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BA (Hons) English Language and Linguistics

Engage with the English language in its historical and social contexts

Year of entry: 2024/25

UCAS code

Q302

Institution code

Y50

Length

3 years full-time (plus optional placement year)

Typical offer

AAB (full entry requirements)

Start date

September 2024 (semester dates)

UK (home) fees

£9,250 per year

International and EU fees

£23,700 per year

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Discover York

in the Russell Group for 'Learning resources'

of institutions included in the National Student Survey 2023 for linguistics.

in the UK for the quality of our linguistics research

according to the Times Higher Education’s ranking of the latest REF results (2021).

in the UK for linguistics

QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2023.

Studying English Language and Linguistics will enable you to discover the changing shape of English over time and space, and the science behind language acquisition, processing and communication.

You’ll engage with theories of how language works as well as hands-on analysis of linguistic data. The challenging integration of theory and practice will enable you to become a uniquely-skilled analytical thinker and problem-solver. Your knowledge and understanding of how a language works and how we communicate, and the skills you will develop along the way, will give you a solid foundation for a wide range of careers.

This flexible course allows you to focus on your main interests from the second year onwards. You’ll be taught by world-leading academics whose expertise covers a range of areas of linguistics. You’ll also be able to take advantage of the dedicated linguistic resources located in our department e-lab. Our Virtual Learning Environment is always accessible, meaning that you’ll be able to use the resources whenever you need them.

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. You can count the work you complete in your TEFL modules towards a CertTESOL qualification. This teacher training programme, also offered in-house, can qualify you to teach English to non-native speakers.

Choose elective modules across a wide range of languages

As part of your degree, you can choose to take a credit-bearing module in a variety of languages - from Medieval Latin to Japanese, to Arabic or Chinese.

In-depth study

​English is spoken by over one billion people, either natively or as a second language. By immersing yourself in the study of English, you'll reach deep conclusions about the nature of the language, and discover the forces that have shaped it over time.

Course content

You’ll examine spoken and written data to understand how language works, using tools from core areas of linguistics including syntax, phonetics and phonology, and semantics. You will apply your knowledge and skills in linguistics to different domains of language study, for example: psycholinguistics, language acquisition, sociolinguistics, language variation and change, language in interaction, the history of English, and forensic speech science. ​

Building upon the core skills in linguistic analysis you developed in your first year of study, you can customise your programme of study by specialising in particular areas of interest in your second and final years.

You'll be able to take elective modules from another department. All electives are offered subject to departmental approval and timetable availability. You may also take certain language courses offered by Languages for All (LFA) as electives, but there may be restrictions on which LFA levels can be taken at each stage of your degree. Ask us for further details.

Study abroad

There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:

Placements

There are opportunities to spend time in industry as part of this course.

Year 1

You will gain a grounding in the basic vocabulary and concepts of linguistic theory, which form the bedrock of your future study of the English language. We also put the modern language in context by exploring where it came from and why it is the way it is today. Throughout the year, you will learn core skills in linguistics that complement your English Language studies.

Core modules

Academic integrity module

In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.

Year 2

In the second year, you'll apply your core analytic knowledge to new types of data in English Language and Linguistics, according to your interests (eg regional varieties of English, Teaching English as a Foreign Language, historical development of English). You'll also continue to deepen your theoretical knowledge in the core areas of linguistics that you choose to pursue. Second-year linguistics modules cover areas including phonetics and phonology, language variation and change, syntax, semantics, interaction, and psycholinguistics.

Core modules

Option modules

You will also study four option modules. In previous years, options have covered topics such as:

You may also replace two option modules with elective modules from another department.

The options available to you will be confirmed later in the year. For further information please get in touch.

Year 3

In your final year, you can choose freely from a wide range of modules. You will have the opportunity to become proficient in all aspects of managing small-scale linguistic projects, from identifying the research questions, to communicating the findings. You can choose to specialise, follow your own interests and carry out original research.

You will study six option modules:

The options available to you will be confirmed later in the year. For further information please get in touch.

Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.

Learning by design

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.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

  • Apply a thorough and scientifically grounded understanding of the English language in a variety of contexts, including writing, teaching, and solving complex communication-related problems.
  • Approach with confidence intricate, complex and unfamiliar linguistic phenomena, discern relevant patterns and convey their significance to a variety of audiences.
  • Propose creative and principled solutions to linguistic problems and contribute them effectively to interdisciplinary teams, forming a bridge between humanities and scientific disciplines.
  • Communicate clearly and effectively to specialists and the general public, using advanced written and oral skills, the nature and relevance of linguistic questions and controversies, the pivotal significance of language for human cognition, and the ways knowledge of language influences behaviour.
  • Appreciate, engage with, and synthesise arguments from a variety of standpoints, and interrogate their own assumptions, showing clear reasoning and an understanding of linguistic and cultural diversity.
  • Identify and formulate novel questions and projects and work effectively on them taking on different roles in a range of work environments.
  • Engage with aspects of social, cultural, and political realities where language plays an important role with sensitivity and perceptiveness, and be able to highlight the relevance of linguistic issues to policy-making in a globalised and interconnected world, and especially the role of the English language in a global language community.

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees

UK (home) International and EU
£9,250 £23,700

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

Set texts are available from the Library or online, but you may wish to buy your own copy for some modules. These typically cost between £10 and £30. 

Funding

We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2024/25 throughout the year.

Departmental Scholarship

Find out more about funding specific to Languages and Linguistics.

Living costs

You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.

Teaching Excellence Framework Gold Award

Gold-standard education

Our teaching, learning and student experience is outstanding, recognised by a Gold rating from the Office for Students in the 2023 national assessment (Teaching Excellence Framework).

Why we’re gold-rated

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

You'll be taught in different ways, from lectures to small-group discussions and individual work. Our different teaching formats equip you to be an effective independent learner. In your first year we offer you extra study support in several ways. Our Peer Assisted Learning programme gives you the opportunity to work with other students. You can also add an optional contact hour with one of our staff each week and receive additional support with easing into university life.

First year

You'll focus on learning how to use the tools of linguistic study. You'll attend large lectures (some with over 100 students) accompanied by set work to complete. You'll have regular smaller group sessions (15-20 students) which give you the opportunity to discuss your progress, resolve problems and expand upon the set exercises. A new part of our programme for 23/24 is the first-year module Understanding Language in the Real World. This module uses an innovative approach called problem-based learning (PBL). You’ll work with fellow students in teams to come up with solutions to real-world language problems.

Second year

In addition to lectures, you can participate in group presentations and practical sessions. You'll also prepare in advance for seminar discussions, which may include library-based research. Classes in second year tend to be smaller, and students have more opportunities to write essays and design their own projects.

Final year

You'll work with challenging and stimulating primary research papers for some modules. For other modules involving phonetic or grammatical analysis you'll work in the lab. You'll take a primary role in researching and presenting content. You can choose to write a dissertation, and you'll be supervised by a member of staff for this.

Throughout the course you'll typically spend 12 hours per teaching week in the classroom. You should expect to devote at least 30 additional hours a week to independent study, completing set exercises, reading, researching projects, coursework and assessment preparation. In Semester 1 students will have a “consolidation week” where no assignments will be set; this is an opportunity to consolidate what was learned in the first half of the semester. In Semester 2, there will be no reading week and no consolidation week; there will, however, be a two week Easter break.

Timetabled activities

In your first year, you can expect:

Lectures5-6 hours per week
Seminars5-6 hours per week
Workshops5-6 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.

Facilities

All of our modules have Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) websites where all crucial materials — reading lists, handouts, discussion boards — are always accessible. Most first-year modules provide additional self-study practice exercises on the VLE.

We have our own departmental e-lab for the teaching and study time of our students. Here you will have access to a variety of resources, including specialist linguistics software, collections of text and speech, and online language-learning materials. Several undergraduate modules are taught in this laboratory and you'll receive training in using these resources.

Teaching location

You will be based in the Department of Language and Linguistic Science on Campus West. Your contact hours will be on 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'll complete coursework and exams, ranging from short sets of exercises and extended essays, to group projects where you research and present a topic in a team. Some of our advanced phonetics or phonology modules require spoken (oral) or listening (aural) assessments. In most modules, the final mark is made up of the marks for more than one type of assessment.

You'll also take formative assessments, which do not count towards your final mark, but offer you feedback on your progress and development. Types of feedback can include in-class discussion of common problems on a particular assignment, model answers, one-on-one discussion of research projects and online responses on the module discussion board, as well as written feedback on work that you have submitted.

We can make appropriate adjustments to assessment procedures for students with disabilities. See the University's disability support pages for further details.

A student working at a computer
A group of students working and talking around a table

Careers and skills

Effective communication, critical thinking and project management skills are central to most careers. The study of language and linguistics at York equips you with these skills and others, which translate readily into any work context. Read more about employability skills.

Our graduates have an excellent record of pursuing fulfilling paths after graduation. Learn more about graduate career destinations.

Apart from your knowledge of linguistics, you will leave with the confidence and skills that come from successfully completing a demanding course and participating fully in university life.

There are specialist careers that lead directly from your degree, after additional postgraduate training, including: clinical linguistics (speech and language therapy), forensic linguistics (forensic speech science), teaching (primary and secondary), teaching English as a foreign language, academic research and higher/further education.

Career opportunities

  • Marketing and communications
  • Publishing
  • Broadcasting and journalism
  • Local government and public service
  • Business, finance and accountancy
  • Teaching
  • Translation and interpreting
  • IT and software development

Transferable skills

  • Effective communication skills
  • Intercultural awareness
  • Critical thinking
  • Project management
  • Independent learning
  • Data analysis
  • Problem solving
  • Teamwork

Entry requirements

Typical offer
A levels

AAB

Access to Higher Education Diploma Obtain Access to HE Diploma with 36 credits at Distinction and 9 credits at Merit or higher
BTEC National Extended Diploma DDD
Cambridge Pre-U D3, D3, M2
European Baccalaureate 80% overall average
International Baccalaureate 35 points
T levels We will consider a range of T Level qualifications for entry. Please visit our dedicated T Levels page for a full list of accepted T Levels.
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 If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to three A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Black Access Programme, Next Step York, Realising Opportunities, YESS, YorWay to York. More about widening participation.
Contextual offers If you have experience of local authority care or live in an area with low progression to university, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about contextual offers.
EPQ If you achieve C or higher at 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 Accents, attitudes and identity do let us know, as you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. 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:

Minimum requirement
IELTS (Academic) 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
Cambridge CEFR 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component
Oxford ELLT 7, with a minimum of 6 in each component
Duolingo 120, minimum 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 Communicator with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component
KITE 459 Main Flight score with 426 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
Trinity ISE III Merit in all components

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.

Applying

To apply to York, you will need to complete an online application via UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).

Next steps

Contact us

Get in touch if you have any questions

Linguistics Undergraduate Admissions
James Tompkinson

Learn more

Department of Language and Linguistic Science

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