Undergraduate study

In the School of Language, Literature, and Media, we'll provide you with the encouragement and support you need to achieve your academic goals. We offer a range of structures and initiatives to help you excel at every opportunity. They include:

Your course structure, module choice, and teaching time

Your teaching time and course structure depend on your course and module choice and will vary throughout your studies. All classes in the School are between 9 am and 6 pm from Monday to Friday. Modules will typically have 2 to 5 contact hours per week. Linguistic modules usually include 2 contact hours per week, and language modules typically have between 2 and 5 contact hours.

Study abroad

Learning a language and understanding linguistics is much more than a theoretical exercise. We want you to immerse yourself in language and culture, so we encourage you to explore our Study Abroad programme.

You will have the opportunity to live, work, and study abroad. You can study in a wide range of partner institutions across the world. Previous students have studied in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Dedicated personal tutors

When you join the School, you will be assigned a personal tutor who is available to you throughout your undergraduate degree. Your tutor will meet with you regularly during the academic year to discuss your progress, provide guidance and support, and help you achieve your goals.  You can meet with your tutor in person or remotely, in a group setting, or individually - whichever suits you best! 

Wider University support for your studies

The University has a dedicated collection of online and in-person resources to help bolster your study skills. Whether you need help with your writing, assistance with research skills, or English language support, the Skills for Success team will be on hand to help you.

We provide the practical support and skills you need to launch a successful career. We host a range of initiatives to help you achieve your career goals. They include:

Career modules

Each undergraduate course includes a grounded career module to help you envision your fullest career potential. With a world of diverse possibilities open to our graduates, we'll give you the clarity and confidence to plan your best career path. Our career-focused modules will provide practical tips and tricks to prepare you for life after graduation, the job market, interviews, career progression, and more.

Graduate talks

We love to keep in touch with our previous students, many of whom now have incredible career stories to tell. That's why we host regular talks by our graduates as they share their journey with you.

Our graduate talks have showcased speakers from diverse industries, including:

• Internal Communications Manager, Architas AXA Wealth
• Commissioning Editor, Cambridge University Press & Assessment
• Service Manager for children with disabilities, Surrey County Council
• Minister-Counsellor for Economic Affairs, British Embassy Warsaw
• Company founders, Succulent Theatre Company

Placements and internship opportunities

Work experience can make the difference between a successful job interview and an unsuccessful one. We offer many placement and internship opportunities so you can graduate with confidence in readiness for your first interview.

Our students have previously completed successful placements in a range of roles and settings, including:

• Teaching Assistant, London-based Primary School
• Creative Intern, Disney+
• Media Communication Officer, Children’s Hospice
• English Language Assistant, British Council

University career support for life

When you join the University of Essex, you can access bespoke career support throughout your studies. From crafting the perfect C.V. to making your first LinkedIn profile, the Career Service will coach and advise you.

The support does not end after you graduate - you can access the Careers Service for the rest of your life post-graduation.

The School of Language, Literature, and Media is home to linguists, writers, producers and creators who have worked in their respective fields for years. Your teachers are respected and renowned subject matter experts whose work has had impact across the globe.

Our expertise and knowledge have been called upon to advise and inform a wide range of public services, businesses, and international organisations, such as:

• Textbooks and language curriculum in schools
• Advising the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on education policy and strategy
• Translation and interpreting for professional organisations and public services such as the NHS
• Advising the British government on censorship, free speech, and extremism
• Working with schools and charities to improve family mental health, and understand the causes of conflict in domestic settings.
• Uncovering archival evidence of women in the creative arts, supported by charities such as the National Trust.

Likewise we have also published and produced creative works across a range of media including:

• Publishing books with themes such as nature and immigration, and in genres including poetry, dark comedy and science fiction.
• Using film to understand young people's experiences of lockdown, uncover migrants' experiences of belonging and feelings of nostalgia, and explore artificial memory.
• Creating and producing plays for theatres such as the National Theatre of Ireland, the Mercury Theatre in Colchester, or for radio programmes on BBC's Radio 3 and Radio 4.

Our staff often feature in high-profile media outlets and have published many fascinating articles, including:

• Ethical non‑monogamy? New comedy Splitsville is more about two flawed couples getting messy, The Conversation
• Cockney and King's English becoming less common, BBC News
• Essex and London accents deemed less intelligent, BBC News
• Four symbolic moments in Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show, The Conversation
• Seven memorable films to watch with your dad on Father’s Day, The Conversation

The School of Language, Linguistics and Media is a vibrant and linguistically diverse community. Our members come from across the world to study, teach, and research here. With many countries represented and over 20 spoken languages, we provide a welcoming home to all.

To support the diverse needs of our community, we provide a range of resources, including: 

Resources for international students

To support our international students, we provide a bespoke range of services. They include help with visas, fees and funding, language support classes, and more. The University of Essex is also home to a wide range of student union societies, many of which are country-specific. Our international community will help you make friends and feel at home.

University student support

The University of Essex provides a range of support via the Student Services Hub. Whether you need help accessing healthcare, support with your mental health, or you are worried about finances, we have a team ready to assist you.

The School of Language, Literature, and Media is fun to study and socialise in. We encourage our students to embrace the student experience fully. We host a range of extracurricular events for you to enjoy. These include: 

Student conferences and festivals

The School hosts multiple conferences throughout the academic year. These public and prestigious events feature students and academics as they discuss and present their work publicly. Undergraduate students are welcome to attend, give presentations, and even help to organise these events.

We are also home to the student-led UpLift Film Festival, hosted every year on campus. Participants help review nominations, build the programme, publicise the event, and ensure everything runs smoothly on the day.

School events

The School of Language, Literature, and Media hosts numerous lively social and academic events. You can join us for informal gatherings with pizza or get involved in discussions on the latest insights from the field of language and linguistics.

A lively Student Union with a range of societies

When you join the University of Essex, you become part of a lively Student Union with over 17,000 members! The Student Union hosts a packed calendar of social events, can provide support during your studies, and help you meet new friends. The Student Union also hosts numerous societies catering to all interests and communities.

University-organised events

The University of Essex also hosts a busy calendar of social events, clubs, networks, and organisations to enjoy.

Excellent transport links to Colchester, London, and beyond

The Colchester campus of the University of Essex is located just outside Colchester City the first capital city of Roman Britain. You can visit the Roman castle, the bustling shops, and the nightlife of Colchester.

London is a one-hour train ride from the Colchester campus. You can easily enjoy all the cultural experiences and employment opportunities the capital offers.

The University has excellent public transport links, including coach, bus, and train services, with access to international airports. We also offer a range of cycling and parking schemes.

Audiovisual equipment

Our students have access to a range of audiovisual equipment on Colchester campus including:

• Newsroom, television and radio studios
• University Media Centre
• Film screening at Cine10

Laboratories for language and linguistics experiments

The School of Language, Literature, and Media houses state-of-the-art facilities unique in the East of England. Businesses, students, and researchers use our facilities for everything from cutting-edge research to large-scale multilingual business conferences - and so can you!

For example, you can use the multilingual conference facilities to practice your translation and interpreting skills, try the latest translation software, and use the interpreting booths.

An incredible University library

The Albert Sloman Library provides students from the School of Language, Literature, and Media with many study resources, including:

• A dedicated Liaison Librarian to help you find the library resources you need
• A subject guide to help you navigate language and linguistics material
• Access to archival Special Collections, including the John Alec Baker Archive.

The Spicer Library and TEFL Resource Room

The School has a dedicated space for language, linguistics, and Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) research. Originally known as the Spicer Library and founded in 1982 by Professor Sam Spicer, a collection began with books purchased and donated by Professor Sam Spicer himself.

Since the 1980s, the Spicer Library & TEFL Resource Room has grown into a fascinating space reserved for students of languages and linguistics. Today, the library functions as a self-study space for students of the School and contains many resources for Teaching English as a Foreign Language students.

Fantastic campus facilities

When you become a student at the University of Essex, you can access a wide range of campus facilities, including:

• A first-class gym with sports classes and team sports
• A media studio for making and editing professional films
• A campus cinema showcasing the latest blockbusters
• 200 acres of award-winning parkland to explore