English and Sociology

Aston University, Birmingham

**Discover how English works in society and make a real difference through harnessing the power of written and spoken word.****Course outline**The BSc (Hons) English and Sociology course has been designed with your future in mind, linking your studies to professionally relevant contexts with practical applications. It is directly informed by the research expertise of our staff, who specialise in disciplines spanning linguistics, literature, language education, inequality, racism, health, migration and more.We study everything from poetry and plays to news reporting and social media, providing you with the opportunity to develop skills in linguistic analysis, while exploring literary genres from Shakespeare to post-apocalyptic science fiction, considering periods from the seventeenth century to the present day. The programme delves into real-life experiences and their connections to larger social issues. You will explore the impact of social constraints, class, race, religion, and gender on inequality and life chances.The integrated placement year offers the chance to apply your learning in a work or study placement in the UK or overseas. Whether you choose to study abroad, work for a company or to teach, Aston University’s links with employers, schools and universities around the world mean you will have a wide range of options to boost your employability.Together, both English and sociology will equip you with the knowledge and analytical skills that will enable you to think critically and work independently.**Key benefits**- Power up your future – Develop the skills employers around the globe look for. Gain an edge in a fast-changing world and thrive in your career with Aston Power Skills.- Excellent prospects - Ranked 1st in the UK for ‘career prospects’ (English Guardian, 2025) and 5th in the UK for ‘graduate prospects – on track’ (Sociology Complete University Guide, 2025)- Safe in our hands - Ranked 5th in the UK (English) and 9th in the UK (Sociology) for ‘student-to-staff ratio’ (Guardian, 2025) - Here for you. 100% of English Language and Literature students and 96% of Sociology students felt positive about the academic support they received (National Student Survey, 2024).- Top teachers. 98% of students felt positive about teaching on their course (English Language and Literature National Student Survey, 2024). - Running smoothly. 96% of students felt positive about the organisation and management of their course (Sociology National Student Survey, 2024). - Earn more – Our graduates are among the highest paid in the country, earning on average £35,400 five years after graduating (Longitudinal Education Outcomes, 2024)- Gold standard teaching – Aston University was awarded Gold – the highest possible rating for the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF, 2023)**Where can this degree take me?**The transferable skills that our English and sociology programmes provide mean that our graduates are successful in finding employment in a wide range of roles such as:- Account executive- Communications officer- Copywriter- Direct sales executive- Domestic abuse support worker- Education consultant- Governance support officer- Graduate buyer- HR senior associate- Intensive family support worker- Management trainee- Marketing executive- Paralegal- Police officer- Policy adviser- Probation officer- Project manager- Research officer- TeacherOur graduates have gone on to work at companies and public sector organisations such as the BBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Allianz, Birmingham City Council, Deloitte, Department for Education, Humankind Charity, IBM, Nissan, Octopus Energy, Refugee and Migrant Centre, Severn Trent, Warwickshire County Council and West Midlands Police.

School of Law and Social Sciences