English Language and Culture BA Thesis (2026/2027: Period 3)

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Course aim

The aim of the thesis is to demonstrate that the student is able to conduct academic research independently and to report on that research in an academic manner, in English. English is assessed according to the CEFR learning outcomes: Reading C2, writing C1. The student is able to complete this academic report within one teaching period.

General course objectives.

Students are able to:
· identify the different parts of a BA thesis and know which criteria these parts must meet.
· find, select and assess relevant academic sources for their own research.
· develop and follow an appropriate timeline for completion of their thesis.
· design and execute a meaningful thesis proposal that demonstrates academic and critical thinking and uses the knowledge and skills learned while in the BA program.
· better understand the connection between the knowledge and skills students have acquired in their BA program with career and further educational possibilities.

Linguistics students will also be able to:
· formulate and operationalize an appropriate research question.
· understand and compare different research methods for their developed research question.
· identify and assess the ethical aspects of scientific research.



Literature students will also be able to:
· formulate a realistic and scholarly thesis topic with an argumentative focus.
· identify how to employ close reading, as well as ancillary research methods, to develop a preliminary argumentative thesis statement.

Course content

The thesis is an academic test of competence in the field of English Language and Culture. The student demonstrates that they are able to investigate an area of the field covered by the programme, with at least a certain original analytic component. The topic must be situated in relation to the relevant academic discussion. The end product is the report of this research, which must be written in English and meet the academic requirements. It must be accurate, systematic, and with clearly articulated and appropriate methods. The student presents the results in a manner appropriate to the field.

The thesis is linked to a course at level 2 or 3 that students have taken or is substantively related to or emerging from the student’s specialization in the English Language and Culture major. More information about the form and content of the thesis can be found on the BA thesis website of the English program. There you will also find information about supervision, procedure and assessment.

Additional information

Up-to-date information and details regarding procedure may be found on Brightspace. As the entry requirement course, Thesis Lab provides further details on how to find a supervisor and how to start the BA thesis.

Instructional formats

Individual
Preparation

The individual meetings with the supervisor need to be prepared as mutually agreed, e.g. by the timely submission of a chapter or research report.

Examination

Bachelor's thesis

Required | Weight 100% | Minimum grade 5.5 | ECTS 7.5

The ability to conduct independent academic research and to report on it in an academic manner.

The thesis must be completed within the period of registration.

Entry requirements and preknowledge

Entry Requirements

No data about mandatory entry requirements is available.

Preknowledge

This course admits only students of the English Language and Culture BA who have completed three level 3 courses from the specialization track (22.5 EC). The student has in-depth knowledge of the most important parameters of the field (literature, linguistics, translation, intercultural communication), has acquired fundamental knowledge on how to conduct academic research, and is capable of writing in an academic style.

Prerequisite knowledge can be obtained through

Courses linked to the thesis in terms of content (topic and/or approach), Thesis Lab, independent study.

Languages

  • English

Course Iterations

Related studies

Exams

There is no timetable available of the exams

Required Materials

No information available on the required literature


Recommended Materials

No information available on the recommended literature

Coördinator

dr. T.J. Hagar t.j.hagar@uu.nl

Lecturers

dr. S. Kleij s.kleij@uu.nl
dr. E.M.J. van Raamsdonk e.m.j.vanraamsdonk@uu.nl
dr. S.S.M. van den Elzen s.s.m.vandenelzen@uu.nl
dr. B.J.L. Smorenburg b.j.l.smorenburg@uu.nl
dr. A. Scholten a.scholten@uu.nl
dr. S.J.R. Adams s.j.r.adams@uu.nl
dr. W.S.A.H. Alawi w.s.a.h.alawi@uu.nl
dr. S.A. Chowdhury s.a.chowdhury@uu.nl
dr. M.P.J. Cole M.P.J.Cole@uu.nl
dr. D.L. Cole d.l.cole@uu.nl
dr. S.J. Cook S.J.Cook@uu.nl
dr. W.Z. van den Doel w.z.vandendoel@uu.nl
dr. G.M.W. van Egdom g.m.w.vanegdom@uu.nl
dr. G.C. Greiner g.c.greiner@uu.nl
dr. N.K. de Haas N.K.deHaas@uu.nl
dr. T.J. Hagar t.j.hagar@uu.nl
dr. M.K. Jauregi Ondarra k.jauregi@uu.nl
prof. dr. C.J. Jenks c.j.jenks@uu.nl
dr. O.R. Kosters O.R.Kosters@uu.nl
prof. dr. H. Kotze h.kotze@uu.nl
prof. dr. D.A. Pascoe D.A.Pascoe@uu.nl
dr. J.G.L.A. Riesthuis j.g.l.a.riesthuis@uu.nl
dr. A.T. Tarantini a.t.tarantini@uu.nl
dr. H.A.D. Vriesendorp h.a.d.vriesendorp@uu.nl
dr. M.M. You m.m.you@uu.nl

Enrolment

Attention: this course is not open to students from other faculties, so subsidiary students can't enroll for this course.

Enrollment
From Monday 2 November 2026 up to and including Friday 20 November 2026

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