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BA (Hons) Philosophy and Linguistics
Gain a deeper understanding of what language is and the role it plays in human life
Year of entry: 2026/27
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=1st in the Russell Group for 'learning resources'
1st in the UK for the quality of our linguistics research and 1st for research impact in philosophy
5th in the UK for linguistics
Philosophy and Linguistics come together to create a fascinating and challenging degree.
It will provide you with a deeper understanding of what language is, while also enabling you to form carefully considered opinions. Think seriously and independently about major philosophical questions.
You will immerse yourself in the study of language. You'll examine syntax, phonetics, phonology and semantics. This will culminate in the realisation of how we express ourselves through language. It's an important aspect of what makes us human, and a key to examining your own nature and that of the world around you.
Get a head start in Teaching English as a Foreign Language at York
At York, you'll benefit from being able to take TEFL modules in-house, as part of your degree. The work you complete in your TEFL modules can help you prepare for a qualification. This teacher training programme, also offered in-house, can qualify you to teach English to non-native speakers.
I found the programme to be particularly inspiring because of the amount of independent thought that was encouraged by my tutors in both subjects. They consistently had high expectations of the students and pushed us to be creative and come up with original solutions to the issues we were studying.
Course content
Taught by world-leading experts, you have a wide range of options to choose from, reflecting the expertise of two diverse departments. We offer modules in all the central areas of philosophy and linguistics, so you can tailor your degree to reflect your own areas of interest. The modules on offer may vary from year to year.
Year 1
In first year you'll get a firm grounding in philosophy, learning how to study, think and write philosophically, and developing your skills in reasoning and argument. By introducing you to some of the central areas of philosophy we will challenge you to form your own opinions about the bigger questions. You'll consider the nature of knowledge, and explore the fundamental nature of reality.
Modules devoted to the core areas of linguistics - syntax, semantics, and phonetics and phonology - will give you an appreciation of the nuances of language and the role it plays in human life. We'll teach you about the relationship between the sounds of speech, as well as the abstract linguistic system that underlies them. You'll study the structure of sentences and phrases, analyse meaning in language and its use in communication.
Core modules
- Understanding Language in the Real World
- Language and the Mind
- Philosophical Analysis
- Logic
- Syntactic Structures or Phonetics and Phonology or English Past and Present
Option modules
You will study one option module. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
Academic integrity module
In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.
Year 2
Your second-year modules will help you to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills that you'll use in more specialised investigations.
Core modules
- Aspects of a Theory of Syntax or Acoustic Phonetics and Phonological Analysis or Sociolinguistics
- Foundations of Meaning
Option modules
You will study four option modules. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
Linguistics
- Middle English: Texts and Contexts
- Language Acquisition
- Language Attitudes in Applied Contexts
- Linguistics as Data Science
- Language of Turn and Sequence
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language I
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language II
Philosophy
- Aesthetics
- Applied Ethics
- Being and Reason: Spinoza's Metaphysics
- Ethical Theory
- Knowledge and the Social Sciences
- Logic and Paradox
- Love, Law, and Solidarity: Recognition from Rousseau to Honneth
- Metaphysics
- Philosophy of Language
- Philosophy of Mind
- Philosophy of Science
- Politics and Freedom: Anarchism and Conservatism
- Religious Ethics
- The Limits of Reason: Kant's Theoretical and Practical Philosophy
Elective modules
You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.
Year 3
In the third year you can specialise further, choosing from a wide range of modules based on our latest research and the expertise of our staff, enabling you to tailor your degree to your particular interests.
Core modules
You will study five option modules. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
Linguistics
- Topics in Language Variation and Change
- Topics in Phonetics & Phonology
- Topics in Psycholinguistics: Language Processing
- Topics in Syntax
- A Usage-based View of Language
- Bilingualism
- English Corpus Linguistics
- English Place-names across Time and Space
- Dialect Grammar of Britain English
- Forensic Linguistics
- Forensic Phonetics
- Linguistic Computations: Real and Artificial Intelligence
- Multimodality: Language and the Body
- Neurolinguistics: Language and the Brain
- Phonological Development
- Psycholinguistics: Language Processing
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language II
- Universals and Variation in Syntactic Systems
Some of these modules may require previous study in that area.
Philosophy
- Action and Agency
- Buddhism as Philosophy
- Causation and Laws
- Cognitive Anomalies, Decision-Making and Democracy
- Consciousness
- Contemporary Issues in Bioethics
- Experimental Philosophy: The Philosophy of Psychology
- Foundations of Mathematics
- German Idealism: Moral, Legal & Political Philosophy
- Happiness, Utility and Wellbeing
- Mind and Morality
- Nine Art Works, Nine Philosophical Problems
- Philosophy of Christianity
- Philosophy of Law
- Philosophy of Physics
- Property and Self-ownership
- The Nature of Time
- Theories of Social Justice: Rawls and Beyond
- Topics in Feminist Philosophy
- World and Mind
Elective modules
You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
Learning outcomes
Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
Learning outcomes for this course
- Produce insightful and illuminating explanations of key problems and puzzles in philosophy and linguistics and apply their understanding in approaching new problems
- Explore and develop potential solutions to complex problems and puzzles in philosophy and linguistics
- Lay out what can be said for and against these solutions, and make a measured judgement about what is the best solution in each case, supporting that judgement with a sustained line of argument
- Use scientifically grounded approaches to the nature, use and acquisition of language to investigate complex and unfamiliar linguistic phenomena, discern relevant patterns and articulate their relevance to linguistic and philosophical audiences
- Work effectively and productively as a thinker and learner, individually and in collaboration with others
- Communicate complex ideas in clear and accessible terms in a range of formats
Fees and funding
The fees and funding information here is for students starting in the 2026/27 academic year.
If you take a year abroad or year in industry you'll pay a reduced rate of fees for that year.
Annual tuition fees
| UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|
| £9,790 | £26,900 |
The UK government has announced its intention to increase tuition fees from £9,535 to £9,790 for the 2026/27 academic year. We expect this to apply to new UK (home) undergraduate students starting their studies in September 2026.
UK (home) or international fees?
The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Fees for subsequent years
- UK (home) fees may increase within the government fee cap in subsequent academic years. We will notify you of any increase as soon as we can.
- International fees are subject to increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).
More information
For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.
Additional costs
This course gives a great deal of flexibility in terms of the modules you may choose to study. You may choose to buy your own copies of the texts although course books will be available from the library, and online reading packs are available for most modules.
Funding
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2026/27 throughout the year.
York, Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial
Just four UK universities are rated Gold for teaching and top ten for research* in the latest national assessment exercises.
* Awarded joint 10th in the Times Higher Education ranking of the Research Excellence Framework 2021.
Teaching and assessment
You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
Teaching format
Studying Philosophy is different from many other degrees; you need to be an active participant in your own learning, asking questions and evaluating your own thoughts, beliefs and responses. You will learn the tools of linguistic study through lectures, seminars and practicals, accompanied by set work to put your new skills into practice.
You will take part in discussions with your peers and academic staff and develop your knowledge and skills through:
- Small group seminars (12 - 20 students)
- Reading groups
- Lectures
- Written work with written feedback
- Visiting speakers.
Every member of staff has a 'Feedback and Advice Time' every week, and students are actively encouraged to use this opportunity for one-to-one contact and informal discussion. In your first year we offer you extra study support in several ways. You can work with other students with our Peer Assisted Learning programme, add an optional contact hour with one of our staff each week as well as receive designated support with easing into university life.
Timetabled activities
In your first year, you can expect:
| Lectures | 5-6 hours per week |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 4 hours per week |
| Workshops | 3 hours per week |
These figures are representative of a typical week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities.
Outside your timetabled hours, you'll study independently. This may include preparation for classes, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.
In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during semesters. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.
Teaching location
You will be based in the departments of Philosophy and Language and Linguistics. Teaching on this course takes place at various locations across Campus West.
About our campus
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can use the fast and frequent bus service. Take a campus tour.
Assessment and feedback
You will be assessed by a combination of coursework and examinations.
Coursework includes:
- Set exercises
- Essays
- Group projects
- Oral and aural assessments.
We give feedback on your ideas in class, and provide written feedback on all your submitted work.
Careers and skills
You'll develop skills that are in great demand by employers. As a graduate, you will have many options when it comes to choosing a career path. Some of our graduates go on to further academic study or professional training in areas including law and journalism. After additional postgraduate training graduates with a passion for linguistics have the option to enter careers in: clinical linguistics (speech and language therapy), teaching, academic research and higher/further education, and forensic linguistics (forensic speech science).
Career opportunities
- Central and local government
- Charities
- Finance
- IT support and software development
- Media
- Marketing and communications
- Publishing
- Librarianship
- Private sector management
Transferable skills
- Analytical and critical thinking
- Constructing and defending a coherent argument
- Grasping complex ideas
- Creative problem-solving
- Understanding of language and expression
Entry requirements
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| A levels | AAB/A*BB/A*AC |
| Access to Higher Education Diploma | 36 credits at Distinction and 9 credits at Merit or higher |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DDD |
| European Baccalaureate | 80% overall |
| International Baccalaureate | 35 points |
| T levels | Distinction overall including grade A in the Core T Level subjects in Accounting; Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing; Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction; Digital Business Services; Digital Production, Design and Development; Digital Support and Services; Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control; Finance; Health; Healthcare Science; Legal Services; Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing; Management and Administration; Marketing; Science |
| Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers | Scottish Highers - AABBB Advanced Highers - not required for entry We may also be able to consider three Advanced Highers or a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers, where an applicant does not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone. Please contact us to discuss your qualifications. |
| International foundation programme | Foundation Certificate from our International Pathway College or an appropriate alternative. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
Alternative offers
Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.
| Criteria | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Widening participation | BBC This is conditional upon successful completion of the WP programme including the YorJourney module (Black Access Programme, Next Step York) or successful completion of Realising Opportunities More about widening participation. |
| Contextual offer | BBB |
| EPQ | If you achieve C or higher in the EPQ, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
| Core Maths | If you achieve B or higher in Core Maths, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
| MOOCs | If you successfully complete our online course Logic: the language of truth, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. Details about how to evidence completion of the MOOC will be sent in your offer letter. Please note: you do not need to pay for the certificate. More about MOOCs. |
English language
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Qualification | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component |
| IB English | A score of 4 in English A or 5 in English B (Higher Level or Standard Level) |
| Cambridge CEFR | 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, with a minimum of 6 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 136, with a minimum of 126 in each component |
| Duolingo | Integrated subscores: 120 overall, with a minimum of 105 in each component |
| GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) | Grade C / Grade 4 |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | B2 with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 478 Main Flight score with 444 in each component |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component (taken before January 2026) 4.5 with 5 in Listening and 4.5 in each other component (taken after January 2026) |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all components |
| Other English language qualifications | We also accept other English Language qualifications, including various school-leaving certificates. |
For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.
If you haven't met our English language requirements
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
Next steps
Contact us
Get in touch if you have any questions
Dr David Worsley
Dr Tamar Keren-Portnoy and Dr Dominic Watt
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