Social Research and Applied Linguistics

Entry requirements

Our standard postgraduate entry requirement is a second-class honours degree (2:2 or above) from a UK university, or an equivalent international qualification.

We will review every postgraduate application to Birkbeck on its individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

Months of entry

October

Course content

• Rigorous training in a range of contemporary social research methods, including quantitative and qualitative methods. Focuses on research design, addressing critical issues in social research.
• Interdisciplinary, theoretically informed and creative approach to research, forming an excellent foundation for doctoral progression.
• In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF), Politics at Birkbeck was ranked 17th in the UK.
• You will be taught by specialists from our Department of Languages, Cultures and Applied Linguistics, a centre of teaching and research excellence. Applied linguistics has been taught at Birkbeck since 1965.
• The School of Arts offers a number of bursaries for postgraduate students.
• The School of Arts is an official partner of the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) in London. Opportunities for students have included a year’s free membership of the ICA, private views, discounts on all talks and events, free members' screenings and £3 cinema tickets on Tuesdays, up to 25% off ICA Artists' Editions and a monthly e-newsletter.

Information for international students

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.

If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.