English BA(Hons) Degree

Student work

Typewriter

English at Falmouth offers a solid foundation in the study of literature, and an innovative approach to the study of literary and non-literary texts, digital texts and contemporary media.

Big Brother

You'll gain a historical grounding in literature from the 16th century to the present day, exploring texts and contexts to link the study of literature with readings of contemporary culture.

Learning Resource Centre

The course offers a broad range of optional units, enabling you to explore and specialise in the subjects that particularly interest you.

Latest news

Take your writing to the next level with UCF's 2012 Writing Summer Schools programme
UCF is running a series of innovative writing short courses for personal and professional development. The intense, practical workshops are for people who want to improve their writing skills or expand versatility of their writing.
UCF Talks Business Development

University College Falmouth (UCF) is developing a new range of industry-focused professional development and career development courses in response to employers' and individuals' need for flexible, industry-focused learning.
MA Multimedia Broadcast Journalism Graduate Wins Radio Documentary Award

Clare Salisbury, who graduated in 2011 from the MA Multimedia Broadcast Journalism course has won the Best Radio News Feature in the Broadcast Journalism Training Council's (BJTC) annual awards.
Students celebrate in style

Students donned their finery to celebrate their contribution to the wider community at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall on Thursday 1 March. The ceremony was the first of its kind to be planned by FXU, the combined Students' Union for University College Falmouth and the University of Exeter in Cornwall, to recognise achievements in a wide range of areas from sporting prowess to supporting others and fundraising for local charities.
Nick Darke Award for writing relaunched with £6,000 prize

The School of Media & Performance at University College Falmouth is pleased to announce the opening of this year's Nick Darke Award. The award will continue to celebrate the best writing for stage, screen and radio with writers having the chance of winning £6,000, a £3,000 increase on previous years.
MA Professional Writing student and alumni join laureates to bring national treasures to life

Alumni and students from Falmouth's MA Professional Writing are among the writers involved in a high-profile exhibition and book project. The project, 26 Treasures gives voices to objects in major museums around the UK and is in the last stages of gaining crowd source funding for the publication of its book.
Falmouth Journalists take honours at top industry awards for second year running
University College Falmouth MA International Journalism graduate Polly Fields took top prize for her radio piece "The Speed Sisters" at the Broadcast Journalism Training Council annual awards which have just been officially announced. Polly travelled to the West Bank town of Ramallah as part of her MA Project about a group of women there who have defied many middle eastern traditions to take part in the male dominated sport of motor racing.

Latest events

Foundation Diploma in Art & Design End of Year Show
'Fri, May 25th, 2012, 10:00am to Thu, May 31st, 2012, 5:00pm' Students at the end of their year's study exhibit their final assessed work.
LIVEDART & CONTEXTURE
'Wed, Jun 13th, 2012, 11:00am to Sun, Jun 17th, 2012, 11:00pm'
A festival of contemporary performance, art and writing.
Pixelate Film Festival
'Wed, Jun 20th, 2012, 11:00am to Sat, Jun 23rd, 2012, 10:00pm'
Showcasing the talents of graduating students from our BA(Hons) Film course.
English & Writing Programme Showcase
'Fri, Jun 22nd, 2012, 6:30pm to 8:00pm'
A showcase of critical and creative writing ranging from poetry to cultural theory.

Staff profiles

Dr Helen Thomas Principal Lecturer
Nigel Kingcome Programme Leader, English and Writing
Rupert Loydell Senior Lecturer
Dr Ruth Heholt Senior Lecturer
Dr Meredith Miller Senior Lecturer
Dr Kym Martindale Senior Lecturer

Our alumni

Fiona Timmons: English with Media Studies BA(Hons) student
Fiona Timmons: English with Media Studies BA(Hons) student
Fiona Timmons: English with Media Studies BA(Hons) student - Read more
Shreevatsa Nevatia: English with Media Studies BA(Hons) graduate

"Working as a practising reporter, I use the skills I learnt on my degree all the time, but I find them most helpful in the moments that I really need perspective."

For Shreevatsa Nevatia, Falmouth was so much more than just a university. It was a new way of thinking. “I started my studies in New Delhi but it wasn’t quite right for me – I wanted a new environment and a new challenge,” Shreevatsa explains. “Six months into my course the British Education Fair arrived and I found myself looking through prospectuses for a solution.”

“Falmouth’s International Office was very encouraging and the description of their BA in English with Media Studies sounded really exciting,” he continues. “Because I had already started studying in New Delhi I thought it might be too complicated to transfer, but Falmouth was really understanding and helpful. I will always be grateful for the faith they put in me, accepting me onto
the course.”

Coming from the urban spaces of New Delhi, Shreevatsa was nervous about fitting in to life in Falmouth, but his concerns were quickly quashed. “I grew entirely enchanted with places like Gyllyngvase beach and the College gardens at Woodlane,” he explains. “And I made friends who have entirely changed the way I look at things; they’ve really helped me bridge the gap and perceive my nationalistic difference positively.”

Graduating in 2005 and now a successful journalist back in New Delhi, Shreevatsa puts much of his success down to studying in Falmouth. “I remember being told when I started about the course’s transferable skills,” he notes – skills which include researching and writing to tight deadlines, working as part of a team and clearly communicating ideas. “In the 16 months since graduating, working as a practising reporter, I use these skills I learnt on my degree all the time, but I find them most helpful in the moments that I really need perspective.”

As a ‘parachute correspondent’ for the Hindustan Times, Shreevatsa has reported from conflicts where perspective and a level head are a necessity, from Afghanistan to a Red Cross Camp in Beirut, during the Israeli/Hezbollah conflict. “In Beirut I met a woman about to give birth who had been bombed out of her home. It’s often traumatic, but being a journalist helps me meet people and see worlds that would otherwise have remained alien,” he explains.

“I dread to think what my life would have been had I not done the Falmouth degree,” he concludes. “It gave me the mental resources to do what I do, to think progressively. It has benefited my professional and personal life in an invaluable way.”

Shreevatsa Nevatia: English with Media Studies BA(Hons) graduate - Read more
Beth Warmington: English with Media Studies BA(Hons) graduate

BA(Hons) English with Media Studies graduate Beth Warmington, now a Parliamentary Researcher, told us what she's up to....

Beth Warmington: English with Media Studies BA(Hons) graduate - Read more
Claire Churcher: English with Media Studies BA(Hons) student
CLAIRE CHURCHER - BA(Hons) English with Media Studies 2006 - 2009
Claire Churcher: English with Media Studies BA(Hons) student - Read more
Kate Sicolo: English with Media Studies BA(Hons) graduate

Since graduating from Falmouth I have been employed by a sub-regional charity, The Intercom Trust, as their first anti-bullying and homophobia worker. My position is unique in the country, and I primarily spend my time working with classes of young people in schools encouraging and enabling inclusion and integration, training school staff and developing policies and procedures. I recently spoke and delivered workshops at a national conference with Sir Ian McKellen and Teresa Clarke, head of policy development at the DCSF, and have written schemes of work, which are now being delivered across the UK.

Kate Sicolo: English with Media Studies BA(Hons) graduate - Read more

UCAS Code Q300 BA

How to apply
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We consider each application on its merits and look for evidence of commitment and motivation. For full details on the application procedure follow the link below.Read more...
Attend an open day
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Meet staff and students and discover how study at Falmouth can fast-track your career. Open days include a welcome talk, campus tours, and presentations on our courses, information on fees, finances, admissions, accommodation, and student services. Follow the link below to book online.Read more...
Request a prospectus
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Follow the link below to download a copy of our prospectus, or complete the form to request a printed prospectus by post.Read more...
Entry requirements
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A minimum of 220 UCAS points, equivalent Level 3 qualifications or relevant experience. All applicants to the English courses will be invited to a two-part interview. No portfolio is required.

Location:Tremough Campus
Length:3 years full-time

Direct line:01326 255764

admissions@falmouth.ac.uk

For me the main advantage of studying English was the flexibility offered within the programme and the numerous opportunities to focus your attention on a specific area. This allowed me to build a really solid knowledge base of salient cultural theory which I have now developed in my job. English at Falmouth gave me the theoretical grounding to converse with the academics and students that I meet every day. Kate Sicolo, BA(Hons) English, working for The Intercom Trust

Why study for a BA(Hons) English degree at University College Falmouth?

New course for 2012 entry.
*Subject to validation during this academic year.

English at Falmouth is unique, distinctive and flexible. It offers a solid foundation in the study of English literature explored through an innovative approach to the exploration of literary and non-literary texts, digital texts and contemporary media. The course focuses on the changing relationship between literature, culture and the individual from the 16th century to the present day. Using theoretical and critical approaches, we examine texts - printed, visual and digital - and their contexts.

As you progress through the course, you'll study a wide range of literature within a cultural and historical framework, from early print culture to digital technologies, and explore transformations of the written form within an ever-changing global arena.

Alongside the core study of literary texts, you'll have the opportunity to pursue individual study pathways through a choice of options such as Gothic, Narrative & Sexuality, Literature & Screen, or Game Cultures. You can also select options from BA(Hons) Creative Writing and BA(Hons) English with Creative Writing to carve your own pathway according to your individual interests. A distinctive feature of English at Falmouth is the emphasis on employability, including an optional module preparing you for the workplace.

Course outline

Level 1

Introduction to Literary Studies I & II
Introduction to Cultural Theory
The Craft of Writing
The Knowing Self: Literature & Culture (1540-1688)
Culture & Civilisation

Level 2

Freedom & Experiment: Literature & Culture (1688-1832)
Cultural Theory & the Politics of the Popular
Making Nations: Literature & Culture (1832-1914)
The Politics of Subjectivity & Identity

Options include*:

Narrative & Sexuality
Comedy & Performance
Literature & Screen
From Page to Stage
Gothic Cultures
Representing Utopia
Reading Digital Literature & Culture
Children Reading, Reading Children

* You can also choose certain modules listed in the Creative Writing degree

Level 3

Aftermaths: Literature & Culture (1914-1968)
To the Millenium & Beyond: Literature & Culture (1968-present)
Dissertation

Options include:

Gender & Film
Conflict & Catastrophe
Games Culture
Europe in Translation
Texts & Technologies
Representations of Crime
Literature & Science in Western Culture
English in the Workplace

Tell me more about the BA(Hons) English course

English at Falmouth has a reputation for excellent teaching, innovative courses and for producing graduates equipped to succeed in a highly competitive global marketplace. In the 2010 National Student Survey, English and Writing achieved 87% in terms of overall student satisfaction.

We now offer three undergraduate courses, providing you with greater choice and an increased focus on employability. Falmouth gives you the opportunity to develop your skills and knowledge in what you'd expect from a traditional and rigorous English department, but with an innovative contemporary twist. Our flexible approach also means you can transfer between courses in Levels 1 and 2, shaping your own pathway according to your specific areas of interest*.

All of the courses have responded to the changing nature of writing practices in the digital age. By using some of the best facilities and digital media resources in the UK, you'll be encouraged to promote your work, skills, and knowledge through developing and managing your digital profile.

The uniqueness and vibrancy of creative arts at Falmouth; the University College's growing reputation for innovative research; and the interdisciplinary opportunities arising from collaborations among the Departments of Writing, Media and Performance all make UCF the ideal environment in which to study for a degree in English or Creative Writing.

* You'll be expected to take at least one semester on the course in which you wish to specialise in Level 3.

By choosing to study for a degree in English at Falmouth you will:

Benefit from being taught by an approachable and experienced team of academics and published writers, who are specialists in their given fields.
Benefit from courses that are unique, distinctive and highly flexible, offering everything you'd expect from a traditional English degree, but also equipping you with a fresh and innovative approach to your chosen discipline.
Benefit from guest lectures and workshops from nationally renowned creative writers, literary experts and media professionals.
Study literature and culture from the 16th century to contemporary digital publications, taking in a wide range of texts, authors and media.
Be able to tailor your degree to your own specialist interests and for your chosen career or postgraduate destination.
Be assessed through a combination of coursework, project work, formal presentations, portfolio work and dissertations.

How is the course taught?

The first year will provide you with grounding in the craft and criticism needed by all writers. The second and final years will help you gain an informed understanding of genre leading into engagement with audiences. The course offers a broad range of optional units, enabling you to explore and specialise in subjects that interest you and which may be useful for your chosen career or postgraduate destination.

The course operates on a basis of continuous assessment (including essays, reviews, presentations and creative pieces). You'll produce a portfolio that demonstrates skills in a range of writing styles, genres and techniques. You'll also develop specific IT skills needed in today's marketplace and undertake independent research leading to a creatively informed dissertation.

Assessment

Coursework
Portfolio
Oral assessment
Project work
Dissertation in final year

Facilities

Our high-specification Media Centre enables you to experience all aspects of English to the highest possible standard. The Learning Resource Centres at Woodlane and Tremough provide extensive resources for study, creativity and inspiration within an integrated learning environment for all students, including:

On site borrowing from three libraries - giving you access to over 140,000 books
Exhaustive electronic resources
A video/DVD/streaming library with over 17,000 titles
An extensive slide collection

Course publications

WiTH magazine

At University College Falmouth, we believe all good writing is creative and that it underpins and informs all the subject areas on offer to our students. Our students’ work is rooted in writing and reading, discussion and debate, close reading, contextualisation and creative response.

WiTH magazine came out of a growing excitement among our students body about what they had written, and a desire to share and showcase it with others in the University College. Eight issues of the magazine have been produced in recent years.

pdf WiTH6 (456.97 KB)

WiTH8

Professorial lecture series

Falmouth's Professorial lecture series aims to produce an engaging and challenging public programme that stimulates the intellectual curiosity of our staff, students and alumni, our research collaborators, our industry partners, our local communities and other supporters. Recent lectures relevant to students in the School of Media & Performance include Andrew Chitty and Emily Bell.

Andrew Chitty

Seven myths that drive the digital economy

Andrew has been a pioneer in the converging worlds of TV and digital media since the mid 90s when as Editor of BBC2's The Net he was responsible for the BBC's first website and virtual world. Since 1998 he's built Illumina Digital into the UK's leading cross platform production company winning a raft of awards including 4 BAFTAS, 8 RTS Awards, The UN award for e-learning and even a Golden Ladle for the world's best cookery site. In 2008 Illumina joined All3Media, the UK's largest independent production group.

Andrew has been active in policy and industry groups, co-authoring OFCOM's paper New Options for Public Service in the Digital Age and has advised Lord Stephen Carter as a member of the ministerial steering board for the Digital Britain Report. He is a council member of PACT, trustee of TRC Media in Glasgow and a past board member of Skillset. Andrew is currently Chair of the National Skills Council for Digital Media.

A video of Andrew Chitty's lecture can be viewed online here

pdf Download the transcript of Andrew Chitty's lecture (175.81 KB)

Emily Bell

Back To the News Future: Journalism 10 Years from Now

Director of Digital Content for Guardian News and Media, Emily set up www.mediaguardian.co.uk in 2001. www.guardian.co.uk has won multiple awards, including the prestigious Webby for Best Newspaper on the web in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Oxford graduate, Bell is one of the rising stars coming through from a younger, more web-focused generation of senior media figures.

A video of Emily Bell's lecture can be viewed online here

A decade of English at Falmouth

BA(Hons) English Reunion
2008

In 2008, graduates celebrated the tenth anniversary of BA(Hons) English courses at Falmouth. Over the last decade, the course has grown from a small part time course to one of the largest undergraduate departments at the institution, with over 200 full time students.

The reunion event included a small showcase of work from 2008 graduates and the official launch of our student anthology: ‘WiTH' magazine. A jazz band then welcomed alumni into the beautiful Italian Garden of Tremough House for drinks, a barbeque and party.

Photographs from the event can be viewed here

Answers and advice about the course

For further information about BA(Hons) English at University College Falmouth, please email admissions@falmouth.ac.uk or telephone Admissions on 01326 255764.

Our student mentors are now on Facebook. To chat to a mentor about the course, living in Cornwall, or what to expect at Falmouth, check out the English courses group. You need to join the group before you can post. Our student mentors have already done the first year of the course... so ask them anything you like!

English courses Facebook group

If you're not Facebook you can still speak to a student mentor. Email your name and the course you're starting to: studentmentorenquiries@falmouth.ac.uk and we will be in touch with you.

Career opportunities

Our graduates are now working in a range of careers including publishing, screenwriting, novel writing, journalism, public relations, marketing, web editing, teaching, research and arts administration. Postgraduate study is a further option.

Entry requirements

Minimum of 220 UCAS points, equivalent Level 3 qualifications or relevant experience. All applicants to the English courses will be invited to a two-part interview. No portfolio is required.

Please see our How to Apply page for more information.