EnglishLanguageBA Honours

UCAS code Q3023 Years

www.ncl.ac.uk/ug/Q302Printed from the web page above on 07/06/2018

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English LanguageBA HonoursUCAS code Q3023 Years

This degree explores the English language,which has over 330 million native speakers,and 810 million who speak it as a secondlanguage. If you want to find out more abouthow people learn and use English, and how thelanguage has evolved over time, this is thedegree for you.

You will examine:

• how the English language is acquired and develops in themind

• social, regional and stylistic distinctions• the grammatical structure of English and general

phonetics/phonology• social and historical contexts in which the English

language has changed and developed• methodologies for studying the human language faculty

The degree includes a strong element of linguistics (thescientific study of language), drawing on our considerableexpertise in this area.

Highlights of this degreeQuality and ranking• 4th in the UK – The Complete University Guide

2019 (Linguistics category)• 5th in the UK – The Times/Sunday Times Good

University Guide 2018 (Linguistics category)• 7th in the UK – The Times/Sunday Times Good

University Guide 2018 (English Studies category)• Top 10 in the UK – The Complete University Guide

2019 (English category)• 5th in the UK for student satisfaction (95% overall

satisfaction score) – National Student Survey 2017(Linguistics category)

• 93% overall student satisfaction score – NationalStudent Survey 2017 (English Studies category)

• top 150 – English Language & Literature category – QSWorld University Rankings by Subject 2018

• 3rd in the UK for research – Research ExcellenceFramework 2014 (English Language and Literaturecategory)

• top 200 – Arts and Humanities category – Times HigherEducation World University Rankings by Subject 2018

Boost your employability with a work placementApply to spend 9 to 12 months on an optional workplacement between Stages 2 and 3. You can apply tospend your placement year with any organisation and willreceive University support to do so.

You’ll gain first-hand experience of working in the sector,putting your learning into practice and developing yourprofessional expertise.

It will extend your degree by a year and is subject toavailability.

Find out more about Work Placements.

Cultural industries placementIn Stage 3, you have the chance to gain valuablework-related experience by undertaking a work placementin one of the cultural industries. This is an excitingopportunity to relate the knowledge and skills you haveacquired to the work environment, as well as enhancingyour CV.

Your placement will be an integrated part of your degreewhich will last for one day per week for about 10 weeks (60hours). It will be assessed through the submission of aProject Work Diary and a Final Report which together formthe Placement Portfolio.

Places are limited and entry to the module may be on acompetitive basis.

Field trips and eventsStudying at Newcastle means much more than your timespent in the classroom or the library. The School organisesregular field trips to cultural venues in the region such as:

• theatres• The Wordsworth Trust (Dove Cottage)• Lindisfarne• Bede’s World• Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children's Books• 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 toNewcastle, through a year-long festival of readings,discussion and debate.

Study abroadYou have the opportunity to study abroad for one semesterin your second year, through the Erasmus programme. Thework that you do and the grades you achieve are countedtowards your final degree.

The School of English Literature, Language and Linguisticshas Erasmus links with the following universities:

• Leiden in the Netherlands• Peter Pazmany in Hungary• Gdansk in Poland• Ghent in Belgium

We also have study abroad links with two universities inCanada – Dalhousie and New Brunswick - available throughour Non-EU Study Abroad exchange programme.

Facilities and supportAs a student at Newcastle, you will be part of our School ofEnglish Literature, Language and Linguistics, which has along and prestigious history.

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FacilitiesThe School occupies its own building, the Percy Building, inthe heart of campus where you will join a lively community ofstudents, academics, authors and professionals.

All of our students enjoy exceptional library provision fromour award-winning Library Service, which houses over onemillion books and a huge range of electronic resources.

Writing opportunitiesNewcastle University Students' Union is home to one of thebest student newspapers in the country, The Courier. Youalso have the opportunity to submit poetry and short prosefor the School's magazine, Alliterati.

SupportYou'll have a personal tutor throughout your degree – anacademic member of staff who can help with academic andpersonal issues. You'll also have access to a peer mentor inyour first year – a fellow student who can help you settle inand answer any questions you have.

Social activitiesThere's a lively literary society, EngSoc, which organisessocial and academic events around a literary theme, as wellas a Linguistics Society. There's an active student dramascene on campus, with two student drama societies opento all. You have opportunities throughout the year to getsubsidised tickets for theatre productions in Newcastle.

Find out moreVisit the School of English Literature, Language andLinguistics' website, where you can watch:

• video interviews of our current students• video interviews of our graduates and find out what

they're doing now

The Robinson Library is at the heart of campus.

Course Details

Modules for 2018 entry

Please noteThe module and/or programme information below isfor 2018 entry. Our teaching is informed by research andmodules change periodically to reflect developments inthe discipline, the requirements of external bodies andpartners, student feedback, or insufficient numbers ofstudents interested (in an optional module). To find outmore read our terms and conditions.Module/programme information for 2019 entry will bepublished here as soon as it is available (end of May2019).Our degrees are divided into Stages. Each Stage lasts foran academic year and you need to complete modulestotalling 120 credits by the end of each Stage. Furtherinformation, including the credit value of the module, isavailable in each of the module descriptions below.

Stage 1

Compulsory modulesSEL1008  The Nature of LanguageSEL1027  Introduction to the Structure of Language 1:Syntax and PhonologySEL1028  Introduction to the Structure of Language 2:Morphology and MeaningSEL1032  Language Variation and Change: Dealing withDataOptional modules40 further credits will be chosen from modules offeredfrom other subject areas. If you have an A Level inFrench, German or Spanish you may select two modulesfrom the following options:SML1019  Introduction to Linguistics*FRE1071  Level B (HE Intermediate) FrenchGER1071  Level B (HE Intermediate) GermanSPA1071  Level B (HE Intermediate) Spanish* Only available if you are studying level B (HEIntermediate) in French, German or Spanish.

Stage 2

Compulsory modulesSEL2091  Sociolinguistics and the Sociology of LanguageSEL2212  Early English: Texts, Patterns and VarietiesOptional modulesYou take one of the following modules:

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Stage 2

SEL2000  Phonological TheorySEL2089  Syntactic TheoryYou select one module, and may take up to three, fromthe following list:SEL2000  Phonological TheorySEL2084  The Syntax of the World’s LanguagesSEL2086  Introduction to Child and Adult LanguageAcquisitionSEL2089  Syntactic TheorySEL2211  Contexts: Mind, Cognition and ComputationSEL2219  Monsters, Misery and Miracles: Heroic Life inOld English PoetrySEL2223  Speakers as Wordsmiths: the Creation of NewWords in Present-Day EnglishYou may replace one module from the above list for onemodule from the following list:NCL2007  Career Development for Second YearStudentsNCL2100  Developing Enterprise, Entrepreneurship andEmployabilitySEL2201  Writing the RenaissanceSEL2202  Writing New Worlds, 1660 - 1800SEL2203  Revolutionary Britain, 1789 - 1832SEL2204  Victorian Passions: Victorian ValuesSEL2205  Fictions of MigrationSEL2206  Contemporary CulturesSEL2207  ModernismsSEL2224  Poetry WorkshopSEL2226  Theatre Script WorkshopSEL2227  Prose WorkshopSEL2217  Popular Performance Here and NowOther optional modules may also be available fromoutside the School of English Literature, Language andLinguistics, to the same credit value.Work Placement (optional)You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months on an optionalwork placement between Stages 2 and 3. You can applyto spend your placement year with any organisation andwill receive University support to do so. It will extend yourdegree by a year and is subject to availability. It isn'tavailable if you're spending a year studying abroad. Findout more about Work Placements.

Stage 3

Optional modulesYou take one of the following modules:SEL3326  Extended Study 1: Linguistics and EnglishLanguageSEL3327  Extended Study 2: Linguistics and EnglishLanguageSEL3329  Dissertation: Linguistics and English LanguageYou take two modules, and may take up to three, fromthe following list:SEL3005  Language Origins and EvolutionSEL3006  Topics in Phonological Theory

Stage 3

SEL3012  Immigrant Second Language and LiteracyAcquisitionSEL3046  English Grammar Through TimeSEL3056  Advanced SociolinguisticsSEL3094  Accents of EnglishSEL3341  Old English: Texts and TranslationsSEL3349  The History of Linguistic IdeasSEL3352  Language Development: Cross-DisciplinaryApproachesSEL3372  Language and Ethnicity in 21st Century BritainYou may replace one module from the list above for amodule in the list below. Other optional modules may alsobe available from outside the School of English Literature,Language and Linguistics:NCL3007  Career Development for Final Year StudentsNCL3008  Advanced Career Development*SEL3090  Chaucer, Chivalry, and Heresy in the MiddleAgesSEL3011  Growing up Global: Childhood and NationalIdentity from Postwar to PresentSEL3016  Orgasms, Onanism, Odalisques: Desire andthe Body at the fin-de-siecleSEL3037  Religion and Recent US FilmSEL3055  Chaucer, Shakespeare and the Book of theFutureSEL3100  Other Renaissances: Gender, Race andSexuality in Early Modern CultureSEL3338  Home, Heritage, History: 20th centurychildren's literatureSEL3358  Romatic Life WritingSEL3346  Contemporary Documentary 1: Theory andPracticeSEL3347  Contemporary Documentary 2: Theory andPracticeSEL3356  Madness, Medicine and Modern LiteratureSEL3370  Writing the Postcolonial Nation: Literature fromthe Indian SubcontinentSEL3373  Women of Virtue and Women of Pleasure:Sensibility in the Age of ReasonSEL3379  Enlightened Romantics: Writing on the MarginsSEL3393  Shakespeare's Show BusinessSEL3388  Caribbean-U.S. CulturesSEL3390  A New Empire: Fiction and the Rise of GlobalCapitalismSEL3391  Women on Trial: Gender, Power andPerformance in Early Modern EnglandSEL3395  The VictoriansSEL3340  Romatic Poetry: Journeys of the ImaginationSEL3378  Landscapes of American ModernismSEL3091  Sex and Money: Economies of the VictorianNovelSEL3098  20th Century Literature*Only if you have taken a Career Development module atStage 2.It may also be possible to choose one of the followingoptional modules if not already taken at Stage 2:SEL2000  Phonological Theory

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Stage 3

SEL2084  The Syntax of the World’s LanguagesSEL2086  Introduction to Child and Adult LanguageAcquisitionSEL2089  Syntactic TheorySEL2211  Contexts: Mind, Cognition and ComputationSEL2219  Monsters, Misery and Miracles: Heroic Life inOld English PoetrySEL2223  Speakers as Wordsmiths: the Creation of NewWords in Present-Day English

Teaching and assessment

Study at the cutting edgeThe content of all of our degrees is shaped by the researchspecialisms of our staff, many of whom are internationalleaders in their field. This means you have access to thevery 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 methodsYou can normally expect to spend around 10 hours perweek attending lectures, seminars, workshops and filmscreenings. You also spend around 25 hours per week onclass preparation, reading, writing, and other kinds ofindependent research recommended by your tutor.

Assessment methodsAssessment includes:

• written course work• group presentations• discussion-board postings• end-of-semester examinations

Find out moreVisit our Teaching & Learning pages to read about theoutstanding learning experience available to all students atNewcastle University.

Entry Requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis.

If your qualifications are not listed here, please see ouradditional entry requirements web pages to find out whichother qualifications are considered.

The entrance requirements below apply to 2019 entry.

Important Information for All StudentsCandidates who have some background in Maths andScience may be interested in the cognitive/brain scienceand quantitative elements of the course. Candidates whoprefer Arts and Humanities subjects may be interested inthe historical, sociological, and literary elements of thecourse.

We especially welcome applications from mature students.

A LevelsAAB-ABB, not including General Studies.

Candidates who have some background in Maths andScience may be interested in the cognitive/brain scienceand quantitative elements of the course. Candidates whoprefer Arts and Humanities subjects may be interested inthe historical, sociological, and literary elements of thecourse.

Scottish QualificationsAAABB-AABBB at Higher Grade. Combinations of Highersand Advanced Highers accepted.

Candidates who have some background in Maths andScience may be interested in the cognitive/brain scienceand quantitative elements of the course. Candidates whoprefer Arts and Humanities subjects may be interested inthe historical, sociological, and literary elements of thecourse.

Scottish qualifications can be taken in more than one sitting.

International Baccalaureate34-35 points.

Candidates who have some background in Maths andScience may be interested in the cognitive/brain scienceand quantitative elements of the course. Candidates whoprefer Arts and Humanities subjects may be interested inthe historical, sociological, and literary elements of thecourse.

Irish Leaving CertificateH1H1H1H2H3-H1H1H2H2H3 at Higher Level. Candidateswho have some background in Maths and Science may beinterested in the cognitive/brain science and quantitativeelements of the course. Candidates who prefer Arts andHumanities subjects may be interested in the historical,sociological, and literary elements of the course.

Access QualificationsAt least 30 level 3 credits at Distinction and 15 level 3credits at Merit.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National ExtendedDiploma/OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3Extended DiplomaApplicants will be considered on an individual basis.

Cambridge Pre-UD3, D3, M2 - D3, M2, M2 in Principal Subjects.

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Candidates who have some background in Maths andScience may be interested in the cognitive/brain scienceand quantitative elements of the course. Candidates whoprefer Arts and Humanities subjects may be interested inthe historical, sociological, and literary elements of thecourse.

Extended Project QualificationIf you offer the Level 3 Extended Project Qualification, wewill vary our offer to recognise this.  Your project can be inany topic.

PARTNERS - A LevelsBBB not including General Studies.

Candidates who have some background in Maths andScience may be interested in the cognitive/brain scienceand quantitative elements of the course. Candidates whoprefer Arts and Humanities subjects may be interested inthe historical, sociological, and literary elements of thecourse.

The PARTNERS Programme is Newcastle University’ssupported entry route for students from schools andcolleges in England and Northern Ireland. Find out moreabout the PARTNERS Programme.

PARTNERS - Pearson BTEC Level 3 NationalExtended Diploma/OCR Cambridge TechnicalLevel 3 Extended DiplomaApplicants will be considered on an individual basis.

The PARTNERS Programme is Newcastle University’ssupported entry route for students from schools andcolleges in England and Northern Ireland. Find out moreabout the PARTNERS Programme.

English Language RequirementsApplicants whose first language is not English requirea minimum score of IELTS 7.0 or equivalent.

If you need help to meet our English Languagerequirements, we can provide support with extra tuition.

Read more about UK visas and immigration requirements.

Other International QualificationsABB at A level is typically the minimum required for entry toan undergraduate course. You can check the equivalentgrades for qualifications offered in your country.

We will also consider your application if you have lower ornon-standard qualifications.

Undergraduate Admissions Policy

See our 2018 Admissions Policy (PDF: 185 KB).

See further policies related to admission.

Careers

English Language careersEnglish students acquire a range of valuable skills, whichthey can transfer to many different employment situations.Your literary and linguistic training can be used in journalism,librarianship, teaching and the highly competitive fields ofwriting, acting and directing.

You will also gain other skills such as the capacity to analyseand summarise material, to communicate, to work to adeadline, to argue a case, to work independently as well ascollaboratively, to think logically and to be able to usecomputers.

This is excellent preparation for a wide number ofprofessions and as such, our graduates have gone on to avariety of career areas including editorial, marketing, PR andother forms of media. Others have gone to work in law,politics, HR, teaching and supporting specialist learning.

Visit the School of English Literature, Language andLinguistics website to watch video interviews with formerstudents talking about their experiences at Newcastle andtheir careers since graduating.

Find out more about the career options for EnglishLiterature, Language and Linguistics from Prospects: TheUK's Official Careers Website.

What our graduates go on to do:employment and further studychoicesSee what our recent graduates went on to do and viewgraduate destinations statistics. These statistics are basedon what graduates were doing on a specific date,approximately six months after graduation. Take a look atthe most recent data available for our graduates.

The destination data is available in varying levels, beginningwith the University and moving through Faculty and Schooldown to individual course reports. This final level may giveyou some useful ideas about possible options after yourcourse or a course you are considering.

Careers and employability atNewcastleNewcastle University consistently has one of the bestrecords for graduate employment in the UK.

95% of our 2016 UK-domiciled graduates progressedto employment or further study within six months ofgraduating.

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Of our graduates who entered employment more than threequarters (78%) achieved a professional or managerialposition.

We provide an extensive range of opportunities to allstudents through an initiative called ncl+. This enables youto develop personal, employability and enterprise skills andto give you the edge in the employment market after yougraduate.

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest andbest in the country, and we have strong links withemployers.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees (UK students)

2019 entry:Tuition fees for 2019-20 have not yet been confirmed.2018 entry*:£9,250For programmes where you can spend a year on a workplacement or studying abroad, you will receive asignificant fee reduction for that year.Some of our degrees involve additional costs which arenot covered by your tuition fees.*Please note:The maximum fee that we are permitted to charge for UKstudents is set by the UK government.As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee toincrease in each subsequent academic year of yourcourse, subject to government regulations on feeincreases and in line with inflation, as measured byRPIX**.See more information on all aspects of studentfinance relating to Newcastle University.**RPIX is a measure of inflation in the UK, equivalent to allthe items in the Retail Price Index excluding mortgageinterest payments.

Tuition Fees (EU students)

2019 entry:Tuition fees for 2019-20 have not yet been confirmed.2018 entry*:£9,250 in 2018-19For programmes where you can spend a year on a workplacement or studying abroad, you will receive asignificant fee reduction for that year.Some of our degrees involve additional costs which arenot covered by your tuition fees.*Please note:

Tuition Fees (EU students)

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee toincrease in each subsequent academic year of yourcourse, subject to government regulations on feeincreases and in line with inflation, as measured byRPIX**.See more information on all aspects of studentfinance relating to Newcastle University.**RPIX is a measure of inflation in the UK, equivalent to allthe items in the Retail Price Index excluding mortgageinterest payments.

Tuition Fees (International students)

2019 entry:Tuition fees for 2019-20 have not yet been confirmed.2018 entry*:£16,200 per year*Please note:You will be charged tuition fees for each year of yourdegree programme (unless you are on a shorterexchange programme).If you spend a year on placement or studying abroad aspart of your degree you may pay a reduced fee for thatyear.The tuition fee amount you will pay may increase slightlyyear on year as a result of inflation, as measured byRPIX**.See more information on all aspects of studentfinance relating to Newcastle University.**RPIX is a measure of inflation in the UK, equivalent to allthe items in the Retail Price Index excluding mortgageinterest payments.

Scholarships and Financial Support (UKstudents)

You may be eligible for one of a range of NewcastleUniversity Scholarships in addition to government financialsupport.Newcastle University ScholarshipsGovernment financial support

Scholarships and Financial Support (EUstudents)

You may be eligible for one of a range of NewcastleUniversity Scholarships in addition to government financialsupport.Newcastle University ScholarshipsGovernment financial support

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Scholarships and Financial Support(International students)

We offer our Vice-Chancellor's InternationalScholarships and Vice-Chancellor's ExcellenceScholarships to eligible international students.We also offer International Family Discounts which areavailable for all international students with a close familymember who has graduated from or is now studying atNewcastle University.Some of our subject scholarships and sportsscholarships are also available for international students.

Apply

Applying to Newcastle Universitythrough UCASTo apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle you mustuse the online application system managed by theUniversities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

UCAS codes for Newcastle University

• institution name - NEWC• institution code - N21

UCAS buzzwordAsk your teacher or adviser from your school or college forthe UCAS buzzword. You need the buzzword when youregister on the Apply system. This makes it clear whichschool or college you are applying from.

All UK schools and colleges and a small number of EU andinternational establishments are registered with UCAS.

If you are applying independently, or are applying from aschool or college which is not registered to manageapplications, you will still use the Apply system. You will notneed a buzzword.

Making your applicationOn the UCAS website you can also find out more about:

• application deadlines and other important dates• offers and tracking your application

Application decisions and enquiriesFind out more about our admissions process and who tocontact if you need help with your application.