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Sociology and English Literature BA (Joint Hons)

UCAS Code3L3Q
QualificationBA (Joint Hons)
Duration3 years
Study modeFull-time

About this Course

You can study Sociology as a joint honours degree with English Literature (50% Sociology and 50% English Literature). Please read the course description for both subjects.

Course Content

Bangor University staff are amazing! People are very friendly, attentive to your requests, eventual problems or difficulty. Bangor Uni staff are really warm, this makes it easier to go and talk to them.

Jeanne Alberty
Social Policy with Economics

What will you study on this course?

On this Joint Honours course, you will study 50% of modules in Sociology and 50% of modules in English Literature. Click on the link below to see what current students on this course are studying.

Modules for the current academic year

Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Sociology and English Literature Modules page.

Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.

Careers and Employability

This is a Joint Honours course, so please read the Employability information for Sociology and English Literature

Employability and the School of Social Sciences

Employers today need analytical and lateral thinkers who can play a part in almost any working environment. As a result, the breadth and flexibility of a social science degree makes it attractive to almost any employer. Graduates from the School have followed a wide range of career paths.

Criminology and Criminal Justice

There are a wide range of options open to students following graduation and these include careers in social work, the police force, the probation service, the prison service and the legal profession.

Health and Social Care

Health and Social Care graduates will enter professions such as health service management, care provision, public information, research and evaluation of the health and social care services.

Social Policy

Social Policy graduates enter a wide range of occupations within the policy field including public housing, social work, local government administration and the voluntary sector.

Sociology

Sociology graduates enter a wide range of occupations including management, journalism, public relations, social work, personnel,  teaching and research.

Social Work

Most newly qualified social workers will be employed in local authority social services departments. These are increasing opportunities within the independent sector. The demand for professionally qualified social workers is a very high and employment prospects are extremely good following graduation.

Employability and the School of English Literature

A degree from the School of English Literature provides our students with excellent employment prospects, in a wide range of career options. In the past our graduates have gone into teaching, publishing, advertising, journalism, the law, social work, business, politics, accountancy, the police, human resources, and academia. Several of our graduates have become leading figures in the arts.

Transferable skills

Our degree will teach you the skills of critical analysis, imaginative problem solving, and presentation. Our graduates are typically independent-minded, yet able to work as part of an effective team. The skills they possess are highly valued by employers.

Postgraduate studies

Each year several of our students decide to undertake postgraduate study, lasting from one to four years. Postgraduate study is an opportunity to further deepen your knowledge and expertise, and leads to a truly individual contribution as a literary critic or creative writer. Academic postgraduates often go on to teach in universities, or make their way in the literary world.

Opportunities at Bangor

The University’s Careers and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions. Developing your personal skills and enhancing your employability while at university is becoming increasingly important in today’s job market.

The Bangor Employability Award (BEA) and Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR)

The Bangor Employability Award enables students to build on their transferable skills through the recognition of activities they become involved in during their university life. Students can gain points towards the award through extra-curricular activities such as volunteering, attending workshops or actively participating in the Students’ Union’s clubs and societies.

The HEAR is a final graduation report that all undergraduates receive. The report itemises all academic achievements and additional extra and co-curricular achievements. Academic achievements appear on the report automatically and students are able to note their eligible activities by using the online platform ‘My Employability Hub’. This ensures that future employers are made aware of the additional skills the student has gained outside of the curriculum.

The Award is open to everyone and taking part in the scheme can make a major difference to your performance in the graduate job market.

Internships

Bangor University runs undergraduate and postgraduate internship schemes twice a year, which allow students to work in a professional environment while learning relevant skills and earning money.

Internships offer valuable experience in a professional workplace and there are a range of internships you can get involved in.

Student Volunteering

Not only is volunteering worthwhile – it also improves your employability and widens your experience.

The Students’ Union has a dedicated Student Volunteering Office (SVB) which currently contributes a total of 600 hours each week, promoting a close relationship between the university and the local community. Find out more on the Student Volunteering pages of the Bangor Student’s Union website.

Working while you Study

The JobZone is the University’s Student Employment Bureau. They advertise the following opportunities:

  • Graduate jobs – Local, National and International
  • Full-time, part time, permanent and temporary jobs
  • Work experience / internships
  • Voluntary opportunities
  • GO Wales opportunties

To access these opportunities you need to register with the Careers and Employability Service.

Entry Requirements

This is a Joint Honours course, so please read the Entry Requirements for Sociology and English Literature

General University entry requirements

We accept students with a wide range of qualifications and backgrounds and consider each application individually.

All students need to have good basic skills and the University also values IT and communication skills.

As part of the University’s policy we consider applications from prospective disabled students on the same grounds as all other students.

To study a degree, diploma or certificate course you’ll be asked for a minimum of UCAS Tariff points. For a fuller explanation of the UCAS Tariff Points, please see www.ucas.com

We also consider applications from mature students who can demonstrate the motivation and commitment to study a university programme. Each year we enrol a significant number of mature students. For more help and advice about being a mature student at Bangor, please visit the Study at Bangor site.

Specific entry requirements can be seen on the individual course pages.

EU and International students' entry requirements

For information and further detailed guidance on entry requirements for EU and International Students, including the minimum English Language entry requirement, please visit the Entry Requirements by Country pages. International applicants can also visit the International Education Centre section of our website for further details.

Bangor University offers International Incorporated Bachelor Degrees for International students whose High School qualification is not equivalent to the UK school leaving qualification. The first year (or Year 0) is studied at Bangor International College, an embedded College on our University campus and delivered by Oxford International Education Group.

More information

Home/EU students and International UCAS applicants

E-mail for General Admissions: admissions@bangor.ac.uk or write to:

Admissions Office
Bangor University
Gwynedd
LL57 2TF

Telephone: +44 (0)1248 383717 

International students (non-UCAS applicants)

Email to International Admissions: internationaladmissions@bangor.ac.uk or write to

Admissions Office
Bangor University
Gwynedd
LL57 2TF

Telephone: +44 (0) 1248 382028

Course Costs

When coming to University, you will have two main costs, Tuition Fees and Living Costs.

There are also some common additional costs that are likely to arise for students on all courses, for example:

Course-specific additional costs
Depending on the course you are studying, there may be additional course-specific costs that you will be required to meet. These fall into three categories:

  1. Mandatory Costs: these are related to a particular core or compulsory module that you’ll be required to complete to achieve your qualification e.g. compulsory field trips, uniforms for students on placement, DBS Check.
  2. Necessarily Incurred Costs: these may not be experienced by all students, and will vary depending on the course e.g. professional body membership, travel to placements, specialist software, personal safety equipment.
  3. Optional Costs: these depend on your choice of modules or activity and they are shown to give you an indication of the optional costs that may arise to make sure your choice is as informed as possible. These can include graduation events for your course, optional field trips, Welcome Week trips.

How to Apply

How to apply through UCAS

Apply online via UCAS

UCAS stands for Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. All university applications are processed through UCAS and then passed on to the universities listed.

Students may apply for a maximum of five courses. For Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary courses students are only allowed to apply for four courses.

The application form is found on the UCAS website, under ‘Apply’.

The early closing date is October 15 for all Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary students. The main closing date for all applications is January 15.

Your Personal Statement

Writing your Personal Statement is the part of the application form that requires most work. You are only allowed 47 lines or 500–550 words to explain why you wish to study the course and the skills you have that are essential for university study.

To write a successful personal statement for your UCAS application you must have a good understanding about the course and its content. Remember that you write only one personal statement for your five choices. Make sure that the courses are similar, if not the same, and make sure that you do not mention a specific course or university.

Read our advice on how to draft a winning personal statement or watch our video guide.

After you’ve applied

You should keep an eye on your application on UCAS ‘Track’. Offers from universities will appear on track and you will be able to accept or decline offers.

You can only reply when you have received all your decisions. The types of reply you can make are firm acceptance and insurance acceptance. Usually students reply in early May.

International Student?

If you are an international student, our International Student pages offer further information on applying.

As an international student applying to study one of our undergraduate programmes you can;

Erasmus student?

We receive around 350 exchange students every year from all over the world. 45% of these students come from Europe and the remainder from as far as Singapore, South Korea and Australia.

The University's International Exchanges Office is responsible for welcoming these students.

Confused about your next steps?

Take a look at our Going to University website for information and advice on getting ready for university.

Further Information

Why study at the School of Social Sciences?

  • Students from countries worldwide attend the School of Social Sciences for undergraduate, masters and research training, creating a dynamic learning environment.
  • Our staff undertake research of national and international reputation and have written major text books and articles published in top academic journals.
  • We aim to provide a friendly, supportive and stimulating learning environment, supplemented by contributions from practitioners in the statutory, voluntary and independent sectors.
  • Undergraduate degree structure is flexible enough to offer a range of specialisms and breadth of choice.
  • We have a long history of high quality social work education and a long-standing, strong and effective partnership with social service agencies in North Wales.
  • Under our personal tutor scheme, a member of lecturing staff will monitor the student’s academic progress and will offer help, advice and support on an individual basis.

Why Study English Literature or Creative Writing at Bangor?

There are many fantastic reasons for choosing to study English Literature and/or Creative Writing at Bangor.

  • Students rate our teaching extremely highly. The 2017 National Student Survey (NSS) put us 1st in the UK again! Our English Literature BA has scored a fantastic 100% for overall student satisfaction for the third year running (NSS 2015, 2016 and 2017).

No.1 in UK. 100% Student Satisfaction

  • At undergraduate and postgraduate level, we offer a broad and flexible range of module choices, combining the innovative (e.g. The Literature of Laughter, Transformative Writing and The Gothic in Literature and Film) with the more traditional (e.g. Victorian Literature and Jonson to Johnson)
  • Our teaching is based on the latest research. The world-class quality of our research and writing was recognised in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014) placing our School in the UK Top 10 for research intensity.
  • With award-winning pastoral care, one-to-one support and individualised feedback, we get to know our students as individuals and enable them to pursue their own creative interests. 
  • Employability. We provide our students with transferrable skills that are valued by employers. 85% of our graduates were in employment or further study within six months of finishing the course (source: DLHE).  Our graduates have gone on to have wide-ranging and successful careers in many sectors, including the performing arts, education, law, the civil service, press, media and public relations.
  • Arts and Culture. Our close links with Pontio (the University’s £40 million Arts Centre), local theatres, poetry groups and vibrant student societies - including our Bangor English Drama Society (BEDS) -  give students plenty of opportunities to get involved. 
  • Bangor is an inspiring location for creative writing or literary study, situated on the Menai Straits at the foot of Snowdon, and less than three hours by direct train from London!
  • Read what our students say.

 

Studying at Bangor

Rated Gold for teaching

We have been awarded a Gold rating, the highest rating possible, for the standarad of our teaching in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) assessment. The TEF assessment took into account teaching quality, learning environment and student outcomes and learning gain. We were judged to deliver consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for our students and our teaching is of the highest quality found in the UK.

A top 10 university

The National Student Survey (NSS) results place Bangor amongst the UK’s top 10 universities (excluding specialist institutions) for student satisfaction. This reflects the University’s focus on overall student experience.

Enjoy a university experience that’s amongst the best in the UK

The guaranteed accommodation, student support, low cost of living and stunning location all contribute towards this.

Take advantage of the Bangor Student Experience with free membership of student clubs and societies, a new international experience programme and employability award scheme.

Award-winning clubs and societies!

Our clubs and societies have been named the best in the UK at the WhatUni Student Choice Awards 2018.

Unrivalled location

Choose to study in one of the best places in the UK to be a student. Bangor’s location – close to the mountains and the sea - has been described as ‘the best university setting in the UK’.

Investment in facilities

Benefit from continued investment in facilities and services – with an exciting new Arts and Innovation Centre, new Halls of Residence, and improved sports facilities amongst recent developments.

Guaranteed accommodation in award-wining halls of residence

We guarantee accommodation for first year students who apply within the deadline and hold Bangor as their Frm Choice. Our accommodation has been named the best in the UK at the 2018 WhatUni Student Choice Awards.

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