Contemporary Literature (subject to Approval)

Description

The BA in Contemporary Literature at the University of Kent provides students with a unique opportunity to study the literature of their own period. The global events that have shaped the early part of the 21st Century have given rise to writing that calls for new ways of thinking. The School of English at Kent has always been at the forefront of contemporary theory and practice. This new programme allows students to take a range of modules that seek to define and contextualise this new writing.

The degree will equip students with the critical, theoretical and historical materials necessary to study literature of the contemporary period. During the first year students will be prepared for their engagement with contemporary writing by taking modules such as Romanticism and Critical Theory, Readings in the Twentieth Century and Writing America. In the second and third year students will be able to choose from a diverse range of modules in American and British contemporary writing, Postcolonial Literature, Modernism and Postmodernism such as:

• Modernism
• The Contemporary
• American Crimes Fiction
• English/Postcolonial Long Essay
• Innovation and Experiment in New York, 1945-1995
• The Stranger

We also offer you the opportunity to spend up to a year studying abroad in America, Canada, Europe or Hong Kong.

Staff in the School of English are internationally recognised for academic research which links closely with undergraduate teaching, and the School regularly hosts visits by a range of international writers and critics. There are several published novelists and poets in the School, and our students publish a magazine of creative writing, poetry and prose. A number of our students also write for InQuire, the student union newspaper.

Independent rankings

English at Kent was ranked 13th in The Guardian University Guide 2015.

Detailed Course Facts

Application deadline January 15 Tuition fee Visit Programme Website Start date September 2015 Credits (ECTS) 180 ECTS
Duration full-time 36 months Languages Take an IELTS test

• English

Delivery mode On Campus Educational variant Part-time, Full-time Intensity Flexible Part-time variant Flexible More information Go To The Course Website

Course Content

Teaching & Assessment

Modules are taught by weekly seminars. Core modules include a weekly lecture, plus individual supervision is offered for the Long Essay. Assessment at Stage 1 is by a mixture of coursework and examination. Some modules may include an optional practical element.

Programme aims

The programme aims to:

• introduce you to a wide range of literatures (particularly British and American) and encourage you to develop your own interests and expertise in fields of literary study
• enable you to develop an historical awareness of literary traditions
• develop your understanding and critical appreciation of the expressive resources of language
• offer opportunities for you to develop your potential for creative writing
• develop your ability to argue a point of view with clarity and cogency, both orally and in written form
• offer you the experience of a variety of teaching styles and approaches to the study of literature
• develop your independent critical thinking and judgement
• provide a basis for the study of English or related disciplines at a higher level
• provide a basis in knowledge and skills for those intending to teach English literature, including a broad frame of cultural reference.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

You gain knowledge and understanding of:

• a wide range of authors and texts from different periods of literary history, from 1350 to the present day, in both British and American literature
• the principal literary genres, fiction, poetry, drama and of other kinds of writing and communication
• literatures in English from countries outside Britain and America
• traditions in literary criticism
• the challenges of creative writing
• terminology used in literary criticism
• the cultural and historical contexts in which literature is written, transmitted and read
• critical theory and its applications, understood within its historical contexts
• the study of literature in its relation to other disciplines.

Intellectual skills

You develop intellectual skills in:

• applying the skills needed for academic study and enquiry
• evaluating of critical interpretations
• synthesising information from a number of sources in order to gain a coherent understanding of critical theory and general methodology
• making discriminations and selections of relevant information from a wide source and large body of knowledge
• how to exercise problem-solving skills
• the ability to organise and present research findings.

Subject-specific skills

You gain the following subject-specific skills:

• enhanced skills in the close critical analysis of literary texts
• informed critical understanding of the variety of critical and theoretical approaches to the study of literature
• ability to articulate knowledge and understanding of texts, concepts and theories relating to English studies
• sensitivity to generic conventions in the study of literature
• well-developed language use and awareness, including a grasp of standard critical terminology
• articulate responsiveness to literary language
• appropriate scholarly practice in the presentation of formal written work, in particular in bibliographic and annotational practices.
• understanding of how cultural norms, assumptions and practices influence questions of judgement
• appreciation of the value of collaborative intellectual work in developing critical judgement.

Transferable skills

You develop the following transferable skills:

• developed powers of communication and the capacity to argue a point of view, orally and in written form, with clarity, organisation and cogency
• enhanced confidence in the efficient presentation of ideas designed to stimulate critical debate
• developed critical acumen
• the ability to assimilate and organise substantial quantities of complex information of diverse kinds
• competence in the planning and execution of essays and project-work
• enhanced skills in creative writing (where the relevant modules have been taken)
• enhanced capacity for independent thought, intellectual focus, reasoned judgement, and self-criticism
• enhanced skills in collaborative intellectual work, including more finely tuned listening skills
• the ability to understand, interrogate and apply a variety of theoretical positions and weigh the importance of alternative perspectives
• research skills, including scholarly information retrieval skills
• IT skills: word-processing, email communication, the ability to access electronic data.

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6.5

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

take an IELTS test.

Requirements

Home/EU students

The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.

Qualification Typical offer/minimum requirement

• A level:AAB including English Literature or English Language and Literature grade B
• Access to HE Diploma:The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above.
• BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma):The university will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF;OCR) on a case by case basis please contact us via the enquiries tab for further advice on your individual circumstances.
• International Baccalaureate:34 overall or 17 at HL, including HL English A1/A2/B at 5/6/6 OR English Literature A/English Language and Literature A (or Literature A/Language and Literature A of another country) at HL 5 or SL 6

International students

The University receives applications from over 140 different nationalities and consequently will consider applications from prospective students offering a wide range of international qualifications. Our International Development Office will be happy to advise prospective students on entry requirements.

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

---

Want to improve your English level for admission?
Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• Flexible study schedule
• Experienced teachers
• Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of Kent.

Funding

Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Our 2015 financial support package includes a £6,000 cash bursary spread over the duration of your course. For Ts&Cs and to find out more, visit our funding page.

General scholarships

Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.

The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence

At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence, which will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our funding pages. Please note that details of the scholarship for 2015 entry have not yet been finalised and are subject to change.