About the course

This course is now closed to recruitment for 2023 and only recruiting for September 2024

This course is a great choice if you are thinking of going on to complete a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) after your degree but don’t yet want to commit to primary- or secondary-level teaching.

You get an excellent grounding in the key National Curriculum subject of English Literature as well as gaining a firm knowledge of key educational ideas and theories; major literary periods and genres; and the use of language. You also have the opportunity to explore the role of language in society; contemporary and historical ideas of childhood and children; the work of Shakespeare and his contemporaries; and the philosophy of education.

In addition, from your second year, you can choose from a range of optional units, tailoring your choices to your own interests and future career. Optional units may include creative writing; developing teaching practice; a full range of literary periods and genres, from Renaissance to modern; children, young people and the media; pedagogy and behaviour; and representations of disability. You explore political issues, history, culture, and our relationships in society; learn how to analyse texts; and understand notions of bias, truth and impact, while developing excellent written and oral communication skills.

Why choose this course?

• Our Education courses have a high student satisfaction rating for our teaching (91%) and academic support (90%) (NSS 2022)
• Learn from a teaching team of Education Studies tutors with extensive school teaching experience and English tutors with strong research and publishing profiles
• Study key educational ideas and theories as well as core areas in the history and theory of literature
• Develop communication and analytical skills as well as invaluable school experience, building a portfolio of skills which will help lead to a graduate career
• The course is situated at our Bedford campus, a small, thriving academic community where staff get to know you well and provide individual academic support
• Benefit from a degree providing an excellent progression route to a PGCE, without the need to commit to either primary- or secondary-level teaching
• Take the degree over four years and include a fee-free year in industry (see below), gaining experience and making contacts
• If you need an entry route into degree-level study, start with a Foundation Year (see below), completion of which guarantees you entry to this degree course

Course Leader - Dr Nicola Darwood

I graduated with a PhD in English Literature in 2007 and I’ve been working at the University of Bedfordshire since 2009, teaching across all years of undergraduate and postgraduate study and supervise research degrees. I teach on a range of units, introducing students to literary theory, poetry, prose and plays from the medieval period to the twenty-first century, through to more specialist units such as Modern Irish Literature. I’m also the course coordinator for the undergraduate English provision, and really enjoy working with students as they make their transition into higher education, and helping them to achieve their full potential during their time at the university.

My own field of research focuses on women writers of the twentieth century and the literature of Bedfordshire, and I’ve published work on Elizabeth Bowen, Stella Benson and Nancy Spain. I’m also the co-editor for a journal dedicated to the work of Elizabeth Bowen. I’m currently working on an edited collection of essays on women writers of the interwar period, and the University’s Literary Bedfordshire project which brings to life writers who have lived or worked in Bedfordshire.