This degree course focuses on the analysis of contemporary and historical English. It will introduce you to the English Language, how to describe it, how it varies, and how it functions in a variety of contexts. You will not only study the traditional linguistic areas of English (eg lexis, grammar, phonetics), but also areas that are often overlooked (eg letters, spellings) and areas that have more recently come to the fore, such as pragmatics or conversation analysis. You will also spend a year at one of our partner universities where you will move onto core subjects such as English Sounds and Structures. The modules which make up a programme of study are assessed using a variety of different methods, enabling students to demonstrate their capabilities in a range of ways. Typical coursework assignments include laboratory reports, essays, literature reviews, short tests, short and sharply focused critical reports, poster sessions and oral presentations. Formal examinations include short answer questions, essays and data analysis. Multiple choice formats are also employed where appropriate. Students are supported in the production of final year project reports and dissertations. An English Language degree is suitable for careers at all levels in education as well as language related fields such as publishing, the media and information technology. It is also valuable in fields where international communication is important, like science, trade and international relations. Recent graduates have gone onto work or train as teachers, speech therapists, computer programmers and consultants, bankers, chartered accountants, personnel managers, journalists and social workers. Our English Language in the Media degree is an ideal preparation for a career in the media, while studying abroad is a great way to make your CV stand out. A sizeable proportion of our graduates take up employment overseas.