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BA English Language and Philosophy

Start date
September
Duration
3 Years
UCAS code
QV35
Course Type
Undergraduate, Joint Honours combined
Fees

Annual tuition fees for 2025/26:
£9,535 (UK)
£24,470 (International)
More detail.

Discover how societies communicate and how language shapes our experience of the world. Combine this study with different philosophical perspectives and engage with some of history’s greatest minds as you discover how language and society influence each other. 


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.  

 By studying Philosophy as a Joint Honours degree with English Language, you'll also gain a thorough appreciation of the technical aspects of the English language and its social and political context. You'll have the chance to use new resources, such as computer-held databases of linguistic data, and you'll be encouraged to embrace theoretical and technological advances in the study of language.   

Studying English and Philosophy has taught me to engage with texts critically, whilst simultaneously enhancing my command of English. The University offers a wide range of modules to tailor your degree to your interests and as a Joint Honours, student I get the best of both worlds through my two disciplines.

Joi

Why study this course?

BA English Language and Philosophy is for you if you want to:

  • Explore a broad range of specialisms - Birmingham is internationally famous for its work in corpus linguistics, figurative language, language learning and teaching, the language of social media and stylistics. You can focus on traditional aspects of the subject such as grammar, historical linguistics or pragmatics, but you can also explore newer areas such as English used in internet communication or English used worldwide.
  • Enjoy fantastic module variety - the amount of optional modules on offer will allow you to specialise more as you progress through your degree course, so that you can study areas of the discipline that interest you the most. Some module examples include Minds, Brains and Computers: Issues in Philosophy of Cognitive Science, Reasons to Believe: Topics in Epistemology and Fantastic Beasts and How to Understand them and Topics in Philosophy of Biology. 
  • Take advantage of our exceptional resources - including our archives and special collections in the Cadbury Research Library and the Library of Birmingham, Europe’s largest regional library.
  • Do more than read books – take advantage of the wide-ranging expertise within our academic community and delve into the study of language in areas as diverse as advertising, traditional and online media, and clinical and health settings. 
  • Join welcoming and sociable departments –  you can join the English Language and Linguistics or Philosophy student societies and take part in a range of social and wellbeing activities, getting to know your fellow students with quizzes, coffee mornings, trips, and a summer ball. 

Modules

Please note: You will take 120 credits of modules in each year of study. The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. Unless indicated otherwise, the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2025. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to compulsory modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

 

Joint Honours flexibility

Every degree programme at the University is divided into 120 credits of study for each year of the programme. In the first year of a Joint Honours programme, you will study 60 credits in each subject as you learn the core elements of the disciplines. We recognise that students on Joint Honours programmes might come to favour one subject slightly more than another. To account for this, we have added more flexibility into the second and final years of our programmes. In the second year, you can stick with the 60-60 split between the two subjects or shift to a 80-40 credit weighting, effectively a major/ minor combination. You can either go back to 60-60 in the final year, maintain the same 80-40 split or reverse the major and the minor and go to a 40-80 weighting.

First year 

Compulsory English Language modules

  • Fundamentals of Language: Grammar and Discourse
  • Fundamentals of Language: Sounds and Words
  • Investigating Language

Detailed descriptions of first year English Language modules

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)

Detailed descriptions of first year Philosophy modules

Second year

Compulsory Modules

  • Structure of English - this module extends the study of two core areas of linguistics: Grammar and Phonetics and Phonology. Students will study both disciplines in detail, building on the foundational work from year one. Students will develop in-depth knowledge of how to analyse language according to its grammatical properties, and develop an understanding of how we can classify and study the sounds of a language. These skills will then be applied in many of the optional modules taken elsewhere on the programme.

Optional English Language modules

  • 60; 40 or 20 credits of optional modules. 

List of second year optional English Language modules

Philosophy

The optional modules are divided into three categories that represent three core areas of philosophy: history
of philosophy; ethics and social philosophy; epistemology metaphysics, and philosophy of mind and
language. 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 Health
Group B: Feminist Philosophy, Sex, Ethics and Philosophy
Group 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

Year Abroad

You can apply to study abroad for a year in an approved university around the world. If you achieve a grade of 2.1 or above in your first year, you will be eligible to apply for a Year Abroad in your second year. If your application is successful, you will go abroad in your third year and return to us for your final year.

More about a Year Abroad

You can also apply to study Computer Science for a year during your third year, before returning to us for your final year.

Final year

Compulsory module

  • English Language Dissertation or Philosophical Project 

The Dissertation is an extensive (10,000 word) research project where students will investigate a topic of their choice. This can be in either language or philosophy, or can be on a topic that links the two halves of the programme together. They will work with a supervisor in the relevant department to design and carry out their project, demonstrating all of the skills in research and analysis that they have developed throughout the programme.

Optional English Language modules

  • 60 or 40 credits of optional English Language modules

List of final year English Language modules 

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)

You will also take your remaining Philosophy credits in optional modules.

List of final year Philosophy modules

Fees

The University will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year. If your offer is for 2025 year of entry, we expect that the tuition fee for your first year of study will be £9,535. If Parliament agrees on an increase in tuition fees, the University will increase fees for each year of study normally in line with these changes and will communicate any change in the fees to you without delay. If you are applying for 2026 year of entry, you will be advised of the annual tuition fee closer to the time. Visit our tuition fees page for more information.

Fees for 2025/26 are as follows:

  • UK: £9,535
  • International: £24,470

Eligibility for fees can be verified with Admissions. Learn more about fees for international students.

For further information on tuition fees, living costs and available financial support, please see our pages on undergraduate fees and funding.

Tuition fees when studying abroad

For those spending a whole academic year abroad (where available):

  • Students who are classed as UK for fees purposes are required to pay 15% of their normal annual tuition fee
  • Students who are classed as International for fee purposes are required to pay 50% of their normal annual tuition fee

For those studying abroad for just one semester (where available), normal annual tuition fees apply.

Note - Study abroad opportunities vary between courses; please see the course description for details of study abroad options offered.

How To Apply

Standard offer

International Requirements



Number of A levels required:
3
Typical offer:
AAB

A level in English Language, English Literature, English Language and Literature or a Modern Foreign Language is preferred. We also welcome applications from candidates who can demonstrate an interest in and an aptitude for the study of language, so other combinations of complementary Humanities and Social Science subjects will be considered. Please contact us to discuss.

IB Diploma:
6,6,5 in Higher level subjects plus 32 points overall including the relevant subject mentioned above.

BTEC qualifications:

  • BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM, plus a B at A level in the required subject/s mentioned above.
  • BTEC Diploma: DD, plus a B at A level in the required subject/s mentioned above.
  • BTEC Subsidiary Diploma: D, plus AB at A level, including the required subject/s mentioned above.

Other qualifications are considered - learn more about entry requirements.

Alternative offers through our Pathways to Birmingham programmes and our Contextual Offer scheme

Students who are eligible and successfully complete a Pathways to Birmingham programme will receive special consideration from admissions tutors and an alternative offer (typically two grades below the standard offer). In addition, our Contextual Offer Scheme recognises the potential of students whose personal circumstances may have restricted achievement in school or college. If you are eligible to benefit from the contextual offer scheme, you will receive an offer which is one grade lower than the standard offer.

International Students

We welcome applications from international students and invite you to join our vibrant community of over 4500 international students who represent 150 different countries. We accept a range of qualifications, our country pages show you what qualifications we accept from your country.

Depending on your chosen course of study, you may also be interested in one of our foundation pathways, which offer specially structured programmes for international students whose qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to UK universities. Further details can be found on Birmingham International Academy web pages.

Support

You will have access to a comprehensive support system to help you make the transition to higher education when you start at Birmingham. 

Personal tutors – You will be assigned your own personal tutor who will get to know you as you progress through your studies. They will provide academic support and advice to enable you to make the most of your time here at Birmingham.

Wellbeing Officers –You will also have access to dedicated wellbeing officers who provide professional support, advice and guidance to students across a range of issues. They can meet with you to discuss extensions, disabilities, reasonable adjustments, extenuating circumstances, or to talk through any problems you might be experiencing, and help you access wider support on campus and beyond if you need it.

Our Academic Skills Centre helps you to become a more effective and independent learner through a range of high-quality support services. The centre offers workshops on a range of topics, such as note-taking, reading, academic writing and presentation skills.

The Academic Writing Advisory Service (AWAS) provides guidance on writing essays and dissertations if you need it. You can receive individual support from an academic writing advisor and meet with postgraduate tutors who specialise in particular subjects too.

Our Student Experience Team will help you get the most out of your academic experience. They offer research opportunities, study skills support, and help you prepare for your post-university career. They also organise social events, including trips.

Teaching staff

Students at the University of Birmingham are taught by a mixture of professors, senior lecturers, lecturers and doctoral researchers, thereby receiving a rich diversity of academic knowledge and experience. Many of our teaching staff have published important works about their areas of expertise, whilst others have taught at international institutions and can offer unique perspectives of their subjects.

You can find out more about the members of staff (including their qualifications, publication history and specific areas of interest) in their academic profiles linked below.

learning-teaching-english

Contact Hours

All Birmingham degrees are set within a credit framework designed to measure your academic achievements. We expect all students to accumulate 120 credits in each full year of study which is equivalent to 40 hours of learning a week. Learning is considered to include contact learning (lectures and seminars), private study, revision and assessment.

For this programme, those 40 hours are estimated to be broken down and split into lectures, seminars and other guided teaching opportunities and then independent study. This is a general rule across the entire academic year and may change week by week.

  • Year 1: 20% Lectures, seminars or similar and 80% Independent study
  • Year 2: 15% Lectures, seminars or similar and 85% Independent study
  • Year 3: 15% Lectures, seminars or similar and 85% Independent study

Assessment Methods

Assessments - you will be assessed in a variety of ways to help you transition to a new style of learning. At the beginning of each module, you will be given information on how and when you will be assessed. Assessments methods will vary with each module and could include:

  • coursework, such as essays
  • group and individual presentations
  • and exams

Feedback - you will receive feedback on each assessment within three weeks, so you can learn from each assignment. You will also be given feedback on any exams that you take. If you should fail an exam, we will ensure that particularly detailed feedback is provided to help you prepare for future exams.

By studying an English and Philosophy degree at the University of Birmingham, you will acquire skills highly sought after by employers within the graduate job market.

  • Understanding complex information
  • Intellectual analysis
  • Writing clearly and effectively
  • Building a case to critically assess a particular point of view
  • Respecting the views of others even if they disagree with you
  • Generally thinking for yourself

You will also be encouraged to acquire practical skills that you will find useful in your future career, including oral presentation, professional documentation, time management, teamwork and the uses of information technology.

English and Philosophy graduates go on to pursue highly successful careers in professions such as:

  • Law
  • Journalism
  • Teaching
  • Management consultancy
  • Local government
  • Publishing
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Advertising
  • Charity

Therefore, a degree in English and Philosophy from the University of Birmingham opens doors to a wide range of careers. Some graduates even choose to progress to further study, not just in English and Philosophy but in Law, Education, Politics, International Development, Sociology and other areas.

Developing your career

The University of Birmingham is the top choice for the UK's major employers searching for graduate recruits, according to The Graduate Market 2024 report. Our Careers Network are here to offer you tailored, expert advice on your career plans and support you with finding and applying for jobs, internships and further study. There are hundreds of events to help you meet potential employers and learn more about the breadth of opportunities and career sectors available to you.

Support will be offered to you covering the whole job application process, including CVs, LinkedIn, application forms, interviews and assessment centres.  You can also email our experienced Careers Advisors and College Teams to review your applications or answer any careers related question, alongside our on campus and online 1:1 appointments.

We have a number of exclusive work experience programmes such as our B-Experienced programme, which will give you professional experience to set you apart in the graduate market. We also offer work experience bursaries, which allow you to apply for funding to support you during any unpaid internships in the UK and rest of the world.

First years can take part in The Birmingham Project, with themes including celebrating arts and culture and shaping a global society. There’s also a successful Mentoring Programme, where you can gain access to experienced Mentors who can empower, inspire and inform you about their experiences.  As a University of Birmingham student you will also be given access to LinkedIn Learning giving free access to real world training courses to kick-start your careers.

If you want to earn money WorkLink advertises convenient part-time job opportunities on campus to fit round your studies.  

Extra-curricular activities

To enhance your career prospects even further, you may want to engage in extra-curricular activities to broaden your skills and your network of contacts. The Birmingham Award is the University of Birmingham’s employability programme, supporting you to develop and recognise the attributes you gain through extra-curricular activities. The award is supported by graduate employers and offers you an opportunity to showcase participation in activities outside of your degree programme.’

There are 300+ student groups and volunteering opportunities offered by the Guild of Students (our Students’ Union) so you’re bound to find activities that you want to be involved in whilst meeting friends who share your interests.