Does BA English Language and Literature split equally between literature and linguistics?

Roughly, yes. The first two years run literature and language modules in parallel; year three lets you weight your choices toward literary or linguistic specialism. The final dissertation can sit on either side or bridge both.

Can BA English Language and Literature be studied online?

Yes. The online route uses live seminars over video, structured reading groups and the same assessment portfolio as the on-campus degree. Distance learners follow a self-paced schedule with regular tutor checkpoints.

Is BA English Language and Literature good preparation for a PGCE?

Yes. The degree is recognised by UK PGCE programmes for secondary English teaching and meets the subject-knowledge requirement most providers ask for. Several graduates each year move directly into PGCE study after BA English Language and Literature.

What kind of dissertation can I write on BA English Language and Literature?

An 8,000–10,000 word piece of independent research on a literary or linguistic topic of your choice, agreed with a named supervisor at the start of year three. Past topics range from Renaissance drama to Northern English dialect features in contemporary fiction.

Do I need A-Level English Literature for BA English Language and Literature?

It helps, but it is not required. Three A-Levels at BBC or above (or international equivalent) and GCSE English at grade 5 are the standard requirements. Applicants without literature at A-Level are asked for a short writing sample.

BA English Language and Literature | LSJHML London | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The BA English Language and Literature at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a three-year UK honours degree that takes both halves of the discipline seriously — the long history and current practice of literary writing, and the structure, sociolinguistics and historical development of the English language itself. You will read Beowulf in translation in week three and a contemporary novel by week ten, and you will analyse both with the same critical care.

This is an English degree built around close reading, comparative analysis and clear written argument. Whether you finish heading for postgraduate study, teaching, editorial work or law conversion, you leave with the textual discipline employers and admissions panels look for.

Key Features

UK honours degree in English language and literature — three years full-time, with online and distance routes.
Parallel literature and language modules across all three years.
Period and genre breadth — medieval, Renaissance, eighteenth century, Romantic, Victorian, modern and contemporary.
Linguistics modules covering phonetics, syntax, sociolinguistics and the history of English.
Final-year dissertation of 8,000–10,000 words on a literary or linguistic topic.
Three study modes — central-London seminars, fully online cohorts, or distance learning with structured deadlines.

What You Will Learn

The BA English Language and Literature is structured around the disciplines a serious English graduate is hired for — close reading, comparative literary analysis, linguistic description and argued writing. You finish able to read a difficult literary text, situate it in its period, describe its language at sentence level, and write a clear, evidenced essay about both.

Literary criticism — close reading, narrative theory, comparative analysis across periods.
Period study — Old and Middle English, Renaissance, eighteenth century, Romantic, Victorian, modern and contemporary literatures.
Genre study — fiction, poetry, drama, life-writing, longform non-fiction.
Linguistics — phonetics, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics.
Sociolinguistics — variation, register, World Englishes, language and identity.
History of English — Old, Middle, Early Modern and Late Modern English.
Academic writing — thesis construction, MHRA and MLA citation, source criticism.
Public-facing writing — book reviewing, longform criticism, accessible linguistics writing.

Who This Course Is For

School leavers passionate about literature, language or both who want a balanced UK honours degree.
International students seeking a UK English degree taught in central London.
Aspiring teachers preparing for a PGCE in English at secondary level.
Career changers heading for editorial, publishing, communications or law-conversion paths.

Career Pathways

BA English Language and Literature graduates compete strongly across editorial, education, communications and graduate-scheme employers. The degree is not vocational, but the textual disciplines it builds are hired widely. Typical first-destination roles include:

Editorial Assistant (trade or academic publisher, magazine)
English Teacher (after PGCE — secondary or further education)
Academic Editor (university press, scholarly journal)
Educational Materials Writer (publisher, exam board, awarding body)
Examinations Officer (awarding body, university)
Lecturer or Teaching Fellow (after postgraduate study)

Graduates progress to a Master's in English literature, linguistics, creative writing or applied linguistics — or convert into law, teacher training (PGCE) or publishing-specialist Master's programmes.

Entry Requirements

Three A-Levels at BBC or above (or international equivalent — IB 28 points, BTEC DMM, or accepted national qualification).
GCSE English Language at grade 5 or equivalent English proficiency test.
IELTS 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) for non-native English speakers.
A short personal statement; a short writing sample is welcome for applicants without English literature at A-Level.
Mature applicants (21+) without standard qualifications may apply with a portfolio and short interview.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.