Education and English Literature (Professional Placement Year)

Pursue your passion for English Literature while developing the knowledge, skills and experience you need to become an educator across diverse settings.

• Explore important current themes in Education, such as social justice, inclusion, wellbeing, sustainability, and education policy.

• Learn to communicate confidently and creatively in different ways with a range of audiences.

• Build skills that employers look for, including research, teamwork, and the ability to understand and interpret complex information.

Are you passionate about changing lives through education?

Explore the diverse worlds in literature and build an understanding of how education transforms individual outcomes and societies. Our English Literature and Education degree enables you to acquire specialised subject knowledge while developing practical and professional skills for a range of careers in education, culture and the Arts.

In your Education modules, you’ll develop a portfolio of skills that employers look for, such as creative thinking, taking initiative, networking, and problem solving. You’ll explore these skills through the lens of sustainability, global citizenship and digital literacy, from local and global perspectives.

Every book we pick up gives us different perspectives on the world. Studying English and Education in combination encourages you to gain a global perspective and apply it to pressing issues, debates, and a deeper understanding of the human condition. From classic texts to new and unfamiliar writing, you'll be asked to think differently about what ‘literature’ can be and to explore original ways of reading and analysing it.

Many of our graduates choose to become teachers in schools, but that's not the only path open to you. We'll support you in achieving your aspirations as a professional educator – however they develop during the degree.

Combined Honour Awards
At Bath Spa University many of our undergraduate programmes can be combined, so you don’t have to limit yourself to one subject. If you choose to study a combined award then in Year One you’ll start by studying both subjects in equal depth. From Year Two you can choose whether to continue with equal numbers of modules from each subject, or whether you want to select additional modules in one or the other. Upon successful completion of the programme you will graduate with a joint degree.

More about the Professional Placement Year
A Professional Placement Year (PPY), traditionally known as a sandwich year, is where you undertake a period of work with an external organisation for between 9-13 months. The placement occurs between your second and final years of undergraduate study. You can engage in multiple placements to make up the total time and are required to source the placement(s) yourself, with support from the Careers team.

<strong>Year one</strong>
The first year introduces key concepts and skills that underpin the subject of English Literature. You'll be introduced to formal and informal education and explore the potential of education to transform lives. Key themes include wellbeing, global citizenship and the impact of research.

<strong>Year two</strong>
In your second year you’ll be introduced to the key ideas and theories needed to understand contemporary educational issues.

You’ll learn about education policy and its role on a local and global scale. You’ll also evaluate how education contributes to achieving change in the workplace. You’ll explore global citizenship and wellbeing in more depth.

You’ll also get the chance to explore sustainable development. Depending on your choice of modules, you can undertake an education placement in your second year.

In English Literature, you’ll focus on developing your own critical voice through the study of texts and reading practices that speak to diverse audiences.

<strong>Year three</strong>
This is your Professional Placement Year.

<strong>Year four</strong>
In English Literature we enable you to focus your studies on particular topics. You can also opt for an extended piece of writing and research or choose from a variety of practical projects (previously, students have created digital resources, worked at literary festivals, and produced educational materials, to name a few examples).

You’ll develop a deeper understanding of a professional career in education and education’s role in sustainable development. Your dissertation in either Education or Biology will complete your studies. If you choose to focus on Education, you’ll get the chance to use your research to help solve real-world problems with our industry partners. If you choose Biology, you'll undertake an independent research project in an area that interests you.

If you’re interested in a teaching career, and you’re on target to successfully complete your degree, we offer a guaranteed interview for our Primary or Secondary PGCE courses in your final year.

Coursework includes essays, group presentations, a podcast, research-based reports, independent projects, practical assessments, and portfolio-based work. There are no exams on this course.

We’ll provide you with prompt feedback and give you regular guidance on how to improve your skills, knowledge and understanding.

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

• Course does not award QTS