Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Culture
Utrecht University
Key Information
Campus location
Utrecht, Netherlands
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
3 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
EUR 2,209 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Request info
* EU/EEA, Surinam or Swiss students; €11,000: International students
Scholarships
Explore scholarship opportunities to help fund your studies
Introduction
A Global Language
Nearly a billion people on Earth use English in their everyday communication. Approximately 400 million are native English speakers everywhere from the United Kingdom to Australia and from South Africa to Alaska. English is a global language. And if you hope to participate in society at all, it is a language that you want to be able to speak and read.
But I already know English
Many students think they already know English. Not you. You know that there is still a lot to learn. And studying English also means investigating how the language actually works, and how people learn it and use the different varieties. Moreover, the English degree program is more than language. You explore literature and culture in the English-speaking world in depth. Not only in Great Britain and the United States but also in Ireland, Australia, and South Africa.
Jane Austen and Charles Dickens as Instructors
During your degree program, not a day will go by without you learning a new English word. In Utrecht, one of the ways you learn the language is by reading great authors ̶ not just by studying grammar. You study the influences of social and political developments. This fusion of language, literature, and culture does not make learning English easier, but it does make it considerably more interesting.
Program Outcome
Why Utrecht University
Learn British or American English
Our students are trained to sound like native speakers of English, using language labs and lots of speaking in class. You can choose either British English (to sound like the Queen, but also like Emma Watson and Benedict Cumberbatch) or American English (to sound like Jennifer Lawrence or Chris Evans, among many others).
Learn from Highly Rated Teachers
We’re not just saying this: every course on our program is evaluated by students, and our teachers consistently score very well on didactic skills and knowledge of their subjects.
Do Research from Day One
What really makes our program stand out is the way all courses integrate both skills and content. This means that the same courses that help you work on your English writing and/or speaking skills will also intellectually challenge you. This starts in block one, when you don’t just learn how to write an academic essay, but also read works of literature and literary criticism, and write a research essay about them.
Take Short, Intensive, Varied Courses
You will typically take only two courses at a time. Each block lasts for seven weeks of classes, followed by a few exam weeks and a break week, and then you move on to the next two courses. Variety is guaranteed: not just because each course is different, but also because each course approaches its subject from a variety of different perspectives, and incorporates a variety of tasks, from reading and attending lectures to writing research papers and having class discussions.
The balance between Studying Literature and Language
In year one, half the courses focus on literature and culture, and half on linguistics, the scientific study of language. At the end of year one, you’ll have a solid basis in both fields and you can then choose to specialize in either one or the other (or both!).
Choose from a Wide Range of Options
The set program of courses in year one will make sure you sample a lot of different topics, but years two and three are where you can really shape the program to fit your interests and personality: we offer specialization courses that range from Shakespeare to Creative Writing and from Old English to Language & Identity.
Career Opportunities
After a Bachelor's most students go on to take a follow-on Master’s program. A Master’s allows you to work in various fields of employment. It all depends on the direction you followed in your specialization.
The Language of Business and Science
Expertise in the English language and culture means you have a lot to offer an employer. English is the most important business language, but it is also the language of academic research. When ideas meet in the world, they do so in English. Graduates also find employment in the publishing, communications, and education sectors.