University of St Andrews

This programme will involve study of English at an advanced, research-led level in which students will gain an understanding of how knowledge is created, advanced and renewed. The programme will encourage in all students a desire to pursue independent learning with curiosity, integrity, accuracy and intellectual rigour.

This is a 48-month programme of study leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts (International Honours). As with all St Andrews programmes, it is made up of credit bearing modules. Students must earn 480 credits over the duration of the programme, with 120 credits normally earned each academic year. Typically, the first two years of study include core modules specific to the programme as well as other modules chosen from a range of options (in some cases, including modules from a different Faculty). The remaining years offer advanced research-led learning through modules that provide a programme-specific curriculum.

Typically, the first two years of study include core modules specific to the programme as well as other modules chosen from a range of options (in some cases, including modules from a different Faculty). The remaining years offer advanced research-led learning through modules that provide a programme-specific curriculum. For information about core and optional modules for each programme, please consult the Programme Requirements, which can be found at https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/reqs/2017-18/list.html?v=ug

These requirements describe the detailed structure of the course and link to the contents of all the modules that can be included in the programme. Teaching, learning and assessment are progressive, with both the content and methods of delivery changing to suit the increasing level of complexity in the material, and independence of students, as they work through the programme.

Teaching in the School of English at St Andrews covers writing from Old English up to the present day, in poetry, prose, and in drama; it also teaches Creative Writing. While the St Andrews degree shares many interests with William and Mary, the emphases of the two departments differ. William and Mary has strengths in American literature and offers specialist strands on (for example) African American literature. St Andrews, meanwhile, has interests in Scottish and Irish writing and offers research-led teaching on modules specialist such as 'Romantic Writing and Women’ and early Tudor literature. In general, the American side of the degree has more general components while the British side offers more in-depth study in the latter two years of the programme. On either side of the Atlantic, however, the International Honours degree in English aims to offer students a comprehensive introduction to literary study, to teach effective writing, and to develop skills in critical analysis. In St Andrews, these aims are supplemented by a range of other activities and events including: a rich programme of academic symposia and visiting speakers, the ‘On the Rocks’ student drama festival; dramatic and musical events at the Byre theatre; and the annual StAnza poetry festival.

In the course of this programme students will develop programme-specific skills. On completing the programme students should be able to demonstrate the graduate attributes outlined below.

Students will engage with independent and group study in a supportive framework of teaching and learning. The strategy is to use methods of teaching and assessment that will facilitate learning appropriate to the aims of the degree programme. The following methods will be employed where appropriate to the level of study and the particular content of each module in the programme.

Assessment can be a blend of diagnostic work to determine student needs, formative work submitted for assessment and feedback (but not necessarily for academic credit) or summative work submitted for academic credit.

Students' scholarship skills (in, for example, academic writing, information gathering and academic conduct) will be supported and developed through this programme. The following will be available, where appropriate to the level of study and the particular content of each module in the programme.