About the Department

Head: Mr Ed Hounslow profile

The Department has a strong international reputation for providing high-quality English language and related teacher training programmes. ELT  [English Language Teaching] has received very positive inspection reports from HEFCE [The Higher Education Funding Council for England] and the British Council, which accredits our programmes.

At undergraduate level, we offer a BA in English Language Studies, a BA in English Language for Business, and a Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language. At postgraduate level we offer two masters degrees: MA in Intercultural Communication, and MA in Applied Linguistics (for Teachers of English as a Foreign Language).

 We support students from across the University with a range of English for Academic Purposes and Study Skills modules, and run a language testing service for those without a recognised matriculation qualification.

Students not yet ready to start their degree can study with us on one of our International Foundation Courses, or on the first year of a 4-year International Extended Degree.

The Department is host each year to several visiting scholars from overseas universities, who come to observe classes, and to pursue their research interests.

We have PhD students researching into motivation and language learning, language testing, and programme evaluation.

Within the Department, but based in the Business and Management Research Institute at the Putteridge Bury campus, is CRELLA [ Centre for Research in English Language Learning and Assessment ], led by Professor Cyril Weir, the world-famous specialist in language testing.