The study programme offers an education in language and literature from the Nordic and English language areas, and provides insight into contemporary and past language and literature. The student can choose to emphasise Norwegian (Nordic) or English, and can specialise in topics within language or literature.The study programme has distinct learning objectives depending on the courses chosen by the student.

With specialisation within Nordic language and literature, the programme provides entrace qualifications for the Master's study in Written Culture at Volda University College and other relevant Master's programmes at colleges and universities in Norway and abroad. With specialisation in English, the programme provides entrance qualifications for relevant Master's programmes in Norway and abroad. A Master's degree containing a school subject (such as Norwegian or English) is required for admission to the one year course in educational theory and practice (PPU), and will with together with this provide teaching qualifications for the educational system.

Students who aim to teach in the school subjects Norwegian and English need a certain minimum of both literary and linguistic courses. The programme also provides qualifications for other types of employment in which laguage- and/or text- or cultural qualifications are needed. This may include public relations, the press, publishing, library and archive work, as well as work on an international or cross-cultural level.