Bachelor of Arts - English Language and Literature (QQ23)

An understanding of their language enhances self-awareness, inspiring people to address fundamental questions about their communication as human beings; and this is epitomized in literature. This course provides a sound foundation in linguistic and sociolinguistic aspects of the structure and use of modern English, and offers students the chance to study a range of literary genres and approaches to literary criticism. This degree offers them the opportunity to explore a wide range of topics including:

• The structure and use of English language • The relationship between language and society • Literatures of the United States and the Caribbean • English (and European) literature of the 15th-17th centuries • Writing science fiction

Essex is a leading UK university for language and linguistics research (REF 2014), a place where talented students become part of an academic community in which the majority of research is rated ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. They are also ranked 13th in the UK for Linguistics in the QS World University Rankings by Subject (2020).