English with Foundation Year

Please check the Sheffield Hallam University website for the latest information.

Course summary

• Explore all aspects of English, with modules in literature, language and creative writing

• Determine your direction of study and discover the areas that most fire your interest

• Get a head start in the writing and publishing industries by teaming up with industry partners on live briefs and accredited work placements.

• Give yourself the best chance to succeed and thrive, by developing your personal skills, awareness of resources and commitment to the subject

If you’re passionate about all areas of English, then this course is for you. You will analyse an exciting variety of literary texts, discover the relationship between language and the world around you, and develop your creative voice in a range of genres and forms.

How you learn

At Sheffield Hallam, all our courses are designed to engage you with the world and challenge you to think in new ways. You’ll get to collaborate with others, and you’ll be taught in a supportive environment where you can thrive.

On this course, you will be encouraged to think critically. You’ll respond to existing debates, develop a distinctive and confident writing voice and engage with the world through English language and literature. You'll be joining a welcoming academic and creative community that values your experiences, perspective and contribution.

During the foundation year, you will develop a good foundation of knowledge, to help you thrive in your University studies, but also the personal skills and awareness of resources that will help you manage your studies effectively and be self-motivated.

Applied learning

Work placements

In your second year, of the full degree, you’ll raise your professional profile through a placement module. You’ll have the chance to collaborate with external partners, undertake a work placement or develop your own enterprise.

Previous students have worked with local schools and local children’s charities to develop materials and resources. Many have also gained experience in industries like publishing, event design and public relations, and some have even started their own businesses.

Live projects

You’ll get regular opportunities to showcase your knowledge and skills to our industry and community partners. You’ll work independently and in teams throughout your studies, bringing your ideas to life in response to real briefs.

In the foundation year, you will undertake a series of projects that respond to real world debates.

Field trips

We run regular local, regional and international field trips at no additional cost such as writing retreats, festivals and theatre visits. These start right from the beginning of the foundation year and continue throughout your studies. Students in previous years have visited London Book Fair, as well as events in Montreal, Canada and Zagreb, Croatia. They also took part in the Festival of Debate, Doc/Fest film festival and Off the Shelf literature festival, and attended the ZEE-Jaipur Literature Festival in London.

Networking opportunities

We work with renowned festivals such as Off the Shelf and Doc/Fest and bring literary agents, publishers and high profile writers to Sheffield to work with our students. You can take part in networking events and masterclasses, giving you a head start into the writing and publishing industries.

You’ll also have the opportunity to work with leading researchers. We have a strong alumni network and will encourage you to connect with partners outside of the University to give you the best career opportunities possible.

Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

Year 1

Compulsory modules

Talent Accelerator

Year 2

Compulsory modules

Compass Points North
Local Voices, Global Stories
Reimagining Language And Literature
Text And Talk

Year 3

Compulsory modules

Applied English
Encounters: Readers, Texts, Worlds
Minds In Dialogue
Questioning Perspectives

Elective modules

Study Abroad - Creative Industries

Year 4

Optional modules

Placement Year

Final year

Compulsory modules

English Research Project
Graduate Portfolio
Language Now
Literature Now

Coursework