English Language and Linguistics

Entry requirements

A minimum of a second-class honours degree, or equivalent, in an appropriate discipline (e.g. English Language, Linguistics), is required. International students are required to have a minimum IELTS score of 6.5. Admission is subject to written application, academic reference, acceptable entry qualification profile, evidence of written work, and possibly an interview.

Months of entry

October

Course content

Course overview

Join our expert English Language team and research the extraordinary range of varieties and functions of this global language. Advanced knowledge of phonetics and syntax coupled with practical application and exploration of English in context – e.g. speech therapy, English in education, discourse analysis – forms the core of our MA course. You will be given expert supervision and guidance in completing your own research-based thesis on a specialist topic of your choosing.

Why Study English Language and Linguistics with us?

Our cutting-edge MA course is delivered by a dynamic team of linguists, each with their own research specialisms. Our range of expertise includes corpus linguistics (computer-assisted discourse analysis), acoustic phonetics (useful for speech therapy), cognitive stylistics (how our minds process fictional and non-fictional texts) and critical discourse analysis (e.g. ideology in the media). Students can also explore conflicts and controversies in the discipline and contribute to our online blog (see languagedebates.wordpress.com).

Our dedicated English Language research space will allow you to undertake data-based projects using some of the latest specialist software (e.g. for acoustic phonetics and corpus linguistic analysis).

How will I be taught?

Lectures and seminars/workshops will be supplemented by dissertation supervision and personal tutorials with lecturers. Guest lecturers from other universities – experts in their field – will present their work to you at special research seminars.

How will I be assessed?

Assessments are tailored for each module and include exercises in grammar and phonetics/phonology, discourse analysis essays, seminar papers (including presentations), discursive essays, extended data collection and analysis projects, portfolio, and an extended thesis (dissertation).