Log in or sign up to access the BHE Uni student portal
Imaginative, persuasive expression in the study of English Literature or Language is a complementary pairing with different philosophical perspectives as you discover how literary culture has shaped society, and how society has shaped literary culture.
You will choose either a Literature or Language pathway to study alongside Philosophy. At Birmingham, you will have access to world-class talent in philosophical fields as diverse as metaphysics and epistemology, philosophy of language and mind, ethics and ethical theory.
In your undergraduate Philosophy studies, you will explore the great minds of history and the present day, both learning what they thought and engaging with them critically. If you choose the Language pathway, you will gain a thorough appreciation of the technical aspects of the English language and its social and political context. If you take the Literature pathway, you will be given a strong foundation in all major periods and genres and will be able to specialise in areas ranging from medieval poetry to twenty-first century digital literary culture. You will also have the opportunity to take our specialist second-year undergraduate Shakespeare module and the possibility of participating in our residential trip in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Three GCE A levels (including International A Levels)
The International Baccalaureate Diploma
SQA Highers and Advanced Highers (many programmes will accept Highers without additional Advanced Highers)
The Cambridge Pre-U (minimum three separate subjects)
A mix of A levels and Cambridge Pre-U subjects (minimum three in total)
The Irish Leaving Certificate Higher Level
The European Baccalaureate
Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (the grade required will be the same as from an A level and must be combined with 2 A levels.)
20 Hours of Work permit weekly for international students.
English Literature pathway compulsory modules:
Poetry (20)
Prose (20)
English in the World (10)
Reading English (10)
English Language pathway compulsory modules
Investigating Language A (10)
Investigating Language B (10)
Fundamentals of Language: Grammar and Discourse (20)
Fundamentals of Language: Sounds and Words (20)
Philosophy compulsory modules
Problems of Philosophy A (10)
Problems of Philosophy B (10)
The Philosopher's Toolkit A or B (20)
Moral and Political Philosophy (20) or Reasons to Believe (20)
English Literature pathway compulsory modules
80 credits - two Histories of Literature modules; Shakespeare: Elizabethan and Jacobean and one Themes in Literature module
60 credits - two Histories of Literature modules and either Shakespeare: Elizabethan and Jacobean or one Themes in Literature module
40 credits - two Histories of Literature modules
80 credits - English Grammar; Professional Research Skills for Linguists (A and B) and English Phonetics and Phonology
60 credits - English Grammar and English Phonetics and Phonology
40 credits - Two English Language options
All students should choose two English Language modules (40 credits) from the list of options available
Philosophy
The optional modules are divided into three categories that represent three core areas of philosophy: historyof philosophy; ethics and social philosophy; epistemology metaphysics, and philosophy of mind andlanguage. These groupings are the following (the modules are indicative and subject to change):
Group A: Science and Nature, Logic: Its Limits and Scope, Philosophy of Mental HealthGroup B: Feminist Philosophy, Sex, Ethics and PhilosophyGroup C: Experience and Reason, Aesthetics through History
60 or 80 credits in Philosophy - choose optional modules from at least two groups
40 credits in Philosophy - can choose two modules from one group
80 credits - either Dissertation and 40 credits of optional modules OR Extended Essay and 60 credits of optional modules
60 credits - Extended Essay and 40 credits of optional modules
40 credits - either Extended Essay and 20 credits of optional modules OR 40 credits of optional modules
English Language compulsory modules
80 credits - either Dissertation and 40 credits of English Language optional modules OR Language Investigation and 60 credits of English Language optional modules
60 credits - either Language Investigation and 40 credits of English Language optional modules OR 60 credits of optional modules (at least 20 credits of research project modules must be taken in the other half of the programme).
40 credits - either Language Investigation and 20 credits of English Language optional modules OR 40 credits of optional modules (at least 20 credits of research project modules must be taken in the other half of the programme).
Philosophy compulsory module
Philosophical Project (20) if a dissertation or similar independent study module is not taken in English OR Philosophical Project (40) if a dissertation or similar independent study module is not taken in English (two other 20 credit Philosophy modules will also need to be taken if you do the 40 credit Project)
In order to undertake a programme of study here at the University, you will need to demonstrate that you have a suitable level of English proficiency.
You can demonstrate your level of English with IELTS/TOEFL/PTE or alternative qualifications. The sections below will tell you what grades you need in these qualifications for the subject area you want to study.
English tests/qualifications normally need to have been taken within two years of the start date of your programme.
For those joining us for 2022, we will accept the following additional tests as evidence of English language proficiency:
TOEFL Home Edition
IELTs Online
PTE Academic Online
Other programmes you might be interested in.
For any enquiries or further details, please don't hesitate to contact us. Let's take the next step in your academic journey together.
BHE UNI - Search
Get tailored advice on courses and career paths from a BHE Uni mentor.
Your consultation request has been submitted successfully. We will contact you shortly.