English with Foundation

Explore English literature from medieval legends to modern crime fiction. Shape your own experience, study creatively and benefit from close support. Gain critical thinking, communication and research skills valued by employers.

A degree you design
Choose from a wide range of modules in literary studies and creative writing, or branch out into specialist subjects across the school to shape a degree that reflects your interests and career goals.

Career-ready learning
Gain hands-on experience through vocational modules, internships, and an optional placement year. Graduate with the skills employers seek.

Rich culture and community
Benefit from Plymouth’s partnerships with local arts and culture institutions, such as The Box, Theatre Royal, and the Charles Causley Trust, giving you rich opportunities to engage with literature beyond the classroom.

This course is for you if...

• you are passionate about the full spectrum of English literature

• you like to express yourself creatively and would relish the chance to experiment with your own writing

• you enjoy the freedom to shape your own academic journey – choosing modules that reflect your passions

• you are excited to build a foundation for a rewarding career and develop creative skills that employers value.

Course Modules

Foundation year
In your foundation year, you'll acquire the knowledge and skills you need to progress through your studies and become a confident, independent learner.

Year 1
In your first year, you'll study historical, theoretical, and aesthetic approaches to literary analysis. You’ll read literature which investigates the making of the modern world; engage with exciting theories of reading such as eco-criticism, psychoanalysis and Marxism; and, if you choose, try your hand at creative writing in a wide range of genres including prose, poetry, drama and professional writing. You will also learn key research and essay-writing skills.

Year 2
In your second year, you’ll take core modules in Romantic and Victorian literature, studying these key periods from an interdisciplinary perspective, and engaging with debates in philosophy, science, psychology, politics, art, gender and race. You will then select from a wide range of specialist modules, including a range of specialist literary, creative, and work-based options. You’ll also have the opportunity to branch out beyond literary studies, if you wish, and take specialist modules in other subjects in the school.

Optional placement year
This optional, year-long placement offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in a professional working environment, gaining invaluable hands-on experience that bridges the gap between academic learning and real-world application. You'll be exposed to the day-to-day operations of your chosen industry, develop practical skills, build professional relationships, and enhance your employability through meaningful contributions to actual projects and teams.

Final year
In your final year, you’ll complete your period studies core with the ground-breaking literature of early 20th-century Modernism. You’ll also choose from a range of specialist modules, mostly with a focus on 20th-century and contemporary literature. There will be a further opportunity to choose a module from another subject in the school if you wish to branch out. You’ll also design and develop your own year-long dissertation project on a topic of your choice, which you'll work on with focused support from your personal supervisor.

For up to date details, please refer to our website or contact the institution directly.