The Department of English was established at the very commencement of the university in 2003. Since then, the department has flourished into one of the most engaged and dynamic departments of Presidency University. The Department of English offers a wide range of courses on English language, literature, linguistics and language teaching under two programs: BA (Honours) in English and MA in English Language Teaching (ELT).
The Department of English started offering Bachelor of Arts in English in 2003. Since then, the program has been updated several times. To meet the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the programme has been further upgraded by incorporating principles and guidelines from the ISCO-08, ISCED, BAC, and BNQF. Courses from the BA (Honours) program feature literary works from English, American, Latin American, Caribbean and South Asian authors while also integrating concepts, theories and ideologies from the arts and humanities, psychology, sociology and cultural studies. The program also offers courses on English grammar, language and linguistics through which students become capable of advanced reading and comprehension in English language. On the other hand, the Master of Arts in English Language Teaching (ELT) was designed to meet the challenges of transforming inexperienced, unskilled, and semiskilled student teachers and junior language teaching professionals into highly knowledgeable and skilled teachers of English as a second or foreign language. With this end in view, it adopts a multidisciplinary approach by integrating the latest ideas from education, psychology, communication, educational technology, and general and applied linguistics and offers courses on second language acquisition, syllabus design and material development, language testing and evaluation, etc. to develop student teachers‟ knowledge, skills, attitudes, awareness, and competencies required in English language teaching.
Furthermore, it is the aim of the Department of English to create individuals with cultural appreciation and sensitivity. To achieve that goal, the Department of English is actively engaged and plays an indispensable role in several clubs, such as: Cultural Club, Debating Club, English Language Club, Literature and Film Club and Photography Club at Presidency University.
The Department has also been arranging workshops, seminars, academic conferences since 2003 and has worked closely with Bangladesh English Language Teachers Association (BELTA) to arrange workshops for language teachers of schools and colleges. Students and faculties from the department have been conducting research activities in fields of language and literature as well and students from the department participate in national and international conferences regularly to gain practical experience and enhance their research skills.
The English Department has a strong global alumni network who are working in fields such as academia, publishing, media, corporate communication, and education across Bangladesh and abroad. This alumni network offers career guidance, internship referrals, and collaborative opportunities, helping to bridge the gap between academic study and global career placement.
Finally, the Department of English boasts a strong faculty roster and most of whom are top graduates from Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar University. The faculties are closely engaged with the students, offering them counselling and guidance in academic and career matters. It is the expectation of the Department that English graduates will grow as critical thinkers who can apply their analytical skills and become articulate communicators who can express themselves efficiently and lucidly in English language.
Career Prospects of English Graduates from the Department of English at Presidency University
1. Academic and Educational Careers
Graduates of both the BA in English and the MA in English Language Teaching (ELT) are particularly well-suited for careers in Secondary and Higher Education (as English language and literature instructors), Curriculum Design and Material Development, Language Teaching Institutions and ELT Centres. The MA in ELT programme specifically prepares students for roles as teacher educators, curriculum specialists, and educational researchers.
2. Publishing, Editing, and Media
The department’s rigorous training in linguistic and literary analysis, along with strong written communication skills, enables graduates to thrive in publishing houses and editorial departments, print and digital journalism, proofreading and copyediting, content writing and scriptwriting, advertising, media and communication agencies.
3. Corporate and International Communication
The programme’s emphasis on bilingual fluency (English and Bangla), professional communication, and ICT literacy makes graduates suitable for roles in corporate communication and public relations, human resource management, international NGOs and development agencies, and client relations. Graduates are trained to engage confidently in global and multicultural workplaces, with skills in negotiation, presentation, and cross-cultural understanding.
4. Research, Cultural Analysis, and Policy Work
Students with a strong interest in humanities research may pursue careers in academic research, cultural policy and advocacy, translation and comparative literature.
With competencies in critical theory, discourse analysis, and cultural studies, they contribute to interdisciplinary research and policy formulation.
5. Entrepreneurial, Freelance and Civil Service Opportunities
The department encourages innovation and self-direction, enabling graduates to explore freelance writing and consulting, educational entrepreneurship, online language instruction and E-Learning platforms, independent publishing ventures. With strong analytical, communicative, and ethical competencies, English graduates are well-prepared for Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) as well.
