English Literature and a Modern Language Cardiff University

Overview

Throughout the  English Literature and a Modern Language  course from  Cardiff University  you’ll develop high-level communication and critical-thinking skills, and foster resilience and independence through time spent in immersive foreign language contexts.

This is a dynamic and flexible degree programme that allows you to study literature from different periods and cultures, and across the range of principal literary genres, in combination with a modern language. You’ll choose from three different languages we offer: Chinese, French or Spanish. And join the most appropriate pathway - those with an A level or equivalent competence in a modern language will take an Upper Elementary pathway. Those with limited or no knowledge of a modern language take our Elementary pathway.

English literature modules won’t restrict you to studying the printed word: we are intrigued by the connections between literature and film, art, history, technology, language, and everyday life, and our teaching reflects these interests. You’ll learn how literature addresses social, environmental, and economic concerns with the aim of creating a better, more inclusive world and developing sustainable solutions for the future of the planet.

Career opportunities:

We’re committed to helping you achieve your professional ambitions, providing you with the skills, curiosity, and confidence to make your mark in a competitive job market. Whether you have a clear idea of what you would like to do after university, or no idea at all, we have the tools and support to guide you.

We encourage our students to think about life beyond university from day one, offering modules and support to give you a competitive advantage on graduating no matter what path you choose to follow.

Our English Literature and a Modern Language (BA) programme equips you with a lively and critical understanding and how it connects to the important skills which employers’ value from collaborative working and communicating with a wide range of audiences to critical thinking and finding new ways to address problems. We provide you with opportunities to attain and develop enterprise skills as you progress from pitching your ideas on first year modules and working collaboratively on a project in year 2 to credit-bearing placements in year 2, Year Abroad and your final year. A range of option modules extend these opportunities and support you to develop these skills further.

Work experience and placements are great opportunities to enhance your employability and career prospects and can help you make decisions about your future career plans, and this programme includes placement learning as an integral element of your degree programme.

Training and careers events are delivered in and out of the curriculum with a focus on developing skills while in university and articulating those skills successfully in future applications. We work closely with Student Futures who not only deliver training and workshops on our core modules, but also offer a wealth of opportunities and help sourcing placements. Beyond your formal studies we run programmes that provide you with opportunities to engage with local schools and communities or work with local heritage organisations to develop your own skills and profile whilst allowing you to make a difference.

The Cardiff Award provides you with a framework through which to develop your employability, while you can take advantage of a wide range of university programmes from Languages for All (to try out a further language) to support from the Enterprise and Start Up team to bring your ideas to life.

Each term we advertise On-Campus Internships which are summer vacation opportunities for students to work under supervision on education innovation, professional services, and staff-defined research projects.

Our graduates flourish in the job market, with their joint honours degree taking them into a diverse and exciting range of careers, which have included finance, international sport liaison roles, business consultancy, education, health, journalism, publishing, PR, HR, the media, politics, diplomacy, interpreting, translation, law and teaching.