Education and English

Education and English is a combination that brings together the study of how people learn and how knowledge is transmitted with sustained engagement with English literature, its texts, traditions, and critical methods. Education as a discipline draws on psychology, sociology, philosophy, and history to ask fundamental questions about what education is for, how it works, and what conditions make it effective. English literature develops close reading skills, critical interpretation, and the analytical and communicative capacities that are central to both academic and professional life.

Studied together, they produce graduates who understand both the content and the process of learning.

At the University of Keele, this three-year full-time programme blends academic and practical study of education with deep engagement in English literature. You will explore how educational theories and practices intersect with the cultural, historical, and social contexts of literary works, and combine academic study in both subjects with hands-on experience in diverse learning environments, from classrooms to community settings. The programme includes a sandwich placement year, a year abroad, and work placement opportunities, giving you substantial professional and international experience alongside the core curriculum.

The placement year and work placements connect your studies to educational and community contexts, while the year abroad adds an international dimension to your engagement with both education and English.

You will develop skills in literary analysis, educational theory, reflective practice, research, and professional communication. The ability to think carefully about texts, to understand how people learn, and to communicate across different contexts are all capacities the programme cultivates.

Graduates from education and English programmes pursue careers in teaching, educational support, youth work, publishing, journalism, arts education, community learning, and a wide range of other fields. Many go on to initial teacher training, particularly in English, and postgraduate study in education, literature, or a related discipline is a common next step.