More info
Learning outcomes of the programme
Binding Study Advice
The programme
Elective credits
Full-time and part-time
BA thesis and graduation requirements
Subsequent degree programmes
2019-2020
Learning outcomes of the programme
Bachelor’s in English Language and Culture:
possess general knowledge of and insight into English Language and Culture, that is to say knowledge of (a) the system and global historic development of the English language, (b) the development of English literature in a cultural-historical perspective, and (c) an active (writing, speaking) knowledge of the English language at CEFR level C1 and a passive (reading, listening) knowledge of the English language at CEFR level C2;
are able, on the basis of the acquired knowledge and insight, to develop a correct, well-argued and critical oral and written report of the current status of topics within one or more areas of English Language and Literature and draw sound conclusions from the findings;
are able, in one or more areas of English Language and Culture, to collect and interpret relevant data based on the specialist literature studied and the application of common methods and terms from the discipline, with the aim of forming a judgment on the topic that they have studied;
are able to communicate, orally and in writing, information, ideas and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences;
possess such knowledge and skills concerning the discipline of English Language and Culture that they can be considered able to apply these in the performance of employment for which a degree in English Language and Culture is necessary or useful.
At the end of the three-year degree programme, bachelor’s students also possess skills and knowledge that are further tailored to their field of specialisation. For more details see: student.universiteitleiden.nl/reglementen.
Binding Study Advice (BSA)
For further information on the BSA Regulation and the associated study guidance plan, see: www.studenten.universiteitleiden.nl/BSA
Please note: the course Language Acquisition 1: From Scratch to Print is an additional requirement to the BSA.
The programme
The English Language and Culture programme has four specialisations: Philology, Literature, Linguistics and Language Acquisition.
First year: propaedeuse
The first year of the bachelor’s programme consists of mentoring and courses in the main subjects, i.e. the above disciplines. All full-time students also take part in the compulsory mentoring.
In the first year, you are assigned to a mentor group that has two student-mentors. In addition, two lecturer-mentors supervise the mentoring. The lecturer-mentors are generally also lecturers in one of your work groups or lectures. The student-mentors are students from the master’s programme or the more advanced years of the bachelor’s programme.
The mentor group is identical to the work group and the meetings are scheduled in the timetable. In the different mentor meetings, you can ask informal questions about various topics associated with studying. You also learn about important matters such as how to avoid plagiarism. The student-mentors can help you by sharing their own experiences, and can also show you around the University and city. There is also time for social activities to help you get to know the other students better outside classes.
If you receive negative study advice in January, you follow a compulsory course provided by EAV in the second semester. This helps you improve your study skills. You will receive further information about this from study coordinator before the second semester.
Second year
Most departments expect you to meet certain conditions before you can take their second-year courses. If you have not met all the requirements for the propaedeuse, take good note of the entry requirements for the second-year courses. In the second year, you also look at how to develop your study plan, which is compulsory from the second year.
In both semesters of the second year, you follow compulsory courses in the four main subjects. You also follow two culture courses that span the main subjects. Within Literature you can choose American or British literature in the first and second semester. In the second semester of Philology, you can choose one of two specialisations. You have to decide which options you will choose before the start of the semester. You do so in your study plan and register through uSis.
In the second year, you also follow the Introduction to Literary Theory and Philosophy of Science courses together with students from other Humanities programmes.
Third year
In the third year, you can specialise in one of the courses (10 EC total) offered by the different departments. In addition, you follow the compulsory Language Acquisition course in both semesters. You write your bachelor’s thesis in the second semester and attend a compulsory thesis seminar.
You also need to earn 30 EC of elective credits in your third year.
Mandatory attendance
Seminar attendance is compulsory. You may miss a maximum of two of the 13 meetings per subject (if you have a valid reason and provided younotify the lecturer and the study coordinator before the seminar that you will miss). If you have not prepared, do not participate and/or fail to bring the course material for a particular week, this may also count as absence.
If you miss more than two seminars, you must contact the study coordinator. If the study coordinator believes there are special circumstances, they may decide that the maximum two absences do not apply. The study coordinator will consult your lecturer(s) and inform you and your lecturer(s) of their decision.
If you fail to meet the attendance requirement, you will be excluded from attending the course. This may mean that you will not receive a final mark or that your final mark will be a fail for the participation or presentation part, for example, and/or any other exams that you sit during the seminar.
Please note: if you have been absent for a valid reason, you may still be barred from attending the course if it is likely that you will no longer be able to successfully complete the course. This could be if you have missed important deadlines or have simply missed too many meetings.
Exemptions
You may request an exemption from apply to the Board of Examiners for exemption from a course on the basis of a previously completed equivalent course, with one exception: no exemptions are granted for Language Acquisition courses. For the procedure, please contact the teaching administration and/or study coordinator.
Exam resits
Each course provides an explanation of the form of examination and any resits.
You must always resit any exams for which your final mark is a fail (that is to say, lower than 5.5). In principle, you may not resit exams that you have passed, with the following exception:
You may resit a passed exam or partial exam three times during your entire bachelor’s degree programme. You must take the resit in the same academic year in which you passed the exam or partial exam that you are resitting.
You must submit a request to the Board of Examiners in good time if you wish to resit a passed exam or partial exam.
Electives
In the third year of the bachelor’s programme, you must earn 30 EC (15 EC per semester) of electives. For more information on how to earn these see: [student.universiteitleiden.nl/fgw/keuzeruimte](https://www.student.universiteitleiden.nl/studie-en-studeren/studie/onderwijsinformatie/keuzeruimte/geesteswetenschappen/engelse-taal-en-cultuur-ba?cf=geesteswetenschappen&cd=engelse-taal-en-cultuur-ba#tab-1.
Full-time and part-time
The Bachelor’s degree programme in English Language and Culture is a full-time or part-time programme. The description of the full-time programme can be found in this [e-Prospectus] (https://studiegids.universiteitleiden.nl/s/0176).
Bachelor’s thesis and graduation requirements
To graduate, you must have passed the programme of 180 EC, met the requirements for the elective credits and successfully completed your bachelor’s thesis.
The bachelor’s thesis is a paper worth 10 EC. It must tie in with a second- or third-year course (not an introductory course). You develop two possible topics and submit these to the Board of Examiners before the start of the semester in which you will write the thesis. The Board of Examiners appoints a supervisor for one of the two topics. The supervisor then helps you write a thesis proposal, which you submit to the Board of Examiners. The Board of Examiners uses the thesis application form to evaluate your proposal and appoints a second reader. Then you attend a compulsory thesis seminar. For more information, see the course description for the third year.
The regulations and important deadlines for the BA thesis can be found at: student.universiteitleiden.nl/reglementen.
Subsequent degree programmes
A Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Culture grants you direct access to the one-year Master’s programme in Linguistics, English Language and Linguistics track, or the one-year Master’s programme in Literary Studies, English Language and Culture track. If you hold a Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Culture and have completed the minor in Translation, you have direct access to the one-year Master’s programme in Linguistics, Translation in Theory and Practice track, but will have to request admission.
Depending on your results, you may also be granted access to a two-year research master’s programme, for instance Literary Studies or Linguistics. You can also apply for admission to another related master’s programme such as the Master’s programme in Media Studies, Book and Digital Media Studies track, or the Master’s programme in Linguistics, Language and Communication track, or the Master’ s programme in North American Studies.
After graduating from the one-year Master’s programme in English Literature and Culture or English Language and Linguistics, you may wish to train as a secondary-school teacher. You can choose to follow the Master’s degree in Education at ICLON (one year full-time, two years part-time), which qualifies you to teach in all types of secondary education. If you have followed the Minor in Education during your bachelor’s degree (only possible if you pass the first and second year) and have already earned a master’s degree, you can follow the shorter teaching training programme (30 EC instead of 60 EC).
For more information on the various master’s programmes and the application procedure, see: mastersinleiden.nl.
