About the School
Nottingham’s School of English is staffed by vibrant, international academics with a wide range of teaching and research experience. Our staff and students work side-by-side to explore a wide range of topics around the use of English, both in literature and in everyday language.
We have ambitious expansion plans to meet our teaching and research needs. Our academic staff come from across the globe, including the UK, Canada and the US, and bring with them a wealth of experience and expertise. Research areas within the School include various types of applied linguistics, systemic functional linguistics, 19th-Century literature, British, Canadian and American literatures, computer-mediated communication, metaphor studies, discourse analysis and creative writing.
As well as collaborating with their counterparts in the
UK and
China, our staff also work closely with colleagues based elsewhere in the faculty, particularly specialists in English language education and literary, film, TV and cultural studies in the
School of Education and the
School of Modern Languages and Cultures. We have strong links with the Malaysian literary community and students will benefit from the opportunity to attend public talks, readings and literary festivals.
What is English?
English covers a range of areas and texts but can be approached using the focus of literature, the focus of linguistics, or the focus of creative writing. Literature study may concentrate on relating works to their historical and social context or wider questions of artistic meaning; language and applied linguistics study includes sociolinguistic and cognitive approaches; and creative writing develop your writing skills and insight into the process of writing. All English study will train you in cultural, literary and linguistic theories, enabling you to develop the high-level creative and analytical skills needed for international interactions, whether academic or professional.
You will learn to plan your work, and develop the qualities of self-discipline and self-motivation that are essential to any form of graduate employment. We will help you to become researchers, able to process a large amount of information quickly, and to present the results of your research in an articulate and effective way.
Who is the degree for?
The degree is well suited for students who are fascinated with the workings of language and who seek to develop their critical thinking abilities.
- Do you enjoy reading and analyzing novels, stories and poetry?
- Do you enjoy writing and experimenting with different forms of language?
- Are you interested in finding out more about the historical and cultural contexts for your favourite literary texts?
- Have you ever wondered how language works, how we learn languages, or how languages change over time?
If you've answered 'yes' to these questions, a BA in the School of English may be for you.
Career prospects
The creative, analytical and communication skills developed during an English degree will equip you for the changing demands of the 21st-century workplace. English graduates have a wide range of career choices open to them. Just a few include broadcasting, journalism, communications, the creative industries, research, publishing, teaching, lecturing, advertising, marketing, management, business, banking, law, government service, human resources and public relations.
Some students may decide that another year (or more) of study may give them an edge when it comes to seeking out a career and may, for example, choose to undertake postgraduate study or teacher training.
Our School will have a selection of MA degrees available as of 2014.