English with Placement

Study English at Brunel and you’ll join one of the most vibrant, innovative and diverse departments in the UK.

We live in an era of banned books, of social media with radical impact on our concentration spans, of AI technology threatening to replace human employment, as well as literature and journalism as we know them. English is under threat from a range of forces, and the job market itself is being automated. One thing we do know, however, is that human skills are more essential than ever. Employers insist on abilities often known as the four Cs: critical thinking, creativity, communication and collaboration. These are the skills prioritised by Arts and Humanities at Brunel, and most especially by English, which examines the narratives and language by which we understand and represent everyday life.

English promotes transferable skills such as oral and written communication, critical interpretation, information literacy, time management, teamwork, and creative expression. These proficiencies make it attractive to a wealth of employers. Indeed, while STEM and vocational subjects are visibly at risk from AI’s rise, non-vocational disciplines like English cannot be so easily superseded. At Brunel, we seek to celebrate this professional advantage through a structured attention to employability, and through an active engagement with the creative industries and the contemporary job market. Notably, according to the 2021 Graduate Outcomes Survey, Brunel graduate salaries are 15% higher than the sector average.

Studying as an undergraduate in English at Brunel, you'll navigate a wealth of contemporary career paths with a curriculum which includes literary texts, drama, film, art, and a range of popular media. Put simply, we pride ourselves on the diversity of our curriculum, spanning multiple stories, texts, and literatures.
Our programme recognizes the multiple challenges and opportunities that students face and the centrality of academic and personal support to ensure wellbeing. For this reason, we equip our students with a personal tutor as well as a range of student services. We benefit from small student-staff ratios in our classrooms creating a safe creative space for interactive participation and opportunity for self-expression in discussions regarding key topics in the curriculum. A testament to this dynamic, in 2025 English at Brunel was rated 3rd in the UK in the National Student Survey which appraises universities and departments in terms of student satisfaction. We are proud of this national accolade and what it says about our values and practices.

Brunel also sponsors the Nero Book Prize, including the Nero New Writers Prize, which celebrates and supports new writers in the UK. Our students benefit from this public engagement through regular invitations to participate in related events and activities, and to submit work under the guidance of prize-winning authors and industry professionals.

More largely, Brunel English celebrates its staff and students’ success in scholarship and employment by building this into its teaching programme, offering a range of student-facing opportunities and enrichment experiences. Also notable is our current Arts Council England project, which hosts Benjamin Zephaniah Day on campus; our commitment to work experience, taking advantage of London on our doorstep; our involvement with the Hillingdon Herald, a student-run local newspaper; and our Brunel Writers Talking series, featuring staff interviews with celebrity writers from across the globe.

Whatever career path you choose to take following your time at Brunel, these engagements will provide you with the knowledge, experience, and connections you need to succeed.

For more information about what we offer, or any questions, please contact our Joint Admissions Tutor, Prof Tom Betteridge (Thomas.Betteridge@brunel.ac.uk) or our Undergraduate Programme Lead, Dr Ellie Reed (Ellie.Reed@brunel.ac.uk).

Sample modules:
Literary London,
World Literature,
Musical Genres Through Time,
Writing and Difference.

To view the full list of modules for this course and further information on degree content, please visit the Brunel website: brunel.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/english-ba