English (Joint Honours)

When can you start this course? | UCAS code | Fees | Course length | Entry requirements

You can also start this course in January

What is joint honours?

With joint honours, you can study for an honours degree in two or even three subjects. Find out more about joint honours, including what subjects you can combine with this one.

Why choose this course?

Joint Honours English student Glen Harbord talks about his experiences on the course so far.

It offers a wide range of modules focusing on key literary movements, genres, periods and geographical regions.
All our staff are active in research, so you'll benefit from learning about the most recent scholarship.
You can combine English with one or two other subjects to create a really varied and interesting joint honours degree.
We have close links with the creative industries, including local theatres, arts and media centres, so you can work with these organisations during your course to develop your CV.
In 2009 students said they were 100% satisfied with the English courses, and all of our scores were above the national average.

About the course

You'll be taught in interactive and varied ways, with plenty of opportunity for you to discuss and debate ideas, so your course stays stimulating and thought-provoking. This will also help you develop expert communication skills, something that employers really value.

You'll be introduced to a range of literatures from the sixteenth century to present day; from Africa and the Caribbean, Asia, the USA and Europe. There's lots of choice, so you can focus on your own literary interests.

You can choose to take Critical Theory I and you must take Academic Skills for English in the first year and, in the second year, you develop your core English skills by taking advanced modules in both of these subjects. In all three years you can take modules which examine closely the way drama, poetry and prose have developed over the centuries, as well as modules which employ film as text.

You can also choose from a range of period modules: Sixteenth, Seventeenth or Eighteenth-Century Literature, or modules from the American Studies provision. In the final year everyone has to produce an Independent Study (dissertation).

Find out more about what subjects and modules you'll be studying...

Your career

Graduates Dan Hobson and Jon Bridle talk of their success in scriptwriting for various television shows.

The course highlights important transferable skills such as communication, literary interpretation, appropriate expression and critical analysis. These skills are much sought after by employers, so you will have excellent career prospects when you graduate.

Graduate success stories include: Laura Watson, who, after completing a Diploma in TEFL, went on to teach English at a college in China. Hannah Lindley is doing her MA in Critical Theory, Tim Wheelhouse is completing a PhD and Claire Coleman is currently pursuing her dream of being a classical actress. Joint Honours graduate, Stephanie Hernandez, is working for a theatre company. You can take advantage of our many links with careers counsellors who can advise you about postgraduate opportunities such as going into teaching, publishing, journalism, librarianship and arts administration, including working in museums, art galleries and media centres.

What our students say

"Having completed my degree in English at Derby, I'm teaching spoken English at an aviation college in China - and having a fantastic time, too! This opportunity was offered to me through a scheme in partnership with the University of Derby, so I certainly have a lot to thank them for!"

Laura Watson, graduate.

"Completing my undergraduate work at Derby really prepared me thoroughly for postgraduate study. I could not have achieved my dream of studying for an MA without the dedication of all my tutors at the University of Derby."

Hannah Lindley, graduate.

How you'll learn

Lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, film screenings.

The module 'Shakespeare Today' is delivered via technology-enhanced learning and has been nationally and internationally recognised for its advancement of e-education.

How you're assessed

Coursework and exams.

Anything else?

English is based in the subject area of Humanities with American Studies, Creative Writing, Film and Television Studies, History, Media Studies and Theatre Arts. In the English Subject Area we offer you opportunities for work-based learning at various cultural institutions and we also run regular study visits to cinemas, film festivals, theatres, museums, galleries and heritage centres. We also organise programmes of workshops and talks about making yourself employable, aimed specifically at Humanities graduates.

Start dates

If you're from the UK or EU you can apply to study this course in:

September 2012
January 2013

If you're from a country outside the EU you can apply to study this course full time in:

September 2012
January 2013

UCAS code

Popular courses that can be combined with English include:

Creative Writing
History
Geography
Mathematics
Psychology
American Studies
Theatre Arts
Sociology
Dance and Movement Studies
Biology
Education Studies
Business Management
Film and Television Studies
Marketing
Criminology

Fees

This is a classroom based subject.

UK/EU students

Full time:

If you combine this subject with another classroom based subject or a resource intensive subject it will cost £6,995 per year.
If you combine this subject with a specialist subject it will cost £7,495 per year.

Part time:

You usually take 18 of these modules in total for your course

Modules from classroom based subjects will cost £875 per module.
Modules from resource intensive subjects will cost £935 per module.
Modules from specialist subjects will cost £1,000 per module.

International students

Full time:

If you combine this subject with another classroom based subject or a resource intensive subject it will cost £9,700 per year.
If you combine this subject with a specialist subject it will cost £9,975 per year.

*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2012 and August 2013. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.

More information about our fees for September 2012 and the support available