Education and English Literature BA (Hons)

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Bath Spa University

Program Overview

The BA (Hons) Education and English Literature allows you to combine your love for literature with a meaningful study of education — understanding how learning works, how societies shape and are shaped by education, while reading, analysing and engaging with a wide range of texts. It’s ideal if you enjoy reading, writing, critical thinking, and also want the flexibility to build a career in education, cultural work, teaching or arts‑related fields.

Curriculum structure

Year One
In your first year you begin groundwork in both fields: you’ll study foundational ideas in education — exploring what education means in formal and informal settings, global citizenship, wellbeing, and how education can transform lives. At the same time, in English Literature you’ll start developing key skills in reading, analysing and interpreting texts from various periods and contexts, questioning assumptions and learning how to engage thoughtfully with literature.

Year Two
In your second year, on the Education side you’ll examine contemporary issues: education policy, social justice, inclusion, global perspectives and how education addresses real-world challenges — exploring how education intersects with society, wellbeing, sustainability and equality. On the English Literature side you’ll deepen your critical voice: study diverse texts, explore different literary practices, genres and contexts, and engage in richer analysis, while sharpening your skills in expression, interpretation, and communication.

Year Three
In your final year you get to specialise and integrate both strands: in Literature you may choose modules or projects that reflect your interests, perhaps including extended research or creative/critical writing, while on the Education side you explore education’s role in sustainable development, professional and social responsibility, and may conduct a dissertation/project in either Education or Literature. This opens up pathways for careers in teaching (with further training), education‑related roles, arts and culture, writing, or other creative and social‑impact fields.

Focus areas: “Education studies (policy, social justice & inclusion, wellbeing, global citizenship, learning theory, sustainability in education); English Literature (reading and analysing texts across periods/genres, critical thinking, writing, creative and analytical communication, contextual understanding of literature and society).”

Learning outcomes: “Ability to understand and critique education systems and their social impact; strong analytical and interpretive skills applied to literature; excellent written and verbal communication; capability to connect literary insight with educational and societal issues; readiness for roles in education, arts/culture, literature‑related fields, teaching (with further training), or community/heritage/creative sectors.”

Professional alignment (accreditation): The degree prepares you for a range of paths: teaching (after suitable teacher‑training or PGCE), youth work, community education, roles in cultural or heritage organisations, arts & media, literary publishing, writing, communications — or further postgraduate study in education, literature, creative writing or related fields. The combined nature of the course gives flexibility and a broad base of skills for diverse careers.

Reputation (employability & student outcomes): The English component of the programme at Bath Spa is strong — the university’s English courses are consistently ranked among the top in the UK for graduate prospects. Students gain transferable skills like research, communication, critical thinking, and creative confidence, which many employers value. The combined degree’s blend of education and literature offers both intellectual depth and practical versatility, giving graduates a competitive edge in many sectors.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

From the start, this degree lets you combine your passion for reading, writing and thinking with an understanding of how education works — giving you both subject knowledge in English literature and practical insight into education, social justice, community and teaching.

Here’s how practical learning and the university’s setup support you on this programme:

You study both Education and English Literature. In the Education component, you explore themes like social justice, inclusion, wellbeing, sustainability, global citizenship, and education policy — learning how education shapes individuals and communities.
In the English Literature component, you'll read widely — from classic texts to contemporary writing — and learn to think critically about literature, culture and society; you’ll analyse texts closely, discuss different interpretations, and place literature in broader social and historical contexts.
The teaching and assessment style is varied: seminars, lectures, tutorials, group work, creative assignments, presentations, research‑based work, and projects rather than traditional exam‑heavy assessment.
You have opportunities for work‑based learning / placements (depending on module choices), giving you exposure to education‑related careers — helpful if you want to apply your learning in real settings.
In your final year, you can choose to do a substantial research project or practical project: for example, create educational materials, digital resources, or other creative work that blends literature and education — helping you build a portfolio and practical experience.
The campus environment supports your whole learning: you’ll have access to the university library, digital and academic‑skills support, online learning resources, and general student support services — giving you a strong base for both literature and education studies.

What you get out of this degree — why it stands out

You develop a dual skill set: critical thinking, writing and analytical skills from literature studies; and understanding of education, policy, inclusion and social issues from the education side. That’s a powerful combination if you want to work in teaching, education policy, youth work, community education, or arts & culture sectors.
It prepares you for real‑world roles — not just as a teacher, but also in community/charity projects, arts or heritage organisations, publishing, writing/editing, cultural outreach, or educational content creation.
Because assessment is varied and includes practical/creative components, this degree suits you if you enjoy working with ideas, writing, projects, collaboration, rather than just memorizing facts or cramming for exams.
The opportunity to do placements and real-world projects means you’ll graduate not just with academic knowledge but with experience, which is a big plus when you apply for jobs or further study.
The combined approach gives flexibility — you don’t have to decide between a “pure literature” route or a “pure education” route; you get both. That means after graduation, you have multiple pathways: teaching, community education, publishing, writing/media, heritage/arts‑education, NGOs, or further study (MA, PGCE, etc.).

Progression & Future Opportunities

You’ll graduate with strong skills in communication, critical thinking, and understanding of literature and education theory — preparing you for roles such as school teacher or teaching assistant (after further teacher-training), youth or community educator, charity or heritage/cultural work, content or education officer, events or outreach coordinator, or work in arts, heritage, publishing, or community-based education initiatives.

What this degree gives you — and why it matters

Balanced knowledge of education and literature: You study how education systems work (globally and locally), themes like social justice, inclusion, wellbeing, sustainability, and policy — alongside English Literature, giving you broad insight into society, culture, human experience, and effective communication.
Strong development of transferable skills that employers value: Through coursework and literature study, you build research, critical reading and writing, communication, creative thinking, problem-solving, digital literacy, and the ability to interpret complex ideas — useful in many sectors beyond teaching.
Work-based learning, placements and professional experience: The degree includes opportunities for placements in schools or relevant education/community settings. This helps you gain practical experience, understand real-world educational work, and build a professional portfolio before graduating.
Flexibility of career paths after graduation: While many graduates choose to go into teaching (after teacher training if required), the combination of literature and education also opens opportunities in heritage/museum education, charity or NGO work, youth/community outreach, cultural organisations, publishing, content writing/editing, events, or other roles that value communication and education background.
Preparation for further teacher training or related fields: If you decide to go into teaching, this degree gives you a strong foundation in both subject knowledge (English, humanities) and understanding of education theory — useful for teacher-training courses or roles in schools or educational institutions.

Further Academic Progression:

After finishing BA (Hons) Education and English Literature, you could:

Take a teacher-training course (e.g., PGCE or equivalent) to qualify as a teacher, especially if you wish to teach English or humanities in schools.
Pursue a Master’s degree in Education, English Literature, Cultural Studies, Heritage & Museum Studies, Creative Writing, Education Policy, or related humanities/social-education fields.
Explore roles in heritage, culture, publishing, media, community education, NGOs, youth work, outreach, or arts management — possibly after further training or relevant experience.
Aim for education-related outreach or advocacy, content development, writing/editing, or community engagement roles — using your strong communication, analysis, and social-awareness skills.