ARABIC AND ENGLISH LITERATURE BA Honours
Course summary
Our Arabic and English Literature BA will help you to become a competent linguist ready to enter graduate employment. The course places particular emphasis on employability and the contemporary cultural context of Arabic and offers high-quality teaching in all language skills, alongside an in-depth exploration of English literature.
On the course, you'll develop linguistic competence in speaking, writing, reading and listening in Arabic and you'll develop your knowledge and understanding of literary and cultural studies.
You'll study an integrated curriculum with a focus on applied language skills and cultural studies, supported by a rigorous development of your foreign language skills. You'll develop a high level of competence in Arabic, proficiency in language transfer skills, a thorough knowledge of Arabic culture, and the ability to thrive linguistically in diverse cultural situations.
In English Literature, you'll have the opportunity to examine literary and non-literary works of all periods from Shakespeare to the present day, taking in a wide range of authors and themes, with full and balanced coverage of dramatic, poetic and prose works.
You'll consider the wider historical and political contexts in which cultural and literary works have been produced and received, and relate the works both to intellectual history and to work in other arts and media, such as architecture and the visual arts. You'll also have the opportunity to consider the theoretical tools of textual, cultural and literary analysis in detail.
You'll have the opportunity to spend an academic year abroad at a partner institution and/or, depending on your language level, in an approved form of employment in a country where Arabic is the official language. A year abroad will not only improve your language skills but also contribute to your employability, encourage intercultural awareness, and build confidence.
Our Arabic courses are only available to beginner or 'false beginner' entrants - false beginners are students who may be able to read the Arabic script, and/or have the equivalent to one or two years' part-time study. Please note that we may need to test you to determine your entry point.
Work experience opportunities
As part of the degree, you'll have the opportunity to spend an academic year abroad at a partner institution and/or, depending on your language level, in an approved form of employment in an Arabic-speaking country, enabling you to develop your language skills in a real-world setting. Previous destinations have included Jordan, Morocco and Egypt. You may have the opportunity to work as a paid language assistant in a foreign school or undertake a work (or volunteering) placement while abroad, both of which provide valuable opportunities to boost employability while improving language competence.
Job roles
The course prepares you for roles in a range of sectors including:
- Advertising, marketing or PR
- Business or finance
- Interpreter or translator
- Media and journalism
- Public sector work
- Publishing assistant or publisher
- Teacher
Graduate employers
Previous graduates have found roles in companies including:
- Cypher Coding Ltd
- HSBC
- Notting Hill Gate Library
- Muslim Association of Britain
- University of East London

My name is Kavisha Prince Anthony, and I always had a dream of studying abroad. Thankfully, that dream came to life since I applied to the Study Advisor. I was able to receive my visa within four days. I also had some visa refusals in the past; I had about six UK visa refusals in the past, but thankfully, it was not an issue since the Study Advisor was able to make things work this time. I highly recommend Study Advisor for your dreams of going abroad, whether it be the UK or any other European country there is.