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2nd for Linguistics
The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2024)
World top ten for Linguistics (QS World University Subject Rankings 2023)
8th for Graduate Prospects (Linguistics) Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024
Why English Language?
English remains the most widely spoken language in the world. English is used every day at work, at home, in conversations with friends, in schools, hospitals and courtrooms, in the news, on social media and in reading great works of literature. Understanding where English came from, how it works, how it is used and how it is changing is key to understanding our society, its identities, institutions and practices, and its creative ideas.
In this fascinating subject, you will study fundamental issues including:
Our extensive catalogue of optional modules also gives you the chance to look at the way English is used in a broad range of contexts, including advertising, politics, media, literature and the law. You will also learn how technology can be harnessed to study patterns in the structures and use of English across large databases.
English Langauge is not just a fascinating area of study, you will gain a skillset that opens doors to a range of exciting and rewarding careers. Transferrable skills include a capacity for critical thinking, an ability to gather, organise and analyse large quantities of data, and an aptitude for developing new and innovative ideas. You will have the chance to develop specialist skills including in the lexical and grammatical analysis of English, the use of technology to track trends in the way English is used, and crafting language for creative industries.
Why Lancaster?
We are one of the largest departments for the study of language in the country and one of the most highly rated in the world (10th in the QS World Rankings). Studying linguistics at Lancaster means you will be able to:
Get to know some members of our staff. In the videos they give brief insights into their research interests and teaching.
Professor Claire Nance discusses sounds of the world’s languages using ‘r’ as an example, which articulatorily complex and varies in its articulation across different languages.
Dr Sam Kirkham discusses articulatory phonetics, demonstrating how ultrasound technology allows us to observe the dance of the tongue during speech production.
Professor Elena Semino discusses stylistics, highlighting how linguistic analysis helps us to understand the way poems or novels work in arousing feelings or transporting us to another world.
Professor Christopher Hart discusses linguistic relativity and the language of Tzeltal, which describes object locations as uphill, downhill or across the hill rather than using words for left and right.
Dr Claire Hardaker discusses forensic linguistics and the different tasks that forensics linguists perform for the police, including authorship analysis and profiling.
Dr George Brown discusses computational linguistics and its contributions to speech technology including text-to-speech conversion and AI.
Dr Silke Brandt discusses child language acquisition and the question of how much innate knowledge children bring to the task and how much they learn from the linguistic environment.
In your first year you take three large modules (worth 40 credits each) from three different subject areas. This flexible system enables students to gain a firm footing in related subject areas and to explore new horizons in a risk-free way. Most of our English Language students choose Linguistics as one of their optional modules in the first year. Other optional modules are then selected from outside the department of Linguistics and English Language. As an English Language student, you may be particularly interested in modules from Sociology, Law, English Literature and Creative Writing or Languages and Cultures. Some typical options are listed under course structure.
In your second and third years, you’ll select from a range of core and optional modules relating to linguistics adding up 120 credits per year. In your third year, this includes a dissertation which gives you the chance to conduct an in-depth, independent study in an area of linguistics that interests you.
Flexible Programme
The study abroad option is an exciting opportunity for anyone who is thinking of working abroad during their career or who simply wants the experience of living and studying overseas as part of their degree.
Often study abroad students describe the year abroad as a “transformative experience”, as it can shape your future career path as well as having a positive impact on your personal development.
Study abroad - Lancaster students
You will study in your third year at one of our international partner universities. This will help you to
During your year abroad, you will choose specialist modules relating to your degree and potentially other modules offered by the host university that are specialisms of that university and country.
The places available at our overseas partners vary each year, but destinations have previously included Australia, USA, Canada, Europe and Asia.
We will make reasonable endeavours to place students at an approved overseas partner university that offers appropriate modules. Occasionally places overseas may not be available for all students who want to study abroad or the place at the partner university may be withdrawn if core modules are unavailable.
If you are not offered a place to study overseas, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent standard 3-year degree scheme and would complete your studies at Lancaster. Lancaster University cannot accept responsibility for any financial aspects of the year abroad.
Language study isn’t just about facts, but also learning to manage data, evaluate evidence and present results. These are all skills that today’s employers value.
Here are some areas that typically interest our graduates:
Some of our graduates continue their studies or specialise with a postgraduate course or professional training in the field of languages or a related area.
Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring that you gain a highly reputable degree. We are also dedicated to ensuring that you graduate with relevant life and work-based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award, which offers you the opportunity to complete activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development.
Visit our Employability section for full details.
A Level AAB
IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component. For other English language qualifications we accept, please see our English language requirements webpages.
International Baccalaureate 35 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects
BTEC Distinction, Distinction, Distinction
We welcome applications from students with a range of alternative UK and international qualifications, including combinations of qualification. Further guidance on admission to the University, including other qualifications that we accept, frequently asked questions and information on applying, can be found on our general admissions webpages.
Contact Admissions Team + 44 (0) 1524 592028 or via ugadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk
Detailed module information for this undergraduate programme will follow shortly. However, if you have any questions please contact the department.
Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting in the October of your year of study.
Our Undergraduate Tuition Fees for 2024/25 are:
| Home | International |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £23,750 |
There may be extra costs related to your course for items such as books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation, you may need to pay a subscription to a professional body for some chosen careers.
Specific additional costs for studying at Lancaster are listed below.
Lancaster is proud to be one of only a handful of UK universities to have a collegiate system. Every student belongs to a college, and all students pay a small college membership fee which supports the running of college events and activities. Students on some distance-learning courses are not liable to pay a college fee.
For students starting in 2023 and 2024, the fee is £40 for undergraduates and research students and £15 for students on one-year courses. Fees for students starting in 2025 have not yet been set.
To support your studies, you will also require access to a computer, along with reliable internet access. You will be able to access a range of software and services from a Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux device. For certain degree programmes, you may need a specific device, or we may provide you with a laptop and appropriate software - details of which will be available on relevant programme pages. A dedicated IT support helpdesk is available in the event of any problems.
The University provides limited financial support to assist students who do not have the required IT equipment or broadband support in place.
In addition to travel and accommodation costs, while you are studying abroad, you will need to have a passport and, depending on the country, there may be other costs such as travel documents (e.g. VISA or work permit) and any tests and vaccines that are required at the time of travel. Some countries may require proof of funds.
In addition to possible commuting costs during your placement, you may need to buy clothing that is suitable for your workplace and you may have accommodation costs. Depending on the employer and your job, you may have other costs such as copies of personal documents required by your employer for example.
The fee that you pay will depend on whether you are considered to be a home or international student. Read more about how we assign your fee status.
Fees are set by the UK Government annually, and subsequent years' fees may be subject to increases. Read more about fees in subsequent years.
You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.
You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status:
Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.
| Scheme | Based on | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Based on {{item.eligibility_basis}} | Amount {{item.amount}} |
We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.
Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.
The information on this site relates primarily to 2024/2025 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.
The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.
More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.
We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.
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