English Language and Communication [with Foundation Year]

Gain a thorough understanding of how the English language works and how it reflects the most important issues of our times.

Explore the power of the English language in communication, and discover how it expresses and reflects global issues like culture wars, social justice, equality, diversity, inclusion, and sustainability.

You’ll learn to identify and analyse spoken and written language, critically evaluating its role in shaping norms, identities and realities in both public and private domains, and in relation to globalisation, mobility, sustainability and social justice.

Gain skills for emerging careers like social media influencer, and traditional ones like politics, business and media.

Explore topics from other subjects on optional modules, including digital media, online journalism, youth culture and podcasting.

Study in Cambridge, home to major publishing houses and over 30 English language schools.

Expand your network and your knowledge at events with professional writers, publishers and language teachers.

Showcase your work and make new contacts at events organised by our Cambridge Writing Centre.

Get support from expert lecturers, including published authors and our Royal Literary Fund Fellows.

Careers

Gain vital skills particularly valued by business leaders, including narrative communication, empathy and perspective taking, critical analysis, synthesis of and managing complex data, creativity and imagination, and digital skills.

You’ll also develop transferable skills valued by employers from all industries, including literacy, creative thinking, problem-solving, research, and computer/digital skills.

Every year of the course, your core modules include employability sessions as well as live briefs, which allow you to devise solutions for industry professionals, giving you work experience and connections for your future career.

The skills and knowledge you gain on this course can transfer to many graduate occupations, including business, politics, journalism, law, consultancy, marketing, teaching, speech therapy, and the military or civil service, amongst many others.

It will also help you develop a greater understanding of national and international issues in the modern world, and reflect on some of the most important ethical and moral issues of our time. This will allow you develop the values and practices required for ethical and effective leadership.

Or you might choose to stay at ARU and study a Master’s degree, like our MA Applied Linguistics and TESOL or MA Intercultural Communication. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship to get 20% off your fees.

BA (Hons) English Language graduate Jyoti now works as Student Services Manager at Stafford House language school. BA (Hons) English Language and Linguistics graduate Lettie has worked as a linguist on Amazon’s Alexa team and is taking a degree apprenticeship as a Solutions Architect.

Teaching

In Year 1 you’ll analyse verbal and non-verbal communication as a process, and consider its relationship with culture and identity. You’ll also learn about semiotics and structuralism, sociolinguistics and the psychology of language.

In Year 2 you’ll examine interpersonal communication in a culturally diverse world, analyse how different literary genres work and explore the pros and cons of various research methods and sources.

Finally, you’ll complete a major research project on a topic of your choice, and learn to communicate your ideas to a range of audiences through a variety of formats.

• = optional.

Year 1 Core modules: Foundation in Humanities, English, Media, Social Sciences and Education.

Year 2: Psychology of Communication; Deconstructing Communication; How Texts Work; Language, Communication and Society; Psychology of Language; Into ARU.

Year 3: Bridging Cultures; Digital Stylistics; Researching Society and Culture; Ruskin Module; Key Paradigms 2: Sociology and Politics *; Woke Wars *; Digital Media Theory: Social Media, AI, and the Cultures of the Internet *; Online Journalism *; Professional Placement *; Sounds and Communication *; Cult Media *; Anglia Language Programme *.

Year 4: Undergraduate Major Project in English Language, Linguistics; New Media Discourse; Research Communication; Communication Disorders *; Prejudice and Ideologies *; The Cultural Politics of Celebrity *; Hitler to the Hashtag: Political Communication in Peace and War *; Key Paradigms 3: International and Global Perspectives in Education *; Language and the Law *; Communication, Flesh, Philosophy *; The Making of Modern Media *; Film Journalism *; Digital Methods *; Anglia Language Programme *; Philosophy of Education *.

You'll show your progress using a range of methods, including essays, exams, oral presentations, portfolios, practical work, and your third-year Major Project.