BA in English Language and Culture

Leiden University

English is spoken, read and written all over the world, from the UK to the US and from South Africa to Australia. In Leiden we’ll give you an in-depth understanding of the English language, its culture and its literatures.

Why English Language and Culture?

English is a true world language, the mother tongue of approximately 380 million people and spoken as a second language by over a billion more worldwide. As an English bachelor’s student in Leiden you’ll acquire an excellent command of spoken and written English and you’ll immerse yourself at an academic level in its rich culture, from the Middle Ages to the present day. Along the way, you’ll be familiarised with the canon of English literature, from Shakespeare to Coetzee, and you'll learn to translate texts from Old and Middle English.

Why English Language and Culture at Leiden University?

• Because it’s an internationally oriented programme in which you will acquire near-native English language skills and learn to think and write about all aspects of the language at a high academic level.
• Leiden University’s English Language and Culture is lauded as an open, well-organised, ambitious and fun programme and its teachers are internationally renowned researchers in their fields.
• You will also learn English dating back to the Middle Ages.

Is this the programme for you?

If you can answer “yes” to the following questions, we can safely say that the English Language and Culture programme is for you.

• Are you interested in language as a means of communication?
• Are you fascinated by the English language itself and curious about its workings?
• Are you intrigued by English literature and the respective cultures of English-speaking regions?
• Do you have a passion for reading?
• Would you like to work in an international environment after you graduate?

After graduation

As a graduate of the BA English Language and Culture programme you’ll be very knowledgeable about a language that’s spoken all over the world and of a culture that’s influenced many other countries. With your ability to communicate and present yourself in English, you’ll be ideally qualified for many career positions.

What are your skills after graduation?

After graduating from this bachelor’s programme you will be knowledgeable about the workings and the historical development of the English language. You will also have knowledge of and insight into the development of English literature in a historical-cultural perspective, as well as an active (writing, speaking) command of English at CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) level C1 and a passive (reading, listening) command of English at CEFR level C2.

Your career prospects

Graduates of the programme who want to further their academic education can continue with a master’s programme. Having successfully completed a master’s, you will have earned the title Master of Arts (MA), which will significantly increase your chances of finding a position at academic level. Where you find a job afterwards will depend upon your interests, knowledge and skills, and the elective choices that you made during your study. What is certain, however, is that you will be qualified to work in a broad range of sectors.