Course summary

Studying English Language gives you the opportunity to explore how language works and how societies communicate, and this three-year BA degree opens up a range of exciting career opportunities by giving students transferable skills that are highly valued by employers. Some 87% of graduates are employed or in further study within six months of graduating (HESA graduate outcomes 2023), and 71% of our students achieved a 1st class or 2.1 honours degree in 2017/18. Students on this course typically develop excellent oral and writing skills and you will learn to present your ideas in a range of formats, along with strong research, analytical and problem-solving skills. English is ranked 3rd in the UK for teaching quality and ranked in the Top-15 for graduate prospects (The Times Good University Guide 2024 and The Complete University Guide 2019). Our graduates gain employment in sectors including education, marketing, journalism, law, social media, and project administration, while some choose to teach abroad, using qualifications which they achieved during the degree course. Based on our stunning Singleton Park campus, in parkland overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower Peninsula, the course has been designed to provide concise and balanced coverage of linguistic theory. You will cover topics including how language is used in everyday communication, how language has developed over time, the effect of dialect and accent on identity, and the challenge of learning or teaching new languages. You will also have the option to study modules in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and to obtain an internationally recognised, professional teaching qualification (Cambridge CELTA) to further enhance your career prospects. In year two, you will also have the option to study abroad for a semester, further improving your student experience and career potential. You can either choose to go east and study in Hong Kong, China or Singapore or west to study in North America. In your final year, you can undertake an independent research project in an area of specialism supported by academic staff. Some of our students’ work is showcased at our annual conference and. students have published their work in international journals and presented at international conferences You can learn how to use technology to create your own materials through computer-assisted language learning materials and receive training in research methods including reporting and analysis of data. 100% of our research impact is rated as world leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework 2021)and you can attend seminars organised through our guest speaker programme. The degree is also available as a four-year course with a year abroad, studying in an overseas university (Q311).