Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Bachelor of Arts with Honours English and History, Level 6, 2023/24 - Course Handbook
Welcome to the Course
This handbook provides you with information that you will need on your course. You should find it helpful when you first start, when you are preparing for assessment and at any time that you need help or advice in connection with your studies here. You will also receive a Module Handbook for each module you study on your course.
The Course Team is looking forward to working with you this year and we hope that your time studying with us at Leeds Beckett University is both enjoyable and successful.
On behalf of our University and the whole Course Team I would like to wish you well in your studies.
Dr Gráinne Goodwin
Course Director, English and History
Whether you are joining us for the first time, or returning to your course, we welcome you at the start of what we are sure will be a stimulating, challenging and rewarding year of study with us.
Our aim is to provide all our students with a research- informed, innovative and relevant curriculum that informs understandings of the world we live in. Our courses are highly valued by employers, and our approach to student learning and support places you at the heart of everything we do. In addition to offering a diverse range of teaching approaches and a variety of different methods of assessment, we attach the greatest importance to providing you with constructive feedback on your work so you can develop your future learning.
Our learning environment is student-centred, and we value your opinions. We want to know about the things you enjoy and think we do well, and also to hear about ways in which you believe we can improve your experience with us. You can share your views with us through course representatives, evaluation of modules, or constructive comments to staff. Whichever route you choose, we are always interested in what you have to say.
Staff across the School of Humanities and Social Sciences will provide you with all the support we can to help you succeed on your chosen course, and we look forward to working with you as you achieve your academic ambitions. I hope you have an enjoyable and rewarding year.
Professor Andrew Cooper, Dean of School
Leeds Beckett Students' Union (LBSU) is led by students for students! Their mission is to make your uni life better! Your Student Officer Team is elected by you to lead the Students' Union into the academic year. They represent all Leeds Beckett students and campaign for the changes you want to see in the university and beyond. They do this by representing your interests, giving you the chance to socialise and meet new people, hosting CV-boosting opportunities, and providing advice and support when you need it most. Shape your own experience by submitting your thoughts through your Course Rep, or if you'd like to influence the Students' Union's policy stance on particular issues or share ideas for improving the student experience across the University, submit your ideas on the Have Your Say platform, which is designed to make change happen! Below you'll find information on a few of their services but if you've any questions, please feel free to get in touch.
Silas Ozoya, your Academic Experience Officer, also wanted to say a few words to introduce himself: "Hey There! I'm Silas, your Academic Experience Officer. It's my job to ensure your academic experience at Leeds Beckett is the best it can be! We're a friendly and open-minded bunch at LBSU, so don't hesitate to get in touch with us! I'm looking forward to meeting you very soon!"
Contact LBSU at:
Email: lbsu-welcome@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Phone: 0113 812 8400
Website: www.leedsbeckettsu.co.uk
- Following the lifting of all pandemic restrictions and advice from the Department for Education, we currently anticipate that no social distancing measures will be in place on campus during the 2023/24 academic year, enabling a normal on-campus experience. Our aim is to ensure that our students experience Leeds Beckett University, our courses, campuses, facilities and services to the fullest extent possible, while maintaining an environment where students and staff feel safe.
- In all cases, the health and safety of students and staff is our priority and we will continue to follow guidance from the UK Health Security Agency, the Department for Education and all other recognised government agencies (such as the Office for Students) in full and keep matters under close review at all times. The advice and restrictions may change before and/or during the academic year, either nationally or in response to local conditions and rates of infection and include the need for social distancing measures and other restrictions. Our flexible delivery model allows us to revert to a blended and/or remote delivery model if this becomes necessary. In a worst case scenario it is possible our campuses may need to close.
- In the event that delivery is restricted as a consequence of pandemic restrictions, we will keep you informed of planned changes as they arise, to ensure you are provided with accurate information.
Key Contacts & Keeping in Touch
Margaret Garland
HistoryAdmin@Leedsbeckett.ac.uk
For the School of Humanities and Social Sciences Admin Office Opening Hours please see Appendices section at the end of the Course Handbook.
Course Reps are elected at the start of each academic year. Once elected, an announcement will be made via MyBeckett.
Your Academic Librarian team can be contacted on HSSLibrary@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
To find out the key resources for your subject and to book an appointment with the Library's Academic Support Team, see your Subject Guides: https://libguides.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/schools/humanities_and_social_sciences
Level Four Leader
Dr Owain Wright
Level Five Leader
Dr Erich De Wald
Level Six Leader
Dr Helen Dampier
The contact details of other key services, such as Student Advice, Disability Advice, Student Wellbeing, the Library, Student Money, Careers, Students' Union Advice Service and Students' Union Student Voice Team can be found on the Students web page.
Academic and administrative staff at our University use your student email address to contact you. It is important that you check this account regularly. You can forward emails from your student email address to a preferred personal email address, however, quarantine and spam filters needed by our University mean that emails sent from external email addresses may be delayed, blocked or deleted. It is therefore important that your student email address is the only email address that you use to contact University staff. Information on how to access your student email address can be found on the Library Student IT Support page (http://libguides.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/it_support/office365/outlook)
Please make sure that you inform your Course Administration team whenever you change your address and contact details. It is important that you also update your records yourself. You can do this via the My Account/Update my Data tab on MyBeckett. This will ensure we can always contact you in an emergency, and that you receive any important University communications that we may need to send you.
We will inform you of class activities and course notifications, including any cancellations. This will be done in a variety of ways: via an announcement via MyBeckett or an email to your student email address.
For each module, the Module Handbook will include the preferred method of communicating general information about that module to you.
MS Teams is part of the Office 365 suite used by staff and students for communication and collaboration:
- Access via MyBeckett on University devices as well as on personal mobiles via a free downloadable app.
- Participate in online meetings and video conferencing in groups or one-to-one.
- Work on shared content, ideas, projects and online learning.
- Utilise breakout rooms to create more dynamic sessions
Further information is available on the Library's MS Teams FAQ web page.
Your course team will advise how Microsoft Teams will be used on your course and make guidance available as required.
Timetable Information
The University’s standard term dates are available on our Academic Calendars web page.
Taught sessions, both mandatory and optional, will be scheduled and included in your online timetable. Depending on your course, this may also include scheduled online teaching and learning sessions where student engagement is required at a specified time or tutor pre-recorded lectures.
Normally, timetables will be made available to continuing students on 31st July and during induction week for new students via:
- The Student Portal (MyBeckett)
- The Leeds Beckett app
You should discuss any difficulties relating to your engagement with timetabled sessions with your Course Administrator.
Course Overview
The BA (Hons) English & History degree was introduced to Leeds Beckett (formerly Leeds Metropolitan) University in 1997; it was reviewed in 2001, 2006 and 2011 and 'refocussed' in 2012 when the University moved from 15 to 20 credit modules as standard. Its key intention is to contrast, interrelate, and combine the techniques of literary and historical analysis in a multi- and inter-disciplinary programme.
It is aimed at applicants with an interest in both subjects, and who feel they will benefit from the intellectual rigor of a joint honours programme, and opportunities that such a syllabus affords for the demonstration of creativity. In recent years the course has typically attracted around 20 students per annum. The majority of these candidates are admitted through UCAS, while a minority are entrants from the UCAS clearing system. Since its introduction, a consistent feature of the course has been a small but significant cohort of mature students, though this feature is less marked now.
In the past it also proved attractive to a small number of part-time students. With reference to the Subject Benchmark Statements for both English Literature and History, the course provides students with a firm grounding in both disciplines, and encourages them to consider the relationship between those two subjects in increasingly complex ways. At Level Four, key concepts, methods and approaches in both disciplines are introduced. In the English component, this involves introduction to university level analysis of the key genres of prose, poetry and drama through the modules Narrative, Poetry and Early Modern Comedy respectively.
In the History component this involves the major survey modules Emergence of Modern Europe and Twentieth-Century Europe, and development of source analysis skills in Migration and Cultural Encounters. At Level Five interdisciplinary studies begin with the core module Watching the Detectives and supported by options such as Nineteenth-Century Contexts, Postcolonial Writing and Literatures of Romanticism: all of these modules explore the relationship between historical developments and specific genres of creative literature, including detective fiction and postcolonial literatures. At Level Six, students are expected to use their knowledge of interdisciplinary theories and research methods to approach their dissertation topics.
The commitment to interdisciplinarity has consistently been singled out and praised by external examiners. The course is not intended to offer an exhaustive survey of human history or of literature from the middle ages to the present day, but is intended to develop students' knowledge of both subjects through focusing on debates fundamental to literary and historical analysis. All teaching staff on the degree are actively engaged in research and publication, and their interests both inform and shape the curriculum. The educational aims of the programme are designed to enable the students to:
- develop a sound understanding of the disciplines of English and History and the interconnections, tensions, and overlaps between them;
- engage critically with literary texts from a variety of historical periods, cultures, and genres, from the early-modern era to the present day;
- acquire an understanding of a variety of specific human developments in the past, ranging from the seventeenth century through to the twentieth century;
- acquire an optimum combination of transferable skills, including skills of analysis, research, oral communication, self-motivation, team-working and writing effectively for specific purposes and within distinctive forms;
- acquire a critical sense of their own personal development by recording their achievements, by reflecting on their learning, by planning their future academic and employment success, and by experiencing stimulating, progressive, and participatory learning and teaching environments (including Virtual Learning Environments).
At the end of the course, students will be able to demonstrate:
1 | knowledge and understanding of particular issues and topics in the disciplines of English & History enabling a critical engagement with the interrelationships between the two disciplines; |
2 | knowledge and understanding of the way practitioners are influenced by theoretical and methodological approaches to English & History, including historical materialism, post-colonialism, post-structuralism, and feminism and the ability to apply these approaches to particular problems and texts; |
3 | Critical understanding of the distinctive character of texts written in the principal literary genres, and of a wide variety of historical sources; |
4 | An understanding of and ability to analyse potentially unfamiliar cultures and belief-systems in the past; |
5 | An ability to understand and critically analyse the cultural and historical contexts in which literature and other primary source materials have been produced and read; |
Level | No. | Learning Outcome |
4 | 1 | At Level 4 you will be able to identify some key debates and approaches in modern history and English Literature and assess these debates in class and in your written work. |
| 2 | At Level 4 you will become familiar with the broad chronologies of the modern histories of Britain, Europe and the Wider World, and understand some of the ways that these histories are connected in a global context; you will become familiar with key forms and genres of English Literature. |
| 3 | At Level 4 you will gain a range of key academic skills, including the ability to analyse a number of types of primary sources and literary texts. |
5 | 1 | At Level 5 you will be able to critically engage with key debates in modern history and English Literature, and communicate your analysis of these in a range of media, including oral presentations, essays, and other modes of display. |
| 2 | At Level 5 you will be able to identify theories and methods of modern history, and use these to contextualise your learning in the modern histories of Britain, Europe, and the Wider World; you will be able to identify theories and methods of literary analysis and to apply these to English literature across a range of genres and produced in a range of national and cultural contexts. |
| 3 | At Level 5 you will be able to contextualise and critically analyse a wide range of primary and literary sources (including, but not limited to, textual and visual materials), and use these as evidence in classroom discussions and in your written work. |
6 | 1 | At Level 6 you will be capable of independently framing and executing a unique and personalised research project, drawing on the critical and analytical skills developed throughout the course (L6 dissertation). |
| 2 | At Level 6 you will be able to apply critical thought and analysis within the context of a range of specialist research-led themes in English literature and history (L5 and L6 options). |
| 3 | At Level 6 you will demonstrate the ability to apply interdisciplinary insights and understanding to a diverse range of literary and historical material (L4, L5 and L6 core modules and options). |
Assessment & Feedback
Level 4 is assessed by coursework predominantly, with some examinations and practical assessments.
Level 5 is assessed by coursework predominantly, with some examinations and practical assessments.
Level 6 is assessed by coursework predominantly, with some examinations and practical assessments.
Modules may have more than one component of assessment.
Please note the exam/assessment periods in the academic calendar and make sure that you are available during those periods. Further details of your schedule of examinations can be found on your timetable once the examination schedule is released. Coursework submission deadlines can normally be found on MyBeckett, on course noticeboards or in individual Module Handbooks/other module guides.
Disabled students requiring adjustments to assessments/examinations should contact Disability Advice as soon as possible. We can only guarantee that adjustments can be put in place if students have contacted us by the following deadlines:
Semester 1 - 10th November 2023
Semester 2 - 8th March 2024
Contact us:
Email: disabilityadvice@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: 0113 812 5831
Website: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/student-information/disability-advice/
It is important for your progression and achievement that you submit all work for all assignments in a timely manner. It is also important that you keep copies of all work submitted until after you have graduated. You should also keep any receipts confirming the submission of assignments. In the event of your submitted work being lost you may be required to produce a copy of the work and submission receipt. If you are unable to do so, your work will not be marked.
It is important to note that submitting all assignments is a requirement of your course. Should you experience extenuating circumstances which prevent you from submitting on time please make yourself aware of the Mitigation and Extenuating Circumstances process. Without any form of extenuating circumstances, standard penalties apply for late submission of assessed work. Full details of the penalties for late submission of course work are available in section 3 of the Academic Regulations at https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/our-university/public-information/academic-regulations/. Please check the penalties that apply to this course as some Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body requirements may mean that different penalties apply.
If you have been recommended 'flexibility around deadlines' as a reasonable adjustment in a Reasonable Adjustment Plan, your Course Administrator will be able to advise you of the process.
You are required to submit your written work via Turnitin; further information on Turnitin is available here: https://libguides.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/it_support/mybeckett/turnitin
Assessed work will normally be returned with appropriate feedback within four weeks of your submission. Each Module Handbook will provide you with specific guidelines on how and when you will receive feedback on your assessments.
Formative feedback may take the form of verbal communications in face-to-face and online sessions; responses to emails; and in tutorials (online and in person) with module tutors and your academic advisor. Summative feedback will take the form of written and/or audio comments on submissions, usually delivered via Turnitin. The marking process involves evaluating, annotating and providing tailored feedback on all students' work, as well as moderating with other tutors for quality and consistency of feedback. This ensures that summative feedback is thorough, fair and returned in a timely way, reflecting the various stages of this process.
Results from module assessments and decisions on progression to the next level of study (e.g., from Level 4 to Level 5 of an undergraduate degree) or awards (if you are in the final level) are available on the Results Online system: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/studenthub/results-online/.
Results will appear in Results Online within five working days of the date of the Progression and Award Board meeting (the meeting where your end of level outcome will be decided) or the Module Board meeting (the meeting where modular outcomes are decided).
If you are unsure about when you might receive your results or have queries relating to your results, you should contact your Course Administrator.
The University recognises that, from time to time, students may encounter issues which may prevent them from being able to submit or take assessment. Where this is the case, students may be able to submit their 'extenuating circumstances' for consideration. Please see the Mitigation and Extenuating Circumstances web page for further information.
If you have not passed a module at the first attempt you will be eligible for re-assessment. See your Module Handbook for details of the relevant re-assessment process (e.g., whether it is coursework, an examination, a presentation or other form of assessment/when it will take place/what the deadline is). You will be advised via Results Online of your options for re-assessment. You are advised to contact your Course Director, Course Administrator or Academic Advisor for any necessary clarification.
Details about our Appeals process can be found on the appeals web page.
Academic integrity means intellectual honesty and is part of good academic practice. Further information can be found on our academic integrity web page.
Teaching & Learning
The course is delivered through a range of learning and teaching activities that build student knowledge both horizontally (in terms of the breadth of historical subject matter covered each year) and vertically (in terms of building depth of knowledge year on year). Most modules offer a weekly lecture followed by a seminar (large-group and small-group teaching). Lectures are a space in which concepts and methods are introduced; seminars are the space in which students can learn to apply them by testing their points of view in guided discussion. Where academic content and good educational practice make it appropriate, student learning may be facilitated through a range of digital technologies. Delivery is also supplemented where appropriate with other forms of inclusive learning such as group projects, web reviews, and museum, archival and library visits (all fully accessible) to hone students' research skills and employability. In addition, there is an opportunity at Level 6 to choose an option module based upon a minimum of 80 hours placement activity or work-related learning, which is combined with online distance learning to help students map future career paths based upon the discipline knowledge and graduate skills they bring to potential employers.
A great deal of learning also goes on outside the traditional classroom format. The engagement component in Level 4 History modules acknowledges student achievement in using learning resources, in the library and online, to prepare for seminars. Students encounter a range of assessments including project-based learning, poster design, group-work tasks, and 'live' project briefs. Active learning, in lectures, seminars, and assessments, is key to keeping students engaged. Students are also supported by the academic advisor system in which students have access to a personal advisor, and by a system of staff consultation hours to ensure that individual students can receive tutorial support in relation to any given module. Level 6 dissertations/major projects are taught exclusively via a one-to-one tutorial system with a research-active member of staff.
This information is correct for students progressing through the programme within standard timescales. Part time students will be supported by the course team to determine an appropriate selection of modules from the level for each year of study. Students who are required to undertake repeat study may be taught alternate modules which meet the overall course learning outcomes. Details of module delivery will be provided in your timetable.
Level 4 (2021/22 for FT students and 2021/22 and 2022/23 for standard PT students) | |||
Semester 1 | Core (Y/N) | Semester 2 | Core (Y/N) |
Emergence of Modern Europe (20 credits) | Y | Migration and Cultural Encounters (20 credits) | Y |
Narrative: A Short Introduction (20 credits) | Y | Twentieth-Century Europe (20 credits) | Y |
Early-Modern Comedy (20 credits) | Y | Poetry (20 credits) | Y |
Level 5(2022/23 for FT students and 2023/24 and 2024/25 for standard PT students) | |||
Semester 1 | Core (Y/N) | Semester 2 | Core (Y/N) |
Watching the Detectives (20 credits) | Y | Theory and Practice (20 credits) | Y |
An English Option Module (20 credits) | N | An English or the Interdisciplinary Option Module (20 credits) | N |
A History Option Module (20 credits) | N | A History or the Interdisciplinary Option Module (20 credits) | N |
Indicative Option Modules
The following option modules are indicative of a typical year. There may be some variance in the availability of option modules.
History Option Modules
- Thatcher's Britain
- War, Welfare and Society: Modern Britain, c. 1900-1950
- Radicals, Reformers and Revolutionaries in the British Isles, 1760-1922
- Beyond Men and Women: Themes in Western Gender History, c. 1870-2000
- Atlantic Revolutions
- Revolution! Europe 1789-1871
- Totalitarianism: State Ideology and Mass Politics in the Twentieth Century
- Slavery and Unfree Labour in the British Empire: Comparative Case Studies
- Bringing the Empire Home, 1851-1914
- Genocide and the Politics of Memory
- Digital History
- Landscapes of History
English Option Modules
- Nineteenth-Century Contexts
- Postcolonial Writing
- Literatures of Romanticism
- Twentieth-Century Literature
Interdisciplinary Option Module:
- Applied Humanities: Live Learning Brief
Level 6(2023/24 for FT students and 2025/26 and 2026/27 for standard PT students) | |||
Semester 1 | Core (Y/N) | Semester 2 | Core (Y/N) |
Dissertation or Working with the Past Major Project (40 credits) | Y | ||
An English Option Module or the Interdisciplinary Option Module (20 credits) | N | An English Option Module (20 credits) | N |
A History Option Module or the Interdisciplinary Option Module (20 credits) | N | A History Option Module (20 credits) | N |
Indicative Option Modules
The following option modules are indicative of a typical year. There may be some variance in the availability of option modules.
History Option Modules
- Apartheid and After: Twentieth Century South Africa
- Beyond the Ballot
- Britishness: Nation and Identity since 1707
- Britons Abroad: Histories of Overseas Travel and Holidaying, 1750-1970
- Civil Rights in North America
- Communist Eastern Europe
- Conmen and Cutpurses
- Environmentalism in World History
- Mediating Modernities: Visual Culture and Urban Space c.1850-1989
- The Four Seasons of Modern Italy: Nationalism, Liberalism, Fascism, Democracy
- Public History Project
- Restaurants, Roundabouts and Revolutions: Paris in the Nineteenth Century
- Streetlife
- Under-represented Heritage
- People's War': Understanding the British Home Front, c.1939-45
- Sea and Society since 1750
- Decolonisation Past & Present
English Option Modules
- Cultural Crossings: Race, Writing and Resistance
- Masculinity and the Long Eighteenth Century
- The Gothic
- Modern American Drama
- Postcolonial Cities
- Writing in a Time of Violence
- Twentieth-Century: Women Novelists: Genre and Gender
- Atlantic Slavery: Nineteenth Century Representations
- Wild Justice: Power, Violence and Identity in Revenge Tragedy
Interdisciplinary Option Module
- 'Career Cartographies': work-integrated learning in the Humanities
A standard module equates to 200 notional learning hours, which may be comprised of teaching, learning and assessment, any embedded placement activities and independent study.
Modules may have more than one component of assessment.
Applicable to Levels 4 and 5 2023/24
Overall Workload | Level 4 | Level 5 | Level 6 |
Teaching, Learning and Assessment | 216 hours | 216 hours | 198 hours |
Independent Study | 984 hours | 984 hours | 1002 hours |
Placement | - | - | 80 hours (on Career Cartographies option only)
|
Applicable to Level 6 2023/24
Overall Workload | Level 4 | Level 5 | Level 6 |
Teaching, Learning and Assessment | 217 hours | 214 hours | 200 hours |
Independent Study | 983 hours | 987 hours | 1000 hours |
Placement | - | - | 80 hours (on Career Cartographies option only)
|
Details of School academic staff can be found on the School of Humanities and Social Sciences Website.
Attendance & Absence
The University expects you to attend and contribute fully to all mandatory sessions on your timetable as set out in your student contract. Engagement in your lectures, seminars and practicals is an important part of your learning - contributing both to the University community and the learning experience of your fellow students on the course. This includes engagement in scheduled virtual learning and activities and meetings in online environments related to your studies.
We monitor your engagement at the University as regular attendance and academic achievement are closely linked. Moreover, by monitoring your engagement and attendance we can identify students who may need our guidance or support at an early stage to help them progress in their studies. This is part of our commitment to ensuring an excellent education and experience and supporting your success at Leeds Beckett.
The University does understand that from time to time there is good reason why you cannot attend a class, and in this instance you must contact your School office to let them know. This may then be recorded as an 'authorised absence'.
Please note that any attendance reports can be shared with you and your Course team. You might be asked to contact your School office so that appropriate academic or pastoral support can be offered, should your attendance record give cause for concern.
Our most important aim is to support your studies, but we are also required to report attendance to various external bodies such as the Student Loan Company and the Home Office. There are measures in place for students who seek to falsely register either their own or fellow students' attendance.
Our Academic Engagement Policy is available under 'Student Contract' on the Student Regulations web page.
Please note that if your course carries professional accreditation or recognition, there may be additional course-specific attendance requirements detailed elsewhere in this handbook.
You must notify your Course Administrator if you are absent (for example for an interview, emergency unforeseen circumstances, or for compassionate leave). If you are going to apply for mitigation you will need to provide written evidence of the reason for your absence.
Please note that if your course carries professional accreditation or recognition, there may be additional course-specific absence reporting requirements detailed elsewhere in this handbook.
If you are unable to study due to Covid-19 (coronavirus) symptoms, please see the guidance available on our Covid-19 web page.
If you are unable to study because of another illness for more than 14 consecutive days (including weekends), you must provide us with a Fit Note.
You can send a digital copy of your Fit Note to your Course Administrator, and then send the original by post.
If you are absent through illness on the day of an examination or assignment deadline and you intend to apply for mitigation, you must also provide us with details as possible. Your submission for mitigation may be made online and the circumstances surrounding it may be self-certified unless your period of absence is prolonged. Generally, all absences of 2 weeks or more will require the submission of verifiable documentary evidence.
For more information on 'fit to sit' and mitigation please visit our Mitigation web page.
Please note that if your course carries professional accreditation or recognition, there may be additional course-specific absence reporting requirements detailed elsewhere in this handbook.
Any Leeds Beckett student who suspects they may have, or have been diagnosed as having a serious infectious disease such as coronavirus, Mumps, TB, measles, meningitis or chicken pox should not attend campus. For notifiable diseases, students should notify their Course Director or Course Administrator as soon as possible giving information regarding which groups of students (and/or colleagues and clients on placements) you have been in contact with and when. For some diseases, such as TB and meningitis, your doctor and our Student Wellbeing Team have a responsibility to notify the West Yorkshire Public Health Protection Team who may also wish to speak to you (or your family) to determine if others require screening or medication. You should follow advice given by the hospital or your GP about when it is safe to return to University. Further information is available on the Student Wellbeing web page.
For guidance on what to do if you have symptoms of Covid-19 (coronavirus), please visit our Covid-19 web page.
If you are thinking about changing course or withdrawing from your course, further information can be found on our Student web pages.
International Students
Please be aware that our University fully complies with United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI) policy at all times. There are legal reporting requirements for all students in the UK on a Student visa, and full attendance is mandatory for all students who have a Student visa. Failure to meet UKVI attendance and engagement requirements could lead to your academic sponsorship being withdrawn and your visa being revoked.Students who hold a Student visa need to be aware of their responsibilities whilst in the UK, please see www.ukcisa.org.uk or our Student Immigration Advice and Compliance web page for full information.
For up-to-date information about visas, immigration issues and other matters relating to international students, please visit the International Students' web pages on the Students website or email the Student Immigration Advice and Compliance Team on siac@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.
You should have been enrolled on the International Student's Academic Introduction module in MyBeckett when you began your studies - if you missed this you can self-enrol and explore the content which introduces you to making the academic transition to a UK university. Please refer to Library page supporting international students
Professional Accreditation or Recognition Associated with the Course
'In Year' Work Placement Information
Level 6: including 80 hours optional work placement.
Skills, Employability & Graduate Opportunities
As a student on the English and History degree one of the primary skills developed through the course's interdisciplinary approach is a questioning attitude and ability to appreciate multiple perspectives. This is enhanced by corresponding skills fostered on the degree, including critical analysis and close reading of texts and sources, creative problem-solving, high order communication, research and persuasion, evaluation and synthesis of evidence, assessment and application of relevant theories and methods. A range of transferable skills are developed and deepened across all three levels. You will develop presentation, team-work, digital literacy, and enterprise skills. Optional employability modules Applied Humanities and Career Cartographies allow you to develop networking, self-reflective, collaborative and career readiness skills.
You will have opportunities to gain recognition during your time at Leeds Beckett University for the extra activities you do in addition to your studies, including volunteering, student societies, playing in our University sports teams and being a Course Representative.
By joining a society with Leeds Beckett Students' Union, you can make new friends, have fun, try something new and enhance your CV - societies provide a great opportunity to learn new skills and improve your existing ones. It can be difficult to get to know new people at university but don't worry, everyone is in the same boat! Our Leeds Beckett Students' Union believe that joining a student-led society is the best way to meet new people and make lifelong friends. There are so many societies out there - from course-based to hobby-based to religious to political and campaigning. Whether you're just starting out at Leeds Beckett or working on your last year of study, it is never too late to find the right society for you - or start one yourself!
Course-based societies are a great way to meet people on your course, expand your networks and celebrate your achievements together such as end of year Society Balls. If you have a great idea for a society, we can help you get it up and running. There are resources and support available for all societies - including funding to help make your society goals a reality. For more information on starting your own society, visit: leedsbeckettsu.co.uk/societies/create.
There are three Graduate Attributes for Leeds Beckett University and these are tailored to suit your course. The three attributes you should achieve by the end of the course are for you to be digitally literate, have a global outlook and for you to be enterprising. Learning about these attributes and being assessed on them as part of your modules will provide you with capabilities which are essential for your future career and wider life as you move on from your studies here. You will be formally assessed on all the attributes in some of your modules at each academic level in each year of your course. For more information on graduate attributes please visit https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/student-information/academic-skills-and-advice/graduate-attributes/.
Information on your assessment is included in your Module Handbooks.
The Graduate Attributes and how they are related to each of the modules on the course are listed in Module Handbooks, which you can access via each MyBeckett module page. If you would like further information on how the Graduate Attributes map on to any of your modules, please contact the relevant Module Leader.
Work-related activities are embedded at all levels. At Level 4 the priority is to familiarise students with the demands and expectations of university life, and to help them become proficient in applying the skills to succeed in their degree. At Level 5, students are encouraged to develop skills relating to obtaining employment. In the core module Interdisciplinary Theory and Practice, students undertake a number of employability workshops involving staff members from the Careers and Employability team and module tutors. These workshops will help develop skills in networking, job-searching, building a curriculum vitae, and writing an application. Therefore, by Level 6, students are expected to have gained employment-related experience and to be able to reflect on it in order to maximise their employability in the future. Students undertake a minimum of 80 hours placement activity or work-related learning with a selected employer or partner if they elect to take the Level 6 option module 'Career Cartographies': work-integrated learning in the Humanities'.
Opportunities will be highlighted and advertised to our students throughout the degree, such as employer and alumni networking events, online career sessions and opportunities of work experience and volunteering to enhance your employability skills.
The skills you gain through studying your degree are marketable in most job sectors and many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject. English and History graduates find opportunities with many different employers. Public and private sector organisations such as the National Health Service (NHS), educational institutions, local and national government, financial and legal firms, and voluntary and charitable organisations employ English and History graduates in a range of roles, including:
- administration
- arts management
- events management
- finance
- HR and general management
- teaching
- research
- archivist
- heritage, museum and cultural
- legal sector
- media and journalism
- publishing
- government and civil service
- policing
Source: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/what-can-i-do-with-my-degree/english
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/what-can-i-do-with-my-degree/history
Learning Support
If you have a question or a problem relating to your course, your Course Administrator is there to help you. Course Administrators work closely with academic staff and can make referrals to teaching staff or to specialist professional services as appropriate. They can give you a confirmation of attendance letter, and a transcript. You may also like to contact your Course Rep or the Students' Union Advice team for additional support with course-related questions.
Your Academic Advisor will be an academic member of staff who teaches you on your course. Your Course Director will make sure that you are given the contact details of your Academic Advisor at the beginning of each year, usually in your course induction. Further details on the role of your Academic Advisor are available on the Academic Advisor web page.
If you need support, but you're not sure where to go, your Student Advice Team are here to help. The team are an essential part of your Student Support Network and are dedicated to ensuring you can access the advice and support you need, when you need it most.
Student Advice can also help in the practical elements of university. The team will produce your first campus card and assist you in replacing your campus card if needed throughout your time at Leeds Beckett. They can provide Confirmation of Enrolment and Bank Letters for our current students and full or partial transcripts for our graduates and fully enrolled students.
If you need help with more complex queries or concerns, our trained Student Life Advisers offer 1-1 appointments, providing a safe, confidential, and non-judgemental space to talk about your circumstances and identify support that you can access both within and outside of the university.
To contact the team, or to arrange an appointment, visit The Student Advice webpage for full details.
The Student Voice & Insight team at LBSU works alongside the elected Academic Experience Officer to effectively represent students' academic interests.
We provide support, training and ongoing development to over 1,000 Course Representatives, Postgraduate Research Reps, Student Community Leaders and Global Majority Student Ambassadors who represent you whilst you study at Leeds Beckett; and facilitate the collection of student feedback on your academic experience.
Unsure who your Course Rep is? Maybe you're interested in becoming a Course Rep or have feedback about your academic experience? Get in touch at:
- Email: studentvoice@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
- Telephone: 0113 812 8400
- Website: leedsbeckettsu.co.uk/your-voice
You can find information and resources online through the Support and Opportunities tabs in MyBeckett. In the Support tab, you can find details of a range of services that provide academic and personal support. These include Student Advice, Library Services, the Students' Union, Student Money, Disability Advice, Student Wellbeing, Student Immigration Advice and Compliance and Accommodation. There is also an A-Z of Support Services, and access to online appointments/registration.
In the Opportunities tab, you can explore the options you have for jobs, work placements, volunteering, and a wide range of other opportunities. For example, you can find out here how to get help with your CV, prepare for an interview, get a part-time job or a voluntary role, take part in an international project, or join societies closer to home.
If you have a disability, long-term physical or mental health condition, or a specific learning difference, we believe this should never be a barrier to studying at our University.
Please get in touch with us as soon as possible so we can ensure everything is in place before your course starts.
What should I do next?
- We will ask you to provide evidence of your disability, usually from a health professional or educational psychologist. Don't worry if you haven't got any, we can support you with this.
- Usually, we will arrange an appointment with your Disability Adviser to discuss any adjustments you might need and support you in applying for Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA).
- We will work with you to ensure any adjustments you need are available so you can fully participate on your course.
Please watch this short video about how the Disability Advice Team can work with you.
Disabled students can also access the Disability Resource Areas in each library and the support provided by the Library Learning Support Officer. More information is available on the Library website.
What is Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)?
DSA is government funding to help with the cost of any additional support you might need while studying, such as: one-to-one support, specialist equipment (including useful software) and travel. For more information visit our website.
Contact Us:
Email: disabilityadvice@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: 0113 812 5831
Website: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/student-information/disability-advice/
The Library
The Library offers 24/7 support for your studies. You can access thousands of resources via MyBeckett or the Library website which also provides full details of all our services.
Library Academic Support
The Library Academic Support Team can help you develop your academic skills such as critical thinking, academic writing and analysing data, and research skills such as how to find, use and evaluate information for your studies. The team liaises with your lecturers to provide the information resources you need for your subject and to arrange academic skills sessions to support you in your studies.
The team maintains a number of websites and modules to support your learning:
- In your Subject guide, you'll find a variety of information resources which have been selected as a good starting point for research in that area. These are available on the Skills and Subject Support web page or via My Beckett.
- On the Skills for Learning website, you'll find online resources covering topics such as essay writing, research and time management, English Language and academic English plus information to help you reference and avoid plagiarism, alongside details of workshops that are designed to help you succeed in your assessments. The Skills for Learning website can be found on the Library website or via My Beckett.
- LBU Study Smart is a module in MyBeckett which introduces you to the key skills and services you'll need to study successfully at Leeds Beckett. There are also additional modules you can take as you move through your course to help you transition between study levels. The Academic Integrity Tutorial is a module in MyBeckett which introduces you to academic integrity at LBU and will help you develop the skills you need to attain good academic practice, including avoiding plagiarism and academic referencing.
- The Academic Integrity Tutorial is a module in MyBeckett which introduces you to academic integrity at LBU and will help you develop the skills you need to attain good academic practice, including avoiding plagiarism and academic referencing.
Library and Student IT Advice Service
The Library and Student IT Advice Service team can answer your queries on borrowing, finding information, passwords, multi-factor authentication (MFA) ,Office 365, online meetings, saving your work, MyBeckett and more:
- online (including 24/7 chat) via the Contact Us web page
- by phone - 0113 812 1000 (24/7 IT support)
- face-to-face in either of our Libraries, check Library opening times for details of when staff are available
They also have a wide range of short tutorials available on the Library's YouTube channel.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi on the University campus is provided by eduroam, a secure wireless network, which also allows you Wi-Fi access if you visit other universities. To connect:
- Select eduroam from available Wi-Fi
- Your login details are:
Username followed by @leedsbeckett: e.g. c1234567@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Password: your normal university password
*Android Users: Select under Phase 2 Authentication - MS-CHAPv2
Help is available on the Library's Wi-Fi web page.
Microsoft Office 365
You are provided with free access to Office 365 and the latest version of Office can be downloaded from the IT tab in MyBeckett or from office.com. All students who are registered for a qualification at Leeds Beckett University are eligible and you can use the subscription for the duration of your course. For instructions and more information, please see the Office 365 support page.
OneDrive
OneDrive Leeds Beckett is your individual file storage with 1TB of storage space. With OneDrive you can access and share your files across your devices. This is accessible on University PCs and off-campus through Office 365 portal. See the Saving your Work pages on the Library website for more information.
Leeds Beckett RemoteApp
The Leeds Beckett RemoteApp gives you access to a range of specialist software for your course on your personal devices. See the RemoteApp page on the Library website for more information.
Media Equipment - free loans
You can borrow high-end Media Equipment for free. Browse, reserve and collect equipment ranging from GoPros to Remote Presenters from the ground floor of the Shelia Silver and Headingley Libraries. Further information is available on the Media Equipment web page.
University life can have its ups and downs, and occasionally you may find yourself in need of advice. That's where we come in. Here at the SU we have a free advice service that is here just for you, the students at Leeds Beckett University.
The Advice Service at LBSU is a confidential, non-judgmental service run by professional advisers.
The service is independent from the University, so if you are having any problems with your course you can talk confidentially with us - although we do work with the University to find the best solutions, we would only contact them with your permission. We can advise on a range of topics including all aspects of the University Regulations and Procedures, housing issues and finance issues. We can guide you through any processes or procedures.
We're here to help you with any questions or problems you might have while you are studying at Leeds Beckett.
Get more information at www.leedsbeckettsu.co.uk/advice.
Resources
MyBeckett, the portal and virtual learning environment provides:
- access to your modules and timetables;
- your reading lists and email account;
- your personal storage area on our University IT servers;
- information on where to look for academic or personal support (Support tab);
- information on opportunities such as jobs, careers, part-time work, placements and volunteering (Opportunities tab)
- access to Library and student IT advice
Further information and support for using MyBeckett can be found on the MyBeckett Support Pages.
You can access a range of physical and online resources relevant to your course through the University Library. The Subject Support pages for English and History provide course-specific resources and further information about media loans, books and library facilities can be found in the 'Library and IT Support' section below.
Student Voice
We are committed to working in partnership with you and the Students' Union to provide you with an inclusive, safe and engaging learning environment which is conducive to study for all our students and our staff. An important element of your time studying with us is your engagement in developing your learning. Your engagement and attendance on your course enables you to further your learning and supports your achievement, course completion and aspirations for the future. There is an expectation that students will attend, engage in their learning and submit on time for assessment. We provide support for you to maximise your time studying with us and to develop your learning, skills and abilities to support you in your chosen career path.
We seek active participation by all our students in the continuous enhancement of our courses and through our monitoring, annual review and enhancement processes. These are formal processes used by our University for assuring the academic standards and quality of your course and its continuous improvement. These processes utilise your feedback, External Examiners' reports, feedback from staff and others, data relating to student outcomes on the course and student surveys to reflect on areas of good practice and areas for further enhancement. We invite all students to participate in a range of opportunities to provide us with feedback on your course and modules. This may include discussions with staff, focus groups, and meetings (e.g. with Course Representatives or with staff) and formalised student surveys e.g. mid module reviews, end of module evaluations and specific course or other surveys such as the Student Barometer, National Student Survey and Graduate Outcomes Survey. We utilise the outcomes of these surveys to benchmark our courses nationally and to inform annual course enhancements.
Informal feedback is also welcome at any time either via your Academic Advisor or module tutor or via your Course Representative. Our partnership with you enables us together to make the most of your learning experience with us and to enhance the quality and reputation of your course. You can find out what actions have been taken in response to your feedback through your Course Representative, the Students' Union, your tutors or through the Library.
Course Representatives (Reps) at undergraduate and postgraduate taught levels are student volunteers who represent you in formal and informal meetings with the University, and follow up on actions that have occurred because of student feedback. You can become a Course Rep, volunteering to represent the views of your peers in order to improve students' academic experience.
In the first few weeks of your time at Leeds Beckett, your Course Director will facilitate an opportunity to appoint Course Reps on your course.
LBSU provides support, training and ongoing development for Course Reps and supports their engagement in enhancement activities throughout the academic year.
Being a Course Rep provides you with an opportunity to enhance your own learning and the development of relevant professional and employability skills alongside your studies. As a Course Rep you would play an important role in:
- Acting as a point of contact and advocate for students on your course and in supporting their active engagement.
- Gathering feedback from students on your course to inform enhancements to the quality of your course and the student experience.
- Facilitating good communication between students and staff on the course.
- Working with the Course Director, members of the course team and the Students' Union to enhance your course.
- Facilitating and engaging in meetings about your course; and
- Being an ambassador for your course.
Further information about being a Course Representative is available at:
We invite all students to participate in a range of opportunities to provide us with feedback on your course and modules. This may include discussions with staff, focus groups, and meetings (e.g. with Course Representatives or with staff) and formalised student surveys e.g. mid module reviews, end of module evaluations and specific course or other surveys such as the Student Barometer, National Student Survey and the Graduate Outcomes Survey.
We are committed to providing a high quality experience for all our students. We welcome comments and compliments from students, and find them valuable for on-going improvements to our provision. Comments and compliments about your course can be raised with your Course Representative or directly with your Course Director or Academic Advisor.
If you have a specific complaint about an act or omission of our University, you may be able to make a complaint under the Student Complaints Procedure. In the first instance, you should raise the matter as soon as possible with the member of staff most directly concerned, or with the person who can best resolve it. If this does not resolve the matter, or if the complaint is too serious to be addressed in this way, then you should make a formal complaint in writing. Information about how to make a complaint, including the student complaints procedure and a complaints form, is available on the Students web pages.
General Information
Diploma of Higher Education English and History
Certificate of Higher Education English and History
Leeds Beckett University
PT students will be supported by the course team to determine an appropriate selection of modules from the level for each year of study. PT delivery is usually at half the intensity of the FT equivalent course, although there may be flexibility to increase your pace of study to shorten the overall course duration. Some modules may be delivered in a different sequence to that defined within this information set but the modules offered within each level are consistent. Please note that the work placement option is not generally available to PT students.
Course fees and additional course costs are confirmed in your offer letter. Course fees are presented to you annually through the online enrolment process. Please visit our Course and Tuition Fees Payment web pages for further information. Ongoing queries relating to additional course costs may be discussed with your Course Administrator.
Alternatively, you can contact any of the following teams:
For Student Finance related fee queries: studentfunding@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Other fee related queries: fees@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Payments: incomes@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Policies, Standards & Regulations
Key University regulations and policies can be accessed on the following web pages:
- Academic Regulations (including assessment regulations) are available on our Academic Regulations web page
- The Student Contract is available on our Student Regulations web page
- The Student Charter is available on our Academic Regulations web page (Section 20)
Other Student regulations and University policies, including Safety, Health and Wellbeing policies, are available on our Student Regulations web page
You should also familiarise yourself with Support Report Respect where students and colleagues who are victims of any form of bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct, can access support, advice and guidance.
For advice on University regulations and policies, students should contact the Students' Union Advice Service.
The External Examiner assures that you are assessed fairly in relation to other students on the same course and also that the standard of your own award is comparable to similar courses taken by students in other higher education institutions within the UK. The External Examiner(s) provide an annual report for your course. External Examiner reports are available on our External Examiner Reports web page, which is accessible via the Course Information link on the Students home page.
The details of the External Examiners for this course are as follows:
History External Examiners
Professor Neil Fleming (Chief External Examiner and with specific UG modules assigned)
Professor of Modern History
University of Worcester
Dr Laura Evans (Specific UG modules assigned)
Senior Lecturer in Modern History
Sheffield Hallam University
Dr Ruth Larsen (Specific UG modules assigned)
Senior Lecturer in History
University of Derby
English External Examiners
Dr Sarah Illot (Specific UG modules assigned)
Senior Lecturer in English Literature and Film
Manchester Metropolitan University
Dr Sondeep Kandola (Specific UG modules assigned)
Senior Lecturer in English and Cultural History
Liverpool John Moores University
Appendices
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