BA (Hons) English, Media and Cultural Studies with Foundation Year

Why study this course with LJMU?

• Extensive range of texts studied, from Milton, Woolf and Dickens to Margaret Atwood, Kazuo Ishiguro and Arundhati Roy
• Taught by leading scholars who have published books on many topics, from Sherlock Holmes to Irish rock music and teenage bedroom culture
• Large range of option modules to choose from depending on your interests
• Work placement opportunities in Britain and overseas in teaching, public relations, international development, charities, tourism, the media, creative and heritage sectors
• 97% of students surveyed said academic support on our English courses was good or very good (National Student Survey 2024)
• 95% of students surveyed said the teaching staff on our media courses were good at explaining things (National Student Survey 2024)

About your course

The BA (Hons) English, Media and Cultural Studies with Foundation Year at Liverpool John Moores University gives you an opportunity to look at how literary and media texts address their audiences.

You will achieve this through the study of media institutions, publishing and journalism, as well as forms of applied communication in practical areas including, public relations, social marketing, fiction, documentary, video games, magazines and new media. You will also examine cultural trends and practices, including popular music, youth culture, world literature, neo-Victorianism, social media, travel, and fashion. Your study of literature will be defined by an eclectic choice of texts, from the classics to popular fiction.

We are interested in traditional authors such as William Blake, Charles Dickens and Virginia Woolf and in contemporary writers such as Margaret Atwood, Kazuo Ishiguro and Arundhati Roy. Alongside British literature we study American literature and culture and Irish, postcolonial and world writing.

We introduce you to many different types of text such as detective novels, children's fiction, fairy tales, ballads, prison testimonies, African American slave narratives, travel writing, protest literature, diaries and letters. Our diverse portfolio of options lets you explore new topics and choose your own pathway through the degree as your interests develop.

The programme is designed with your future employability in mind, so you are encouraged to develop transferable skills such as research, formats for professional writing, communication, problem-solving, teamwork and independent working.

Some modules ask you to engage in collaborative blogging, contributing to online archives and improving your digital skills. Although we focus on theoretical and critical study, we incorporate applied case studies and work-related learning into many aspects of the programme, including a period of work experience with a local or national organisation.

Foundation Year

The Foundation Year is ideal if you have the interest and ability to study for a degree, but do not have the qualifications to enter directly onto the English, Media and Cultural Studies honours degree programme yet.

Once you pass the Foundation Year (level 3) you will progress directly onto the first year of the honours degree. If you are a full-time UK student, you will qualify for student financial support for the full duration of your course (subject to eligibility criteria).

Course modules

Foundation Year

• Preparing for Academic Success (30 credits)
• Investigating Liverpool (30 credits)
• War: Conflict in the Humanities and Social Sciences (30 credits)
• Peace: the Pursuit of Harmony in Humanities and Social Science (30 credits)

Year 1

• Media Texts (20 credits)
• Literary and Cultural Theory (20 credits)
• Media Institutions and Audiences (20 credits)
• Professional Writing (20 credits)
• Liverpool Legacies (20 credits)
• Critical Keywords for English (20 credits)

Year 2

• Public Communication (20 credits)
• AI and the Humanities (20 credits)
• Body, Mind and Soul: seventeenth-century literature and culture (20 credits)
• Public Relations (20 credits)
• Popular Journalism: Research in Practice (20 credits)
• Modernism and Modernity (20 credits)
• Poetry Matters (20 credits)
• Postcolonial Writing: Power, Art and Protest (20 credits)
• Mediating Popular Culture (20 credits)
• Romanticism: Revolution, Reaction and Representation (20 credits)
• Short Cuts: Writing in Brief (20 credits)
• The Victorians: Realism and Sensation (20 credits)
• English Independent Study (20 credits)
• Study Year Abroad - EMCS (120 credits)
• Study Semester Abroad English and Media and Cultural Studies (60 credits)

Year 3

• Life Stories: Telling Tales and Keeping Secrets in Auto/Biographical Writing (20 credits)
• Forms of Slavery (20 credits)
• Gender Trouble (20 credits)
• Writing Race in Britain (20 credits)
• Words and Music (20 credits)
• Working Class Writing (20 credits)
• Theories 2.0 (20 credits)
• Feminist Fictions: Contemporary Women’s Writing and the Politics of Feminism (20 credits)
• English Independent Study (20 credits)
• Our House: Representing Domestic Space (20 credits)
• Digital Writing (20 credits)
• C21: British Fiction Now (20 credits)
• Race in America (20 credits)
• English and Media and Cultural Studies Dissertation (40 credits)
• Shakespeare (20 credits)
• Terrorism and Modern Literature (20 credits)
• Mediating Diversity (20 credits)
• Vamps and Villains: Exploring Gothic Fiction (20 credits)
• Social and Digital Media (20 credits)
• World Literature: Writing from the Periphery (20 credits)
• Screen Media (20 credits)
• Britain, Brexit, Europe and the Media (20 credits)
• Media and Cultural Industries (40 credits)
• Crime, Horror and the Media (20 credits)
• Transitions: Identities in the Interwar Years (20 credits)
• Violence in Nineteenth-Century Literature (20 credits)
• Green Victorians (20 credits)
• Mind Readings (20 credits)
• Space and place: travel writing at home and abroad (20 credits)
• Developments in Contemporary Writing and Publishing (20 credits)
• Modern Fiction and Environment Crisis (20 credits)
• Black Lives in American Literature (20 credits)
• Migrants to the Screen (20 credits)
• Popular Fiction and Publishing (20 credits)

Professional accreditation

This course has strong links with local, national and international media organisations providing excellent opportunities for student work placements and research projects. They include: Sky Sports, Liverpool Echo, Juice FM, Odeon Cinema, Everyman Theatre, The Royal Court, National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside, TATE Liverpool and the BBC.

Your Learning Experience

Teaching Support Assessment

Excellent facilities and learning resources

We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.

Teaching is delivered via lectures, seminars, workshops, online activities, peer presentations and film screenings and fieldwork trips (for example, to Copenhagen) and you are expected to spend a significant proportion of your time in private study, using our virtual learning environment, as well as our archives and special collections. Online discussion boards allow you to further debate, with your tutors and peers, ideas that arise in the classroom.

Work-related Learning

The programme is designed with your future employability in mind, so you are encouraged to develop transferable skills such as research, formats for professional writing, communication, problem-solving, teamwork and independent working.

Some modules ask you to engage in collaborative blogging, contributing to online archives and improving your digital skills. Although we focus on theoretical and critical study, we incorporate applied case studies and work-related learning into many aspects of the programme, including a period of work experience with a local or national organisation.

We offer a range of different options in English and further opportunities in Media and Cultural Studies for work-based and work-related learning. For instance, if you choose the Working in the USA module, you will have the opportunity to spend a month or more in the United States at the end of your second year.

Past students have worked for the editor of Vogue, an advertising agency in New York, a National Park in the Appalachian Mountains, an architect's office in California and theme parks in Florida.

Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support

If you study English, Media and Cultural Studies at LJMU, you will join a friendly and stimulating environment in which you will be encouraged to achieve your full potential in both your academic work and your future career. We pride ourselves on our informal and supportive relationship with our students.

You will be assigned a personal tutor who will be responsible for your academic and personal progress throughout the course. Along with this scheduled one-to-one support, you will receive regular feedback and guidance from your module tutors on your research, writing and study skills.

Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.

We believe that all students perform differently depending on how they are assessed, which is why we use a combination of assessment methods. In fact this course has received national recognition for its innovative assessment methods. They include exams (seen and unseen), essays, log books and diaries, group and individual presentations, research projects, response papers, blogs, organised debates and seminars.

Throughout your course you will be given regular constructive feedback and have opportunities to discuss this with your personal tutor and course lecturers. This is particularly useful in helping you to identify your strengths as well as the areas where you may need to put in more work.

Where you will study

The School of Humanities and Social Science offers an ideal environment in which to expand your knowledge and horizons. Situated on Mount Pleasant in the new ‘Knowledge Quarter ' of Liverpool, the School is home to five subject areas: English, History, International Relations, Sociology, and Media, Culture & Communication. It has a lively programme of cross-disciplinary research seminars, conferences, visits from international scholars and public events. Research from the School is recognised nationally and worldwide.

Career paths

The career paths followed by our graduates are varied in nature.

Alumni can be found working in advertising, marketing, public relations, museums, arts administration, media production, the publishing industry, retail, leisure and charitable organisation management, educational administration, accountancy, the social services, teaching and the Civil Service.

Tuition fees and funding

Home

• Foundation first year: £5,760
• Second and subsequent years: £9,250

International

• Full-time per year: £17,750

Entry requirements

GCSEs and equivalents

• Evidence of Grade 4 or grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics/Numeracy on their application form. No exceptions considered in lieu of Maths
• GCSE Equivalences accepted:
  • Key Skills Level 2 in English/Maths
  • NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and or Reading
  • Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English
  • Higher Diploma in Maths/English
  • Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
  • Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number

A levels

• DDD-CDD (maximum of 20 AS points accepted). An English subject is preferred, e.g. English Language, English Literature, English Language/Literature or Creative Writing. Subjects such as Drama, Theatre Studies, Film Studies, Religious Education, History and Media Studies will also be considered.

BTECs

• Performing Arts, Production Arts or Creative Media Production are preferred from applicants studying BTEC qualifications.
• Extended Diploma: MMP

Access awards

• Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
• Pass overall with a minimum of 72 points, including relevant subjects.

International Baccalaureate

• 72 UCAS points from IB Composite parts to include a relevant subject at Higher Level (HL).

OCR Cambridge Technical

• Extended Diploma: MMP

Irish awards

• Irish Higher - Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications.

T levels

• Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications.
• You need to obtain the required UCAS points from a related subject area.

International requirements

• Any Applicant whose first language is not English will be required to have IELTS 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each component) or acceptable equivalent.

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Degree Overview:

The BA (Hons) English, Media and Cultural Studies with Foundation Year at Liverpool John Moores University offers a comprehensive exploration of literary and media texts, examining how they engage with their audiences. The program delves into media institutions, publishing, journalism, and applied communication in areas like public relations, social marketing, fiction, documentary, video games, magazines, and new media. It also investigates cultural trends and practices, including popular music, youth culture, world literature, neo-Victorianism, social media, travel, and fashion. The program emphasizes a diverse range of texts, from classic authors like Milton, Woolf, and Dickens to contemporary writers like Margaret Atwood, Kazuo Ishiguro, and Arundhati Roy. It explores British, American, Irish, postcolonial, and world literature, encompassing various genres like detective novels, children's fiction, fairy tales, ballads, prison testimonies, African American slave narratives, travel writing, protest literature, diaries, and letters. The program is designed with employability in mind, fostering transferable skills such as research, professional writing, communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and independent working. It incorporates applied case studies, work-related learning, and opportunities for work experience with local or national organizations.

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Outline:

The program is structured over four years, including a Foundation Year.

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Foundation Year (Level 3):

• Core Modules:
• Preparing for Success: Academic Skills (20 credits)
• Investigating Liverpool (20 credits)
• War: Conflict in the Arts and Humanities (20 credits)
• Peace: the Pursuit of Harmony in the Arts and Humanities (20 credits)
• Water-scapes (20 credits)
• Communication and Culture (20 credits)

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Level 4:

• Core Modules:
• Literary and Cultural Theory (20 credits)
• Media Texts (20 credits)
• Media Institutions and Audiences (20 credits)
• Professional Writing (20 credits)
• Liverpool Legacies (20 credits)
• Critical Keywords for English (20 credits)

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Level 5:

• Core Modules:
• Public Communication (20 credits)
• Optional Modules:
• Short Cuts: Writing in Brief (20 credits)
• Body, Mind and Soul: seventeenth-century literature and culture (20 credits)
• Public Relations (20 credits)
• Popular Journalism: Research in Practice (20 credits)
• Modernism and Modernity (20 credits)
• Poetry Matters (20 credits)
• Postcolonial Writing: Power, Art and Protest (20 credits)
• Mediating Popular Culture (20 credits)
• Romanticism: Revolution, Reaction and Representation (20 credits)
• The Victorians: Realism and Sensation (20 credits)
• English Independent Study (20 credits)
• Study Year Abroad - EMCS (120 credits)
• Study Semester Abroad English and Media and Cultural Studies (60 credits)
• Life Stories: Telling Tales and Keeping Secrets in Auto/Biographical Writing (20 credits)
• Forms of Slavery (20 credits)
• Gender Trouble (20 credits)
• Writing Race in Britain (20 credits)
• Words and Music (20 credits)
• Working Class Writing (20 credits)
• Theories 2.0 (20 credits)

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Level 6:

• Optional Modules:
• English Independent Study (20 credits)
• Our House: Representing Domestic Space (20 credits)
• C21: British Fiction Now (20 credits)
• Shakespeare (20 credits)
• Vamps and Villains: Exploring Gothic Fiction (20 credits)
• World Literature: Writing from the Periphery (20 credits)
• Transitions: Identities in the Interwar Years (20 credits)
• Green Victorians (20 credits)
• Mind Readings (20 credits)
• Space and place: travel writing at home and abroad (20 credits)
• Developments in Contemporary Writing and Publishing (20 credits)
• Modern Fiction and Environment Crisis (20 credits)
• Black Lives in American Literature (20 credits)
• Migrants to the Screen (20 credits)
• Feminist Fictions: Contemporary Women’s Writing and the Politics of Feminism (20 credits)
• Digital Writing (20 credits)
• Race in America (20 credits)
• English and Media and Cultural Studies Dissertation (40 credits)
• Terrorism and Modern Literature (20 credits)
• Mediating Diversity (20 credits)
• Social and Digital Media (20 credits)
• Screen Media (20 credits)
• Britain, Brexit, Europe and the Media (20 credits)
• Media and Cultural Industries (40 credits)
• Violence in Nineteenth-Century Literature (20 credits)
• Popular Fiction and Publishing (20 credits)

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Assessment:

Assessment methods vary depending on the modules but typically include a combination of exams and coursework. The program utilizes a variety of assessment methods, including:

• Exams (seen and unseen)
• Essays
• Log books and diaries
• Group and individual presentations
• Research projects
• Response papers
• Blogs
• Organized debates and seminars
Regular constructive feedback is provided throughout the course, with opportunities for students to discuss their progress with personal tutors and course lecturers.

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Teaching:

The program employs an active blended learning approach, combining face-to-face and online learning. Teaching methods include:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Workshops
• Online activities
• Peer presentations
• Film screenings
• Fieldwork trips
Students are expected to engage in significant private study, utilizing the virtual learning environment, archives, and special collections. Online discussion boards facilitate further debate with tutors and peers.

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Careers:

Graduates from the program pursue diverse career paths, including:

• Advertising
• Marketing
• Public relations
• Museums
• Arts administration
• Media production
• Publishing industry
• Retail
• Leisure and charitable organization management
• Educational administration
• Accountancy
• Social services
• Teaching
These organizations include Sky Sports, Liverpool Echo, Juice FM, Odeon Cinema, Everyman Theatre, The Royal Court, National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside, TATE Liverpool, and the BBC.
• The School of Humanities and Social Science offers a lively program of cross-disciplinary research seminars, conferences, visits from international scholars, and public events.
Research from the School is recognized nationally and worldwide.
• The Go Citizen Scheme provides financial assistance for volunteering, individual projects, or unpaid placements worldwide.

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Tuition fees

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Foundation first year

£5,760

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International full-time per year

£17,750

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Second and subsequent years

£9,250 All figures are subject to yearly increases. Tuition fees are subject to parliamentary approval.

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Overview:

Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) is a public university located in Liverpool, England. It is a large and diverse institution with a strong focus on providing high-quality education and research opportunities.

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Services Offered:

LJMU offers a wide range of services to its students, including:

Accommodation:

On-campus and off-campus accommodation options are available for students.

Student Support:

The university provides comprehensive support services, including academic advising, career counseling, financial aid, and mental health resources.

Library:

LJMU has a well-equipped library with extensive resources and study spaces.

Student Futures:

This service helps students with career planning, job searching, and employability skills development.

International Student Support:

Dedicated support is available for international students, including visa guidance and cultural adjustment programs.

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Student Life and Campus Experience:

LJMU offers a vibrant and engaging campus experience for its students. Key aspects include:

Sports, Societies, and Lifestyle:

Students can participate in a wide range of sports clubs, societies, and social events.

Campus:

The university has multiple campuses located in Liverpool, providing a diverse and stimulating environment.

Go Abroad:

LJMU offers opportunities for students to study abroad and gain international experience.

Volunteering:

Students can engage in volunteering activities and contribute to the local community.

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Key Reasons to Study There:

Strong Academic Reputation:

LJMU is known for its high-quality teaching and research.

Diverse Programs:

The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines.

Location:

Liverpool is a vibrant and culturally rich city, providing students with a stimulating and enjoyable living experience.

Student Support:

LJMU provides comprehensive support services to ensure student success.

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Academic Programs:

LJMU offers a wide range of academic programs, including:

Undergraduate:

Bachelor's degrees in various fields, including business, law, health sciences, engineering, and the arts.

Postgraduate:

Master's degrees, PhD programs, and other postgraduate qualifications.

Degree Apprenticeships:

Programs that combine work experience with academic study.

Continuing Professional Development:

Short courses and programs for professionals seeking to enhance their skills.