Faculty of Arts and Humanities
SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES
Coventry University
Ranked 13th in UK Guardian University Guide 2019
Welcome I’m delighted to introduce you to the School of Humanities, based within the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Coventry University Our ethos is built around an approach that’s open, connected, collaborative, engaged and sustainable. We’re proud of the achievements of our alumni who have been highly successful in securing prestigious graduate-level opportunities. Many are making their mark before they leave us by being commissioned as public artists, winning national and international competitions, publishing their work in the media and having their works performed in public environments including the BBC. Coventry University has been inspiring and developing leading artists, designers, creative practitioners, performers, writers and thinkers since 1843. By knowing our roots and understanding our place within these vibrant creative communities, we can nurture your intellectual curiosity and give you opportunities to engage with professional communities of practice, making you ready to play your role in shaping the future landscape of humanities. Dr Shaun Hides Dean, Faculty of Arts and Humanities
The Faculty of Arts and Humanities Our ethos is built around an approach that’s open, connected, collaborative, engaged and sustainable.
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Contents 4
UK City of Culture 2021
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Teaching excellence
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Career focused
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Global outlook
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English and Languages courses
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Social Science courses
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Top-up courses
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Next steps
GOOD UNIVERSITY GUIDE 2019 UNIVERSITY OF THE YEAR FOR STUDENT EXPERIENCE
Awarded Gold for outstanding teaching and learning 2017.
UK City of Culture 2021 Coventry is a lively, multi-cultural city with a rich history that embraces the old and the new. For 175 years, Coventry University has been inspiring and developing leading artists, designers, creative practitioners, performers and thinkers City of Culture It’s an exciting time to study in Coventry. Our city was awarded the UK City of Culture for 2021, which marks the beginning of an incredible few years of culture and celebration. As one of the principal partners of the bid, we’ll have a focus on teaching and research. Coventry University students will be able to take advantage of incredible opportunities and continue this work beyond 2021 as part of our cultural strategy. We’ve already had events take place for City of Culture from Museum of the Moon to Crafts of the Punjab to Cinderella. We’ve an excellent culture here in Coventry already but we can’t wait to see what winning City of Culture 2021 brings for us in the near future and would love you to be a part of our journey. Heart of Coventry Coventry was named as the 5th best student city in the UK by the QS World Rankings 2018. Our city-centre campus is at the heart of things in Coventry so you’re well placed for shopping, entertainment and cultural experiences. The Belgrade Theatre hosts an exciting mix of experiences ranging from locally produced performances, comedy nights and touring West End shows. There are plenty of great live music venues across the city too including The Empire, Kasbah and the Ricoh Arena. The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum is award-winning for celebrating the city’s culture and history, and the best part is that it’s right next to TheHub. Coventry Godiva Festival is the UK’s biggest annual free music event; Acts like Biffy Clyro, Kasabian, The Enemy, Jake Bugg and Example have all performed in our War Memorial Park. We’re in a brilliant location for travelling too, only an hour from London by train and just twenty minutes from Birmingham.
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Our facilities Becoming a student at Coventry University will give you access to some brilliant facilities. The Languages Centre, based in the George Eliot Building, is a language learning facility that brings together learners, teachers and technical staff in a specially designed space. We’ve a truly international focus; the Languages Centre is designed to support needs of learners from any language course. We’re members of both the Association of University Language Centres and the European Confederation of Languages in Higher Education. The School of Humanities is also home to the Confucius Institute. This is a collaboration between Coventry University, Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics (JUFE) in China and the Chinese Ministry of Education’s Office for Chinese Language. The only one of it’s kind in the West Midlands and a place where you can discover more about Chinese culture. The Lanchester Library is split across five floors and filled with resources to help you make the best of every assignment, seminar and lecture. The Library building is open 24 hours to so you can study at a time that suits you. You can even study in a style that suites you with bookable spaces, silent zones, quite zones and even a Disruptive Media Learning Lab complete with a grassy bank. We have 500 open access PCs and Macs, high-speed wireless internet and sixty laptops for loan too Open Days If you want to see Coventry University’s campuses, have a look around the city and find out more about subjects you want to study, you can book a place on one of our Open Days. You can speak to academics from your subject area, take campus and accommodation tours and even chat to current students about their own experiences and what life is really like at Coventry University. www.coventry.ac.uk/opendays
The Languages Centre, The George Eliot Building
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Teaching excellence We know the difference good teaching can make to your time at university. A great experience can make you happier, help you to learn more and give you that edge when it comes to developing your career. We’re proud of our teaching achievements; including being awarded Gold in the Teaching and Excellence Framework (TEF), the government’s first major assessment of teaching quality in universities. We rank 13th in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2019, and have held the position of top modern university for seven consecutive years. Coventry is also in the guide’s top 10 across a dozen subject areas including politics and criminology. The Guardian guide also ranks us: • 10th overall for students being satisfied with feedback; • 9th overall for students satisfied with teaching on their course; • 9th for ‘value-added score’, which rates how well students are taught. Passionate staff Our award-winning staff team are passionate about Humanities and many of our lecturers are exhibiting, performing, publishing and curating. Our lectures bring their subjects to life in interesting ways too. Recently, our history department transformed a local bar into a pop-up cinema and museum to celebrate the premiere of a feature-length documentary Looking for Charlie. The documentary had been a three-year labour of love for our history lecturers Darren Reid, Brett Sanders and many of our history students. The documentary looked at the dark history of the silent era by following the story of comedians Marceline Orbes and Francis “Slivers” Oakley and their connection to Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. We have distinguished industry professionals visiting as guest lecturers and running masterclasses for our students. Prof. David Crystal OBE, a world renowned linguist, recently gave a guest lecture that looked at the influence that the internet is having on modern language.
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Research Our school has a strong tradition and excellent reputation for applied research in education and linguistics-related applied research, as well as creative writing and international human security. Research-informed learning is thoroughly embedded in our courses and you will have the opportunity to engage with active practitioners, writers and published academics who are experts in their field. Coventry has a strong heritage in peace and reconciliation and you can benefit from the expertise of research centres such as the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations. This research centre undertakes innovative, impactful, world-class research that helps to create dialogue and builds trust in order to foster peaceful relations and strengthen human security. Drawing on a strong track record of research in integrated peacebuilding, trust and social and community relations, the Centre exemplifies Coventry University’s long-standing commitment to research that makes a strong impact on society and on the security and quality of life of ordinary people worldwide. This is just one of many examples how our creative minds are helping to support a sector steeped in culture and heritage.
Isabella Yeboah, BA (Hons) Sociology
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Career focused Your career really matters to us, that’s why we offer you career services for both general and more specific help. 97% of Coventry University students are employed or in further study six months after graduation (Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey 2016/17, published 2018) which places us amongst the top universities for employment or further study. We aim to help you secure a work placement of up to one year, and if you’re looking to have a year abroad working or studying, you won’t be charged tuition fees for that year. Most students are enrolled onto their course with the option of doing a sandwich year in their 3rd year of study. A year in industry can offer a valuable insight into the working environment, provide relevant experience for your CV, build a lasting relationship and could even lead to further employment opportunities. Our Employment Support Team can give you tailored employability advice and guidance. You can have access to an Employment Personal Tutor who, with a wealth of industry knowledge, can guide you through the nuances of whichever career you decide upon; helping you to make applications and to make preparing for interviews a much less daunting prospect. The interdisciplinary approach of our courses aims to provide transferable skills valued by employers. Your Employment Personal Tutor will help you identify these skills and demonstrate your capability in them through applications, interviews, assessment centres and even psychometric testing. Whether it’s as employees, freelancers or starting up your own businesses, working with our employability team gives you the opportunity to develop an enterprising edge and the confidence to move into a rewarding career. www.coventry.ac.uk/employability-fah thefutureworks If you need help finding a job while you’re studying, Coventry University has its own Recruitment Agency. A member of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and the British Institute of Recruitment Professionals, thefutureworks can help you find permanent and temporary opportunities. www.thefutureworks.org.uk
Coventry University
97% employed or in further study DLHE survey, UG UK, 2016/17 (published 2018)
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Add+vantage scheme Most courses include an Add+vantage module each year, where you can choose from a variety of career-enhancing subjects. Add+vantage modules are arranged in themes. In the ‘Global Languages’ theme you can learn French, German, Italian, Mandarin, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese or Portuguese. In the ‘Global Perspectives’ theme you can study how to do business in different parts of the world or look at intercultural communication in the global society. In the ‘Professional Development’ theme, a module has been created in association with multinational companies such as Jaguar Land Rover, Enterprise-Rent-A-Car and Severn Trent Water to give students unique industry insight and guidance for graduate recruitment. Other themes include Creativity and Enterprise, Entrepreneurship, Work Experience, Global Experience Field Trips, Projects and Skills, Professional Accreditation, and Research Skills. There are over 240 modules to choose from but the common thread is that they all aim to develop and expand skills employers are looking for. www.coventry.ac.uk/addvantage Flying Start scheme University is a great investment but we understand that you may be concerned about the cost of fees. We endeavour to make it clear what is included in the fees you pay so there are no surprises along the way. Students in the School of Humanities are provided packages that can include key study texts, materials and technology relevant to the specialist area. This may also include course-specific items such as membership to professional bodies, including the British Sociological Association and the British International Studies Association. www.coventry.ac.uk/flyingstart
The Languages Centre, The George Eliot Building
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Global outlook Our approach encourages a global perspective. The Confucius Institute has strong links to China and the Languages Centre brings together learners, teachers and technical staff in a specially designed suite. We lead nationally and internationally on Online International Learning, MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) integration into the curriculum and MALL (Mobile Assisted Language Learning). Students have the opportunity to engage in webinars with students from all over the world, including Europe, China and Latin America. We enrich course material with tutorials, workshops and inter/multicultural perspectives and offer extensive academic and English support. Opportunities to travel are a key element of many of our courses and an excellent reason for choosing Coventry University. Our students have more international experiences than other UK universities according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA 2018). With trips abroad, language classes and a Global Leaders Programme at your feet, there’s no telling where you might end up as a Coventry University student. Each year, our course teams organise a range of overseas study trips or work experience to support your learning. Over the past few years, we have offered exciting international opportunities for our students to visit Sicily, Berlin, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Krakow, Budapest, Istanbul and Sarajevo (subject to application and cost).
Go Abroad scheme We believe in giving all students the opportunity to go abroad and we offer funding to support you. Open to all School of Humanities students, our Go Abroad schemes give you a way to gain international experience and can help you to become a globally employable graduate. Each year, many of our students spend between three and 12 months abroad studying, working, volunteering or travelling (subject to application and costs). For example, over the summer of 2018 around 900 students and over 60 members of staff visited Paris, Barcelona, Brussels and Berlin on an unforgettable trip featuring cultural learning, visits to partner universities, sightseeing and visits to industry to see how businesses operate in Europe. www.coventry.ac.uk/go-abroad Global Leaders Programme (GLP) This exciting, members-only programme* develops industry leaders of the future. Expand your global skills in our specialist workshops, experience new cultures and different countries, and meet global leaders at networking events from the likes of Google, Microsoft and Facebook. www.coventry.ac.uk/globalready *Fees apply
Recently, humanities students travelled to New York to investigate current affairs in America. Focusing on oral history, they created a documentary about The Donald Trump Effect as seen by the people of New York City. Our Sociology students conducted a micro sociological project in both Coventry and Gothenburg. The project was designed as part of the Research Methods module to complement the students’ theoretical learning by allowing them to apply these methods to real world sociological topics. Their work focused on the refugee crisis, industrial heritage, cultural politics, urban planning, city markets and post-industrial decline.
Coventry University
1st for overseas student experiences Based on the number of student trips abroad - HESA 2016/17 UK
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The Disruptive Media Learning Lab (DMLL) Lanchester Library
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English and Languages
Course information English BA (Hons) UCAS code: Q300 www.coventry.ac.uk/ug/Q300 English and Creative Writing BA (Hons) UCAS code: QW38 www.coventry.ac.uk/ug/QW38 English and Journalism BA (Hons) UCAS code: QP35 www.coventry.ac.uk/ug/QP35 English Language and TEFL BA (Hons) UCAS code: QX31 www.coventry.ac.uk/ug/QX31 3 years full-time or 4 years sandwich (study abroad/work placement)
Why English and Languages at Coventry University? An understanding of language and an ability to use language skills to enhance the way you communicate is of great importance in a wide range of professions and can improve your life in a number of different ways Our English and Languages courses give students a thorough grounding in language and linguistics, developing your critical thinking, analytical, written and spoken communication skills, which are vital in almost any career. Students are taught using traditional, digital and innovative teaching methods and platforms. The course teams aim to facilitate learning through experiential, interdisciplinary and collaborative ways that empower students to take risks and explore their creativity. Our Languages Centre is equipped with classrooms specially designed for language teaching and learning. You’ll be taught by active researchers, who regularly publish research into language teaching and learning. With extensive professional links, you’ll have the opportunity to attend lectures and workshops with poets, playwrights, authors, renowned applied linguists, such as Professor David Crystal, and journalists, including the former Political Editor of the Irish Sunday Mirror and Editor-in-Chief of Classic Cars and Michael Binyon OBE, former Moscow Correspondent of The Times. Students can participate in a wide range of UK field trips, such as the Language Show Live in London, the Cartoon Museum, American Museum, the Royal Shakespeare Company and Harry Potter World, or spend a week away on a writers’ retreat, in the UK or abroad (subject to cost and application). There is a strong publishing element on many of our English courses, which includes students creating their own blogs or participating in publishing the CovWords Creative Writing magazine, to ensure that students are receiving first-hand experience in the publishing industry. Students can benefit from becoming part of the Student’s Union Source Media team contributing to its radio, TV and news platforms or joining the student-run English and Languages Society or the Literary Society, which organise discussions, readings, and social events. Employability Employability is embedded throughout these courses. English graduates can pursue a variety of post-graduate studies and work in a range of fields within the Arts and Cultural, Digital, Creative and Business industries as well as in the teaching profession. Our courses prepare graduates for a changing work landscape heavily influenced by the need for advanced communication, organisation, team working, digital and creative skills. Possible careers for graduates Recent graduates of these courses have gone on to work within education, marketing and public relations, journalism, and research coordination for companies including Stonegate, Granta Magazine, Deutsche Bank, and Oxford University Hospitals Foundation Trust. Graduates of these courses have also gone on to work for language service providers abroad as well as in the UK.
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The Disruptive Media Learning Lab (DMLL), Lanchester Library
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Social Sciences
Course information History BA (Hons) UCAS code: V140 www.coventry.ac.uk/ug/V140 History and Politics BA (Hons) UCAS code: LVF1 www.coventry.ac.uk/ug/LVF1 International Relations BA (Hons) UCAS code: L250 www.coventry.ac.uk/ug/L250 Politics BA (Hons) UCAS code: L200 www.coventry.ac.uk/ug/L200 Sociology BA (Hons) UCAS code: L300 www.coventry.ac.uk/ug/L300 Sociology and Criminology BA (Hons) UCAS code: LM39 www.coventry.ac.uk/ug/LM39 3 years full-time or 4 years sandwich (study abroad/work placement)
Why Social Sciences at Coventry University? At Coventry University you’ll have the opportunity to engage with the social sciences in creative, inventive and exciting ways. Our teaching staff are research active and we bring our disciplines to life by focusing on contemporary issues, using innovative methods, and celebrating the development of a critical imagination. Our courses are hands-on, giving you the opportunity to investigate and document a situation, create and analyse your own data, and draw your own conclusions about the nature of society. Coventry University is 9th in the UK for politics and 10th in the UK for criminology in the Guardian University Guide 2019. We pursue new and innovative approaches to research and content creation, for example, our History and Sociology students have the chance to learn documentary film-making and digital content creation as a part of their degree. Student support is one of our top priorities and you’ll be joining a lively, welcoming and friendly community. Our highlyaccomplished and multidisciplinary teaching team includes respected authors and experts in research in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Middle East, Africa and North America. We maintain strong relationships with organisations throughout the UK, including the local city councils, the Houses of Parliament, the National Health Service, Coventry Refugee Centre and Coventry Haven, organising a range of guest talks and workshops. This has previously included British MPs, high commissioners from African states, representatives from local charities and NGOs and speakers from major global corporations. Our courses have a strong international focus and we have links to a number of institutions and partner universities around the world. Recently, we’ve visited anti-Mafia organisations such as Addiopizzo and Libera in Sicily, explored post-war Germany in Berlin and examined war, peace and identity in Amsterdam, The Hague and Brussels, as well as trips to Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava, Gothenburg, Krakow and New York. We also work with scholars from around the world who contribute to our course digitally. Possible careers for graduates Recent graduates are now employed in the private sector in industries ranging from banking and finance to media, and across the public sector in education, the civil service, police forces, local authorities, charities and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
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The Languages Centre, The George Eliot Building
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Top-up courses
Course information English for Business BA (Hons) UCAS code: QN31 www.coventry.ac.uk/ug/QN31
Why study a top-up course at Coventry University? Top-up courses give you a way to ‘top-up’ an existing qualification to gain an undergraduate degree. If you’ve successfully completed a Higher National Diploma (HND) or Foundation Degree and want to study further, you could progress onto the final year of an Honours degree programme with a top-up degree. A HND or a Foundation Degree is an excellent qualification in itself, but you may have career ambitions that could be fulfilled with an Honours degree. It typically takes one further year of study to top-up your HND or Foundation Degree. The English for Business BA top-up aims to improve your language skills, primarily in terms of business and general business understanding. This course aims to help you develop your knowledge of the English language, so that in particular, you can operate in a business setting, whether in the United Kingdom or internationally. Our dedicated language centre contains over 2000 books and areas designed for private, quiet study to help you absorb the English language. As well as this, you have the opportunity to extend your existing knowledge of the theory and practice of business on a global scale in traditional lectures, seminars and practical workshops. Possible careers for graduates This course gives access to a wide variety of careers in global business, international organisations, cross-border marketing, tourism, banking, import/export, events management or the media, to name but a few. Your cross-cultural awareness, your international experience and your ability to communicate effectively in business English means that you can look for job opportunities in any international or emerging market. Alternatively, you could choose to develop your academic portfolio even further, through a postgraduate qualification in business, marketing, management, strategy, human resources, international relations or law.
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The Languages Centre, The George Eliot Building
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Next steps Applying to an undergraduate course
Pre-sessional English courses
UK and EU students
Courses require students, where English is not their first language, to have achieved a IELTS score of 6.0 or equivalent
UK and EU students must apply at www.ucas.com International students Applying to Coventry University is a quick and easy process. You can apply or download an application form from our website: www.coventry.ac.uk/international If you have any questions, please contact the International Office: T: +44(0) 24 7615 2152 E: enquiries.io@coventry.ac.uk Next steps for international students All of our courses are open to international students and we encourage applications from around the world. Coming to the UK as a student can be the start of a life-changing experience, full of memorable moments and new opportunities. Coventry University’s International Office can support you through the application process. Many of the team are multilingual and have their own experiences of living and studying abroad. They will be able to answer any questions you may have about your application, or what it is like to live in the UK. www.coventry.ac.uk/international-students-hub
Coventry University offers Pre-sessional English languages courses to help international students meet the necessary level of English language proficiency. These courses range from four to 20 weeks in length depending on your current level of English language proficiency and the level you need to achieve for your chosen degree course. These courses will also help you to: • D evelop your academic English so that you are better prepared for university-level study • Develop your study skills • Understand what will be expected as a higher education student in the UK www.coventry.ac.uk/englishlanguagesupport Fees, funding and scholarships Coventry University recognises that attending university requires significant financial investment. We pride ourselves on offering competitive tuition fees. We offer scholarships and discounts for students who study with us, including early payment, full payment, merit, country and alumni scholarships. www.coventry.ac.uk/international/scholarships
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GOOD UNIVERSITY GUIDE 2019
School of Humanities Coventry University Priory Street Coventry CV1 5FB T: +44 (0)24 7765 7688
UNIVERSITY OF THE YEAR FOR STUDENT EXPERIENCE
Awarded Gold for outstanding teaching and learning 2017.
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www.coventry.ac.uk/fah
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