The English Language and Literature Major programme offers excellent opportunities for students to develop their

• disciplinary knowledge in English language and literature and literature with a cross-cultural perspective;
• written and verbal communication skills;
• critical thinking skills and appreciation of creative writing;
• leadership skills and teamwork techniques; and
• awareness of international values and perspectives, including overseas study and/or work experience.

Unique Features

The Department of English offers students a variety of study routes in the form of Concentrations within the Major, a Double Major Programme (taught along with the Chinese Language and Literature; Religion, Philosophy and Ethics; or Translation) as well as accessible and portable Minor programmes found outside the Department entirely, whereby students may meet alternative career and study interests flexibly as when acquiring training in a foreign language, business and management, international journalism, or the cross-faculty Gender Studies Concentration.

Concentrations:  Students can accumulate Major elective units concentrating their study on a focused area, namely, “Literary and Comparative Studies” or “Language and Communication Studies”. Students may also choose a “flexible” concentration within the Major by accumulating sufficient units leading to a “General Studies” concentration.

Minor and Cross-faculty Concentrations:  Students may likewise use their free elective units to develop a Minor in an area outside their Major programme. Depending on individual interests, students may choose any approved Minor programme on offer (such as creative writing, theatre studies, marketing, and journalism) as well as the cross-faculty Gender Studies Concentration.

Student Learning Experiences

In support of the “best student experience” targeted in the HKBU 2020 Institutional Strategic Plan, students are encouraged to opt for overseas study for one or two semesters in order to experience a new culture, to improve their language proficiency in English, and to enhance their cross-cultural perspective by means of academic exchange. Students may also join summer internship and short-course overseas programmes organized by the Office of Student Affairs. Popular student placements have included work at Disneyland in Florida, the American Red Cross in Atlanta and Chicago, and other worthwhile destinations for overseas study and work in Europe, greater China, and North America.

Career Opportunities

The training offered by the English Major programme is both holistic and vigorous in the spirit of whole-person education, allowing our graduates

• to cope with stress and life changes in a creative, imaginative and positive way;
• to communicate effectively in both written and spoken English at the workplace and in everyday life;
• to work comfortably as a team-member in intercultural and international settings; and
• to apply acquired academic knowledge and skills in support of service-learning opportunities improving the life opportunities of the less fortunate.

As many as 10% annually of our BA graduates have secured postgraduate studentships at the MPhil and PhD level, in support of further training at some of the world’s finest universities, including Cambridge University, Georgetown University, University College London, and SOAS University of London. 

Other graduates have transitioned effectively into professional careers such as arts administration, legal studies, banking, business, civil service, journalism, public relations, marketing, translation, mass communication, teaching and tourism.

Remark:

1. Subject to University annual review.