English and Philosophy with Foundation Year

English and Philosophy will give students the opportunity to draw together two key traditions in the intellectual, political and cultural life of global civilisations. Throughout the course, students will be introduced to the key concepts and ideas that constitute current scholarship in both fields. They will also be encouraged to adopt and develop the critical consciousness that lies at the heart of both textual interpretation and philosophical enquiry.

The course features a balanced curriculum with modules exploring the relationship between literary value and social identities, as well as looking at key moments in the Victorian period, the early twentieth century and the 1960s where the relationship between literature, philosophy and social change were at their most pronounced. These will be complemented by modules on the philosophy of mind, ethics, social justice and individual freedom.

The Foundation year prepares students for university level study. Successful completion of our Foundation course permits access to any of our Humanities or Media BA (Hons) degree courses, which include English, English Language, Creative Writing, Linguistics, Media, Philosophy and Religious Studies — many of which can be taken singly as specialist degrees or together as ‘joint’ degree routes. The Foundation year begins with modules aimed at providing transferable study skills and then, in the second semester, gives students the opportunity to study more specialist modules, with a focus on various aspects of Humanities and Media.