Language, Literacy & Communication: The University of Manchester

Course description

This course is unique in bringing together three inter-related areas that are essential in the contemporary world: language, literacy and communication. In your first year you take compulsory units which offer a background to each of the three disciplines. Topics covered include grammar, phonetics, reading and writing processes,  intercultural and computer-mediated communication, social and historical aspects of language and literacy in society. This is accompanied by units designed to enhance your basic study and research skills. You will also have the opportunity to get to know your fellow students and tutors through a compulsory unit on Effective Group Work. This is run in the first few weeks of the course during which you study group processes and behaviour. You can also take free choice options in other departments or study a foreign language.

In Year 2, units include words and context; literacy and social development; mass media; ethnographic research and career management. In semester 2, no taught courses are timetabled. Instead you are given the opportunity to undertake a fieldwork project of your choice. It can take place at one of their Erasmus partner universities in Europe; in a place of work or study in the northwest, in liaison with the university's Career Management Service; or in other work or study settings, either in the UK or abroad. A career management unit is included to enable you to make the most of future work opportunities available to you.

In your final year, all units are optional. This allows you to tailor your curriculum according to your own interests and career aspirations. Possibilities include bilingualism; helping children with reading difficulties; work organisation and communication; analysing discourse; adult literacy; participatory photography; film studies and special educational needs. Building on your Year 2 study placement, you have further opportunities to conduct research in preparing your final year dissertation. This may be on any topic which falls within the three degree disciplines and offers the chance for you to carry out in-depth study of a kind and in a subject area you find particularly rewarding.

Career opportunities

The study of language and literacy offers knowledge and skills useful to support a variety of careers, both public and private sector, in management, personnel, the media, publishing, journalism, counselling or in social or development work. The course provides a foundation for a primary or secondary PGCE and work with second language learners and adult literacy. Areas of study relating to special needs education also support careers within charitable organisations that serve adults and children with disabilities. Recent graduates have accepted posts within companies such as British Telecom, NSPCC, Boots Plc (amongst others) and have taken up places on PGCE courses at a range of universities including the prestigious, Institute of Education in London. Furthermore, as employers rank proficient writing skills as the most desired trait for graduates to have, the writing provision offered within the LLC programme can help give LLC graduates a competitive edge in the job market.

Entry requirements

• English language: An IELTS 7, or equivalent, is required for applicants whose first language is not English.
• A level: Grades BBB-BCC.
• Unit grade information: The University of Manchester welcomes the provision of unit grade information which, like all other available information, will inform the consideration of applications.
• GCSE: English Language at minimum of grade C.
• Key Skills qualification: The University warmly welcomes applications from students studying the Key Skills qualification.
• International baccalaureate: 30-28 points overall with at least 12 points at Higher level.