English Language (Placement Year) BA Hons

Uncovering the secrets of the English language is a rich and rewarding experience. From how the English Language functions and sounds, right through to how we can apply language study to a real-world context, our English Language degree allows you to delve deep into this fascinating subject.

We are a very large Linguistics and English Language department which means that we have a wide range of optional modules available to you throughout your degree programme. Our academics cover a very wide range of language study specialisms, and our students benefit from their expertise in lectures, seminars, tutorials, and supervisions. They will teach you from day one in small classes designed to challenge you as a linguist.

You will begin your academic career with us on the core English Language module. How do you describe the English Language in terms of its grammatical and sound systems? How does it function in different contexts? How does language interact with society? As well as exploring these questions, you will explore newer and emerging fields such as conversation analysis, corporate communication, and corpus linguistics.

Our first year system allows you to select two other modules in your first year, giving you increased choice and flexibility. This might be linguistics or another subject that complements your major.

In your second year, you’ll focus on the core subjects, delving into the grammar and sound system of the English language. As for optional modules, we offer modules on Discourse Analysis, Language and Pedagogic Practice and Child Language Acquisition. As a final-year undergraduate, along with core modules in Advanced Phonetics and Corpus-based English Language Studies, you can also select from optional modules in Forensic Linguistics, Language Change in English and Beyond, and others. You’ll also write your dissertation, exploring a topic that you’re particularly interested in, and this is overseen by a member of staff from our department who specialises in your particular area. Given the size of the department, our academics can supervise a very wide range of subjects covering most students’ special interests.

An English Language degree is well-suited for careers in education, publishing, the media and information technology. It is valuable in fields involving international communication, such as science, trade and international relations. We offer an English Language degree which teaches you the skills of data analysis, academic writing, and argumentation, and we are confident that our teaching, combined with your willingness to learn, will put you in a strong position to move forward in your career.

Your placement year

You will have the opportunity to spend Year 3 on a placement with a public, private or voluntary organisation in the UK or overseas.  This experience should boost your employment prospects and help you to decide on your career direction and the kind of organisation in which you want to work once you graduate. You will be doing a real, responsible job – with all the satisfaction that brings.

Applying for a placement is a competitive process and our Placements Team will support you in finding and applying for a suitable placement. The preparatory modules you will complete in years one and two are designed to give you the best chance of success in both your placement applications and the placement itself.

One of the aims of the placement year is to enhance your understanding of the connections between theory and practice which could benefit your final year of study. Placements provide an exciting opportunity to build up experience and transferable skills, as well as to make contacts with potential employers, which can place you a step ahead in the graduate recruitment market.

The University will use all reasonable effort to support you to find a suitable placement for your studies. While a placement role may not be available in a field or organisation that is directly related to your academic studies or career aspirations, all placement roles offer valuable experience of working at a graduate level and gaining a range of professional skills.

If you are unsuccessful in securing a suitable placement for your third year, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent non-placement degree scheme and would continue with your studies at Lancaster, finishing your degree after your third year. The University offers a range of shorter placement and internship opportunities for which you would be welcome to apply.