English Literature and Philosophy (BA)

Our aim is to support you to become an independent thinker.

You’ll learn through a range of teaching methods, including interactive lectures, lively discussion-based seminars and workshops. Seminars and workshops give you the opportunity to engage critically with key ideas and readings, explore ideas with your lecturers, and learn from other students.

You’ll have access to course materials through our electronic learning environment.

In this supportive environment, you’ll develop your ability to closely analyse texts and arguments, evaluate evidence, work through problems with others, construct your own arguments, hone your critical skills, and present your ideas clearly.

How will I be supported?

Your main sources of support are your module leaders, personal tutors and specialist academic writing support.

Your module leaders are available during teaching weeks if you have questions about course materials or assessments.

You’ll be allocated a personal tutor in both English literature and philosophy, and you’ll meet them regularly during the academic year. Personal tutors can advise you on academic matters, including study skills, careers and academic progress, as well as pastoral matters. They are also available for additional meetings if needed.

You’ll have access to specialist academic writing support across the programme. This includes online materials, workshops and one-to-one meetings about academic writing to support you with your assessments.

Our professional services teams can provide academic and student support, and can help with information and guidance if you have any queries. The University's range of support services and events are also available to help you plan your career, manage your emotional, mental and physical health, support you with financial issues and provide assistance for students with disabilities are also available to you. These services are co-located at the Centre for Student Life. 

How will I be assessed?

Your assessments are designed to develop key skills in communication, collaboration, critical thinking and reflection.

Assessment methods can include critical analyses of texts, essays, exams, critical reviews, presentations, group work and group discussion assessments, and reflective assessments of your own skills.

In your final year, you’ll take part in a large collaborative philosophy project that involves writing and presenting for a professional audience. In English literature, you’ll collaborate with others to produce a public-facing piece of work.

Optional modules can offer a wider variety of assessments, including writing for a public audience, commenting on an artwork or media piece, or creative assignments.

You’ll receive regular feedback on your progress as you move through the degree. Oral feedback in lectures, workshops and seminars will help you assess your understanding of the course material and your critical responses to it.

You’ll receive formative comments on essay ideas and draft work, and detailed feedback on all marked coursework.

What skills will I practise and develop?

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will achieve by the end of your programme at Cardiff University and identify the knowledge and skills that you will develop. They will also help you to understand what is expected of you.

On successful completion of your Programme you will be able to:

Knowledge & Understanding:

• Systematically comprehend literature from different cultures and periods (including pre-1800) and the range of principal literary genres across prose, poetry, and drama
• Critically assess some of the central theories and arguments, and their applications, in moral, social, or political philosophy, and in epistemology, philosophy of language, or philosophy of mind.
• Critically examine theories and arguments from contemporary philosophical research, which may come from the intersection of different areas of philosophy or from interdisciplinary research.
• Apply philosophical research to draft policy or strategy documents, or action recommendations, in response to a real-world ethical or social problem of contemporary societal concern.
• Systematically comprehend the relationship between literature and other cultural forms and analyse how culture, language, technology and economics affect the production and reception of texts.

Intellectual Skills:

• Examine different kinds of literary and cultural materials closely and critically.
• Develop standard techniques of philosophical analysis to critically evaluate philosophical claims and arguments.
• Develop independent and innovative responses to literary, critical, cultural, and creative material, in writing and in speech, and for different audiences.
• Develop independent and innovative responses to complex and specialised philosophical claims and arguments, in writing and in speech, and for different audiences.
• Construct and organise arguments that respond creatively to literary and critical sources or support claims in response to philosophical questions.

Professional Practical Skills:

• Compile and systematically evaluate complex information and diverse evidence with accuracy.
• Communicate complex information and arguments in different formats appropriate to different purposes.
• Develop group discussions and team projects in a collaborative manner.
• Articulate and assess your own academic and professional skills.

Transferable/Key Skills:

• Assess and solve problems independently, taking the views of others into account in a systematic and evaluative way.
• Apply advanced knowledge and skills to unfamiliar or wider world challenges or contexts.
• Develop initiative by taking responsibility for structuring and time-managing a research task, working in teams when appropriate.
• Develop positive and effective working relations with others in teams, especially through constructive and collaborative dialogue and feedback.
• Develop resilience, adaptability and creativity, actively reflecting on your own studies and achievements.