BSc English Language & Social Policy

• Entry requirements and fees

3 years full time or 4 years with integrated placement year

UCAS Code: LQ43

Typical Offers
A-levels: ABB from 3 A-levels. General Studies accepted.

Whilst the grades listed here are our entry requirements, we understand that predicted grades are only an estimate. We will therefore consider applicants with predicted grades that fall below these entry requirements if the application is of a high standard. However, any offer made will not be lower than stated above. In addition to your predicted grades, when making offers we also consider your previous academic performance (eg GCSEs), your school/college reference and the commitment and motivation you demonstrate for your chosen course via the personal statement. Applicants and their teachers/advisers are welcome to contact us with individual queries about entry qualifications via If you already have your grades and would like to check your suitability for one of our courses please contact us via e-mail. Applicants and their teachers/advisers are welcome to contact us with individual queries about entry qualifications via .

View our Admissions Policy.

IB: 33 points in the IB diploma including TOK/Bonus points. Standard level Maths and English 5 required.
Access: Pass Access to HE Diploma with Merit in each module. Humanities or Social Sciences Access course preferred, but other courses considered on an individual basis.
BTEC: National Extended Diploma DDD. Mix of Diploma/ Subsidiary Diploma/A-levels acceptable.

We accept a wide range of UK, EU and International qualifications: please contact us for further advice.

Specific subject requirements:
GCSE English Language and Maths Grade C/4.

The information contained on this website details the typical entry requirements for this course for the most commonly offered qualifications. Applicants with alternative qualifications may wish to enquire with the relevant admissions teams prior to application whether or not their qualifications are deemed acceptable. For less commonly encountered qualifications this will be judged on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the academic admissions tutor.

Tuition fees 2017/18: £9,250 (£1,250 during placement year) for UK/EU students. £14,000 (£2,500 during placement year) for overseas students. .

Applicants receiving offers are invited to an open day.

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of an English language qualification. Course outline and modules

Our BSc in English Language and Social Policy takes a practical approach to the teaching of English Language and Social Policy, through the optional placement year and professionally relevant modules which draw directly on our Astons’ cutting-edge research. You will gain a theoretical knowledge and understanding of the English language, how it works in society and its role in the world today. You will also investigate the economic, social and political forces which influence policy and give rise to conflicts between the achievement of economic, environmental and social objectives. Important strengths of the course include the research-active teaching staff who are internationally recognised researchers in fields such as gender, race and racism, sociology of education, ageing, healthcare,sociology of human reproduction, critical policy analysis, multi-national enterprises and location, forensic linguistics, language and gender and TESOL studies. The professional placement year is an optional feature of the programme and is designed to give our students a distinct advantage on the graduate labour market. The programme is geared towards increasing your employability since it is designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills required of professionals working in the public, private and voluntary sectors.

For further information, see the English Language Joint Honours programme specification and the Social Policy Joint Honours programme specification.

Sample module options: The modules below are indicative only. When an offer is made, students will receive a detailed programme specification which forms part of our terms and conditions.

Year 1 Core modules:

Introduction to English Laguage: contexts, modes and media LE1085
Introduction to English Language: Language in Society LE1086
Grammar and Meaning LE1008
Academic Communication Skills LE1087

Social Problems and Public Policies A LK1012
Social Problems and Public Policies B LK1013
Becoming a Social Scientist LK1011

Year 2 Core modules:
Research Methods in Language and Communication LE2019
Variations of English LE2053
Working with Language Data LE2032

Crime Subversion and Injustice LK2006
Welfare States and Welfare Change LK2015
Government and Globalisation LB2010
Comparing and Evaluating Public Policies LK2016

Choice of options to total 20 credits:
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (20 Credit) LE2055
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (10 Credit) LE2012
Language at Work LE2007
Computer-mediated communication LE2057
The Language of the Law LE2056
Language in the News Media LE2022
Work Based Project (10 Credit) LE2058
OR
Work Based Project (20 Credit) LE2059


And choice of options to total 30 credits:
Environmental Policy LK2014
Government and Management LK2011
Embodiment and Feminist Theory LK2005
The Social Life of Stuff LK2018
Global Society LK2004
Media and Society LK2007
Kith and Kin: Family in a Social Context LK2017


Year 3

Optional Placement

Final Year Core:
English Dissertation LE3006

International Migration and Policy LK3018
Health Policy LK3019
Ageing, Society, and Policy LK3006

Choice of options to total 40 credits:
Spoken Discourse Analysis LE3022
Learning English LE3026
Corpus Linguistics LE3028
Multimodal Analysis LE3029
Language as Evidence LE3031
Language Contact and Globalization LE3033

Choice of options to total 30 credits:
Corporate Power in a Globalised World LK3004
Dissertation LK3001
Work, Organisations and Society LK3008
Racism, class and gender LK3010
Contemporary social movements LK3011
Learning to Labour? Education and Society LK3007
Religion and Society LK3014
Sport and Society LK3012
Pregancy and Politics: Cultural Norms and Family Policy LK3013
Kith and Kin: Family in a Social Context LK3020
Popular Music and Society LK3016
The Challenge of Climate Change LY3031