English Language and Literature

Overview:
Explore how language shapes everything from social justice to personal identity, and how stories help us make sense of it all.

This degree blends the best of both subjects. You’ll dive into literature from Shakespeare to the present day, engaging with powerful voices from around the globe and across genres. Study how stories respond to and reflect the world, tackling issues like inequality, identity, and the power of persuasion. You'll learn to analyse texts critically, analysing their rhetorical techniques and assessing the validity of their claims, a crucial skill in an age of ‘fake news’.

In the English Language component, you’ll gain a strong foundation in how language works — from rhetoric and pragmatics ,to accents and dialects. Explore how language shapes society and how its analysis can be applied in real-world contexts, from identifying criminal suspects and diagnosing speech impairments, to building rapport and spotting ideological bias. These modules also connect closely with your literary studies, as you examine how language evolves, how context shapes meaning, and how we communicate across different settings.

This course develops your ability to think deeply, write clearly, and communicate with purpose — skills that open doors in fields from publishing and media to education and beyond.

Careers and Opportunities:
Employers across a wide range of sectors value the unique blend of skills you'll develop through studying both language and literature. Your CV will demonstrate:


- a deep understanding of how language works in different social, cultural and political contexts


- the ability to critically analyse complex information and communicate it clearly


- confidence in interpreting diverse perspectives and engaging thoughtfully with global issues


- strong written and spoken communication skills, tailored for different audiences


- collaborative working skills and the ability to build inclusive, respectful dialogue


- cultural sensitivity and an awareness of how words shape the world around us


After the course, you could work in areas such as:


- advertising and marketing


- copywriting


- film and television


- journalism


- lexicography


- publishing


- research


- speech and language therapy


- teaching

Portsmouth offers accommodation to all Clearing applicants who accept an offer within 24 hours and apply for a room in halls by 19 August (terms and conditions apply).

By signing up for Priority Clearing, you can receive accommodation information straight to your inbox, along with exclusive access to Portsmouth’s Clearing Visit Day on Thursday 6 August. Priority Clearing applicants benefit from queue-jump status on Results Day, as well as exclusive updates, invitations to Clearing Webinars and personalised one-to-one application support.

The Clearing Visit Day offers you the chance to experience Portsmouth’s welcoming campus and vibrant student community first-hand before you enrol. With guaranteed accommodation, you can feel reassured that you’ll be at the heart of university life from day one.