English Literature with Mandarin

English Literature with Mandarin BA (Hons) offers a unique opportunity to combine the study of English literature with Mandarin, starting from either beginner or post-GCSE level.

Explore an exciting range of literature in English from across the globe, spanning from the medieval period to the present day. You'll explore topics such as Victorian and Romantic literature, Shakespeare, text technologies, film adaptation, and postcolonial writing. Discover how texts function and engage in critical debates on literature's impact on society throughout history and today, while honing valuable skills in analysis, creative thinking, and research.

You will develop Mandarin language skills tailored to your level, alongside an understanding of China's rich social, cultural, political, historical, and artistic contexts.

At DMU, you’ll be part of a vibrant academic community that is welcoming, supportive, and deeply passionate about literature. Learn from internationally recognised academics who will inspire you to articulate your ideas confidently and refine your writing with clarity and creativity.

Graduates of English Literature with Mandarin from DMU embark on diverse career paths, including media, marketing, publishing, teaching, public relations, and civil service.

Start your journey in combining literary study with language skills and open doors to exciting global career opportunities.

Key features

• Immerse yourself in the study of English poetry, fiction, and drama from various centuries and continents, while mastering Mandarin, with the flexibility to specialise in your chosen areas of interest.

• Learn from world-class academics who are shaping cutting-edge research in fields such as medieval to contemporary literature, language studies, and digital humanities.

• Stand out in today’s global job market with recognised competence in Mandarin. Tailor your Mandarin learning to your level and pace while gaining deep insights into Chinese culture, society, and history.

• Engage with innovative technologies and creative practices, from exploring print and digital mediums to using a hand-printing press. Plus, gain hands-on programming experience with HTML, guided by experts from our Centre for Textual Studies.

• Benefit from dynamic teaching methods and diverse assessments that ensure you build a wide range of skills, keeping your learning fresh and exciting.

• Develop transferable skills in critical thinking, cultural literacy, and collaborative work — highly valued in today’s job market and by employers worldwide.

• Benefit from block teaching, where most students study one subject at a time. A simple timetable will allow you to really engage with your learning, receive regular feedback and assessments, get to know your course mates and enjoy a better study-life balance.

First year
Block 1: Introduction to the Novel
Block 2: Journeys and Places
Block 3: Mandarin Beginner or Mandarin Post-Beginner
Block 4: Poetry and Society

Second year
Block 1: Exploration and Innovation: Medieval to Early Modern Literature
Block 2: Exploring Work and Society
Block 3: Mandarin Post-Beginner or Mandarin Intermediate
Block 4: Romantic and Victorian Literature

Third year
Year long: Dissertation
Block 2: Print and Digital Revolutions
Block 3: Mandarin Intermediate or Mandarin Advanced
Block 4: Modernism and Magazines

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, group tutorials and student-led seminars. Teaching sessions might be structured around discussion, a film screening or based in a computer lab. You will complete reading and research in advance and join in conversation with your tutor and your peers.

The first year expands your knowledge of the major literary genres (poetry, drama, fiction) and develops foundational skills in research, writing and critical analysis. The second year broadens your understanding of the development of English literature through time. The third year allows you to extend your knowledge by pursuing your own interests within the taught modules and your dissertation, which is a substantial independent written project on a literary topic of your choice.

Individual tutorials with module tutors are available in weekly ‘office hours’, at which you can discuss any aspect of your course or get help with assignments. All students are supported by a personal tutor and have access to specialist guidance in writing and study skills.

You will experience varied forms of assessment, including essays, presentations, learning journals, class tests, practical work (such as the production of a sonnet using a replica of a sixteenth-century printing press or website production), peer evaluation, creative work, self-evaluation, blogs and dissertation. This range of assessment methods will enable you to develop a broad spectrum of communication and technological skills, alongside an ability to think critically, independently, flexibly and imaginatively.

Contact hours
You will normally attend 8-10 hours of timetabled taught sessions (lectures, seminars and tutorials) each week, and we expect you to undertake around 30 further hours of independent study to complete project work and research.