English and Communication Studies BA
If you’re studying the English and Communication Studies BA at Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTLU), you can complete the final two years of your dual degree at the University of Liverpool on our 2+2 programme. At Liverpool, you’ll study English and Communication Studies BA (Hons).
You’ll graduate with two qualifications – an XJTLU degree and a University of Liverpool degree, both recognised by the Chinese Ministry of Education. A Liverpool degree is globally respected within the academic community and among employers.
On this page, you can find out more about studying and living in Liverpool.
Course content
Discover what you'll learn, what you'll study, and how you'll be taught and assessed.
Year three
English
Year three focuses on the major periods of English Literature and core aspects of English Language study. Modules available examine the literature of specific historical periods, eg the Renaissance, Victorian, or modernist, or areas of language study including child language acquisition or psycholinguistics.
Communication Studies
Your year three modules offer plenty of options, so you can begin to specialise in the areas which interest you most or which might prove valuable for your chosen career. For example, you can delve more deeply into film and the entertainment industry, artificial intelligence or digital cultures. Or you can explore some of the practices associated with promotional media or working with data.
You will take two modules that will introduce you to academic research and support you to practice and develop your research skills.
On the 2+2 programme, you'll study your third and fourth years at the University of Liverpool. These will be year two and year three of the University of Liverpool's programme of study.
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Modules
| Compulsory modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA RESEARCH I (COMM207) | 15 |
| COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA RESEARCH II (COMM208) | 15 |
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Year four
English
In year three, the emphasis is on specialisation within different literary genres and on the social, legal and other contexts of the English language. You will also develop skills of independent research – for instance, by choosing to write a dissertation on a topic of your own design – and you will also have the option to take a work placement module that will give you workplace experience with an organisation relevant to your degree.
Communication Studies
Your final year offers an even wider range of options, designed to provide opportunities to specialise further in your chosen areas of the subject and to strengthen your employability and research skills. Some modules encourage you to deepen your understanding of the topics studied in year two, but you can also learn to study magazines and design your own, explore how media represent human rights issues or the environment, or discover areas as diverse as photography, strategic communication or queer film, for example.
Students must take one of the following modules involving independent study in their final year:
- COMM401
- COMM335
- SOTA300
- COMM342
- ENGL311
- ENGL379
- ENGL380
Please note: to study any language module in year three, you must take at least one language module in year two. To study any literature module in year four, you must take at least one literature module in year three.
On the 2+2 programme, you'll study your third and fourth years at the University of Liverpool. These will be year two and year three of the University of Liverpool's programme of study.
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Modules
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Your experience
Expand your horizons and develop a truly global outlook.
At our Liverpool campus you’ll have access to state-of-the-art facilities and resources, a Gold-rated teaching experience, and language and careers support to help you make the most of your time with us. You’ll also live and study in a city that’s known for being diverse, welcoming and inclusive – home to the oldest Chinese community in Europe.
Your course will be delivered by the Department of English and the Department of Communication and Media.
Explore where you'll study
Supporting your learning
From arrival to alumni, we’re with you all the way:
- Careers and employability support, including help with career planning, understanding the job market and strengthening your networking skills
- A dedicated student services team can help you get assistance with your studies, help with health and wellbeing, and access to financial advice
- Confidential counselling and support to help students with personal problems affecting their studies and general wellbeing
- Support for students with differing needs from the Disability advice and guidance team. They can identify and recommend appropriate support provisions for you.
Why study Communication and Media at Liverpool?
- We are currently ranked within the world top 75 universities for Communication (Shanghai Global Rankings of Academic Subjects 2025), placing us fifth highest in the UK
- We have a long-standing reputation for innovative research in media, cultural and communication studies
- The interest in contemporary communication is at the heart of our enterprise, though always with a focus on how the media deploy their affordances to communicative and social effect
- There is a strong family-ethos within the department. Personal interaction with our students is at the heart of what we do
- We have exciting partnerships with industry, arts and key creative venues both in the city and internationally and they collaborate with us as part of the programme offer
- Ranked 4th in the sector for outstanding (4*) research impact, with 100% of our impact classified as either outstanding (4*) or very considerable (REF 2021)
- Our programmes address a wide range of questions about the modern media industry, news, communication and social interaction in a lively and creative environment
- Our internationally-acclaimed research is casting innovative light on many aspects of the discipline and engaging with the very latest topics, such as social media, populism, artificial intelligence, global media events, fake news and online harassment.
Chat with our students
Want to find out more about student life?
Chat with our student ambassadors and ask any questions you have.
Careers and employability
Gain an international advantage and enhance your professional future.
The 2+2 programme will help you to stand out from the crowd. By undertaking two years of study with us, you’ll develop into a global citizen with the skills, knowledge and abilities to succeed in today’s competitive job market.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching and assessment, operating facilities such as libraries, IT equipment, and access to academic and personal support.
All XJTLU 2+2 students receive a partnership discount of 10% on international tuition fee rates.
XJTLU students beginning studies at Liverpool will receive a Vice Chancellor's Merit Scholarship of a 30% tuition fee reduction if they're in the top 5% of their programme cohort and achieve a minimum average score of 80%+ for STEM subjects, or 70%+ for non-STEM subjects.
The Vice-Chancellor's Merit Scholarship cannot be combined with the XJTLU partnership discount. Discounts and scholarships are valid for the programme duration at Liverpool.
Please note, students required to retake a year at Liverpool will be required to pay the full international tuition fee during the retake year.
More about life in Liverpool
Discover more about the city and University.
Why study at Liverpool?
Liverpool bursts with diversity and creativity which makes it ideal for you to undertake your studies and access various opportunities for you and your family.
Accommodation
To fully immerse yourself in the university experience, living in halls will keep you close to campus where you can always meet new people. Find your home away from home.
Fees and Finance
Discover what expenses are covered by the cost of your tuition fees and other finance-related information you may need regarding your studies at Liverpool.
Contact us
For any questions about the 2+2 programme, please contact Helen Li (Liverpool Mobility Manager at XJTLU).