Politics and English Literature, BA (Hons)

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Ranked in the Top 250 English departments in the world

QS Rankings 2019

Key Course Details

UK/EU
International

3 Year Full Time

UCAS Code: LQ23
Mode of Study: Campus Based
Start Date: September
Typical Offer: See Entry Requirements
Location: Singleton Park Campus
Tuition Fees Per Year: £ 9,000

3 Year Full Time

UCAS Code: LQ23
Mode of Study: Campus Based
Start Date: September
Typical Offer: BBB - More Information
Location: Singleton Park Campus
Tuition Fees Per Year: £ 15,650

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Course Overview

Study our highly regarded English Literature and Politics degree to discover a diverse, challenging course and reflect on how politics influences literature.

You will have the option of a semester in the USA, Hong Kong or Singapore during your second year to experience life abroad and enhance your career prospects.

Explore a range of topics stretching from Renaissance literature, Gothic and genre fiction, 19th century literature, contemporary fiction, gender, culture, creative and professional writing to political theory and philosophy, British and European politics, democracy and public policy.

We offer varied and flexible course content so that you can tailor your degree to your interests. As you progress through your course, you can choose to specialise in your preferred subjects.

English at Swansea is ranked 7^th in the UK (Research Excellence Framework 2014) and in the top 15 for graduate prospects (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018).

Why English Literature and Politics at Swansea University

Based on our stunning Singleton Park campus, in parkland overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower Peninsula, English Literature at Swansea is ranked:

Ranked 16th in the UK for Career prospects - Guardian University Guide 2020
Ranked 7th in the UK for research - Research Excellence Framework 2014

Your English Literature and Politics experience

You can choose from a wide range of modules in English literature, creative writing and politics. Shape your course to match your interests by choosing from

national and global literatures, Gothic and genre fiction, Renaissance literature, 19th century and contemporary literature, political economy, international relations, conflict and peace, democracy and international security.

Teaching is informed by our world-leading research and you can attend talks organised through our guest speaker programme.

You will have an academic mentor who can offer academic and pastoral support. Swansea’s English Student Society and Politics and International Relations Society both offer social and cultural events including debates and guest speakers.

Politics and English Literature Employment Opportunities

97% of our English Joint Honours graduates are in work six months after graduation (DLHE 2013/14).

Graduating with this internationally recognised degree will put you in a great position to succeed in a range of careers. Our English Literature and Politics graduates are truly international and employed around the world in a wide range of sectors including:

education
marketing
social media
project administration

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Welsh Medium Study

Modules

Your early studies will introduce you to topics ranging from critical reading and gender in English literature to modules such as Politics and the People and Ethics, Justice and Society.

You will then choose your pathway with modules to suit your own interests, before focusing in depth on your chosen research projects.

Final year modules include: Discovering Old English, Poetry in the Twentieth Century, The Rise of Brazil and Visions of Democracy.

Year 1 (Level 4)

FHEQ 4 Undergraduate / HECert

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules

Module Code	Semester	Credits	Module Name
PO-124	Period September-January	20	Introduction to political methodology
PO-131	Period September-January	20	Introduction to Politics

Optional Modules

English Literature - Compulsory Modules Selective

Choose Minimum Of 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Select at least 2x 20 credit modules from the list below. You may decide to select 3x 20 credit modules and not make a selection from the English Literature Optional Module Choices box below. Overall, you must select a balance of 60 credits per teaching block. You must select 60 credits in each of your joint honours subjects.

Module Code	Semester	Credits	Module Name
EN-100	TB1	20	Monsters, Theories, Transformations
EN-120	TB1	20	English Essentials
EN-119	TB2	20	The Stage Play World

AND

English Literature - Optional Module Choices

Choose Maximum Of 20 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : You may choose to select 1x 20 credit module from the list below. Overall, you must select a balance of 60 credits per teaching block. You must select 60 credits in each of your joint honours subjects

Module Code	Semester	Credits	Module Name
ALE120	TB1	20	Studying the English Language
CLC101	TB1	20	Of Gods and Heroes - Greek Mythology
EN-112	TB1	20	Approaches to Gender in English Literature
EN-117	TB1	20	Creative Writing: Fiction Genres
HIH117	TB1	20	Medieval Europe: an introduction
HIH121	TB1	20	Europe of Extremes: 1789 - 1989
AM-113	TB2	20	Introduction to American Literature and Culture
CLC102	TB2	20	Ovid's Metamorphoses. The Transformations of Mythology
EN-113	TB2	20	Literature and Society in Medieval Europe.
EN-118	TB2	20	Creative Writing: Styles of Fiction
HIH124	TB2	20	Modern British History
ML-102	TB2	20	Modern European Film: Themes and Perspectives

AND

Politics Optional Modules

Choose Exactly 20 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Select 1 x 20 credit module from the list below. Overall, you must have a balance of 60 credits in each teaching block. You must select 60 credits in each of your joint honours subjects.

Module Code	Semester	Credits	Module Name	Guidance
HUP133	TB2	20	Political Philosophy
PO-119	TB2	20	Politics and the People

Year 2 (Level 5)

FHEQ 5 Undergraduate / HEDip

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules

Module Code	Semester	Credits	Module Name
PO-209	Period September-January	20	The State and Political Institutions
PO-245	Period January-June	20	The History of Political Thought

Optional Modules

Politics - Optional Module Choices

Choose Exactly 20 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Select 1x 20 cr module. Students must select 60 credits in each teaching block and 60 credits in each joint honours subject.

Module Code	Semester	Credits	Module Name
AM-251	TB1	20	America in Crisis: Political Culture and Society from the Tet Offensive to Trump
HUP243	TB1	20	Philosophy and the Enlightenment
HUP244	TB1	20	Contemporary Moral Controversies
PO-203	TB1	20	Anarchy and Order: Theories in International Relations
PO-219	TB1	20	Global Political Economy: From Mercantilism to Neoliberalism
PO-222	TB1	20	Globalisation
PO-241	TB1	20	Approaches to Politics
WS-201	TB1	20	The First World War
HIH282	TB2	20	Rebuilding Western Europe: Cultures and Societies, 1945-1975
HUP242	TB2	20	Freedom, Angst and the Embodied Self: Themes in Continental Philosophy
PO-239	TB2	20	Moralities of War and Peace
PO-248	TB2	20	International Security
PO-256	TB2	20	Genocide
PO-281	TB2	20	British Politics and Public Policy
WS-200	TB2	20	Contemporary Wars and Conflicts

AND

English Literature - Compulsory Modules Selective

Choose Minimum Of 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Choose a minimum of 40 credits from this list. You may choose 60 credits and not make a selection from the 'Optional Module Choices' box below. Overall, you must select a balance of 60 credits per teaching block. You must select 60 credits from each of your joint honours subjects.

Module Code	Semester	Credits	Module Name
EN-206	TB1	20	Debating Texts: Theory in Literature
EN-207	TB1	20	Revolution of the Word: Modernism
EN-237	TB1	20	Exploring the Bloody Chamber: Medieval to Postmodern
EN-242	TB1	20	Contentious Shakespeare
EN-226	TB2	20	Conflict and the Gothic in the long nineteenth century
EN-241	TB2	20	Fragments of Union: The Cultural Making and Breaking of Britain
EN-266	TB2	20	Medieval Encounters
EN-269	TB2	20	Literature and War in the 20th Century

AND

English Literature - Optional Module Choices

Choose Maximum Of 20 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : If required, choose 1x 20 credit module from this list to make up to 60 credits of English Literature. Overall, you must select a balance of 60 credits per teaching block and 60 credits in each of your joint honours subjects.

Module Code	Semester	Credits	Module Name	Guidance
ALE200	TB1	20	Tools for English Language Teaching
AM-204	TB1	20	Race and Ethnicity: American Perspectives
EN-232	TB1	20	Introduction to Writing Poetry
EN-234	TB1	20	Introduction to Writing Fiction
EN-260	TB1	20	Studying Dialect
ALE218	TB2	20	Discourse Analysis
ALE250	TB2	20	Child Language and Literacy	to select this module you must have passed ALE114 Sounds of English in year 1
AM-215	TB2	20	American Word/American Image
AM-250	TB2	20	Ghettos, Streets, Suburbs: Cultural Representations of the American City, 1890 - present
EN-236	TB2	20	Introduction to Writing Drama

Year 3 (Level 6)

FHEQ 6 Undergraduate / Honours

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules

Module Code	Semester	Credits	Module Name
PO-3319	Period September-January	20	Researching Politics 1

Optional Modules

Politics Dissertation Modules - Selective

Choose Maximum Of 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Select one of these two politics dissertations, or a dissertation in English Literature from the boxes below. You must end up with 60 credits in each of your joint honours subjects, and 60cr in each teaching block.

Module Code	Semester	Credits	Module Name	Guidance
PO-3317	TB1+2	40	Dissertation
PO-3323	TB1+2	40	Senedd Cymru/The Welsh Parliament

Choose Maximum Of 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : If you wish to select an English Literature Dissertation you must select 2x 20 credit module from the list below. You must select 60 credits in each teaching block. You must select 60 credits in each of your joint honours subjects.

Module Code	Semester	Credits	Module Name
PO-3117	TB1	20	Politics and International Development
PO-3121	TB1	20	Parliamentary Studies
PO-345	TB1	20	Contemporary Political Economy: Competing Perspectives on Global Capitalism
WS-305	TB1	20	The Russian Civil War
MS-306	TB2	20	Digital Futures
PO-3316	TB2	20	Shadow Wars: US Presidents and covert action from the Cold War to Trump
PO-3325	TB2	20	Capitalism and Justice: inequality, power and prosperity in contemporary economies
POA301	TB2	20	Parliamentary Studies project
WS-306	TB2	20	Overlord: War, Societies, and the Battle for Normandy 1944.

AND

English Literature optional modules

Choose Minimum Of 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : You must select at least 2 of the modules from this box . You may opt to select 3 modules and not select an option from the Creative Writing box below. You can only select a dissertation in one of your joint honours subjects. You must select 60 credits per teaching block and 60 credits per joint honours subject.** please note that acceptance on the English Literature dissertation is subject to the submission of a suitable proposal towards the end of year 2.

Module Code	Semester	Credits	Module Name	Guidance
AM-333	TB1	20	African American Literature 1910-1940: The Harlem Renaissance
EN-3040	TB1	20	Welsh Gothic / Gothic Wales
EN-3043	TB1	20	Poetry in the Twentieth Century
EN-3047	TB1	20	Other Tongues: Multilingualism in English Language Literature
EN-3050	TB1	20	Written in Blood: Reading the Vampire
EN-3055	TB1	20	Graphic Novel
EN-314	TB1	20	Chaucer
EN-374	TB1	20	Theorising Texts: Shakespeare, Bronte, James
EN-394	TB1	20	Reading/Writing Trauma
EN-3031	TB1+2	40	Dissertation - English Literature	** please note that acceptance on the English Literature dissertation is subject to the submission of a suitable proposal towards the end of year 2.
AM-316	TB2	20	Contemporary American Fiction
EN-3027	TB2	20	William Blake: Poetry and Designs
EN-3029	TB2	20	Postmodernist and Post-war Fiction
EN-3045	TB2	20	Crime Fiction since 1920
EN-3048	TB2	20	Professional Development: Preparing for Work
EN-3051	TB2	20	Madness, Malady and Melancholia: Literature and Medicine from Genesis to Genomes
EN-3053	TB2	20	The Swansea University International Dylan Thomas Prize Module
EN-3054	TB2	20	Speculative Fictions
EN-3058	TB2	20	Beyond Shakespeare
EN-376	TB2	20	Prehistory, History and Language
ML-322	TB2	20	From Page to Screen: Adapting the European Classics

AND

Creative Writing optional modules

Choose Maximum Of 20 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : You may take 20 credits of Creative Writing to make up your 60cr of English Literature.

Module Code	Semester	Credits	Module Name
EN-3014	TB1	20	Further Fiction Writing
EN-309	TB1	20	Further Creative Non Fiction
EN-306	TB2	20	Writing for Radio and Screen
EN-319	TB2	20	Further Poetry Writing

Entry Requirements

We have vacancies across a variety of subjects for entry September 2020 - please get in touch by email regarding specific course entry requirements or by telephone 0800 094 9071.

We also welcome enquiries from candidates researching starting a course in 2021 - please see our Entry Requirements Page to find out typical offer ranges or get in touch by email or by telephone 01792 295111.

How You're Taught

In the first year of study, you will be taught through lectures and tutorials. Assessment will be coursework, essay and examination.

In the second year, you will learn through seminars and group-work. Assessment will be varied including coursework, essays, group presentations and examination.

In the final year, you will undertake independent study through research methods, a dissertation or practice portfolio and also be taught through seminars and group-work. Assessment includes independent research dissertation, independent presentation, coursework and examination.

Our learning and teaching enhances your key skills that employers look for in graduates as follows:

Self-Management (attending classes, meeting deadlines, preparing for seminars, dissertation)
Teamworking (group presentations, group seminars, study trips and projects)
Customer awareness (study abroad, internships, work placements, student experience)
Problem solving (essay writing, research, examinations)
Communication and literacy (essays, examinations, presentations, project work, dissertation)
Numeracy skills (data analysis, statistics, graphs, datasets)
Information technology (Blackboard, essays, examinations, presentations, social media)

This course offers some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh Provision expander below.

Welsh Provision

There are opportunities for Welsh speakers to study this subject through the medium of Welsh and our dedicated academy, Academi Hywel Teifi, is here to support you throughout your time at Swansea University. We offer you:

An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
The option to receive your personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually - we will then communicate with you in your language of choice.
Access to generous Welsh-language study scholarships or bursaries.
Access to modules taught wholly or partly in Welsh.
The option to write and submit your coursework or exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and your work will be marked in Welsh.
A Welsh-speaking academic tutor.
One-to-one support to improve your academic Welsh language skills.
An opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers.

To see further details about the level of provision delivered in Welsh on this particular degree scheme, please see the Welsh-language course page for further information.

Since 2011, there has been a 40% increase in the number of students studying through the medium of Welsh at Swansea University and our TEF* data over the last two years shows that Welsh-medium students are high achievers in regards to employability (*Swansea University TEF return 2017 and 2018).

Meet Your Lecturers

Tuition Fees

Annual tuition fees for entry in the academic year 2020/21 are as follows:

		UK/EU	International
BA (Hons)	Full Time	£ 9,000	£ 15,650

Fees for full time Undergraduate UK/EU students may be increased in subsequent years of study by an inflationary amount determined by Welsh Government.

Fees for full time Undergraduate International students will increase by 3% for each subsequent year of study.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

Funding and Scholarships

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Additional Costs

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but are not limited to):

Parking and travel to and from campus
Printing, photocopying, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
Purchase of books or texts
Printing and binding
Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Careers and Employability

Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
Advice and guidance on postgraduate study and funding
Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

We also provide help and advice for Swansea University Alumni up to two years after you graduate.

Academic Support

As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your personal academic mentor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas such as:

Academic writing
Maths and statistics
Critical thinking
Time management
Digital skills
Presentation skills
Note taking
Revision, memory and exam techniques
English language skills (if English is not your first language).

In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability, mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.

Global Opportunities

Your degree programme may already give you an option to study or work abroad but in addition to this you can also consider an international summer programme.

These programmes are open to all our undergraduate students and include culture and study tours, volunteering programmes and internships across destinations such as China, Zambia, South Korea, Japan, Europe and Canada. Programmes are typically 2 – 6 weeks long and funding is available. See our Summer Programmes for further information.

How to Apply

Apply now – UK, EU and international students.

For further information please see our Guide to Clearing.