Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - English (Placement Year) (Q301)

Taking the English BA at Brunel is an opportunity to uncover the richness of English literature history – its periods, genres and diverse storytellers – through a set of underlying themes.

Each students' journey will commence with a module on ‘Reading Resilience’ to help equip them with the required skills and competencies relevant to literary studies, so they can approach any topic with confidence.

After a first year of modules that pass through modern literature and formative texts to help develop students' critical reading, their exploration in English is very much down to their own interests and choices.

In years two and three a wealth of optional modules cover every period and genre from Shakespeare to Jane Austen, postcolonial writing to the women’s movement, with plenty of choice in contemporary and genre fiction like comedy, science fiction and horror.

Throughout this literature degree students will be encouraged to express their own thoughts and creativity in their coursework and seminars, which will help them to grow as a critic and writer.

An English degree will equip students with personal skills employers’ prize in graduates – not just exceptional written and verbal communication, but also the ability to communicate collaboratively in a team towards an agreed goal.

As part of this English BA students will learn to participate and present confidently in seminars, communicate their ideas effectively in writing, and to critically evaluate relevant themes within texts that frequently cross into other disciplines such as history and politics.

Opting for a placement year gives students hands-on work experience while they study which will further increase their attractiveness to employers when they graduate.

Outside the classroom, students can look forward to events and activities organised by the Brunel Centre for Contemporary Writing, including the annual Hillingdon Literary Festival: a free weekend of literary performances from internationally renowned authors, writing workshops and lively debates on campus.