they can transfer to many different employment situations.
Your literary and linguistic training can be used in journalism,
librarianship, teaching and the highly competitive fields of
writing, acting and directing.
You will also gain other skills such as the capacity to analyse
and summarise material, to communicate, to work to a
deadline, to argue a case, to work independently as well as
collaboratively, to think logically and to be able to use
computers.
This is excellent preparation for a wide number of
professions and as such, our graduates have gone on to a
variety of career areas including editorial, marketing, PR and
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other forms of media. Others have gone to work in law,
politics, HR, teaching and supporting specialist learning.
Visit the School of English Literature, Language and
Linguistics website to watch video interviews with former
students talking about their experiences at Newcastle and
their careers since graduating.
Find out more about the career options for English
Literature, Language and Linguistics from Prospects: The
UK's Official Careers Website.
Careers and employability at
Newcastle
Tuition Fees (International students)
You will be charged tuition fees for each year of your
degree programme (unless you are on a shorter
exchange programme).
If you spend a year on placement or studying abroad as
part of your degree you may pay a reduced fee for that
year.
Please note that the tuition fee amount you will pay may
increase slightly year on year as a result of inflation.
See more information relating to all aspects of student
finance at Newcastle University.
Newcastle University consistently has one of the best
records for graduate employment in the UK.
Scholarships and Financial Support (UK and EU
students)
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You may be eligible for one of a range of Newcastle
University Scholarships in addition to government grants
and support.
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93.7% of our 2013 UK/EU graduates progressed to
employment or further study within six months of
graduating.
More than three quarters (77%) of our graduates who
entered employment achieved a graduate-level position.
We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all
students through an initiative called ncl+ which enables you
to develop personal, employability and enterprise skills and
to give you the edge in the employment market after you
graduate.
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and
best in the country, and we have strong links with
employers.
Newcastle University Scholarships
Non-repayable grants
Scholarships and Financial Support
(International students)
You may be eligible for an International Undergraduate
Merit Scholarship (IUMS) or an International Family
Discount (IFD).
Finance
Tuition Fees (UK and EU students)
2016 entry*:
£9,000 per year
*Subject to approval by the Office for Fair Access (OFFA)
in July 2015.
2015 entry:
£9,000 per year
See more information on all aspects of student finance
relating to Newcastle University.
Please note that the tuition fee amount you will pay may
increase slightly year on year in line with inflation and
subject to government regulations.
Students relaxing in the Old Quadrangle.
Tuition Fees (International students)
2016 entry:
£13,315 per year
2015 entry:
£12,680 per year
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